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Chromecast Rooted

forum.xda-developers.com

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Re: Chromecast Rooted

#71

Post by defen »

tuxidomasx wrote: post #66

The biggest problem I've had with Chromecast was using it in a hotel that had wifi login pages. The device is ideal for hotels since you usually get a nice HD TV in the room. But half the time I can't stream from Chromecast because of the wifi login. A rooted Chromecast would essentially let me log in to the hotel wifi like I would on my laptop or phone. Then I can stream away.

I've solved this problem for Apple TVs by spoofing the device's MAC address on my laptop, using the laptop browser to accept the WiFi ads or login or whatever, and then resetting my laptop address and plugging the device in.

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#72

Post by TeMPOraL »

TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #53
userbinator wrote: post #47

exploited a new vulnerability in the Chromecast which allows root access Normally, vulnerabilities would be considered a bad thing. Heartbleed is a great example of that. But in cases like these, it's a very good thing. This is why I always like to remind those whose goal is to build more secure systems to consider the implications of their work, lest our devices become even more secure against us. They usually have…

I'd say users choose convenience over freedom, the security is in the back of their minds. Make a more convenient but free phone and people will use it.

This. I'd say they care about freedom more-less as much as about security, i.e. not at all. They just choose more convenient over less convenient. And honestly, it's perfectly understandable.

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#73

Post by hboon »

mattkrea wrote: post #31
Touche wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Phones are poor remotes.

I used to feel the same way. Then, I gave away my Apple TV and bought a Chromecast. Searching for content.. jumping between content sources.. it's all easier on the phone.

Did you try Apple's Remote app with Apple TV? Is it still worse than Chromecast?

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#74

Post by mseebach »

tuxidomasx wrote: post #66

The biggest problem I've had with Chromecast was using it in a hotel that had wifi login pages. The device is ideal for hotels since you usually get a nice HD TV in the room. But half the time I can't stream from Chromecast because of the wifi login. A rooted Chromecast would essentially let me log in to the hotel wifi like I would on my laptop or phone. Then I can stream away.

I carry a small travel router that I plug in to the wired network in hotels. I don't travel with my chromecast but I like that I don't have to login from my phone, tablet, Kindle and laptop. The chromecast would work in the same way and would also have the benefit of not announcing its presence to the entire hotel.

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#75

Post by zo1 »

chii wrote: post #62
fpgaminer wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it just me, or is it odd that we rejoice when things like this happen? It just doesn't feel right to reward companies who release locked-down hardware. Don't get me wrong, I share in the excitement for a $35 XBMC capable android device. But on the other hand, it seems a better idea to spend money on a product that isn't locked down in the first place. I haven't followed the Chromecast, but why is it locked in the…

what can you buy with $35 that has the capabilities of the chromecast?

I read some guys higher up in this thread talk about using a RaspberryPi.

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#76

Post by userbinator »

TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #53
userbinator wrote: post #47

exploited a new vulnerability in the Chromecast which allows root access Normally, vulnerabilities would be considered a bad thing. Heartbleed is a great example of that. But in cases like these, it's a very good thing. This is why I always like to remind those whose goal is to build more secure systems to consider the implications of their work, lest our devices become even more secure against us. They usually have…

I'd say users choose convenience over freedom, the security is in the back of their minds. Make a more convenient but free phone and people will use it.

Convenience is a big part of it, but I don't see freedom being marketed quite as much (if at all) as security - these days, the new version of a product almost always mentions "more secure" in its list of features, while "more freedom", when it appears, seems to read more like "you can now do new things with your device that you couldn't before", than "you can have more control over it."

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#77

Post by higherpurpose »

userbinator wrote: post #47

exploited a new vulnerability in the Chromecast which allows root access Normally, vulnerabilities would be considered a bad thing. Heartbleed is a great example of that. But in cases like these, it's a very good thing. This is why I always like to remind those whose goal is to build more secure systems to consider the implications of their work, lest our devices become even more secure against us. They usually have…

They could also decide to allow their devices to be unlocked in a secure way, instead of us having to rely on vulnerabilities, and then them having to fix them.

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#78

Post by higherpurpose »

TD-Linux wrote: post #59
darklajid wrote: post #15

Anyone having a Chromecast and able to tell me what I'm missing? Currently I've got xbmc running on a Raspberry Pi. Connected via HDMI, online via wifi and I can stream more or less everything (videos, images, music) from my phone to that thing - not sure if there's a decent way to do that from my laptop running Linux. What are Chromecasts used for? Should I buy one?

Google wanted an Airplay competitor, and for whatever reason wanted to hobble it with the same restrictions as Airplay - a proprietary protocol to only let certain (closed source) programs stream to it, and prevent those programs from streaming to non-Google targets.

It's not "whatever reason". Google is in the content selling business now - which means they are going to add as much DRM and restrictions to their operating systems, browsers, and devices as possible, to either try to "protect it" (which I think we all know it never works), or to please their content suppliers.

This is not just a constant thing we're seeing either. Expect Google to become ever more restrictive and anti-piracy, as they delve deeper into the content selling business. The days of the "Open Google" are long gone now, and they're never coming back.

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#79

Post by drcross »

defen wrote: post #71
tuxidomasx wrote: post #66

The biggest problem I've had with Chromecast was using it in a hotel that had wifi login pages. The device is ideal for hotels since you usually get a nice HD TV in the room. But half the time I can't stream from Chromecast because of the wifi login. A rooted Chromecast would essentially let me log in to the hotel wifi like I would on my laptop or phone. Then I can stream away.

I've solved this problem for Apple TVs by spoofing the device's MAC address on my laptop, using the laptop browser to accept the WiFi ads or login or whatever, and then resetting my laptop address and plugging the device in.

smart but only works if the hotel NAC uses mac whitelisting and not more advanced techniques like browser posturing.

Re: Chromecast Rooted

#80

Post by drcross »

fpgaminer wrote: post #46
kusuriya wrote: post #34

35 dollars for an android device that can now be turned into an XBMC device with netflix.... I think I may give the chromecast a second swing...

Is it just me, or is it odd that we rejoice when things like this happen? It just doesn't feel right to reward companies who release locked-down hardware. Don't get me wrong, I share in the excitement for a $35 XBMC capable android device. But on the other hand, it seems a better idea to spend money on a product that isn't locked down in the first place. I haven't followed the Chromecast, but why is it locked in the…

It's locked because they are selling it at a knock down price to tempt you into their eco system. As a consumer you are free to buy any of the SOC devices out on the market at the moment, of which there is a fantastic array, but they all cost more.
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