Not sure how you had your Chromecast set up but I have the 4K version on one TV and the Nvidia Shield on another. The apps I want are favorited and sit right in the center of the screen. I turn it on with my remote and select the app to launch it. I’m not sure it could be any simpler.
You’re describing the Chromecast with Google TV. The vanilla Chromecast dongle has no app support; all you can do is cast your media from your phone and hope it works out.
It was novel when it came out, but they stopped making any serious improvements years ago, to the point now where YouTube casting is hot garbage that drives you insane if you want to view more than a couple videos in a row. I have constant problems with all of my cast devices with maintaining connection to the dongle, with media playback, you name it.
I got my Chromecast like 10 years ago and have the same issue with YouTube casting. Netflix is also pretty terrible and only connects 50% of the time, but once it’s connected it’s good. It wouldn’t be so bad if it just let me cast my whole screen and not open some dumb app like with every other website.
The dumb thing is I can watch shows in HD issue free from a free streaming site on my pc but the second I cast it my internet goes to shit and I have to leave it on 720 or it buffers endlessly. I should just switch to the HDMI cable route but I don’t want a cord hanging across the floor, too many dogs.
