Hardware and setup

While the original Chromecast took the form of a chunky stick, the 2015 model looks more like a hockey puck with a 4-inch HDMI cable attached. The reasoning behind this new design was to accommodate TVs with HDMI ports that are too narrow for the first Chromecast. Indeed, the original even came with an HDMI extender to fit in those tight spaces. Thanks to that short, flat cable on the new model, however, the extender is no longer needed. The only potential downside is you'd have to have it hanging off your TV in a rather unsightly way, but if your set's ports are mostly on the rear, it shouldn't be an issue.

If you decide to carry the new Chromecast around with you, that HDMI cable has a tiny magnet at the end of it that snaps easily to the rear of the device when folded over, which makes it a little more portable. It also now comes in three different colors -- red, yellow and black -- which seems a little silly if it's tucked out of sight, but it's a nice little touch all the same, especially if you plan on giving this as a stocking stuffer. (Note that the red and yellow versions are available only on the Google Play Store.) Other design improvements include the addition of a small reset button located on the side that you can use to power-cycle the Chromecast in case it crashes or gets stuck. There's an LED power indicator as well.

Setting up the new Chromecast is as easy as ever. Just like the original, the new version has a micro-USB port that you can attach to either your TV if it has a USB connection or the included power adapter. Once you have it all plugged in, you'll be prompted to go to Google's Chromecast setup URL, where you're encouraged to download the new Android or iOS app to setup your new device (more on this app later). Google also supports the ability to set up your Chromecast on Windows (7 and higher) as long as you download the desktop Chrome app. Even though it's not available right now, it appears that you'll also be able to do so on Mac OS X (10.7 and up) in the future. I used both the Android and iOS apps and the process was pretty straightforward -- you're basically telling the Chromecast which WiFi network to use, along with any associated WiFi password. While you're doing that, you can also assign a name to your Chromecast, which is useful if you have more than one in your home.

Another major hardware difference between the new Chromecast and the old one is that the new model supports dual-band WiFi 802.11ac (2.4/5GHz). This means that the streaming should not only be faster, but also perform better in congested areas like apartment buildings since the 2.4GHz frequency is typically more crowded than the 5Ghz one. The rest of the internals, on the other hand, are pretty similar to what we saw on the original: There's a slightly improved processor (the Marvell ARMADA 1500 Mini Plus SoC), the same 512MB of SDRAM and the same display resolution of 1080p.

Features and software

As far as features go, not much has changed. Just like the original Chromecast, the new model lets you cast video from any compatible app to your TV. Simply tap the little cast logo in the app, select the name of your Chromecast from the menu and voila, you're ready to go. Most popular video-streaming apps are already Chromecast-compatible. They include Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, YouTube, WatchESPN, CBS and of course, Google Play. Also on board are sports apps like NFL, MLS and MLB.TV, and the new Showtime Anytime app. The most glaring exception appears to be Amazon Instant Video, which appears to have opted out, at least for now.

With so many compatible apps, it can be a chore to figure out just what shows are available to watch. That's where the new Chromecast application comes in -- it's the same one that you'd have downloaded to set up the Chromecast in the first place. Announced alongside the new hardware, the new app is really the star of the show in that it brings much-needed search and discovery to the party. It's available on Android and iOS and is compatible with both the old and new Chromecasts.

Search is certainly one of the app's more useful features. Instead of having to hop in and out of a dozen different apps, you can simply enter in a keyword -- say, The X-Files -- to see just what apps and services the show is on. You can enter in the keyword either by typing or with Google's voice search. From there, you can simply hit "Watch" and your app of choice will launch. The downside so far is that search only brings up results from certain apps -- Netflix, Hulu and Google Play options will show up, but nothing from HBO Go, for example. However, I'm told that it's possible for them to be added to search later on. There's also a "What's On" tab that displays a rotating carousel of shows from various services like Netflix and YouTube, as long as the app is already installed on your phone. What I also appreciated was a list of Chromecast-compatible apps and games that you can get from the Google Play store. And of course, you can change the backdrop image of what's on your Chromecast screen via the app too.