The best Chromecast alternative is a streaming box many of us can’t buy

For the primary time shortly now, I discover my consumerist self jealous of not residing within the US. The explanation? Walmart, and extra particularly, the most recent Walmart Google TV streaming field. The brand new onn 4K Professional field is, by far, one of the thrilling Google TV streamers launched lately and top-of-the-line Chromecast alternate options on the market. The one drawback is that it’s out there within the US, and… nicely, that’s it. We received’t be getting it in Europe or different international locations both.

Walmart’s new onn field caught my eye ever for the reason that first leaks began. Opposite to earlier onn sticks and streaming gadgets, this one was clearly not aiming for the very low-end $20 market. As a substitute, it appeared packed to the brim with options and specs that simply made me look sideways at my 4K Chromecast and sigh, “Why not you?”

First, we’re 3GB of RAM in comparison with the Chromecast’s 2GB, and 32GB of storage versus its measly 8GB. That’s already an enchancment when I’ve to go in and prune apps from my Chromecast each few months due to the “storage full” warning. The additional RAM also needs to assist with the occasional hiccups.

However that’s not all. The brand new field acts like a Nest Mini speaker with hands-free controls and packs a few ports which might be nowhere to be discovered on the Chromecast. You get USB 3.0 for native file transfers from a USB stick or exhausting drive — and probably peripheral management if in case you have a USB mouse or keyboard — and an Ethernet port to wire it in and profit out of your full residence connection.

It additionally comes with a spiffy new distant that may be situated when misplaced, is backlit (some variations are, others not, it’s not clear but), and has Google TV’s new magic button for launching your favourite apps or biking by way of the TV’s enter sources.

The one downsides, so far as I can inform, are the AC energy port and the less-than-ideal processor. Why can’t all of us simply transfer to USB-C energy for small electronics? That’s past me.

All in all, there are numerous thrilling options on this field — a lot of which aren’t out there on the present Chromecast and are unlikely to make it onto the subsequent one, at any time when it’s introduced. (I simply don’t see Google including a USB 3.0 port to any future Chromecast, for instance.)

This makes me a bit envious of my mates within the US who can decide this up, check it, and probably change to it whether it is pretty much as good because the specs and options recommend. Sadly, all I can do is await Google to launch a correct Chromecast follow-up. Hopefully quickly, eh?