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Google Chromecast

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Re: Google Chromecast

#221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They two teams were recently merged, or at least now share the same leader, Sundar Pichai. Chrome is likely the right name here, it supports most platforms where Chrome runs, not just Android.

Although it leaves the Google TV team in an awkward position

The GoogleTV g+, twitter etc. feeds, previously pretty active, have been dead since January. My guess is the bulk of the GoogleTV engineering talent left it to make chromecast.

Re: Google Chromecast

#222
post #60

I dont understand how you stream content from your device to the Chromecast. My PC has Windows Media Player, my Windows 8 phone has XBox SmartGlass. Would these applications allow you to stream to the tv. I am abit lost...

No. There are 4 applications that know what a Chromecast is and can send video to it: Netflix for Android, YouTube for Android, Google Play for Android, and Chrome for Android/Windows/Mac/ChromeOS. * ed: and ChromeOS.

Well, there are 4 now. But there's a public API (more precisely, 3 public APIs), so more'll start popping up soon enough.

https://developers.google.com/cast/

Re: Google Chromecast

#223
post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get it. I have an HTPC, and I watch Youtube on it all the time. I will often pause what I am watching to look something up related to the video I am watching. I don't have a personal phone as I get by fine with my work phone. It's a blackberry, so not compatible anyway. Also, when watching TV, its with the family, and we all are interested in what we look up. As far as I know, this only does some video, and d…

It's limited compared to what you can already do, but that's because you have a HTPC. Same for people who have a Google TV device, an Apple TV device, a Roku or whatever media box or media center plugged in to their TV. To you and me, who don't mind learning how to use a media center device, this doesn't really change anything. The Chromecast is a device for your mom; something where she can just take her iPad and pr…

did it cost $35?

Re: Google Chromecast

#224
post #212

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.

So the way my friends and I currently use the Apple TV is we all kind of just try to Airplay stuff from our phones and whatever randomly wins, wins. It would be cool to keep that same interaction, just with a little more structure: perhaps the videos get queued instead of all of them losing instead of one.

Re: Google Chromecast

#225
post #214
post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

Chrome appears to be becoming a full fledged operating system.

Re: Google Chromecast

#226
post #214
post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

Isn't it using Miracast internally?

Will it work with Windows 8.1 which has Miracast support?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UXXNLlmz0A

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/06/windows-8-1-supports-miraca...

I hope they work with standards instead of creating proprietary and incompatible protocols.

Re: Google Chromecast

#227
post #142

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.

> If your t.v. has an HDMI port it more than likely has a USB as well.

This is probably true for current new TVs, but HDMI ports were common on HDTVs before USB ports were, and not everyone replaces their TV every year.

Re: Google Chromecast

#228
post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's limited compared to what you can already do, but that's because you have a HTPC. Same for people who have a Google TV device, an Apple TV device, a Roku or whatever media box or media center plugged in to their TV. To you and me, who don't mind learning how to use a media center device, this doesn't really change anything. The Chromecast is a device for your mom; something where she can just take her iPad and pr…

I don't have much interest in this and was just skimming over the comments but I have to thank you -- your comment got my attention. My mother (on the complete opposite end of the "techie" spectrum from me) watches soap operas on her iPad every few days while laying in bed. I'm certain she'd much rather watch them on the huge TV across the room instead. > The Chromecast is a device for your mom; something where she c…

I realise it's twice the price, but an Apple TV will be much simpler to use, and will work with almost all apps on her iPad that play video (and audio). That includes all the built-in apps and nearly all store-bought apps.

There's a strong possibility your mother's soaps are being played in a way that's unsupported by the Chromecast.

Re: Google Chromecast

#229

The "Buy Now" page has two options now: Google Play and Amazon. If I buy it through Amazon, do I get the 3 months netflix? Or is it only through Google Play?

Amazon offers the 3 months of Netflix too.

I just ordered through amazon, but am I too late for the 3 months? Is there any way to check?

Re: Google Chromecast

#230
post #225
post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

Chrome appears to be becoming a full fledged operating system.

And they will call it ChromeOS.

(its what runs the Chromebooks. http://www.google.com/chromeos )

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