While Google’s Chromecast might seem poised become the quintessential universal streaming device, it’s taking a hell of a long time to get there. So, in the meantime, Netgear’s new NeoMediacast dongle is picking up where Chromecast left off by offering streaming content with Micro SD storage capabilities — assuming you’re an Android user, that is.
The Miracast-enabled dongle is compatible with any device running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean or above, meaning that you should be able to sling all your favourite streaming services directly onto your TV right out of the box. Unlike Chromecast though, you’re not just limited to what you have floating in the cloud; the NeoMediacast comes fully equipped with a microUSB and microSD slot for additional storage and playback. So basically, you can stick any photos and videos you have lying around onto a microSD card, load them into your NeoMediacast, and display them on your TV straight from the dongle — no cloud access necessary.
Of course, one of Chromecast’s biggest draws is the fact that it works across multiple platforms, and Netgear’s NeoMediacast is a strictly iOS-free zone. But if you’re an Android user who’s looking to breathe some life into your dumb TV but put-off by Chromecast’s lack of local playback, this might be just what you’re looking for. Netgear’s NeoMediacast is set to come out some time in the first half of 2014, and while we have yet to hear any word on pricing, if this thing really does want to compete with Google, it’s going to need to stay solidly in the double digits. [Netgear]