Computers Google introduces Chromecast - 35 bucks?!? - Page 10

**SuperChief** · 07-24-2013, 12:16 PM

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.

**notorious** · 11-25-2013, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Yes. Chrome will broadcast whatever is in the browser to the TV.

That's how it works.

OK. I was hoping the interface was direct to the Chromcast so that it can be controlled on the TV screen.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 11-25-2013, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

That's how it works.

OK. I was hoping the interface was direct to the Chromcast so that it can be controlled on the TV screen.

Well, all the apps (Youtube, Hulu, etc.) that have been cleared DO go straight to the Chromecast. So you tell it you want to stream a Youtube video, the CC actually goes and fetches the video straight from your WiFi. However, if you're streaming from Chrome to the Chromecast so you can see what's in your web browser, it goes from WiFi to your computer to the CC.

**hometeam** · 11-25-2013, 03:09 PM

^This.

Officially supported apps allow me to stream using my cell phone as the remote/media hub/

kepp · 11-25-2013, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

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.

1-800-BETS-OFF

**DaFace** · 11-25-2013, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowener

Well I started writing, "my only complaint is no HBO Go support," but apparently that changed 3 days ago! SWEET! Buy it.

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.

It's taken WAY too long for them to get the dev kit going, but I'm optimistic that new apps will start appearing in a hurry as soon as it's out.

Buns · 11-26-2013, 08:22 PM

Just picked one up off amazon. Get six bucks play credit for a limited time with purchase.

**DaFace** · 12-10-2013, 08:46 PM

It's not much, but...

http://chrome.blogspot.com/2013/12/n...-holidays.html

Quote:

Just in time for the holidays, 10 new apps have been added to the Chromecast family. Beginning today you can enjoy action sports, news, music videos, and more with the addition of VEVO, Red Bull.TV, Songza, PostTV, Viki, Revision 3 and BeyondPod.

And for those many holiday gatherings, you can also cast your personal media straight to your TV using Plex, Avia, or RealPlayer Cloud apps. There’s no need to huddle around small screens when you can share your own photos and videos using your phone, tablet, or laptop.

Hopefully this is the sign that things are gonna start moving more quickly now.

**hometeam** · 12-10-2013, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

It's not much, but...

http://chrome.blogspot.com/2013/12/n...-holidays.html

Hopefully this is the sign that things are gonna start moving more quickly now.

Did the dev kit finally release? Once it does you are going to see a snowball effect.

**SuperChief** · 12-10-2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

It's not much, but...

http://chrome.blogspot.com/2013/12/n...-holidays.html

Hopefully this is the sign that things are gonna start moving more quickly now.

Songza ****ing rocks. This is a game changer for how I will use this.

**DaFace** · 12-10-2013, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperChief

Songza ****ing rocks. This is a game changer for how I will use this.

Not sure why it wasn't in that blurb, but Plex is on the list now too. That's huge for a big group of people, though I don't personally use it.

EDIT: Nevermind, I'm and idiot. Added the next paragraph to the quote.

bowener · 12-11-2013, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Not sure why it wasn't in that blurb, but Plex is on the list now too. That's huge for a big group of people, though I don't personally use it.

EDIT: Nevermind, I'm and idiot. Added the next paragraph to the quote.

I need to use plex. I am guessing you endorse this idea?

**Buck** · 12-11-2013, 09:23 AM

My girl just got this for her bday and I need to start looking into it to get it set up for her.

SLAG · 12-11-2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowener

I need to use plex. I am guessing you endorse this idea?

I am a plex user - and I endorse this.

I am very excited to see plex support as I love Plex - the problem is that its currently only available to PlexPass subscribers.

They always get the new features first (pay to be a beta tester really)

But they will make its way down to normal plex users - I just have to wait a little longer.

Buns · 12-11-2013, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck

My girl just got this for her bday and I need to start looking into it to get it set up for her.

I signed up for Netflix when I got mine, and it's been pretty sweet. HBO Go, YouTube, and Pandora have all worked very well, too.

Fish · 12-11-2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLAG

I am a plex user - and I endorse this.

I am very excited to see plex support as I love Plex - the problem is that its currently only available to PlexPass subscribers.

They always get the new features first (pay to be a beta tester really)

But they will make its way down to normal plex users - I just have to wait a little longer.

Man, that's horseshit. They really better change that.

This device could be infinitely more useful if they'd just ease up on their silly stranglehold on the content....

07-24-2013, 12:16 PM
SuperChief Damn it feels good. Join Date: Mar 2011 Casino cash: $7547978	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.
Posts: 3,305

11-25-2013, 03:09 PM	#138
hometeam Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Casino cash: $4141956	^This. Officially supported apps allow me to stream using my cell phone as the remote/media hub/
Posts: 10,636

11-26-2013, 08:22 PM	#141
Buns BUNS <3 2PM Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Casino cash: $4161989	Just picked one up off amazon. Get six bucks play credit for a limited time with purchase.
Posts: 1,488

12-11-2013, 09:23 AM	#147
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $8329900	My girl just got this for her bday and I need to start looking into it to get it set up for her.
Posts: 44,562