Amazon’s FireTV yet another set top box with compromises

By Simon Cohen

Amazon takes the proprietary route with its Fire TV set top box and gives consumers one more choice that won’t serve all of their needs.

I’ve always admired Amazon for their customer-centric view of the world. Their online shopping experience is second to none. Their customer service is superb. Their dedication to creating devices and services to meet the needs of their customers has always impressed me – especially given that the hardware space is so competitive (and littered with failures).

So I was really keen to find out what Amazon’s latest toy, the $99 Fire TV set-top box had to offer. Even though it isn't available to Canadians currently, the U.S. version is likely a very strong indicator of what we’ll get when it arrives.

Sadly, what we’ll get is a series of compromises.

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RDIO now available via Google Chromecast

Rdio, the groundbreaking digital music service that has reinvented the way people discover, play, and share music, today announced that its service is now available on Google's Chromecast.

"Rdio on Google Chromecast marks another milestone in Rdio's commitment to delivering the best music experience everywhere," said Anthony Bay, chief executive officer of Rdio. "Music fans can access Rdio's massive catalog of over 20 million songs or start a station easily, all from Chromecast on their TV."

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Google Chromecast Vs. Apple TV: Which is better and for what type of users?

By Simon Cohen

Now that Google’s diminutive WiFi media player is available in Canada, how does it stack up to Apple’s set-top box and which should you buy?

It’s been several months since Google unleashed the Chromecast, a tiny dongle-like device that turns any HDTV into a Wi-Fi enabled display. Initially only available in the U.S., the $35 gadget was very well received and our own Gadjo Sevilla found it to be an easy and reliable way to stream content to a TV.

But if you wanted a Chromecast back in 2013, you needed to order one via the U.S. and frankly that was a hassle. Now that it’s being sold in Canada for $39, the time is right to take a look at this new player and see how it compares to one of the most popular devices in this space: Apple TV.

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Google's Chromecast officially available for Canadians

At long last, Google's answer to Apple TV, the Google Chromecast, is officially available for Canadians. The WiFi-ready TV add-on, thus far, has only been available north of the border, though many-a-canuck have bought it and used it here since it first launched. At just $39, which is four dollars more than what it costs in the US, Canadians are now 'officially' able to push content from their iOS or Android phone, directly to their HDMI-ready TV's.

Chromecast also works on other Google products like Chrome to push content directly from your PC or laptop to a nearby TV.

Learn more or pick-up via Amazon.ca or Google Play here