Television used to be simple. You bought the TV, maybe paid for a few extra channels and you were set. While this meant limited viewing options, it also meant far less decision-making.
Now, with the improvement of the internet, rise of the smart TV and explosion in streaming sites for your favourite shows, there are no easy decisions when it comes to how you should set-up your entertainment system.
Today, we're going to tackle the streaming assistant question: do get one or not, and if you do, which one should you get?
What are streaming assistants
Streaming assistants are external tech you buy to deliver your current TV into the 21st Century.
They allow you to access the internet through your TV, even if you don't have a smart TV. This means you can access apps like Netflix, YouTube and Showmax easily on your TV. This removes the middle man - the HDMI - as you don't need it to link to your computer to have this content show up on screen.
Different assistants have different focuses. Apple provides you with pre-installed Apple apps with options to access others through the App store. Chromecast is the same but with a focus on Google products.
Chromecast vs Apple or just a smart TV
This often comes down to what your personal tech ecosystem is like. if you're a committed Apple consumer and already have a Mac and an iPhone, there is little point straying when it comes to your TV.
However, if there is something particular that only Chromecast can provide, then this is a better option. Chromecast is also more versatile as it works with iOS and Android, meaning you don't have to change your whole way of life, unlike Apple.
If you don't really like either of those options, a fair middle ground is just buying a smart TV. Depending on the make they also have pre-programmed options like Netflix and YouTube, and will connect easily to your internet.
Pricing
At the end of the day it is likely your decision will come down to expense.
Unexpectedly, outside of buying a whole new TV, Apple is the more expensive of the two streaming assistant options.
You can pick up a Chromecast for R1200 while the Apple TV will set you back R3,200.
South Africans did have a cheaper option, the Roku, but they have since left the country.
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