Connecting a classic (non-Google TV) Chromecast to a new WiFi (or heaven forbid a hotel WiFi with a capture portal) was always such a pain. And casting over networks without mDNS is flaky at best and otherwise downright impossible.

By contrast, I’ve loved taking along my Chromecast with Google TV to hotels, along with:

• A VPN client installed it already,
• An Android phone that can create a WiFi AP while connected to the hotel WiFi,
• A Bluetooth speaker and my Bluetooth headphones paired to it so I get great audio as well.

This has been a complete gamechanger and a genuine upgrade over yesteryear’s Chromecasts.