Google wowed us with the Chromecast when it launched two years ago. At the time, the idea of a $35 device you could plug into your HDTV to watch streaming media was remarkable. It no longer seems as novel, with other inexpensive solutions on the market, even still the Chromecast remains a top-notch...

Inexpensive; Easy to set up; Compatible with many apps and services; Responsive

No major new features over the original Chromecast; Requires a smartphone, tablet, or PC to control

Along with the new flagship Nexus smartphones, the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X , Google also unveiled an updated version of the Chromecast HDMI dongle, boasting a new look, multiple color options, and of course, faster hardware and enhancements on the software side of things.

Chromecast (2015): Though somewhat odd; the design makes it easier to tuck back behind the television Faster performance; though marginally compared to original New application is a hub for all compatible media applications Still really easy to use - just hit the button for Chromecast Enhanced...

Chromecast (2015): A few missing applications for media - mainly; Amazon Prime Games library is still bare; needs to prove itself for gaming Chromecast Audio: Niche product - not an essential unless its functionality is specifically searched for Audio quality is pretty standard; not really above...

Chromecast 2 by Google is now available in Australia. Offering significant improvements over the original Chromecast. The original Chromecast was a beauty of a product. A sleek, compact, easy-to-use, easy-to-setup companion device to stream files from a compatible device or web browser.

I purchased a Chromecast 2.0 last week and set about putting it to the test to see what was different from the original product. The answer has been not too terribly much from a user standpoint thus far, but that's not a bad thing.

I was part of the Google fans who were ecstatic when Google announced the original Chromecast . I mean, it was nothing revolutionary, but something that was genuinely missing. Especially as the wireless world dominates ever-so, unifying our mobile devices and TV was an important step.

Chromecast 2 is HERE and, as you'd expect, it is bloody FANTASTIC

Faster; Better Looking Design; Awesome New Chromecast App; Did We Mention It Is A LOT FASTER

It Can't Do Your Tax Return -- That's Literally About It

The new Chromecast is simple, smart, works brilliantly and is cheap. What more could you ask for from a gadget?

It's fast and has superior Wi-Fi; Simplicity; great app; Cheap as chips; Tons of apps work with it; Looks nice

Still waiting on some functionality; Some apps and games are yet to catch up

When I saw the first version of Chromecast it was around the same time as a similar product from Roku, to my mind the latter was a better product at a near similar price. So what will the second version have to offer to change my mind?

Google's second generation Chromecast isn't that different to its predecessor. There's a new design and a few clever tweaks, but for all intents and purposes, it's the same product in a prettier shell. What has changed is the Australian media landscape.

Easy to setup and use; Improved form factor; Support for 5GHz wireless networks

No option for a dedicated remote; No support for 4K streaming; A little more expensive this time

With 20 million Chromecasts already sold, there's a fair chance you've already got one. Google's dinky streaming dongle has proved a hugely popular alternative to more expensive set-top boxes like the Apple TV and Amazon's Fire TV.