Related
hello,
I just get my xoom and i would like to be able to read video file from my Pc (windows). I don't want a stream software (like orb) I would like to read with moboplayer or another one. I try to use es explorer to access file on the computer but when I launch the video but player as to copy everything before. I try to use cfis manager but it is not working with tiamat 1.3.2.
So if someone get a solution it would be perfect
thks
hmmm...did you load the cifs prior to using conf manager? THat's what i use and it works great. ONly option out there unless you encode your videos for streaming.
I play movies from a pc drive by mounting the drive on the xoom.
Here is a guide I wrote up to get it working.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1036316
i use tversity. Prettygoood post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1039808
Two things that may simplify the process for you.
Look for an app like Twonkey that will allow UPNP streams. They are NOT converted so the file will need to be a playable file format on the Xoom for it to work. As a bonus Twonkey will allow you to stream video from the Xoom to your PC or UPNP/DLNA capable TV.
Wait for Plex to release their update for the Xoom. This is VERY close to completion, but I can not give you any exact details. Plex makes Orb look like a steaming pile of you know what, with regard to browsing your media library and the quality of the transcoding. As a few lingering bugs get worked out it will also allow for native streaming of the file with no transcode if bandwidth allows.
Yeah so when is plex coming out for xoom? I've been waiting for it since february! patiently, no less! as it is i'm using skifta as a dlna client, but the image is wonky and it doesn't work nearly as well as plex does on my iphone.
You could just, you know, send me the plex beta apk? I already bought it for android. thanks?
I use Ubuntu at home and here is my setup. You can certainly modify it for a Windows box.
I use Coherence as a UPNP server on ly computer. Youcan use Tversity on Windows for a similar service.
On my Xoom, I run an app call UPNP Play, which will find all UPNP severs on your wifi network. I choose the file I want, and play it via Rockplayer.
So far I haven't had any problems. No need for transcoding at all. Most files I tried have worked beautifully. But I haven't tried a h.264 file yet.
Playon has a beta MyMedia function that converts and streams and works pretty well on my Zoom to watch my .avi and mkv files. Not free but it works pretty well and gives you Netflix too.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
PlayOn is my top favorite since I can watch shows from Hulu on it
Skifta is my second choice because I use it to stream all other types of contents from my primary media server - http://vortexbox.org
stinkyjoe said:
Yeah so when is plex coming out for xoom? I've been waiting for it since february! patiently, no less! as it is i'm using skifta as a dlna client, but the image is wonky and it doesn't work nearly as well as plex does on my iphone.
You could just, you know, send me the plex beta apk? I already bought it for android. thanks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well we are working on the RC for public release right now. Two major bugs were found in it and are being fixed as I type this. Public release should be right around the corner.
Sorry but I cant hand out the beta apks. Hell I probably should not be telling you that its almost out. I know its been far too long and some are loosing interest, but the wait will be worth it.
thx for all in fact the problem was in the cifs.ko not loaded, now everything work except cfis manager that I have to load from the market (not from the app ) :/
Now i have to find a quick way to encode video (all high profile :/)
Hai!
I've been seeing alot of people wanting to stream video from thier Home PC or HTPC to thier Xoom. I've also seen some really hard ways to go about it, srsly.
Here's an easy way that does not require you to install anything on your PC.
1. Share out your video folder on your PC, allow full access to everyone.
2. On Xoom, connect to your WiFi then goto Market, search "bs player" and download and install it, and the ARM7 addon next to it.
3. Open BS player, in top right menu, select LAN Mode.
4. Add your host(IP) and share: 192.168.0.2/downloads (this may not work for, is only example), add your username and password for the PC (your Login). You may need to add // infront of your IP address in some cases, not sure why.
Done.
BS player also plays most files inc .avi. Streams 720p quite fluently.
Also there is a way to do this over the net, but your net would probably die and it takes longer to explain and i'm at work, and i'm lazy ^_^.
Ciao.
You could do the same thing from your file explorer and have any player play the files from your computer. I switch to LAN in Honeycomb HD File Explorer and put my home IP in and now I can watch any of the files on my Xoom.
I installed tversity server on the pc and shared the video folder
I installed bubbleUpnp on the xoom..
open bubbleUPNP, browse to the folder, click the video and watch it on MX Video Player (or others)
Works beautifully
There are a few ways to do it.
This appears to be one of the easiest ways, along with sharing and using it through HD Explorer, which i do more than the way i posted.
But having to install software on your PC just to stream videos, in my oopinion, is unacceptable.
My PC has way more than enough power to do it as it was built for gaming, but I'd prefer not to add software that i don't need to.
But everyone has their way of doing it, this was just for those who aren't overly computer savvy and wanted to know how.
Qloud Free does a really good job of streaming video as well. Adjustable bit rate before you start each video even allows you to take in to account how powerful the CPU on the PC you are streaming from might be.
I followed your instructions, but nothing will play. Every file on my WHS server that I click on just crashes with "Unexpected error occured". I tried MP4, AVI (Xvix and Divx), and WMV files. I can see all my files under the folder I shared, none of them will play though.
I use Splashtop. What it basically does is lets you control your PC from your Xoom. Not sure if thats what you need. On the same network its pretty smooth.
If you are just looking to play it directly on your Xoom without it playing on ur PC then there are several softwares/apps available that let you view your PC files on your tablet.
What I would do is enable web sharing on my PC and then access the URL from my tablet's browser.
don't forget gmote 2.0. Its been streaming brilliantly for me
There is also Zumocast. Originally it was only available for select motorola phones, but you can find it in XDA forums...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1276410
Grabbing Plex is also a good way, though it isn't free. If you have a wide array of video formats (I have a large mix of SD, 720p, and 1080p content), something that can transcode is pretty much the only option, and Plex is much cheaper than the paid version of TVersity.
The Plex Media Server app catalogs videos with metadata like XBMC does on the PC, but requires their paid app from the market to access it. It handles real-time transcoding for videos that would otherwise be unplayable on the Xoom (ie 1080p high profile).
I agree with splashtop. I though about streaming other ways but didnt want to leave my video folder open to the entire network. Splashtop works perfectly.
I also use splashtop to get the video onto my xoom and then plug it into the tv with hdmi rather than carrying my laptop around or using a media streamer.
I personally like Remote Potato on windows 7. There is an app in the market called Remote Media Center that works real nice.
You will need Windows Media Center for this to work. I like it because I can also stream Live TV and the Guide.
so I have been using xda for some years now flashing roms and getting a lot of info from the good developers and other people like myself would like to say thanks and sorry if i am posting this info in the wrong place i normally stay quiet but since i got my chromecat i have been trying to stream my video's from my desktop and came across this ----file:///c:/ ---- and worked great but no sound. i never give up so what i found out for myself it is much simpler than that and just make chrome browser your default player and there you have it just click play on what ever video you want to stream and you have good quality pic and sound. Thank you xda if someone else found this out then nevermind ijust wanted to give what little back that i could.
correction
thegovenor said:
so I have been using xda for some years now flashing roms and getting a lot of info from the good developers and other people like myself would like to say thanks and sorry if i am posting this info in the wrong place i normally stay quiet but since i got my chromecat i have been trying to stream my video's from my desktop and came across this ----file:///c:/ ---- and worked great but no sound. i never give up so what i found out for myself it is much simpler than that and just make chrome browser your default player and there you have it just click play on what ever video you want to stream and you have good quality pic and sound. Thank you xda if someone else found this out then nevermind ijust wanted to give what little back that i could.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most of my videos play sound but all videos play maybe if one of you talented dev could explain maybe its a certain codec or something if any one can find the answer to that please let me know thanks.
I successfully set up Plex Media Server on all of my computers. However, I cannot get ANY videos to play on Chrome regardless of format (tried mp4, avi, mkv). Whenever I try to play a video either thru Plex or thru the Chrome browser, all I get is a black box with the controls. Nothing plays.
I had that problem and from that screen I tried a shot in the dark and right clicked and clicked open video in new tab... And it started playing! Don't know why but it worked.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Is it possible to load costum subtitles in Chrome?
Saschwatch said:
I had that problem and from that screen I tried a shot in the dark and right clicked and clicked open video in new tab... And it started playing! Don't know why but it worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work either!
Saschwatch said:
I had that problem and from that screen I tried a shot in the dark and right clicked and clicked open video in new tab... And it started playing! Don't know why but it worked.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just make chrome browser default video player then double click to play not right click and should play thats the same screen i get but movies playfor me.
pdl2mtl90 said:
I successfully set up Plex Media Server on all of my computers. However, I cannot get ANY videos to play on Chrome regardless of format (tried mp4, avi, mkv). Whenever I try to play a video either thru Plex or thru the Chrome browser, all I get is a black box with the controls. Nothing plays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Support is expected soon...
http://rootzwiki.com/news/plex-dial-chromecast-support-soon/
thegovenor said:
just make chrome browser default video player then double click to play not right click and should play thats the same screen i get but movies playfor me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that based on a suggestion I found during research but I am not offered that option, even when right clicking and choosing "Open with".
All the movies I try to play in the browser just start downloading.
Chrome doesn't support all video formats, check what all it supports and use those.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
thesparky007 said:
Chrome doesn't support all video formats, check what all it supports and use those.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive tried mkv, avi, rmvb.. all dl's =/
iandroo888 said:
ive tried mkv, avi, rmvb.. all dl's =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chrome only plays MP4 by default.
I have installed and tried using PLEX, but my videos always play choppy on the CC, is there a way I could directly send the URL to the CC? Ya know, make it play like YouTube or something...?
For those using Plex and having problem, I've been using SubSonic for a while and have no issues.
iandroo888 said:
ive tried mkv, avi, rmvb.. all dl's =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's true that Chrome's built-in player only plays mp4 video files.
What you should do for other file types is install VLC, along with the VLC browser plugins. The VLC plugin for Mozilla/Chrome will play most video file types, but there are some issues:
1. You may have to disable other conflicting plugins like Quicktime, because it's darn near impossible to tell Chrome which plugin has priority to play a particular MIME type or file type. Type about: plugins into the Chrome address bar to access the plugins list.
2. Chrome insists on downloading avi files instead of playing them, so you have to trick it: rename the avi file as mpeg and let the VLC plugin automatically determine the correct file type from the header. You can rename it back to avi after you play it in Chrome.
3. There doesn't seem to be any way to select the correct audio track in files with multiple audio tracks, and it always seems to default to the wrong one in mkv files.
DJames1 said:
It's true that Chrome's built-in player only plays mp4 video files.
What you should do for other file types is install VLC, along with the VLC browser plugins. The VLC plugin for Mozilla/Chrome will play most video file types, but there are some issues:
1. You may have to disable other conflicting plugins like Quicktime, because it's darn near impossible to tell Chrome which plugin has priority to play a particular MIME type or file type. Type about: plugins into the Chrome address bar to access the plugins list.
2. Chrome insists on downloading avi files instead of playing them, so you have to trick it: rename the avi file as mpeg and let the VLC plugin automatically determine the correct file type from the header. You can rename it back to avi after you play it in Chrome.
3. There doesn't seem to be any way to select the correct audio track in files with multiple audio tracks, and it always seems to default to the wrong one in mkv files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chrome now appears to play mkv files although it will not cast them correctly.
DJames1 said:
It's true that Chrome's built-in player only plays mp4 video files.
What you should do for other file types is install VLC, along with the VLC browser plugins. The VLC plugin for Mozilla/Chrome will play most video file types, but there are some issues:
1. You may have to disable other conflicting plugins like Quicktime, because it's darn near impossible to tell Chrome which plugin has priority to play a particular MIME type or file type. Type about: plugins into the Chrome address bar to access the plugins list.
2. Chrome insists on downloading avi files instead of playing them, so you have to trick it: rename the avi file as mpeg and let the VLC plugin automatically determine the correct file type from the header. You can rename it back to avi after you play it in Chrome.
3. There doesn't seem to be any way to select the correct audio track in files with multiple audio tracks, and it always seems to default to the wrong one in mkv files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not see how to use the VLC Plugin for Chrome. I unisntalled VLC and installed 2.1.0 and then after I did that I see no option for VLC Plugins in Chrome or a way to export videos from VLC to Chrome. Can you please explain how this plugin works with regards to using it with chromecast?
When you install VLC, you have the option to also install the browser plugins. Chrome shares the Mozilla plugin. After installation, you will find the VLC plugin in the list of Chrome plugins (enter About: plugins on the address bar). It's enabled by default, and you can expand the details to see what MIME types it supports. However you may see other plugins in the list which are also enabled and also support the same MIME types (e.g., Quicktime), and there's no way to control which one has precedence other than to disable one of them.
Streaming from Tablet
With Chromecast would I be able to steam a Note 10.1(2014) tablet wirelessly to my TV...thanks
DJames1 said:
When you install VLC, you have the option to also install the browser plugins. Chrome shares the Mozilla plugin. After installation, you will find the VLC plugin in the list of Chrome plugins (enter About: plugins on the address bar). It's enabled by default, and you can expand the details to see what MIME types it supports. However you may see other plugins in the list which are also enabled and also support the same MIME types (e.g., Quicktime), and there's no way to control which one has precedence other than to disable one of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have re installed Chrome and VLC player, and the VLC plugin does not show up in Chrome when I go to aboutlugins. I do not know why, I definitely installed the Mozilla plugin.
Hello
I was wondering if there was any savvy xda user out there who had figured out the best method for streaming torrents to the chromecast both with and without a pc?
I know there is torrentTv for the pc which allows you to drag and drop files and cast them to a target which kinda works but it's functionality isn't terribly well designed (ie once it's started playing how do you control it?)
For android I have a mix of apps that allow this but none with particularly satisfying results.
The most foolproof seems to be:
Ttorrent for downloading torrent sequentially
And local cast to cast or
pixel-dms and bubble upnp to cast or
Aviva to cast
Other torrent downloading solutions include
vuze
Torrent stream controller
Popcorntime
with the casting method being reliant on what happens once you start trying to play the file.
Now I have been testing various combinations (after determining I couldnt get xbmctorrent to complete a movie on my pi without crashing) and tTorrent +local cast seems to work pretty well but I think potentially it cuts the file off at about 95% (ie right near the end).
I suspect because the file isn't being fully pre allocated the player only picks up the length of the file as it relates to what has already been allocated when you start watching it. Rather than playing to the end of the file which has been completed whilst you were watching it.
So does anyone know a better method? I can't actually believe that someone hasnt built a torrent downloading + chromecast/upnp streaming apk yet. The chromecast is now over a year old and this is the kind of stuff I expected people to hack together in week 1.
Anyway a single app solution would be a lot better. Or a solution which includes fully preallocating the file would perhaps work better?
So why not just use Plex? I have a local Plex server setup on my desktop computer and I have Plex for Android on my Nexus 6. Works phenomenally!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk, probably while driving.
kdoggy said:
So why not just use Plex? I have a local Plex server setup on my desktop computer and I have Plex for Android on my Nexus 6. Works phenomenally!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk, probably while driving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have seen plex, and did install it at one stage a while ago before I had the chromecast, to try and do netflix streaming (as before the chromecast I could only do netflix on my phone or pc, no other solution to play it on the tv I could find except for buggy screencasting).
However I already have serviio installed on my pc, which works very will with the sony bdp and bravia 2010 TV, so I wouldnt really want to install plex unless I knew it provided significantly better functionality. Also my serviio setup just works, I dont want to mess with it for no reason.
So specifically what does plex do installed on a pc with the android app that all the other stuff I already installed doesnt do?
I was under the impression that without paying for plex it is crippled? Or is it just the extra plugins or channels which require a subscription?
Does plex allow torrents to be added? What device does the downloading?
Ideally I want a situation where if I am unable to use my pc (one of these days the power supply is going to die and I know I will come home from work and wont be able to switch it on) I can just stream whatever I want to watch or if I cant find it on streaming or the whole rest of the world is on the internet and streaming is knackered I can just torrent stream it to the chrome.
ie what I want is wholly phone based, or pc based with the phone as a remote, not a mis-mash of both.
I use plex... I have my torrent folder listed as on of my media folders in plex settings.. so once the torrent is done I can play from laptop tablet or phone, or cast from any of the 3
Sent from my SM-N900V
I use atorrent, and stream with Bubble. Works fine. Bubble can log into my home network and send video to the Chromecast via mine or my wife computer.
Yeah the whole point was that I wanted to stream torrents WHILE they are downloading. Like xbmctorrent or aceplayer or torrentvideoplayer or torrent stream controller or popcorntime or whatever.
NOT casting stuff once it's finished downloading, which is simple and I'm sure is covered ad nauseum on the forum.
I thought my post was pretty clear.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
popcorn-time.se Android version have Chrome cast support
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
I'll have to look at atorrent, it does offer sequential downloading but I am not sure if it pre allocates the files.
Ok tested a torrent download streamed to raspbmc using atorrent and bubble upnp.
It does work but still only seems to do about 98% of the file. (Been testing stuff on raspbmc as the performance should be similar enough, also I want to be able to do this to the ccast and xbmc)
I suspect the file is locked maybe preventing the last couple of percent of file being played?
Anyway this is the same sorts of results I was having with Ttorrent.
Which leads me to believe that until someone builds a caster with an integrated torrent client that allows the full file to be cast you would have to accept only being to play 98% of the file without having to stop and restart playback once the torrent has completed downloading.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
Ok well there are two versions of popcorntime. One appears to offer ccast support the other doesn't but it may be available via an external player.
The one you referenced (popcorn-time.se) on that site it's version 0.1.1 for android and it allows you to play the download via an internal player (no ccast icon for me) or to an external player but when I try that with aviva it won't open and no other player I have offers casting.
The other one (time4popcorn.eu) version 2.4 i think, allows ccast via their internal player, no access to play externally (so no hope of xbmc casting). And none of the movie torrents will download if I'm connected to my wifi (torrents download fine via 4g though so I just switch it back before it connects to any seeds or peers).
Possibly chromecast is just better supported which makes sense because it's only a year old while dnla and xbmc have been around for years.
No one fancies trying to build a more complete torrent casting client?
I'm not talking about transcoding just downloading the files and then serving them in a way that doesn't completely mangle the url leaving the file unplayable at the renderer?
Given the kind of apps which already exist I'm surprised this functionality hasn't already been incorporated.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
So to summarise:
For the chromecast popcorntime from time4popcorn.eu version 2.4 beta allows you to download torrents to stream to the chromecast. Assuming your isp or isp's aren't blocking the torrent site it is searching (for me virgin in the UK is blocking the movie search but not the show search and vodaphone isnt blocking either)
For other dnla players (xbmc):
Atorrent is a free torrent client which allows sequential downloading and can be streamed via bubble upnp (possibly the free version only allows only three executions of externally played files per app launch but this limitation hasn't been much of a limitation to me). I had thought it may lock the file and not allow the final couple of percent to be played without the playback having to be resumed, but I think I may have been using pixel dms as an intermediary to be able to play the file from bubble upnp rather than the file browser. Further experimentation seems to indicate that mp4s and mkvs should play fine streamed via bubble upnp assuming the correct pieces have already been downloaded.
I think i had been using pixel dms previously as I had been watching older avi files which wouldnt play otherwise. Pixel dms seems to work only as far as the file that has been downloaded.
Using popcorntime it is possible to stream avi files ie older episodes or movies which are only available as avi's (fairly certain this wouldnt work on the chromecast but would need to test when the tv isnt in use). You come out of the app before the video starts to play and then launch the file via the file browser using bubble upnp.
Presumably this would work for any other torrent downloaded by popcorntime which is a lot of stuff but not everything.
Hopefully this helps some people as I have been looking for just this kind of information and have been unable to find it. Resulting in me having downloaded many different apps, most of which are generally not very good.
For example local cast would probably be brilliant but it's upnp detection is really shoddy.
Bubble upnp is quality, although I think there may be some limitations in the free version which effect chromecast. Possibly only 20 mins of free playback? Although I think in conjunction with y2cast you could get around that.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
I use showbox with avia (paid)
Showbox is Ok but it's just streaming, from vk.com I think. And at peak times I just can't use streaming services.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
Torrent stream controller+BubbleUPnP with Chromecast as a Local Renderer ( local transcoding must be installed in the settings). Maybe it will work with other apps that allow stream torrent.
You can look at the pictures here under the spoilers.
playahate said:
Torrent stream controller+BubbleUPnP with Chromecast as a Local Renderer ( local transcoding must be installed in the settings). Maybe it will work with other apps that allow stream torrent.
You can look at the pictures here under the spoilers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flud torrent + bubbleupnp ( or other media render)
torrentplayer + bubbleupnp ( or other media render)
dr torrent + bubbleupnp ( or other media render)
I use Tera torrent with bubbleupnp
Sent from my SM-G900A using Tapatalk 2
anyone have a utorrent apk that I can sideload?
henryjfry said:
Showbox is Ok but it's just streaming, from vk.com I think. And at peak times I just can't use streaming services.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Single app solution for any Android device: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-media-library-t3971231
Hi,
I've only recently found out about Chromecast, reviews were very praising so yesterday I went out and bought one. Unfortunately, my initial enthousiasm has almost disappeared because I can't successfully do the 2 most important things I was planning to do with such a device: 1) Stream my desktop for 720p/1080p video playback and 2) Stream/Cast my Nexus 6 screen (I get a green screen when I connect it, separate apps do work though).
Focusing on the pc casting, the video playback is lagging a lot even if I switch to 480p which is of course unacceptable for watching HD movies. I am not talking about the 0.5 - 1 second input delay, I don't care about that as I don't want to play games with it but rather for the constant speed dropping/pausing/catching up. I have a 50/10 mbps connection which I would think is enough for this but to its defense, I have only tried it through a 2014 Macbook Pro i7/16gb ram running Windows through bootcamp. Could that be the cause of slow performance? Bootcamp may be adequate for basic stuff but the computer does not feel at all like an i7 / 16gb ram unit should.
If the pc is not the issue, are there alternatives to cast your desktop at an acceptable level through other apps? I saw vnc2cast in another thread. Also, is it an option for Chromecast to work if i connect my pc through Ethernet instead of wi-fi for better performance?
Thanks
Why do you need PC video playback on CC? Its smth like record a video of playing movie by phone and then watch it, instead of copy the file to phone and then open it... You could find some FAQ first...
1.Google Cast extention for Chrome Browser will let play compatible formats of video to CC. Just drag&drop the file to a tab and hit the Cast button. It also has "Cast Entire Screen" option.
2.Videostream extention will transcode and play most of the unsupporded files, including .avi, besides the regular ones
3. Share the folder to local net, use ES File Explorer + ES File Explorer Chromecast plugin. Find the shared folder in LAN section then play with plugin.
4.KMP Player for android+KMP Connect on PC.
5.BubbleUPnP android app+BubbleUPnP server on PC for transcoding any file.
6.Plex Media Server + Plex android app
7.ANY Media server on PC (Twonky, Plex, Serviio, BubbleUPnP etc) + Any program that see DLNA (Avia for example). If an app has "open with" option, one can use VEGA Cast, AllCast, Avia, ES Cast Plugin etc...
For Screen Mirror try Koush's "Mirror" app. First join ClockWorkMod beta testers Google+ group, then it will be available in Google Play.
playahate said:
Why do you need PC video playback on CC? Its smth like record a video of playing movie by phone and then watch it, instead of copy the file to phone and then open it... You could find some FAQ first...
1.Google Cast extention for Chrome Browser will let play compatible formats of video to CC. Just drag&drop the file to a tab and hit the Cast button. It also has "Cast Entire Screen" option.
2.Videostream extention will transcode and play most of the unsupporded files, including .avi, besides the regular ones
3. Share the folder to local net, use ES File Explorer + ES File Explorer Chromecast plugin. Find the shared folder in LAN section then play with plugin.
4.KMP Player for android+KMP Connect on PC.
5.BubbleUPnP android app+BubbleUPnP server on PC for transcoding any file.
6.Plex Media Server + Plex android app
7.ANY Media server on PC (Twonky, Plex, Serviio, BubbleUPnP etc) + Any program that see DLNA (Avia for example). If an app has "open with" option, one can use VEGA Cast, AllCast, Avia, ES Cast Plugin etc...
For Screen Mirror try Koush's "Mirror" app. First join ClockWorkMod beta testers Google+ group, then it will be available in Google Play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reason for pc video playback is I'd like to see movies from my local drives without having to set up a media server/NAS thing. I guess the extensions you mention in 1) and 2) can do that? I'll try them out.
Now if I understand correctly 3-7 regards sharing files from pc to phone and then streaming them to CC? I'd like to avoid that if possible as it requires the phone to act as an intermediate between pc and CC If I am not mistaken.
mclisme said:
Reason for pc video playback is I'd like to see movies from my local drives without having to set up a media server/NAS thing. I guess the extensions you mention in 1) and 2) can do that? I'll try them out.
Now if I understand correctly 3-7 regards sharing files from pc to phone and then streaming them to CC? I'd like to avoid that if possible as it requires the phone to act as an intermediate between pc and CC If I am not mistaken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is basically a remote to initiate and control the cast from the remote device/storage for all / most of these options (definitely for Plex and the BubbleUPnP options). It's not doing any heavy lifting.
Plex is probably the most adaptable option.
Also beware that casting local high bandwidth media from a wifi networked device/storage via router to chromecast may never produce consistent results as performance is often impacted by network conditions. Tweaking various arcane settings on your router can help but it's a pain.
For me there were huge differences in performance depending on whether the host device was is the same room as the router (very good) or in it's normal location a floor up and 20-30 yards away (pretty poor) or wired (excellent). I ended up resurrecting an old laptop heading for recycle with a fresh linux install to be permanently wired to my router to host a Plex server and media. Never looked back.
playahate said:
2.Videostream extention will transcode and play most of the unsupporded files, including .avi, besides the regular ones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I tried Videostream and I find it amazing. Even its interface is so simple and smooth and with the remote control app for the phone I think it's great. So watching my movies is solved.
Now, another reason I was looking for "cast your entire screen" alternatives is that I can't seem to get a specific video streaming service that I often use to work properly. If I cast the tab, for some reason the video does not show up in CC even though the rest of the page like pictures and video controls show up fine. I guess it has to do with the fact that this specific service is encrypted and does not allow HDMI connections, if it detects one it just stops. So maybe it similarly blocks Chromecast plugin from capturing the video off it and sending it to CC?
The only way to fool it is to cast my entire screen. Then the video works fine but at a rate below 24 fps which makes it almost unusable. I even switched to 480p but still the video is slow for live sports. I guess when screen-casting, the load is too much for CC to handle?
So If there aren't other ways to improve screen-casting to a watchable level (24fps) either by 3rd-party apps or CC hacks/mods, I can only hope something is developed in the future I guess...