Chromecast

Chromecast Onboarding

The above screenshots and flows show my first time user experience setting up a Chromecast (using an iPhone as the companion setup device).

The good bits:

  • The product packaging was hassle-free and informative. I appreciated that the outer side of the box introduced the value proposition and setup procedure in broad strokes, while the inside flap of the box revealed more details about the setup process.
  • The hardware was easy to connect to my TV.
  • I did not have to read a manual or introductory tour; instead I was walked through as part of the setup process.
  • The TV messaging was kept very well in sync with what was happening on my device. The use of the 4-digit code to confirm communication between the Chromecast and my network was helpful.
  • The setup flow makes intelligent use of the various devices at play. The TV is leveraged for status messaging, requiring no input from the user, while the smartphone (or whatever the user chose to drive setup) manages the complex actions of connecting to various networks.  

To be improved:

  • The app setup flow did not have any signposting. There was no indication of how long the process was going to take, or how many steps were involved. While this may be because the number of steps could fluctuate based on a user’s choices, a few signposts would have been helpful.
  • I faced numerous connection issues that, at times, reset my position in the flow. There were moments where it was not clear to me if my device had been set up or not, and so I was confused about whether to select “Set up a new Chromecast” or “Pair an existing Chromecast”. The app should better handle connection issues with clearer messaging.
  • When I got to the end of the setup, there was very little understanding of next steps. Even the TV messaging barely changed at all. Tapping “Discover apps” simply took me to a web list of apps that would require me to log in to those with other accounts. I would suggest really playing up the finishing stage of the Chromecast connection; maybe a video could automatically play on the TV, or some other freebie that demonstrates the newly set-up technology.