Have him for months thanks to American Amazon

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Mirroring (mirroring of the screen as with Miracast) is now gradually on the Chromecast. Move to the end of the review to the heading "UPDATE: Mirroring" for more information!

Anticipation 2 Notes:
1 - Due to many comments and questions I have extended the contribution to a FAQ, which can be found below.
2 - Since the Chromecast is constantly confused or compared with Miracast, I have to also used a comparison that can be found at the end of the review.

Original review from 18/03/2014:
I own the Chromecast now many months.
I knew before buying what I'm getting (them from that you can not do at $ 35 anyway much wrong) and took him at first for Google Play Music and Google Play Movies, but especially for Youtube, what and super and anytime soon easily worked, even in Germany.
Now he is finally officially available. In addition, the SDK is now already released a while, with the result that even third party developers Apps may provide for in the Play Store.

This has spawned mainly 2 very powerful Android apps that everyone should know:
1. AllCast: Thus almost all videos, pictures and songs from the smartphone / tablet can send (pronounced locally) to the Chromecast. This works better from update to update and leaves little to be desired.
2. Media Library Cast: This free app combines all the libraries of public service (ARD, ZDF, Arte, etc.) and makes the Chromecast to play their posts by the media servers on the local TV and that - and this is the clincher - in HD. Because the individual official apps even show the posts on your tablet usually only in SD.

Nett is also still ArtKick. After registering once conjures up the app works of art in human history and of all eras (as well as a slide show) on the TV. Certainly the more elegant version of the curiously trendy digital firelight.

If you have questions, simply comment. Give you tips or Stelungnahmen.

FAQ
===
Question: What can the Chromecast because actually so?
Answer: The original function was that it directly taps into sources from the Internet (eg YouTube) and their contents conjures up at the TV without any detours. PC, smartphone or tablet is designed only as initiator and remote control.

Question: Can I send it to the Chromecast and then minimize Youtubeapp on your phone or even close the smartphone from a youtube video?
Answer: Yes. Again for understanding: The smartphone says Chromecast only something like "games time Wonderwall by Oasis on the television off!", Then the Chromecast works independently and takes care of the playback while the smartphone continues to call for Whatsapp or whatever can be used. The same is true for tablets.

Question: I have to start from for example a Youtube video still affect and can fast forward or rewind?
Answer: Yes. You can even by phone A (eg HTC One with Android) start the youtube video, jump from phone B (iPhone) until shortly before the end of the video reels with telephone C back to the middle of the video and telephone D or a Tablet / iPad stop playing - as long as all are on the same wireless with the Chromecast.

Q. Can I watch videos that are locally on my machine, send to the Chromecast to see it on my TV?
Answer: Yes. This goes from the PC with the Google Chrome extension (then just play video with Chrome and the tab "cast") and the Android smartphone / tablet with various apps, including "AllCast" or "Bubbleupnp".

Question: Can I use the screen reflect ("mirroring"), so that everything can be seen on my screen, is 1 to 1 transfer to the TV?
Answer: On the PC / laptop so, the smartphone / tablet not yet (!). For the latter, meanwhile, is the app "Mirror" developed by the same developer as well as "AllCast". Currently it only works on the Nexus 5 and only with the root. However, both will change in the future.
Those for whom pure screen mirroring at heart who should rather deal with "Miracast". Miracast-HDMI dongle for the TV are minimally more expensive than a Chromecast usually, but vary greatly in their performance. Here research is necessary.

Q. How do I reflects the PC screen?
Answer: You need to the Google Chrome browser and the Chrome Cast extension. The mirrors of the complete (ie including the Start menu and Windows programs like Office or playing) screen is still in beta and therefore jerky in many cases. So to play games from the PC so that the TV is not practicable, except turn-based games might.

Question: I already have an HDMI Android stick as the MK808. Can I simulate on him a Chromecast?
Answer: Yes. The app "Cheap Cast" transformed (at least as long as open the app) any Android device into a Chromecast. This can be both an Android HDMI stick as well as a tablet or even a smartphone to be, even if it rarely makes sure sense, a video of the tablet, for example, to a smart phone to stream.
UPDATE: Cheap Cast unfortunately is no longer reliable, I beg to refrain from this possibility more or to literate self sufficient.

Question: I live in an apartment. Can I "protect" my Chromecast by a password before roommates?
Answer: No, this is not possible, unfortunately, to date. So it could happen at any time that you watched a movie by Watch Ever on the TV in his room and a scheme established for a joke roommate sends a youtube video about pig feeding at once to the Chromecast.

Question: Why are you doing this?
I have a Chromecast. The more people also buy one, the greater the attractiveness for app developers, but to develop more apps (also based on my review). Thus we can all benefit. :)

~ Any further questions I might even add to the list ~

Compared with Miracast
======================
Miracast is an open standard, in which the entire screen is mirrored at all times to the recipient (eg, TV). This means that when I flip on the tablet through my app launcher, this can also be seen on the TV. Due to various factors that play a role, there is, unfortunately delays, which although are bearable in the presentations or media playback in real-time games (eg racing games) but are impractical.
When Chromecast contrast only certain content is always sent to the receiver. The standard therefore is more like DLNA as Miracast.

Advantages and disadvantages of Miracast:
================================
+ No installation of countless apps for various applications required
+ After one device is actually seeing (usually) everything on the smartphone / tablet / PC screen at any time on the TV
+ Thanks to an open standard that already support from many transmitters and receivers of the house ...
- ... But unfortunately not always - often leads to incompatibilities between different manufacturers
- Of the transmission device (eg smartphone) battery is charged, because, for example, is playing a video while mirroring there and on the TV (almost) simultaneously; On top of the increased power consumption for permanent Send

Advantages and disadvantages of Chromecast:
==================================
+ Relatively cheap
+ Many important operating systems on the transmitter side are supported, including Windows, Android, iOS, OS X
Stay + very conserve battery charge, since transmitters only give "momentum" to play, but even more useful
+ Free SDK thanks to the application possibilities are continuously expanded
+ Due to the still located in development app "Mirror" could even get optional miracastähnliche skills Chromecast
+ Once established, each coming to visit guest, which the WLAN password is handed out, send content to the Chromecast
+ More than one person on the same wireless access from their respective devices in current playback and fast forward or rewind ...
- ... What could be annoying in shared flats with joke biscuits and other fun friends, since there is no password protection
- Relies on support from the App-transmitting device, read: For all purposes it appropriate apps needed (eg Youtube, Allcast) to the Chromecast to "provide"
- Does require transmitter still a hotspot device (eg router or smartphone with tethering), ie the simple entrainment of Chrome sticks and smartphones are not sufficient to quickly be sent to virtually any TV in the world Overview of the Chromecast

~ I should have set up false claims in one of the points, I beg your pardon, and a hint ~

UPDATE: Mirroring
=================
The Chromecast was finally officially expanded from Google to the function of the screen mirroring. Thus you can do anything, which can be seen on the Smartphone / Tablet, live seen on the TV.
Live is relative because there is a small delay (0,5 - 1 second), making it unusable for games. Photos, music and movies (also Full HD) function, however perfectly. Even the sound is transmitted.

The only two hooks:
1. You need at least Android version 4.4 (Kitkat) on their device in order to use this feature.
2. There are currently only a few devices officially supported. This mainly includes newer high-end smartphones. The list is ostensibly still growing, but I as the owner of a Galaxy Note 2, for example, looked in the tube. However, there are - as long as you have rooted their devices - a workaround, which is to assist in many devices.
I just tried it with my Note 2 and it all works without any problems. Even Full HD videos including sound reproduced smoothly.
The workaround can be found here: [...]
For further information: As always from the comments so. :)