Chromecast is 2 years old -- Google giving away free movie rentals to owners!
While Google's Chromecast is impossibly small physically, it is absolutely enormous in its usefulness. The search giant successfully bridged the gap between device and television with a cute little HDMI dongle. Originally, the selling point was its low price, but as more and more companies choose to leverage the cute hardware, it becomes more than a simple value purchase.
The dongle is apparently celebrating a second birthday. While it is weird to celebrate the "birth" of an inanimate object, the tech community has normalized the practice to become acceptable. After all, we tech nerds love our devices like family, right? While the birthday boy or girl is usually the one receiving gifts, this time, Chromecast owners are getting the present. What is it, you ask? A free movie rental! What will you rent this weekend?
Unfortunately, redemption is not as easy as it should be. Rather than just verify your Google profile for a Chromecast purchase, you must first install the Chromecast extension for Google Chrome on desktop. Then, you must have your Chromecast powered on and connected to your network so that it can prove you have the hardware. It told me I could not redeem on my Android phone -- whatever.
In my case, my desktop is in my basement and my Chromecast is on the second floor, up two flights of stairs. I'd have to make the journey -- yes, I know, I need the exercise anyway -- then turn on my TV which powers the Chromecast, walk back down two flights of stairs and redeem the offer. I'm not complaining; it is a free rental after all, but it could be a little easier.
Of course, there are some caveats, which Google lists below.
- Good for one movie rental from a collection of titles.
- Movie Rental may be redeemed only on Google Play from compatible internet connected devices.
- Offer expires on December 31, 2015.
- Offer good in US only.
- Maximum 5 redemptions per Google account.
Sorry non-American's you are out of luck. Hopefully the search giant expands the offering to more countries in the future. I really like that the promotion lasts throughout 2015, so consumers can be patient and find a movie they truly want to see.
Limiting the offer to five repemptions per Google account is likely just to protect against abuse. Sure, some people own multiple Chromecasts, but evil geniuses will soon realize that they can buy a Chromecast before December 31, use it for a free rental, then return the hardware and repeat. This cap limits the dishonesty to five, although Google accounts are free -- those same people could, in theory, register multiple Google accounts to continue the free rentals. Don't do this, BetaNews readers -- you are better than that.
If you are ready to get your free rental, you can redeem it here. What movie will you rent? Tell me in the comments.