The long wait is over. Finally Google has taken the covers off it’s brand new Chromecast device. And it’s about time. While the original Chromecast was indeed one of the best deals in streaming media players, there were still some features that kept some from taking the plunge.

Chromecast 2 VS Chromecast 1 – Review

The Design

The first thing you’ll notice about the Chromecast 2 (or “New Chromecast” as Google is insisting on calling it) is that it looks completely different. It has a more rounded puck shape than the previous one. Not only that, but the device uses an attached ribbon-style cord that is very flexible. This was added because some users simply could not fit the previous generation into the HDMI port on the back of their TV due to it being too deep and using an optional (but rigid) extension cord.  This was a great design choice, as now the Chromecast can easily hang off the HDMI port on the back of pretty much any TV.

Specifications

The under-the-hood improvements are both minimal and very useful. For some, they might not ever get the benefit of what Google has added, but for others it might be the selling point that will push them over the edge.  The two major updates are the addition of wireless 802.11 ac and the use of the wireless 5Ghz band. The AC addition will surely increase the speed of streams on networks that have wireless AC routers. The 5Ghz addition is actually the piece I was most excited for. I live in an apartment building, so there are many many wireless devices interfering with one another all the time (mostly on the crowded 2.4 Ghz band). So being able to keep the Chromecast off that congested piece of wireless real estate is a great thing, especially when I am feeding 1080p streams via Plex over my network.

Google has also announced a pretty insane sounding feature which I was unable to test yet. It’s called “Fast Play” and the gist of it is that it is a way for the Chromecast to intelligently load content before you even choose to watch it.  For example, as soon as you open the Netflix app, it will start loading small piece of the beginning of shows that you are likely to watch, based on a viewership algorithm built into the app. Pretty crazy stuff, and potentially really useful to make the Chromecast launch a video almost instantaneously. The future is now!

Setup and App

The setup process has been left largely unchanged from the original Chromecast (see the video review here) . The one major addition is that the Chromecast App has received a major face lift. It now is much more than simply an app to setup your device and then never open again. It now sports a tab that allows you to browse apps from the Google Play Store that are built with Chromecast functionality. It is this smart curation that was sorely missing in the previous generation.

Speed Test

As seen in the video review, the speed different in loading up The Dark Knight from Netflix was negligible between the Chromecast 1 and Chromecast 2. This is a bit of a disappointment as I thought there would be a huge difference. However, this was far from a scientific experiment so the Chromecast 2 still may have some extra horsepower that will push it faster (I just didn’t see it on my local network).

Final Verdict

Get it! Even if you have the original, this thing is $35. And for the addition of the 5Ghz and wireless ac as well as the new (more flexible) design you really can’t go wrong here. If your router is old and doesn’t support either of these new standards, then you may want to wait to purchase. If you’ve been holding off because the original Chromecast just didn’t fit behind your TV, then chances are you are in luck. Get ready to do some serious casting.

Be sure to watch the video review here.

The post Head to Head review: Chromecast 2 VS Chromecast 1 appeared first on Cord Breaker .

Basketball season is just around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited. There are tonnes of different ways to get your favourite games, but which online service should you subscribe to this year so you can follow your favourite NBA team? NBA League Pass or Ballstreams? Here are the major factors that come into play when considering these services:

Local blackouts

The issue with NBA League Pass and services like it are the local game blackouts.  In other words, if you’re in Chicago and want to watch the Bulls game, you may find yourself looking at a blank screen saying something like “Sorry, access to this game is not available due to local blackout restrictions.” It hurts, and it also severely limits the usefulness of services like NBA League Pass due to the fact that most people want to watch their home team.

NBA League Pass also enforces national blackouts within the US. This means that if a game is on ABC, ESPN, TNT or NBA TV then you’re probably out of luck getting it on NBA League Pass in the US.

Ballstreams.com does not have any blackouts whatsoever. Also, international users of NBA League Pass actually get a much better experience and it is much more worth their while due to lack of blackouts. It looks like a lot of international (not North American) users of NBA League Pass are quite happy with the service.

Use a VPN like Private Internet Access

The most foolproof way of avoiding local blackouts right now is using a VPN service like Private Internet Access. Basically this service allows you to appear to be in any number of locations (including many in the US) to skirt around blackouts. It works and it is also a great tool to protect your privacy online.

Use a DNS masker like UnblockUs

You can completely bypass blackout restrictions on NBA League Pass by using a service called UnblockUs. It is actually a really painless process to set it up on your individual device or even at your router. If you want to learn more, we also wrote a post going into the details about UnblockUs and avoiding blackouts here.

What devices are you using?

The biggest factor in choosing a service is obviously whether you can watch it on your favourite device. Watching the big game is fine on your laptop, but often you will want it on the big screen.

Here is a breakdown of what devices each service works on.

NBA League Pass VS Ballstreams.com by the numbers:

So, this looks like it is sort of a tie on the app front. Depending on your technical skill, you should be able to get Ballstreams up and running on any device on the market. Both Plex and Serviio also have channels for Ballstreams which expand its compatibility to game consoles.

Quality

NBA League Pass claims to be “HD Quality” on their website which I will assume means that it approximates a 720p resolution. Ballstreams also claims to go “up to” 720p resolution but also says that the stream can be transferred at a full 60 frames per second. In either case, this will really depend on your connection. It is worth noting that there are some complaints online about specific game feeds on Ballstreams being of low quality.

Lag

Lag can be a major consideration for any online streaming service. NBA League Pass can have up to a 90 second delay whereas Ballstreams.com has a much shorter 1-3 second lag. I know that I like to look at social media while watching the game, so having a shorter delay can guard against major spoilers.

Access to games

Ballstreams is the hands down winner in this category. It gives you access not just to regular season NBA games, but a wealth of other streams including: NBA summer league, NBA pre-season, NBA playoffs, the NBA draft, NCAA final four games, Live Olympic games, and a tonne of archived games available on demand.

NBA League Pass has tiered plans, the highest of which adds on home/away announcers and the video vault. It also includes an archive for on-demand access (past 3 seasons), NBA summer games, and playoff games. NBA League Pass also has what they call their “NBA Team Pass” which gives full access to live and on demand access to games for one team.  Not bad.

Cost

Ok, so this is what you’ve been waiting for.

Ballstreams.com: $89.99 for a year

NBA League Pass: $189.99 per year (early bird)

Legality

This is key. Ballstreams is indeed an “illegal” service. Their servers are located in Europe and could be shut down at any time due to the NBA taking them to court. It hasn’t happened yet, but this service is definitely grey market. If you’re at all concerned about legal issues, stick with NBA League Pass which is the official app.

NBA League Pass VS Ballstreams wrap up

By the numbers Ballstreams beats out NBA League Pass handily. They are on par in terms of device support but I know for a fact that someone that is less technical may have issues getting Ballstreams up and running on their TV streaming box or game console. If you’re just watching on your laptop or desktop PC then you are good to go on either.

To avoid the local and national blackouts on NBA League Pass, which virtually cripple the service in North America, then I highly recommend using a service like UnblockUs. This will unblock all of the blackouts and make NBA League Pass much more useful.

Happy cord cutting!

Disclaimer: Ballstreams.com is not a legal service. Their servers are located in Europe so there is a chance that the service could be shut down anytime. Cord Breaker does not condone illegal activity in any way. When in doubt, go with the legal option, which is NBA League Pass.

The post NBA League Pass VS Ballstreams head to head appeared first on Cord Breaker .

My favourite time of year is coming around again.  Hockey season! But what is the best service to subscribe to this year to get your NHL fix, NHL Gamecenter Live or Hockeystreams.com?

The answer is not as simple as you may think.  Here are the factors you need to think about:

Local blackouts

The biggest knock against NHL Gamecenter is that it has those pesky local blackouts of games.  This means that if you live in Winnipeg, then more often than not, you actually won’t be able to watch the Jets play on Gamecenter. Now, if you like a team that is not locally in your city, you will likely be able to avoid local blackouts much more often.

Hockeystreams.com does not have any local blackouts to deal with.

Use a VPN like Private Internet Access

The most foolproof way of avoiding local blackouts right now is using a VPN service like Private Internet Access. Basically this service allows you to appear to be in any number of locations (including many in the US) to skirt around blackouts. It works and it is also a great tool to protect your privacy online.

Use a DNS masker like UnblockUs

I have been using Gamecenter Live for many seasons now without local blackouts because I use a service called UnblockUs. It is super simple to setup on individual devices or even at your router.  Check out this post that talks all about how to avoid local blackouts.

What devices are you using?

Here is a breakdown of what devices each service works natively on.  Natively meaning that there is an actual app that exists on the platform and it doesn’t require any funky tweaks to get working.

NHL Gamecenter VS Hockeystreams.com by the numbers:

At the end of the day, this one sort of depends on how technical you are.  If you’re keeping everything above board so to say, then NHL Gamcenter Live is your best bet. It is also worth noting that you can stream Hockeystreams via the Plex and Serviio app on both Xbox and Playstation.

Quality

There is a bit of controversy on this one. I personally love the quality of NHL Gamecenter on my Xbox One. On a good connection it looks just like 720p HDTV. Hockeystreams claims that it can go up to 720p at 60 frames per second while NHL Gamecenter is just 30 frames per second. But a few searches online and you quickly see a lot of posts by people complaining about the quality of some streams on Hockeystreams.com.

Lag

A major issue for live sports is the lag that the service introduces to the feed. I know for a fact that the NHL Gamecenter feed is usually off by a good 30 seconds.  Hockeystreams.com claims to only have a 3 second lag. This is really handy for folks that follow along with the games on social media as they happen and don’t want spoilers.

Access to games

A year subscription to Hockeystreams is actually a full calendar year, whereas the NHL Gamecenter one is just for the NHL season. Additionally, Hockeystreams gives access to other hockey leagues such as OHL, WHL and AHL if that’s your thing.

Cost

Here is the deciding factor for a lot of people.

Hockeystreams.com: $99.99 for a full calendar year

NHL Gamecenter Live: $149.99 for the regular NHL season ($179.99 Canadian)

Are you a Rogers internet customer in Canada?

Then NHL Gamecenter Live might be free! Check your internet package to see if it qualifies.

Legality

Keep in mind that NHL Gamecenter Live is the official video streaming app for the NHL. Hockeystreams.com on the other hand has…  let’s just say dubious legality. If you’re concerned about getting in any legal issues or losing the service due to the NHL cracking down on services like Hockeystreams, go with NHL Gamecenter Live.

NHL Gamecenter VS Hockeystreams wrap up

By pure numbers Hockeystreams.com wins out easily. However, the service is a little bit less “official” if you know what I mean.  It also doesn’t have as many official apps which makes the experience less smooth than if you are using Gamecenter Live on a streaming box. For those that are just utilizing a laptop then either one is great.

I highly recommend going with a service like UnblockUs if you are going the NHL Gamecenter Live route as it will unlock all of your local games.

Happy cord cutting!

Edit: I have updated the article based on some great individuals over on the /r/hockey subreddit.

Disclaimer: Hockeystreams.com is not a legal service. Their servers are located in Europe so there is a chance that the service could be shut down anytime. Cord Breaker does not condone illegal activity in any way. When in doubt, go with the legal option, which is NHL Gamecenter Live. It really is a decent service for a fair price.

The post NHL Gamecenter VS Hockeystreams head to head appeared first on Cord Breaker .

How do these two consoles stack up in terms of value for cord cutting?

That is, hardware support, flexibility for streaming content and app support. Well, let’s take a look by the numbers. I highlighted areas that I see as a positive in green in the table below.

Xbox One VS PS4 by the numbers:

As you can see, it’s a pretty fair fight. The basics are all there for both consoles. They both output beautiful 1080p video. They both have a healthy smattering of USB ports that can handle external hard drives filled with media. But there are a few areas of note:

1. Power brick

There’s nothing worse than a massive, obnoxious power brick. Unfortunately for Xbox One owners, it has a big one. It may not be an issue for you, but the PS4 has an internal power supply which makes it a cleaner design. Point PS4

2.  Front USB ports

Not a biggie either, but the PS4 has two front USB ports while the Xbox One only has one (which is actually located on the side). For most, it’s not a big deal, but perhaps it might be harder to reach the back of your console for whatever reason. Point PS4

3.  HDMI passthrough

Okay. This is where we get into some important differences. The Xbox One has a pretty revolutionary feature for media savvy folks out there.  It has something called “HDMI passthrough.”  This means that you can plug any device that uses HDMI into the back of the Xbox One and run that video source through the Xbox One interface. Ironically (for this blog at least) this is mostly demoed as a way to feed TV cable box content into the Xbox so you can have a single unified media system (complete with the Xbox One Guide which provides TV listings and DVR support). For us cord cutters this feature is really awesome for say, connecting your Chromecast or other media streamer that has some extra features that the Xbox doesn’t support yet. For example, the Chromecast supports HBO Now, so by plugging it into the Xbox you have essentially added this feature to your system. There are other, less sexy, advantages to this tech as well. I have an older home theatre receiver that only has two HDMI inputs, so having this extra one on the Xbox One is really valuable. Point Xbox One

4.  Infrared mini connector

For those of you that use universal remotes or other control devices the Xbox One comes equipped with a rear IR port. The PS4 relies only on Bluetooth for control so you’re out of luck on this one. Point Xbox One

5.  Digital TV Tuner support

This is a relatively new addition to the Xbox One’s feature list. We all know that Microsoft has been trying to position the Xbox One as an all-in-one media centre. Well, recently they added a feature that really pushes it even further in that direction, and it’s GREAT for cord cutters. For those of you who enjoy pulling HDTV signals over the air, the Xbox One now supports the use of a Digital TV Tuner which allows you plug your antenna directly into the Xbox One. This takes OTA viewing to another level, adding TV listings to the Xbox interface and just generally meshing free HDTV more closely into your media system. Point Xbox One

6.  Bitstream audio passthrough

Ok, this one is a bit technical but it could be a big one for a few buyers. Basically if you are into playing HD surround formats (Dolby True HD, DTS Master HD, Dolby Atmos, DTS X) then you are probably familiar with the idea of sending a bitstream to your home theatre receiver for decoding. This is actually the only way to properly play a Dolby Atmos soundtrack (which should become more and more popular over the next couple years). The PS4 has an option to fully passthrough these HD soundtracks to your receiver. While the Xbox One doesn’t currently support this. It’s because the Xbox One actually “remixes” the soundtracks that come into the unit so it can overlay menu sound effects and then spit out either a DTS or Dolby Digital soundtrack. Long story short, if you are a big audio dork, you may want to keep an eye on whether the Xbox One can add this feature. Point PS4

7.  Full OTA DVR support

It was just announced that Microsoft will be adding full over the air HDTV DVR support to the Xbox One sometime in 2016. This will be a godsend for many OTA-loving cord cutters.  They’ll be able to schedule recordings and timeshift with the help of an external hard drive. Again, PS4 does not have OTA support at all, so this one is a major win for Xbox One (when it comes out). Point Xbox One

Final Score

Xbox One:

PS4:

Wrap up

At the end of the day, everyone’s preferences are different.  If you’re not really into HDTV over the air, then it’s really a wash. If you absolutely need bitstream HD audio, go PS4. If you love playing Japanese RPGs with super complicated stories and flying air ships, well go PS4. Xbox One received backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games recently, which has nothing to do with cord cutting, but is super awesome. Ikaruga and Super Meat Boy anyone?

On the fence? Whether you get a Playstation 4 or an Xbox One , either way you’re going to get a real cord cutting powerhouse.

We didn’t even touch the different apps that are available for each device, which can be a real factor in choosing one platform over another. Stay tuned for a full video/audio streaming app comparison in the coming weeks.

Happy cord cutting.

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