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07-24-2013, 12:16 PM | |
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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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02-20-2014, 11:50 PM | #181 |
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I've worked with 3 Chromecasts now (2 as gifts, 1 as my own), and I definitely understand some of the problems you're encountering. It seems like such a simple device, but there often tends to be issues with connectivity. Most of the time things go back to normal after I reboot the router, but I do understand the frustration. It should work more smoothly, but for $35 it's hard for me to complain, IMO.
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03-02-2014, 12:10 PM | #182 |
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03-03-2014, 09:08 AM | #183 | |
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03-03-2014, 10:36 AM | #184 |
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Roku + Plex = Amazing
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03-03-2014, 12:38 PM | #185 |
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Your forefathers who had to churn their own butter and pump water from a well laugh at your ridiculousness.
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03-03-2014, 01:44 PM | #186 |
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03-03-2014, 02:10 PM | #187 |
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03-03-2014, 05:30 PM | #188 |
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03-04-2014, 11:40 AM | #189 |
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I have two Roku boxes and have seen references to Plex as a way to stream from a PC to the Roku...and I've seen where I can add a Plex channel in Roku. Is this basically what it is? Specifically, one thing I'd like to use it for is to stream current episodes of The Walking Dead from a site like free-tv-video-online.me to my Roku, then to the TV. Can it do this?
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03-04-2014, 12:43 PM | #190 | |
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There is a JavaScript Applet that can search any page for a video and then stream it to your roku - on the major sites it usually works well but on some side sites it does not - I tried it with http://www.livemass.net but it did not find the feed - so I just found the source url for the feed did a wget on my server and downloaded the video and then plex picked it up worth a shot though - they just started charging for the Roku app for new installs- it use to be free :/ - at least i'm grandfathered in |
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03-04-2014, 01:01 PM | #191 | |
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03-07-2014, 09:48 PM | #192 |
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Just bought this tonight. Returning it tomorrow.
Reason : Comcast sucks giants bags of cocks and the damn thing won't work.
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03-07-2014, 09:58 PM | #193 |
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03-07-2014, 10:01 PM | #194 | |
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I have been using my chromecast lately to play local mp4 files. All you do is drag drop them on chrome. Quite nifty. |
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03-07-2014, 10:07 PM | #195 |
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