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Google Chromecast

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Re: Google Chromecast

#211

Post by dooog »

Fuzzwah wrote: post #185
dtparr wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon how has them in stock. I have prime, but I assume it's free super saver shipping for > $25, and no taxes (collected) in many places.

Well that was close.... I also have prime so I figured I might get my chromecast quicker if I cancelled my order from google store which I made 4 hours earlier (I went with cheapest shipping). Click through the confirm prompts to cancel my order from google. Click to buy from amazon, expected delivery date: 22nd of August. Arrrrrhhhhhhhggggggg Flick back to the google store tab and find that it has declared that I co…

So, Amazon actually said when Chromecast might ship by? When I was about to order it, it didn't give any indication of when it might arrive, it just said "we'll email you when we get an idea."

The Google play store guaranteed shipment by August 7, though, so if Amazon really expects it to arrive by late August, I'll just go with the play store.

Re: Google Chromecast

#212

Post by untog »

tolmasky wrote: post #165

This is exactly what I've been wanting the Apple TV to be for ages. The only thing Apple TV is actually good for is Airplay. There doesn't need to be an OS or a UI for the Apple TV: your phone or tablet will be a better experience for typing and searching for content every time. Its a fool's errand to try to design a UI for a TV that isn't dreadfully painful to use: no one ever wants to interact with something 10 fee…

One downside to this: a lack of group browsing. Right now I have a PC attached to my TV- it's kind of old and I'm considering just replacing it with this ChromeCast thing. But when I have people over and we're watching a movie we browse the selection as a group- it'll be a shame not being able to do that.

Re: Google Chromecast

#213

Post by BHSPitMonkey »

psbp wrote: post #142
pwthornton wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well this is disappointing.

If your t.v. has an HDMI port it more than likely has a USB as well. Not a big deal.

Actually, many (perhaps even most) TV USB ports don't provide power (or good enough quality power) for anything beyond basic thumb drives. It's also possible for ports not to offer power unless the right handshake is made by the device. Also, some TVs have a USB port which is only for diagnostic use, and can provide unsteady/harmful power output.

However, I'm guessing this device ships with a USB cable + wall wart for everyone else.

Re: Google Chromecast

#214

Post by ender7 »

roc wrote: post #189
tolmasky wrote: post #165

This is exactly what I've been wanting the Apple TV to be for ages. The only thing Apple TV is actually good for is Airplay. There doesn't need to be an OS or a UI for the Apple TV: your phone or tablet will be a better experience for typing and searching for content every time. Its a fool's errand to try to design a UI for a TV that isn't dreadfully painful to use: no one ever wants to interact with something 10 fee…

Maybe you want Airplay to be more the focus of Apple TV, but that state of affairs doesn't sound at all like Chromecast. Chromecast seems to be a method for driving-devices to send pointers to internet video streams or web pages, for the dongle to queue, download and then send to the display. The apps/content don't live on the mobile device at all. They live on remote internet servers. The device is just feeding a qu…

While its primary mode is indeed method-for-sending-pointers-to-media, it also has an option for streaming the contents of a Chrome tab directly to the Chromecast device [1] ala-VNC. With caveats: that feature is still in beta and requires a fast computer/connection.

[1] https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-cast/boadge...

Re: Google Chromecast

#215

Post by BHSPitMonkey »

agildehaus wrote: post #203
MBCook wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On recent HD TVs that's true, but if you go back more than 2-3 years (or didn't buy a giant 55" set) then it's quite likely you'll have to resort to the AC adapter.

The question is - do you have to resort to the AC adapter if you have one of the newer HDMI ports?

The fine text on the linked page says "Power cord required" (emphasis mine).

Re: Google Chromecast

#216

Post by RealGeek »

jcampbell1 wrote: post #13

> Power cord required (not shown). What the hell is this about a "power cord". The specs and details are totally not clear. Is this not powered by HDMI? If it requires a power cord, these images are deceptive marketing.

"The power adapter is an optional requirement. In fact, most modern TV's with HDMI 1.4 or higher spec are supported. The Chromecast can draw power from the HDMI port it's plugged into. If your TV doesn't support that, there's also a USB cable and power adapter included in the box. I have a 2012 LG LED and a 2013 Lenovo 27" Monitor with HDMI input and the ports power it with no cable."

Source: http://www.amazon.com/review/RBCJ03NLRAHIF/

Re: Google Chromecast

#217

Post by mahyarm »

They should make a cheaper audio only version for the speakers in your bedroom, etc. Kind of like the airport express. Maybe one with just a stereo jack and one with the same ports as the apple TV.

Re: Google Chromecast

#218

Post by sk5t »

marcamillion wrote: post #97

This is cool....the only thing that is a bit annoying is the fact that the audio won't be 5.1, it will likely be stereo. I mean, for YouTube videos it doesn't matter. But if you are streaming a movie or something, then that may be an annoyance. But that could just be me. This is assuming that you have a digital audio source plugged directly into your receiver ofcourse, as opposed to your TV.

Hmm, interesting point... I would be plugging this thing directly into a giant Pioneer receiver--never the TV monitor--and certainly HDMI is not itself an impediment to 5.1 audio, but details on supported digital audio formats seem a bit scarce now.

Re: Google Chromecast

#220

Post by spankalee »

mahyarm wrote: post #217

They should make a cheaper audio only version for the speakers in your bedroom, etc. Kind of like the airport express. Maybe one with just a stereo jack and one with the same ports as the apple TV.

It doesn't even have to be cheaper, just have audio out.
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