Google Chromecast

[mulva]

google chrome is my choice of browser and i'm thinking about getting this.

does anyone have it?....seems like a good buy for 35 bucks.

imagine the ease and streaming capabilities from your pc.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome...ecast/#netflix

[shortbuspoker]

Was thinking about getting one when I first saw it online, but after reading the C-net review I decided not to. The biggest turn off to me is that even though it plugs into the HDMI slot you still have a power cord that you have to run from it to the wall and you have to use your smartphone or tablet as a remote control. For now I'm going to continue using my blu-ray player for Netflix.

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-medi...-35823617.html

The bad: The beta screen-mirroring feature won't work as well as you want it to, so you're largely limited to four apps and without support for several major ones, including Amazon Instant, HBO Go, MLB.TV, Spotify, and Rdio. The lack of a dedicated remote also means you always need a smartphone or tablet nearby.

The bottom line: Google's $35 Chromecast streaming-TV dongle is certainly cheap, but its limited initial app support and total reliance on mobile devices keep it well behind the Apple TV and Roku -- at least for now.

But once you've lived with the Chromecast for a while, $35 feels less like a fantastic deal and more like exactly what a device like this should cost. The Chromecast lets you stream from Netflix and YouTube using your Android or iOS mobile device as a remote, with Android users also getting access to Google Music and Google TV and Movies. It also supports the ability to mirror any content from a Chrome browser running on a Mac or Windows PC, including Hulu, HBO Go, and full episodes from major TV networks like CBS, NBC, Fox, and ABC via their respective Web sites. And the hardware is delightfully compact and well-built, making it easy to toss in your bag for travel or moving from room to room.

What it doesn't do is everything else: there are no dedicated apps for many major services (including Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Spotify, Rdio, and MLB.TV), no dedicated TV interface for standalone use, no support for personal media sitting on your devices (aside from a clunky hack), and the awesome-sounding screen-mirroring feature ends up being entirely underwhelming in practice. Basically, you can stream Netflix, YouTube, and a couple of Google services; $35 feels about right.

[mulva]

"the ability to mirror any content from a Chrome browser"


this, this, this, n this

[Steve-O]

I have it, got it 3 days ago or so. It does precisely what it says. If you have any particular questions I'll see if I can answer them. The Mirror thing works but you need to install a second app called Google Cast, unfortunately it doesn't work on my Android.

[chinamaniac]

Isn't this basically the same thing as apple tv?

[Steve-O]

Isn't this basically the same thing as apple tv?

Basically, you plug it into an HDMI outlet and it runs off your home WiFi. so you can jump on Netflix from your PC/Laptop/Phone/Tablet and pick a show/movie to watch. While it runs there is a little button (that looks like the watch Full Screen button) that if you click it, it will send the show straight to your TV. Once it streams to your TV you can do whatever you want on the device you sent it from, even turn it off.

Once it's on Chromecast you can even watch a different show on Netflix on another device.

[chinamaniac]

Isn't this basically the same thing as apple tv?

Basically, you plug it into an HDMI outlet and it runs off your home WiFi. so you can jump on Netflix from your PC/Laptop/Phone/Tablet and pick a show/movie to watch. While it runs there is a little button (that looks like the watch Full Screen button) that if you click it, it will send the show straight to your TV. Once it streams to your TV you can do whatever you want on the device you sent it from, even turn it off.

Once it's on Chromecast you can even watch a different show on Netflix on another device.

Sounds identical to apple tv

http://www.apple.com/appletv/

[Steve-O]

looks the same, I have Galaxy phone and tablet so I wouldn't really know. If they are the same Google wins at 1/3 of the price

[simpdog]

the major thing missing for me is being able to play .avi off your tablet/laptop/desktop.

[lewfather]

I was doing this shit with a ps3 years ago, even if you have a 360 you can use this software to stream over wifi.

http://www.ps3mediaserver.org/

[simpdog]

I was doing this shit with a ps3 years ago, even if you have a 360 you can use this software to stream over wifi.

http://www.ps3mediaserver.org/

the difference is the chromecast is tiny. And $35

[VaughnP]

I'm not seeing what's so great about any of this. Anyone with a brain has been doing similar things for free for over 5 years. Currently posting on a TV with a wireless keyboard and trackball mouse.

[Steve-O]

I'm not seeing what's so great about any of this. Anyone with a brain has been doing similar things for free for over 5 years. Currently posting on a TV with a wireless keyboard and trackball mouse.

The difference is there is no setup to deal with. No plugged in laptop, no keyboard, no mouse. it's like it's a part of your TV and your phone is the remote. It's more of a convenience thing than groundbreaking technology.

[4Dragons]

I guess I like the idea of the smartphone remote thing but i've been streaming video to things other than my monitor for like 7 years. Just need the right video card. For the price though, it'd be worth it to just get it and throw it in a drawer if it didn't work.

[mulva]

just picked one of these up.

looking forward to using this thing

it came w/ 3 free months of netflix, a $24.00 value ..i already have netflix and it will credit my account, so i only ended up paying 11 bucks for the thing

[LLL]

Updates?

Considering picking one of these up.

[PLOL]

I use a Roku for doing this kind of stuff. I got a refurbed Roku 2 XD for less than $50. Though I sorta regret not getting the Roku 3.

But whether you get the Roku or a Chromecast, make sure you put the Plex app on it so you can have all your content organized and streamed on all platforms.

[sonatine]

can roku handle mkv?

[PLOL]

can roku handle mkv?

I think the Roku 3 plays mkv, but not previous versions

[sonatine]

thats one hell of a sales point if so.