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Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

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Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#111
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Play Music & Movies, Pandora, Hulu, Chrome tabs, HBO Go, Plex... See http://chromecast.com/apps for the current list. I really only use Google Play, Netflix, YouTube and tab casting though.

I know what's available- I have one myself, I just don't ever use it. I don't have a Hulu Plus subscription, nor do I buy music/video through the Play Store. Chrome tab performance is weak at best. I guess I'm just hoping for a lot more than what I have right now.

Chrome tab performance may be weak due to a slow router. I bought a newer Asus and it helped quite a lot. I can play youtube videos within a Chrome tab and it works perfectly well, even with the router several bedrooms away.

Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#112
post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plex Media Center.

NOTE: Requires MONTHLY FEE to enable streaming to ChromeCast

You only have to be a paid Plex supporter for early access. This will be a free feature soon.

Plexpass is only $29.99 a year or $74.99 lifetime.

Personally I think everyone using Plex on a daily basis should be a paying member and support future development.

Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#113
post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have three Roku-powered rooms in my house. I read about Chromecast's capabilities but I cannot find how it would serve me better than Roku. My needs are: * Stream Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/HBO Go to the TV. * Stream videos off my NAS, such as DVD rips, home movies, etc. (For this I use Plex.) * Occasionally, stream movies and pictures I took with my phone to the TV. * Very occasionally, stream live events, such as the Ne…

I own a Roku, and find it works great when you're laying down on your bed and want to watch a movie on Amazon/Netflix. However, for entertaining, the easy access to Google Play Music and the ability to cast Chrome tabs was the reason that I chose Chromecasts everywhere, and stuck with the Roku just where I want to watch Amazon movies.

I haven't tried it before but it seems the Roku app on iOS lets you stream music to the Roku player. In addition to that, many new home surround sound systems come with Bluetooth streaming capability, though then of course you have to keep the phone close enough to the stereo to not break the connection.

Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#114
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For $55 you can get a Chinese android phone(and there are new chips that might take the price down to $35). Google can't reduce this price any further.

I'm curious about these $55 Android phones, what are they called? Also what are the new chips that could bring them down to $35? Even just the names would be enough to point me in the right direction and would be appreciated.

When the question is "where can I find suppliers of generic Chinese ________?", the answer is always "Alibaba".

http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-android-phone.html?Sea...

Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#115
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, the fact that Apple TV doesn't work with non-Apple devices makes it a non-starter among those who don't exclusively buy Apple products in perpetuity. So the question is Chromecast vs. other cross-platform TV solutions, like Roku. Roku does have it's own device-streaming but it only works with media on your device. I own both and use both, but lean towards the Roku more often as using the phone/tablet as a remote…

I have three Roku-powered rooms in my house. I read about Chromecast's capabilities but I cannot find how it would serve me better than Roku. My needs are: * Stream Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/HBO Go to the TV. * Stream videos off my NAS, such as DVD rips, home movies, etc. (For this I use Plex.) * Occasionally, stream movies and pictures I took with my phone to the TV. * Very occasionally, stream live events, such as the Ne…

The difference I see is that remote-based streamers are better when you know what you want to watch. Push-from-device based streamers are better when you are just browsing and come across something interesting.

Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can tab cast Amazon Instant Video from Chrome. I've been successfully using it for months.

The downside, though, is that the video is still playing on the laptop simultaneously.

Yes, but you can dim down the LCD and the audio is piped to the chromecast. It's a 'hack', but it does work.

Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#118
post #92
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Phones without SIMs can still call 911...

Sounds less like a technical issue and more like a parenting one. Plus having another way to dial 9-11 from the living room could be good if you don't have a land-line.

You've obviously never given a toddler a cellphone to play a video. They'll find a way to do it, so you have to watch them like a hawk. For older kids, this is less of a problem.

On the other hand, they can use the AppleTV remote quite easily without much worry. So, the lack of a viable (dedicated) remote for the Chromecast is an issue for some.

For us, I have an AppleTV in the living room that the kids can use, but a Chromecast in the bedroom that only my wife and I use. Although, I have had a problem before where my 3 year old figured out how to tell Netflix on an iPad to play a movie to our Chromecast. She had no idea why her movie wouldn't play and got very frustrated!

Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#119

I love my Chromecast and use it extensively. This is what Miracast should have been, something that "just worked" and seamlessly interconnected devices. But instead Miracast is yet another classic example of "death of committee" where tons of big media and hardware companies wanted to get their features and DRM in, and as a direct result we now have dozens of completely incompatible Miracast devices. I think this tab…

Out of curiosity, what have you been using your Chromecast for? I have drunk the Apple Kool-Aid: I have iOS devices, AppleTVs, and a home server running iTunes. Admittedly, the iTunes server is serving video and music that is ripped from legitimately-acquired spinning-discs, so perhaps I haven't tasted the iTunes Store Kool-Aid. I purchased a Chromecast right at launch. As far as I could tell, the only things it did…

One yet unrealized advantage of ChromeCast over AppleTV is that it has an open API available which developers can use to extend it to do more creative things. And the client support isn't limited to Apple only device - web, Android, iOS, desktop everything is supported as a client.

Besides it's only $35 and it works well.

Re: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK

#120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can tab cast Amazon Instant Video from Chrome. I've been successfully using it for months.

The downside, though, is that the video is still playing on the laptop simultaneously.

And devouring your battery as it does so. Native Amazon Video support is a must-have for me to use it full-time.
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