HouseParty: Chromecast with a side of Game of Thrones Premeire Event and #Review #ChromecastGOT #Sponsored

It always seems like the best shows take forever to come back, and Game of Thrones, Season 6 was no different. Pretty soon I will start forgetting what happened the season before if they keep doing this! I knew (spoiler alert!!!!) Jon Snow was killed but was unsure if he would stay dead, plus all the other stuff with all the families….okay, it’s starting to sound like a soap opera but this one is always a bloody one, which I tend to enjoy shows like this. When Houseparty said Game of Thrones party, plus Chromecast……I just heard the first part and said yes and told myself I’ll learn about the second part.

I already own a “stick” from another company, so even though we went so long getting rid of antennas you could see on television sets, here we go sticking devices on them again. I will say at least these “bunny ears” need no foil, or someone to hold them (did I just date myself here?). Chromecast is another device used for streaming, which just plugs in via an HDMI port on your television. You need a Wi-Fi network and Chromecast also has an app for phones (or mobile devices), and computer. Easy to install and disconnect…..but what does it do? Well it opens up a new world of entertainment from movies, television shows (both new and old), to sporting events, music and even games. You are also not limited when it comes to viewing from streaming sites like:

• YouTube
• NetFlix
• Hulu
• HBO Now
• Showtime Anytime
• MLB.TV
• to Watch ESPN and More!
• There are over 200,000 movies and TV shows at your fingertips, plus millions of songs to access. Okay, that is a lot!

Retail Price Point: At just $35, Chromecast allows you to cast from your iPhone, iPad, any Android device or laptop and television. You can learn more here about what Chromecast.  HBO Now is just $14.99 a month and no television package is required!  Plus, HBO Now offers a free trial for new members.

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What comes with your Chromecast:

1. One Chromecast Unit (You can pick from black, coral or lemonade). Available at places like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Staples and the Google Store. Coral and Lemonade are exclusive colors to the Google Store.
2. One Power cable
3. One Power adapter

• Ports/Connectors needed-
  HDMI
  Micro-USB
• Resolution- 1080p

Game of Thrones Map

Game of Thrones Journal

Verdict:

I already have HBO, so that means I have HBO Go but decided to check out HBO Now for this premiere event.  Sunday gets here and I have planned for this event all week.  I wanted to serve something new and out of the ordinary, so I went with Lobster Raviolis on a bed of spinach, with large prawns.  Needed something round (Hey, the Chromecast is round in shape), so went with a homemade pizza, topped with sausage, pepperoni, bell peppers, red onion on a bed of 4 different cheese blends.  Call it the Stark Pizza, if the Stark family served pizza 🙂 Plugging in the Chromecast is really as easy as plug and go.  I know many of these units sometimes state this and then when you get ready to be entertained, half the entertainment is getting them to work.  We experienced zero issues with connecting, our Wifi network being recognized and watching.  The Chroecast also plays nice with the surround sound system, so you do not lose the quality of sound if you have a home system and the resolution was as beautiful as ever.  So, Game of Thrones comes on and the first episode of season 6 starts playing.  I thought I would have more of my questions answered but I ended up with more questions at the end of the episode.  My weeks now seem longer until Sunday arrives again!  Being part of this event was fun because Houseparty included a nice journal to keep and I got to play with a new device.  I like being able to see what these units bring and will be signing up to one of the movie streams (30-day free trial) because of it.  I figured give them a try again since I was happy staying connecting, which when I first tried the service, that was not as easy before with another unit.  The price point for everything the Chromecast brings to your television and other devices makes it an affordable purchase, plus not trying to find room for another box on the entertainment console is very much appreciated.

Pizza a la Stark

Lobster Raviolis with Grilled Prawns

 

Connect with Chromecast and HBO at:

• Chromecast
• Chromecast (Google Store)
• HBO Now
• HBO Now on Facebook
• HBO Now on Twitter
• Game of Thrones
• #ChromecastGOT #GameOfThrones #HBONow #Sponsored #HouseParty

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Chromecast and HBO. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

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Pecham 12,000mah 3-Outlet Portable Power Bank

In this digital age, we only go as far and as fast as our various sundry devices’ power allows. Sometimes we fall a little short. Especially when short-sighted manufacturers decide to not make our devices with removable batteries. So we have become increasingly dependent on power outlets, wireless charging, or portable power banks. One such goody is Pecham’s 12,000mah Power Bank. Yes, you read that right. Twelve thousand milliamp hours. This power bank is no slouch, and can easily power your phone, tablet and .mp3 player all at once! Or be the belle of the ball and power you colleague’s cell phones along with your own! There is plenty of juice to go around!

No content with the single outlet offered by the majority of power banks on the market, Pecham decided that 3 was the way to go. Not all of them are “full power” though. One is a 2.4A outlet, the other two 1A outlets, which are sufficient for trickle charges. I was able to successfully charge both Hubby’s Nexus 7 and our LG l90 to full power, together at once, and the Pecham Power Bank still showed some juice available. That’s pretty cool in my book.

While it’s a touch on the large size (about the size and thickness of a 5″ screen cellphone), the lithium-polymer battery gets the job done and looks pretty stylish doing it. It has a rubberized non-slip finish on the body, and a bright white ring around the outside edge. There is a blue lit LED ring at the power button that actually gives you a readout of approximately how much power is left in the bank. 4 blue mini lights tells you you have 75-100%, 3 is 50-75%, 2 for 25-50%, and one for 0-25%. I love this feature because before, with most of the power banks I’ve used, I had to hope there was plenty of power left to get a decent charge. No more guessing with the Pecham Power Bank. Included in the box is a three-head charging cable, that serves double duty to not only charge the bank via micro USB cable, but has connectors for any available 5V device on the market! It has smart circuitry that automatically shuts down if overcharging (voltage/current), over-discharging (voltage/current), short-circuits, or overheating occurs. It will also automatically shutdown if the device has finished recharging. At $21.99 (at time of this writing) it’s competitively priced with other power banks with similar features, but has almost all of them beat by having 3 ports instead of the standard one or two. No risks, all rewards. Sounds like my kind of gadget!

Connect with Pecham:

• Online
• On Facebook
• On Amazon
• Get yours here now, shipped free with Amazon Prime!

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Pecham.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.