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07-24-2013, 12:16 PM | |
Damn it feels good.
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Google introduces Chromecast - 35 bucks?!?
This looks like it will really test Roku/Apple TV. For that price point, I'm not sure how it couldn't. From what I'm hearing, you can stream anything from your desktop to the connected device, but not from mobile. Only supported apps from mobile will stream. More to come, I'm sure.
http://cnet.co/1c2ZBTm Google's taking yet another stab at the living room. Today Google introduced Chromecast, a stick-like device that connects to one of your TV's HDMI inputs and accepts video pushed from smartphones, tablets and the Chrome browser. It's available for just $35 starting today from the Google Play store in the US, with availability in other countries to follow. The compact 2-inch device will work with Netflix, YouTube, Google Play Movies and TV, and Google Play Music at launch, with support for future services, including Pandora, coming soon. It's a cross-platform device, with support for both Android and iOS devices, as well as the Chrome browser on both Windows and Mac computers. More details are currently available on the Google's Chrome blog. Chromecast's approach is different than most devices on the market: it's half-remote, half-streaming media box. The idea is instead of designing a TV-optimized user interface, you'll be able to select and control content from your smartphone or tablet. Browse the Netflix app, find your content, then tell it to play in your living room. Chromecast even goes one step further, by automatically switching your TV to the correct input and giving you the ability to adjust the volume using your mobile devices built-in volume controls. The ability for Android devices to pause content without unlocking the phone first seemed particularly well-implemented. You'll also be able to juggle control between multiple mobile devices, with Chromecast syncing between connected devices. You can start playing Netflix from your tablet, then later use a smartphone to fast-forward. Using the YouTube app, you can also create a shared queue of content, stringing together several short web videos for an extended viewing session. All-in-all, Google's demos looked particularly slick. As sleek as the Chromecast device looks, Google's initial presentation skimmed over some of the rougher edges. The specs in the Google Play store list both a USB power cable and a power adapter, which indicate that the Chromecast will have some wires hanging off it -- it's not truly "just a stick". It's the same method PLAiR used to power its similar HDMI-based streaming stick. The hardware itself supports 2.4 GHz WiFi 802.11, which isn't quite as nice as the dual-band Wi-Fi offered on Roku's Streaming Stick. The internal processor is capable of playing back full 1080p video with 5.1 surround sound. I haven't had any hands-on time with the Chromecast yet, but from the initial announcement, the biggest limitation appears to be app support. Supporting only four services out-of-the-gate puts Chromecast well behind established players like Roku and Apple TV, and limited functionality was also one of the major knocks against the ill-fated Nexus Q. However, the big difference with Chromecast ultralow $35 price. It's a lot easier to accept those limitations when you haven't paid much upfront and the low price should also help spread adoption, which should encourage services to include Chromecast at a faster rate. This is a developing story so stay tuned for further details as we get them. |
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11-25-2013, 08:19 AM | #121 | |
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Bads - none No really. I have yet to run across a time when I went 'oh that doesn't work' or 'I wish it was better at X' Not once. |
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11-25-2013, 08:36 AM | #122 |
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11-25-2013, 09:07 AM | #123 | |
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Works great - Great Quality Con: Still not too many apps support it. Google still has it locked down from other developers. Apps I use it with: HBO Go - YouTube - Netflix |
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11-25-2013, 10:05 AM | #124 |
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Is this only available via online purchase directly from Google, or have they made them available at retail stores? For $35 I'm just guessing that they're only doing direct purchase as the option?
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11-25-2013, 12:14 PM | #125 |
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I bought mine off of Amazon, and I have amazon prime. Had it in 2 days.
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11-25-2013, 12:19 PM | #126 |
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Will this thing work off of a regular home wireless hub?
We have a TV in our BR that doesn't support wireless, but I want to use netflix, amazon, etc. |
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11-25-2013, 12:29 PM | #127 |
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If the TV is within range of your WiFi and has an available HDMI port, yes. Though the only apps supported are Netflix, Youtube, HBOGo, and HuluPlus. No Amazon streaming support.
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11-25-2013, 12:43 PM | #128 |
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Google play movies /audio works too
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11-25-2013, 12:46 PM | #129 |
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11-25-2013, 12:59 PM | #130 |
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11-25-2013, 01:03 PM | #131 |
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11-25-2013, 01:04 PM | #132 |
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Can you use it to view web pages on your TV? My mom likes to play online poker and I was hoping this was something she could use to play it on her big screen TV.
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11-25-2013, 01:12 PM | #133 |
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11-25-2013, 01:27 PM | #134 | |
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And evidently they are about to hold a "hackathon" for the chromecast and release the dev kit, which is going to be awesome. So again, buy it.
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11-25-2013, 01:52 PM | #135 |
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Available content is way to limited compared to other media dongles like the Raspberry Pi. Hopefully that will change once developers are allowed access..
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