Computers Google introduces Chromecast - 35 bucks?!? - Page 13

**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.

**SuperChief** · 02-20-2014, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevB

My chromecast just refuses to stay connected to my router. My wife has given up, as it seems the few times she's tried to use it, it doesn't work. Very frustrating.

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.

**DaFace** · 03-02-2014, 12:10 PM

(Among quite a few others,) Vudu is in.

http://blog.vudu.com/?p=10711

htismaqe · 03-03-2014, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

This is probably the reason I recommend AppleTV to most families instead of XBMC and other boxes. The damned thing just works with zero troubleshooting. There is nothing worse than trying to troubleshoot what, to me, is a simple tech issue over the phone to my wife who is panicking because my "stupid ****ing cheapass illegal ripoff cable replacement" won't work. My wife would rather sit there and watch the limited offerings of Netflix flawlessly than be able to watch whatever she wants but troubleshoot it. My solution was to run netflix on the Wii for her when I'm not around then I deal with xbmc/1channel when I'm home.

This is precisely why we are using Roku (and a couple of Sony BluRay players) in this house.

I just don't have the patience to mess with stuff anymore.

SLAG · 03-03-2014, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

This is precisely why we are using Roku (and a couple of Sony BluRay players) in this house.

I just don't have the patience to mess with stuff anymore.

Roku + Plex = Amazing

**SuperChief** · 03-03-2014, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

This is precisely why we are using Roku (and a couple of Sony BluRay players) in this house.

I just don't have the patience to mess with stuff anymore.

Your forefathers who had to churn their own butter and pump water from a well laugh at your ridiculousness.

Omaha · 03-03-2014, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLAG

Roku + Plex = Amazing

What is Plex?

htismaqe · 03-03-2014, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperChief

Your forefathers who had to churn their own butter and pump water from a well laugh at your ridiculousness.

They hand-pumped water because they could do it outside, away from the constant nagging.

DaveNull · 03-03-2014, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaha

What is Plex?

Plex is a system that helps organize media on your computer and then access it from wherever. It will handle transcoding for you, which is handy.

kepp · 03-04-2014, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLAG

Roku + Plex = Amazing

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveNull

Plex is a system that helps organize media on your computer and then access it from wherever. It will handle transcoding for you, which is handy.

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?

SLAG · 03-04-2014, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

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?

maybe

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

NewChief · 03-04-2014, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

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?

Might be worth dropping the money on a chromecast, as that will do it. XBMC will allow you to access 1channel and FreeTV straight from your box, but there is no Roku XBMC hack at the moment, I don't believe.

**Shogun** · 03-07-2014, 09:48 PM

Just bought this tonight. Returning it tomorrow.

Reason : Comcast sucks giants bags of cocks and the damn thing won't work.

nstygma · 03-07-2014, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shogun

Just bought this tonight. Returning it tomorrow.

Reason : Comcast sucks giants bags of cocks and the damn thing won't work.

what's it got to do with comcasst? you using their router?

**hometeam** · 03-07-2014, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shogun

Just bought this tonight. Returning it tomorrow.

Reason : Comcast sucks giants bags of cocks and the damn thing won't work.

Its not comcast. Its router settings.

I have been using my chromecast lately to play local mp4 files. All you do is drag drop them on chrome. Quite nifty.

**DaFace** · 03-07-2014, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstygma

what's it got to do with comcasst? you using their router?

Yeah, I don't get the connection.

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

03-02-2014, 12:10 PM	#182
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2046899	(Among quite a few others,) Vudu is in. http://blog.vudu.com/?p=10711
Posts: 51,757