Database Develop

USB vs AC power

I saw in the packaging that it says AC power is "recommended", so naturally I wanted the best possible experience and hooked mine up with AC power. I was just curious why this is? It would be much easier (and more portable) if I just used USB, but what am I losing by doing this?
I assumed this had to do with the CEC options to allow my TV to power on thru the Chromecast, however I have been unsuccessful in making that work fully. It will turn the TV on only if I turned it off while on the correct input for the chromecast...so kinda useless so far.

GatorsUF said:
I saw in the packaging that it says AC power is "recommended", so naturally I wanted the best possible experience and hooked mine up with AC power. I was just curious why this is? It would be much easier (and more portable) if I just used USB, but what am I losing by doing this?
I assumed this had to do with the CEC options to allow my TV to power on thru the Chromecast, however I have been unsuccessful in making that work fully. It will turn the TV on only if I turned it off while on the correct input for the chromecast...so kinda useless so far.
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USB power might not be enough to drive the usb stick, while that AC adapter is guaranteed to deliver 850mAh
if your TV's USB is part of an unpowered hub, and you have other devices(or internal devices) powering off that hub, the chromecast might not get enough amperage (500mAh/port per USB standard)

Cool what would be the result of not enough mAh? Meaning if my USB port powers the device am I good, or will I suffer some Wi-Fi signal loss if the mAh is too low?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk HD

GatorsUF said:
Cool what would be the result of not enough mAh? Meaning if my USB port powers the device am I good, or will I suffer some Wi-Fi signal loss if the mAh is too low?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk HD
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I think it just wouldn't turn on.
Another benefit of AC power is that when you hit cast something, it'll automatically turn on the TV.

That is what I was curious of. So the auto turn on feature won't function on USB power? Only A/C power?
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GatorsUF said:
That is what I was curious of. So the auto turn on feature won't function on USB power? Only A/C power?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk HD
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Well the chromecast needs to be on already for it to turn on the TV.
If the TV is off, the chromecast won't be getting any power so you need to turn on the TV to turn on the Chromecast.

Right, not a big deal for me since that feature doesn't seem to work on my TV anyways. I am using AC power atm. If that's all I'm missing I might aim for portability.
Thanks
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I'm using USB power off of the TV and have no issues with anything..

Turn Chromecast off after use

After I use the Chromecast and switch the input source of my TV to other mode, how can I switch off the Chromecast? Thanks!

You don't.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

thedudejdog said:
You don't.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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If there is no power off button, the Chromecast will operate as long as the AC adapter is connected. It wastes the power when you do not use it and is an environmental issue. How come does it have such design flaw? Looking at the spec, it is CEC compatible but not every old TVs are CEC compatible. Google must fix it to save the energy as you know now energy saving is very heated subject.

ScottXe said:
If there is no power off button, the Chromecast will operate as long as the AC adapter is connected. It wastes the power when you do not use it and is an environmental issue. How come does it have such design flaw? Looking at the spec, it is CEC compatible but not every old TVs are CEC compatible. Google must fix it to save the energy as you know now energy saving is very heated subject.
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Design flaw? Use a short USB cable to plug it into the USB port on the TV. When the TV turns off, the Chromecast turns off.
IIRC, it only draws something like 5W. That's not going to jack your electric bill up much at all.

FrayAdjacent said:
Design flaw? Use a short USB cable to plug it into the USB port on the TV. When the TV turns off, the Chromecast turns off.
IIRC, it only draws something like 5W. That's not going to jack your electric bill up much at all.
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You are quite right if the TV is equipped with USB ports. The Chromecast comes with an AC adapter and that assumes that the TV may not have USB port like my 42" LG LCD TV. For the latest TVs, all will go for smart TVs and Chromecast has no market at all in the future. YouTube and Netflex apps are the must for the latest smart TVs. It is an interim product to fill the gap.
All new TVs in Europe must have power management feature that it will go into standby mode if you do not change any mode or channel in 4 hours in order to meet ErP Directive legislation.

ScottXe said:
You are quite right if the TV is equipped with USB ports. The Chromecast comes with an AC adapter and that assumes that the TV may not have USB port like my 42" LG LCD TV. For the latest TVs, all will go for smart TVs and Chromecast has no market at all in the future. YouTube and Netflex apps are the must for the latest smart TVs. It is an interim product to fill the gap.
All new TVs in Europe must have power management feature that it will go into standby mode if you do not change any mode or channel in 4 hours in order to meet ErP Directive legislation.
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I have a Samsung Smart TV with YouTube and Netflex apps but maybe it's not smart enough as the YouTube app only shows selected videos. Maybe the next model up from mine that came with WiFi would have had YouTube internet access but I don't know.

I'll pull out the Kill-a-watt later, but the adapter it's running on and the draw should be less than 3kW a year. That would be about 20 cents of electricity if it reached that level.

That's it? You can't even say that's peanuts cause that's like air lol.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

wptski said:
I have a Samsung Smart TV with YouTube and Netflex apps but maybe it's not smart enough as the YouTube app only shows selected videos. Maybe the next model up from mine that came with WiFi would have had YouTube internet access but I don't know.
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Very good point why the existing smart TVs are still not as popular as the smartphones do. The smart function in TV is still a stripped down version. Probably we need to await Apple iTV. It will be a disruptive TV to the traditional TVs. Think about what is the smartphone now?? It is a small computer in a mobile phone form factor. You can have your desired features thru apps. Why we cannot use the same concept for TVs!!

ScottXe said:
Very good point why the existing smart TVs are still not as popular as the smartphones do. The smart function in TV is still a stripped down version. Probably we need to await Apple iTV. It will be a disruptive TV to the traditional TVs. Think about what is the smartphone now?? It is a small computer in a mobile phone form factor. You can have your desired features thru apps. Why we cannot use the same concept for TVs!!
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SmartTVs are only as smart as the apps they use! LOL The issue isn't the TV the Issue is the folks writing the apps are not doing such a good job.
I read that there may be some TVs that come with Chromecast support built in soon enough.
That will solve all the problems with wasting power.
Should be noted that plugging the CCast into a USB on the TV will prevent the CCast from being able to turn the TV on.

ScottXe said:
If there is no power off button, the Chromecast will operate as long as the AC adapter is connected. It wastes the power when you do not use it and is an environmental issue. How come does it have such design flaw? Looking at the spec, it is CEC compatible but not every old TVs are CEC compatible. Google must fix it to save the energy as you know now energy saving is very heated subject.
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You sound like someone who should get a Kill a Watt meter just for the fun of it. I found out that my Logitech PC speakers with Subwoofer use 5 watts even when turned off; a 100 watt receiver uses 5 watts when off; a VCR player uses 8 watts when off. Non of these devices have a clock or light when off, just an OFF button. Now that's a waste!
Chromecast uses about 2 watts of power. Roku and similar set top boxes use about 4 - 5 watts. None of these have power switches. They're design to be on always. If they were sucking 20 watts all the time that would be a different story.
I have a Vizio TV that turns USB power off automatically when TV power is off. But I've other TV sets that keep the USB power on even when TV is off.

ScottXe said:
For the latest TVs, all will go for smart TVs and Chromecast has no market at all in the future. YouTube and Netflex apps are the must for the latest smart TVs. It is an interim product to fill the gap.
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Disagree. I have a 1st gen Sony gtv, I'm using a chromecast on it now because it's already so out of date (after only 3 years) the apps lag to near unusability. I don't want to spend near 1k every two years to upgrade a perfectly good TV cause it needs more ram or a better processor. Built in smart TVs are NOT a reasonable future. Boxes or dongles that can be upgraded for 100 bucks or 35 like chromecast, that's where it's at.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 06:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------
ETFoneHome said:
But I've other TV sets that keep the USB power on even when TV is off.
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That's how mine works. Most all the electronics in my house don't actually turn "off" they just enter a low power stand by mode.
If the few watts of power bother you, hook your equipment up to a power strip and turn that off when not in use. That way it can't pull any power at all.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

FWIW, at first I had it plugged into my TV's USB port, but 2 things bothered me about that setup, one, what if I turned off the TV during an flash/update, would it brick? and the other, is shortening the lifespan of my TV's power supply, or outright damaging it, Google is not known for their QA, and I'll be damned if I'm letting their crapmanship destroy my Sony, spinning me off into a whole new dimension of pissed off. So I let it run 24/7 through its own power block, if it dies of heat damage, 35 bucks isn't so bad.

Chromecast isn't meant to be completely off any more than your phone is.
If Chromecast was turned off, it wouldn't be able to turn on your TV nor would it be able to receive cast requests. Using the TV's USB to power Chromecast sort of turns it off, but you also risk corrupting an update in progress. Not a huge deal if you're rooted and can force-flash an update, but if you're not rooted, it might put Chromecast in a "confused" state.
TVs with built-in Chromecast will solve this - at the expense of more vampire power (since the TV has to be some degree of "awake" to listen for cast requests).
If you're really concerned about power usage and your TV doesn't have (powered) USB ports, you can use something like a TrickleSaver or a similar energy-saving power strip or UPS to shut off power to Chromecast after the TV is turned off.

bhiga said:
Chromecast isn't meant to be completely off any more than your phone is.
If Chromecast was turned off, it wouldn't be able to turn on your TV nor would it be able to receive cast requests. Using the TV's USB to power Chromecast sort of turns it off, but you also risk corrupting an update in progress. Not a huge deal if you're rooted and can force-flash an update, but if you're not rooted, it might put Chromecast in a "confused" state.
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Well! I removed my CC from my TV and powered it by the wall-wart looking to get the latest Eureka-ROM. I didn't watch it but caught a red LED which I thought was the reboot but apparently it was the start not finish. I plugged it back into my TV, I had the new home screen but no Team Eureka splash screen. I had to manually flash it. Don't know if it can be messed up beyond repair or not but it seems if your using the USB port, you should turn off the OTA updates to be safe and just watch the forum for any updates.
BTW-Gave my nephew a rooted CC for Xmas and he said it was like having a new TV just like mentioned above! :good:

mdamaged said:
and the other, is shortening the lifespan of my TV's power supply, or outright damaging it,
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One of my Chromecast is powered by the USB on a TV that keeps the USB power on even when TV is off. I tested it with a Kill a Watt meter.
The 42" LCD Panel uses about 80 - 90 watts when on. When the TV is completely off and Chromecast is attached to USB power, it uses 2 watts. With the TV completely off and no Chromecast attached, it uses 0 watts.
So it's an extra 2 watts. My nightlights use more than that. :fingers-crossed:

ETFoneHome said:
One of my Chromecast is powered by the USB on a TV that keeps the USB power on even when TV is off. I tested it with a Kill a Watt meter.
The 42" LCD Panel uses about 80 - 90 watts when on. When the TV is completely off and Chromecast is attached to USB power, it uses 2 watts. With the TV completely off and no Chromecast attached, it uses 0 watts.
So it's an extra 2 watts. My nightlights use more than that. :fingers-crossed:
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Yeah, but your nightlights probably go through better QA!

mdamaged said:
Yeah, but your nightlights probably go through better QA!
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Obviously we're all missing out on an epic story of a Google TV or Chromecast that shot out flames here...

bhiga said:
Obviously we're all missing out on an epic story of a Google TV or Chromecast that shot out flames here...
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Hmm chromecast flame thrower, I like it...
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

I would like to eventually see Google allow some configuration options in the Chromecast setup app, and some "turn off display after X minutes of idle" option. That should save a tad bit of power if they can turn off the HDMI output entirely, plus TVs with automatic input switch would then switch back to whatever other input is active. Even if they can't turn off the output, at least it would help prevent burn-in.

LG Revolution VS910 HDMI Widget

Hey guys!
I have a LG VS910 that I use strictly for streaming videos to my Hopper DVR using SmartShare and mirroring etc when that doesn't work but use HDMI mirroring when playing to DVR doesn't work...
I have found that the HDMI Auto Detect SSEERRIIOOUUSSLLYY drains the battery, went from full charge to 30% in 15 minutes just having it plugged in to tv and showing the home screen... it drains to 30% in about 3-4 hrs when not plugged in...
I was wondering if anybody had found/created a widget or app that allows you to tell the phone when to stream to HDMI instead of auto-detect... like turning on the flashlight but instead be HDMI mirror...
I don't really mind charging my device while it's plugged into tv... but my charger doesn't really charge it when it's on HDMI, it usually just sits about the same percentage... might go up two or three but usually just sits there...
Any help would be appreciated...

Xperia z drains while charging if use in

My xperia battery drains while it charging and in use like YouTube or texting, if it 10% so it becomes 9% and keep decreasing slowly, any help to solve it I never faced that problem before update to lollipop 5.1.1!

Same problem here man, can't play a stream nor play a small game. I've even tried switching to CM12.1, but to no avail.
How old is your phone? I'm thinking of buying a new battery.

I had the same problem, especially when I used VR goggles to play PC games(via Trinus VR app) even when USB was plugged in, after 30min of playing eg doom 3 i had drop from 70% to 40%
In normal usage, when I was watching movies and using standard Sony charger I had slower drops but still after one movie I had drop from 80% to 75% with charger plugged in...
I found only one solution for that: 2.2 A charger and 5.2V
Its damn hard to find such charger, most of them have 2 USB slots and cut half this power to every USB, but some of them give full 2.2/5,2 to every USB slot and that one is best.
BUT problem is, that such charger can really quickly mess up your battery. Phone is hot as hell, and battery can die x2 faster than using normal charger. So I use it only sometimes when watching movies.
PS also I found out that using docking station that use pins are way better and faster to charge our XZ.

Akinaro said:
I had the same problem, especially when I used VR goggles to play PC games(via Trinus VR app) even when USB was plugged in, after 30min of playing eg doom 3 i had drop from 70% to 40%
In normal usage, when I was watching movies and using standard Sony charger I had slower drops but still after one movie I had drop from 80% to 75% with charger plugged in...
I found only one solution for that: 2.2 A charger and 5.2V
Its damn hard to find such charger, most of them have 2 USB slots and cut half this power to every USB, but some of them give full 2.2/5,2 to every USB slot and that one is best.
BUT problem is, that such charger can really quickly mess up your battery. Phone is hot as hell, and battery can die x2 faster than using normal charger. So I use it only sometimes when watching movies.
PS also I found out that using docking station that use pins are way better and faster to charge our XZ.
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I will try to use another charger maybe a Lenovo tablet charger it's ac will be more than the Sony one but it will make the battery so hot and that will ruins it fast than its normal life cycle.

SDee96 said:
Same problem here man, can't play a stream nor play a small game. I've even tried switching to CM12.1, but to no avail.
How old is your phone? I'm thinking of buying a new battery.
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Next November it will be one year, I don't know why is that happening with me but this is annoying because I used to watch videos while it charging before sleep on bed :crying:
Sony forum also saying you should no use phone while it charging.

Sony forum also saying you should no use phone while it charging.
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its remind me situation about battery life:
HEY! WE PUTT NFC, LTE, GPS, HUGE SCREEN, ULTRA CAMERA, 99GHz CPU 200GB RAM ON OUR DEVICES... and small battery
And when you ask someone about it: turn it off, dont use it, dissable it...
So they saying that we bought device for 300-700$ and now we need to make it dump so it can last one day... without using it...
What is the point of having eg LTE and NFC, if can use it, because my battery gonna die before I can use it...
The same here:
Modern phones have nice HD screens perfect for movies, but we cant watch anything because of... battery and amazing charging system....
Only I see that we actually are sheep's that forced manufacturer to make such phones? and now we suffer?
"This phone have shty battery... but I need phone, so I gonna buy it" and that how we roll for past 10 years....
PS, sorry for offtop

I personally think a charger with 2Ah output won't do bad things to your battery. Anything over that should simply not be used to charge the Xperia Z.

Guys I tried another Sony charger it charging good even using the phone while charging yeah it kinda slow but that better than before.
Ps smartphones are annoying :silly:

Also I forgot to mention that chargers for tablets are good to, I tried one for galaxy tab and its almost fast as 2.2A even if it have only 2A.
Most of them are the same as for phones, but some bigger one have more powerful chargers

Using HTC One M7 as media center

I have a rooted HTC One flashed with beanstalk. I no longer have a data plan on this phone but use it daily as a universal remote control, an external drive, and mainly as a media center to cast movies to my smart TV.
Can anyone recommend any add on or apps or tweaks to improve on the media experience for this phone and ROM?

Kodi
Second Screen
Just got a charging MHL cable to do this same thing, and it is phenomenal; just as good as my desktop. You cant really improve beyond this.

If you want it wireless, there is nothing better than bubbleupnp. With the pro version you can easily stream everything from every source to every device and control it from your phone.

TimmyP said:
Kodi
Second Screen
Just got a charging MHL cable to do this same thing, and it is phenomenal; just as good as my desktop. You cant really improve beyond this.
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Which cable did you buy? There are a lot of cheap low quality cables out there so if yours is working so good, I will follow suite and buy the same one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019GQ11H4/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Sorry I didnt get back sooner. Only 3 left (there were about 15 when I ordered) so get on it if you want it. Confirmed charge and display.
PS: Any charging mhl cable is only going to slow discharge because playing hd video consumes a lot. But this easily keeps it high enough for 24 hours, and then you just leave it plugged in so it recharges every night.
Leave Kodi open, have second screen dim and turn off in your the phone screen in your profile... screen off, and full HD Kodi from an old phone I still am in love. Use power button to turn on after long period of inactivity. I dont know whats going on here, but after hours of non-use its a black screen until I press power (phone is obviously still on, and I can hear kodis menu click sounds).