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[REVIEW] My experience with Google Chromecast

I was fortunate to get my hands on a Chromecast at my local BestBuy the other day, and after a full day of use it is one of the best $25 (had a $10 reward cert) I have spent since my last trip to Outback Steakhouse .
Getting the dongle up and running in my entertainment center was a bit awkward with the mini USB required for powering the device, but all went smoothly. First time set up was simple, requiring installation of the Chromecast app on my HTC One which was able to pair with the dongle and hook it up to my home WiFi network. Once connected to WiFi, it's ready to use, displaying the "Ready to Cast" home screen.
Google Play Music was the first app I tried out, and I was immediately disappointed to get the error message "Unable to Cast sideloaded content". Hopefully an update for local content will be added to phones and tablets in the near future, since it is only possible within the Chrome browser on your Mac/PC. Music playback through their Unlimited music service worked as advertise though, however the Now Playing interface displayed on the TV could use a bit more polish. It doesn't look awful, but it doesn't look very good either. Every now and then I would get an error when selecting songs saying "Could not stream your selection at this time," where I would have to kill the app from the multitask screen and restart.
Where this device thrives is video playback. Netflix, Youtube, and Google Play Videos are the only content supported so far but they deliver. Watching AMC's The Killing and The Avengers in 1080p by simply "casting" to my TV with my new Nexus 7 is a real treat. And the best part is I can use my tablet while watching for anything I want. Be it games, web browsing, reading, or music; it doesn't effect playback at all since it is being streamed by the dongle, not your phone/tablet/computer. Even better, ChromeCast has minimal effect on battery life of your device. I started an episode of The Killing with 55% battery, after the episode was over about an hour later my battery held at 54%.
I have not been able to try out screen mirroring yet, but will update once I play around with it. Overall I am satisfied with my purchase. The lack of local media support on phones/tablets are preventing it from being a serious threat to AirPlay and the Apple TV, but at the same time being 65% cheaper make it a more than reasonable trade off. The way I see this device: it makes watching Netflix on my TV simpler. Before it was turning on my PS3, navigating to the Netflix app, waiting for it to load, choosing between regular content or kids, and then finally getting to pick what I would like to watch. Now I just switch to the input my Chromecast is hooked up to, fire up the Netflix app on my phone/tablet (whichever is closer), make my selection, and then "cast" to my TV.
If you are looking for a fast simple way to watch Netflix, YouTube, and movie rentals through Google Play this device is for you. If you are expecting an Airplay/Apple TV killer, well this device isn't for you...yet. With its open API for future dev support, it is just a matter of time for local files and more streaming sites such as HBO GO and Hulu to be supported.
The oneinfour score: 7.5/10 - lack of local content playback and wacky music playback issues hold back an otherwise solid streamer.

interesting read.
I think we may be waiting a bit for Hulu to get on board. They're a bit quirky regarding the various contract and licensing agreements. To me, they should just view this as HDMI out on the Hulu app, but who knows. Sometimes they're just obtuse because one can just hook up a PC to the TV and have all content available.
It's early, so to some degree, we're going to see a lot of growing pains as the product matures. I look forward to trying it out myself when I eventually get one.

Chromecasting a chrome tab on your desktop allows HBO go (and others I presume) to work with your chromecast. I was even able to drag and drop a local mkv file into the active chrome tab and it played on my TV just fine. Some pixelation and artifacting, but mostly negligible. Audio synced up fine too. Here's a video of it in action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT2XUI-yZxE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Chromecast messes with AdBlocker

You can't expect it to be compatible with every third party app. Adblocker needs to fix on their end.
As far as Chromecast.. I went to buy one and it is sold out every where.
What would be amazing would be a device that would allow us to send screen to TV for gaming, etc.. With the higher res this would be awesome on my 1080 Bravia!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

oneinfour said:
The way I see this device: it makes watching Netflix on my TV simpler. Before it was turning on my PS3, navigating to the Netflix app, waiting for it to load, choosing between regular content or kids, and then finally getting to pick what I would like to watch. Now I just switch to the input my Chromecast is hooked up to, fire up the Netflix app on my phone/tablet (whichever is closer), make my selection, and then "cast" to my TV.
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This is what makes it a potentially killer app. I own a roku, a wdtv, an htpc (out of commission because of fan noise), and I have had multiple cable boxes. In terms of interfaces, nothing has gotten it right. Interfaces are either time consuming to get working, slow, unpolished, or difficult to navigate. Worse, sometimes they rely on unstable hacks that are destroyed by API changes. The difference with chromecast is that most of the apps on your tablet and phone are fairly polished, speedy, and easy to navigate. Most importantly, the video is separated from the UI, meaning you don't stop what you're doing to look at something else. There are a lot of great ways that this can be used: Playing a movie automatically brings up more information about that movie on the tablet; it could tell you the names of the actors on the screen (I think amazon has something like this). Song lyrics could be displayed on the tablet. Sky is the limit in that respect.
Yes, screen mirroring would be nice, but I doubt it will ever work as well as we want it to on this device. Google has not released an API for windows or mac os so speed may never be something we see on the desktop. We will see though.

It would depend on the screen it was being mirrored too and would not be perfect but it would be awesome.
Ideally instead of having to stay media info chrome I would just like to my screen on the TV. That would be a huge selling point for Google.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Why do you think direct local streaming was not included? Just seems like no brainer to me... Anyway I think ill probably go pick one up once Skype gets on board with suppprt.

Great review, I agree with everything you wrote. I am loving mine so far too. If Amazon wakes up and adds support, this will be a killer little dongle. Though, if they don't, then I will just starting buying my TV shows and Movies from Google's store instead =)
I too would like to see the ability to stream local content soon, and also from the cloud services like Dropbox/Box/Drive/etc. The developers have already proven it to be possible, with great results ... it is really up to Google now to allow it to happen. The fact that they released the Chromecast without local file support has me a little worried. But I am hoping this was more a scheduling decision to get it out the door to beat the competition to the punch and get people talking.
This cheap little gadget has the potential to shake up the media industry in a big way.

Chromecast - anyone working on a way to play local videos?

Hey guys, I wanted to see who all here has picked up a chrome cast and what your thoughts are on it so far?
I really dig it, quick connection and ability to play things with no noticeable degradation or lag. And with HBO Go and Hulu Plus both coming soon it is going to be really nice.
One issue though that I have found is that the previous version of Google Play Movies allowed you to play locally stored videos on your device through the app. With the update to work with Chromecast this option is removed even when trying to do it on your device only so you have to use an external app such as the gallery or MX player etc.
Any word or people working on creating a cracked version of google movies or a work around to allow other apps to chromecast?

indiscriminant said:
Hey guys, I wanted to see who all here has picked up a chrome cast and what your thoughts are on it so far?
I really dig it, quick connection and ability to play things with no noticeable degradation or lag. And with HBO Go and Hulu Plus both coming soon it is going to be really nice.
One issue though that I have found is that the previous version of Google Play Movies allowed you to play locally stored videos on your device through the app. With the update to work with Chromecast this option is removed even when trying to do it on your device only so you have to use an external app such as the gallery or MX player etc.
Any word or people working on creating a cracked version of google movies or a work around to allow other apps to chromecast?
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Koush has wrote a chromecast app just for that actually but due to he developer agreement with chromecast he cannot release the apk.
https://plus.google.com/110558071969009568835/posts/QuQdJQEd82e

turtleman2008 said:
Koush has wrote a chromecast app just for that actually but due to he developer agreement with chromecast he cannot release the apk.
https://plus.google.com/110558071969009568835/posts/QuQdJQEd82e
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That is pretty slick and works for home made videos (although obviously he isn't releasing it at the moment) but as is it also wouldn't solve the problem of being able to fling other movies you have to the TV.
IE I own a digital copy of Ironman and have it on my tablet, before the google movie app would play it internally. With the update to enable chromecast it no longer shows up to even be played on the phone through the app, let alone fling it to the TV.

Any way to stream Netflix as a regular tab?

As a work around for using Netflix outside of the USA.
I can use Netflix USA very easily on my pc but I haven't figured out how to do it with the chromecast.
I don't have a fancy router and standard vpns don't seem to work.
So maybe if one could cast the Netflix tab on the browser as a "regular" tab, instead of rerouting it to the Netflix app on the chromecast.. Anyone thought of a way to do this?
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Have you tried casting the chrome tab that you are playing Netflix in instead of hitting the cast button in the Netflix player?

biggggant said:
Have you tried casting the chrome tab that you are playing Netflix in instead of hitting the cast button in the Netflix player?
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Yeah it doesn't work, it will redirect it to Netflix app.
If you hit learn more, it will show that it doesn't support plug-ins like silverlight or QuickTime.
Maybe once Netflix switches to html 5
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

I knew I had done this before so I played it with some. I was able to get video to cast but it wouldn't send audio. I guess when I played with it before I saw the video and went along my way. Maybe use google remote desktop and login to another machine and play netflix while casting the remote tab? Its not perfect and its far from pretty but it works.

biggggant said:
I knew I had done this before so I played it with some. I was able to get video to cast but it wouldn't send audio. I guess when I played with it before I saw the video and went along my way. Maybe use google remote desktop and login to another machine and play netflix while casting the remote tab? Its not perfect and its far from pretty but it works.
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Hahahahah well I guess it DOES work, but my wifi is far too slow to handle it properly.
Interesting enough, the cast entire screen feature works okay for me (some lags here and there, could be performance issues because of my low end laptop) , but it's watchable.
If only it had freaking sound.
Oh well the remote desktop app didn't have sound at first either.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Works fine for me but I have to bump it down to 480p. From my chromebook.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

A router that can support Linux commands is not all that expensive. You might want to look into that again.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4

Send videos from XBMC to Chromecast?

Has anyone found a way to send videos from XBMC addons such as mash up or 1channel to chromecast? It uses online streams usually just regular mp4 files. I know Google updated the Chromecast and that broke some apps but I also has read sometime else might have found a way to do it using WebRTC some how. Anyways I look forward to the day I can have XBMC on my laptop or tablet and send videos to the Chromecast like I can with Netflix and YouTube. Any info I'm this would be great.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

Link_of_Hyrule said:
Has anyone found a way to send videos from XBMC addons such as mash up or 1channel to chromecast? It uses online streams usually just regular mp4 files. I know Google updated the Chromecast and that broke some apps but I also has read sometime else might have found a way to do it using WebRTC some how. Anyways I look forward to the day I can have XBMC on my laptop or tablet and send videos to the Chromecast like I can with Netflix and YouTube. Any info I'm this would be great.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
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I would like to know more about this too. Allcast has a time bomb.

I don't really understand why there isn't more interest in getting XBMC to work with Chromecast. It would basically let you watch anything you could possibly want to.

Off of a pi there's a good kit on eBay for 80 I believe it was...

I would love to do this!!!

would love it
I don't even use my Chromcast but this feature would change that.

A few problems with this, first SDK is still in preview mode and they haven't opened it up so everyone can add support for their apps willynilly. This means even if someone had a solution that works the way google wants their system to work they couldn't widely release it since it'd work on only devices that have been whitelisted for development.
You could possible treat whatever you want to view as a webpage and make it possible to watch something from XBMC using the tab casting feature, but this isn't as optimal as the just send a link and have the chromecast pull up the content itself. So this method doesn't really work on low powered devices meaning you definitely couldn't do it from the chromecast.
Another issue with running xbmc on a pi and using chromecast for the video feeds is you'd need a either a way to send the main menu to the chromecast so you could see it as you navigate it, or you'd need a second display just to navigate through the menus on the Pi. Not horribly efficient that second option.

GabrialDestruir said:
A few problems with this, first SDK is still in preview mode and they haven't opened it up so everyone can add support for their apps willynilly. This means even if someone had a solution that works the way google wants their system to work they couldn't widely release it since it'd work on only devices that have been whitelisted for development.
You could possible treat whatever you want to view as a webpage and make it possible to watch something from XBMC using the tab casting feature, but this isn't as optimal as the just send a link and have the chromecast pull up the content itself. So this method doesn't really work on low powered devices meaning you definitely couldn't do it from the chromecast.
Another issue with running xbmc on a pi and using chromecast for the video feeds is you'd need a either a way to send the main menu to the chromecast so you could see it as you navigate it, or you'd need a second display just to navigate through the menus on the Pi. Not horribly efficient that second option.
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I think the pi guy just meant setup a pi for XBMC and connect it to your TV without chrome cast. I want to use XBMC on my laptop or tablet and cast the videos to my chromecast.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

Link_of_Hyrule said:
I think the pi guy just meant setup a pi for XBMC and connect it to your TV without chrome cast. I want to use XBMC on my laptop or tablet and cast the videos to my chromecast.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
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Ah well in that case, setting up a pi with xbmc is completely irrelevant to the chromecast, and has already been done http://www.raspbmc.com/
Edit: I realize the pi guy was saying this was possible with a Pi. But if someone is here they've most likely already bought a Chromecast as opposed to a Pi
It would be nice to see XBMC support in some way. Though I have currently switched to plex since you can pull up the interface via web and watch movies that way you can tab cast it rather nicely with a decent enough computer.
We probably won't see official support for plex or xbmc until the sdk comes out of preview release and you're not required to get your device whitelisted for the features to work, unless either group gets the preferential partner treatment like netflix, hulu, and pandora.

Well if everything I have read on this thread is correct I will not be buying a Chromecast soon.

I don't regret getting the chrome cast is totally worth it just for YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

XBMC over Chromecast through Avia
Using Smartphone - XMBC can be watched over Chromecast through Avia Player which costs $2.99. YouTube Video shows how.
http://youtu.be/vS-7hwYe4nw
Using Computer - XMBC can be watched over Chromecast through Avia Player which costs $2.99. YouTube Video shows how.
http://youtu.be/NCgP0r5Dvp8
Good Luck

Chromecast streaming could happen easily. You do not need to physically have a menu on chromecast...look at all the other apps like Netflix hulu. You pick what you want on your phone and throw it to chromecast. They just need to work in a casting button for XBMC and then all will be good since most videos are mp4 anyway
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I would love this as I just want a all in one solution that works perfect that dont cost me a arm and a leg and yet to find it.. this is close.. I got netflix hulu. I want amazin instant and xbmc.
(I have a ouya and a rasp pi but I just like how this works a lot better)

Vget now chromecast compatible..

Get it whilst its hot.
Stream all those mp4 clips of 'nature' and documentaries with ease.. Definitely not porn. No.

Good stuff. :good:

Bonus! sky sports web videos now playback in non flash mode.. If u wait a second the vget icon appears top left of video.. Pleased
Sent from my Nexus 7

This is so full of win it's not even funny.
Works great.

Tried and works great. Streams seem to be more stable than with both Avia or BubbleUPnP for some reason.

So, on which sites would this be useful? I tried it on amazon prime, it didn't work. I wanted to see if it would work on byutv.org, it didn't work. Any suggestions on where I might use this?

primetime34 said:
So, on which sites would this be useful? I tried it on amazon prime, it didn't work. I wanted to see if it would work on byutv.org, it didn't work. Any suggestions on where I might use this?
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You can use it to watch clips on hulu.com (not plus) and if you like searching archives (I do, it's an acquired taste) there's a ton of stuff on the Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/dick_tracy_detctive (be sure to use the mp4 link in the table)
It's jumpy, it's cheesy but it's the original **** Tracy.
Some good and all but lost stuff in there.
https://archive.org/details/EyesInTheNight720p1942
I'm sure you'll run across things for your tastes at other sites if you're not interested in that sort of thing. There's a lot of gems squirreled away on the net.

I'm just not getting how to use VGet with Chrome to cast an internet stream. Can someone explain it to me?
I have the VGet downloader extension and the VGet casting extension installed in Chrome on my PC.
I see a VGet icon on my toolbar.
If I start an internet video stream (like the **** Tracy example), I can can click on the VGet icon and it gives me the options to download or cast to Chromecast.
I click on Chromecast, and says it's searching for a DLNA renderer on my network (why does it need one?).
I have to turn on an Android based DLNA client like BubbleUpNP on my Android table, or it won't find anything and it won't proceed. My TV DLNA clients on Samsung or Roku aren't detected.
If I select my Android tablet as the DLNA renderer, I get a small VGet play window that looks like its trying to play something, but nothing happens. It never asks me anything about which Chromecast to use, and my Chromecast shows nothing. The BubbleUpNP client on the Android tablet shows a blank screen.
What's supposed to happen? I don't quite understand the relationship between VGet and the DLNA renderer and the Chromecast.

I'm using the vGet app for Android. On that, if you turn off desktop/Flash mode and turn on Chromecast, select an mp4, it'll cast. With desktop/Flash mode on, you get to choose - Stream (to your selected Android media player, MoboPlayer is good here), Download, or DLNA.
I didn't know that they made a desktop Chrome extension.
PS - when I said it works great - I'm using it with low quality videos that don't look worse via vGet/casting vs. any other methods I use to watch those, but it's very convenient so that's great for me.

VGet appears to work for the Webisodes Network website which is nice.
Would be even nicer if vGet had a functional back button in their internal browser. If I navigate into a site and then press the Android back button, it just bumps me out of the app.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

cmstlist said:
VGet appears to work for the Webisodes Network website which is nice.
Would be even nicer if vGet had a functional back button in their internal browser. If I navigate into a site and then press the Android back button, it just bumps me out of the app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odd. Must be device or Android version dependent. I get the previous page.
The problem with the app that I noticed last night is that once my phone has gone to sleep, it sometimes forgets that it's casting and remote control is lost.
Are you seeing any of that?
PS - thanks for the tip on Webisodes.

Could be version dependent. This is a Nexus 7 2012 running 4.4. The bad back button may be a quirk of the new Chromium Web view.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Eyeonanime.com tried, tested, and verified to work.

Tried a few more experiments with the PC Chrome extension and with the Android app to answer my own questions about vGet since nobody else seems to have the answers.
As far as I can tell, the vGet extension for PC Chrome does not currently support the Chromecast, although it uses the Chromecast icon. When I click the cast icon and it prompts for a "DLNA renderer", it's looking for a playback client. But it doesn't detect the Chromecast as a valid client, nor does it detect my Roku (even if it's running the DLNA client), nor my Samsung Blu-Ray player (even if it's running the DLNA client). The only thing it detects is Android-based DLNA clients on the network, like BubbleUPnP on my tablet - and it can't cast successfully to that client either, although it tries.
I can get the Android vGet app to work and cast a stream like the **** Tracy video to the Chromecast, but it's really flaky. Most of the time I just get the cast icon in the middle of the screen on the Chromecast when vGet connects, and no stream starts. A few times I got sound but no video. It takes a couple of tries to get a proper video stream to start, and as soon as it does, vGet crashes Android immediately, causing a reboot - but the stream keeps playing on the Chromecast, so it's obviously receiving it directly. If I attempt to restart vGet after Android reboots, it just crashes and reboots Android again immediately as long as the Chromecast continues to play. Only after I turn off the Chromecast will vGet start again without crashing the Android tablet.

Too bad vGet on Android isn't more robust. I'd guess it cares about the version or something. I've used it quite a bit already without those issues. Hopefully they'll fix it.

Vget forma Android is great. But only with DLNA devices.

giuliastro said:
Vget forma Android is great. But only with DLNA devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My mileage is the exact opposite.
On vGet Android, I uncheck desktop/Flash, select Cast, then tap the desired mp4 link and I'm in business.
My TV tends to suck at dealing with DLNA video.
On my TV, I'm stuck with this -
Compatible files: DLNA-supported file types and extensions are listed below.
Music – MP3 (.mp3)
Photos – JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
Video – MPEG1 (.mpg, .mpeg) MPEG2 (.mpg, .mpeg, .trp, .ts, .tp) DIVX (.mpg, .mpeg, .avi)
MPEG4 AVC (.mpg, .mpeg)
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Between vGet, LocalCast, and RealPlayer Cloud, I'm pretty much done with DLNA.
It's fabulous when it works though, I agree.

And now it's US$5 for vGet.

EarlyMon said:
And now it's US$5 for vGet.
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Since when? I have it for free, so if you got it free you dont have to buy a premium version or anything?
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

impulse101 said:
Since when? I have it for free, so if you got it free you dont have to buy a premium version or anything?
Click to expand...
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Since now.
If you update to 0.4.3 or newly install it, you get two weeks free, after that it's $5. I understand that one can earn more free time through a new referral plan.
0.4.2 was the last free version.
People responded with unhappiness in the Play Store comments, the dev replied -
schibum February 27 said:
We are truly sorry for those that cannot afford to spend a few bucks and have no Facebook or real live friends to refer. But basically it's simple: Developing and maintaining an App costs money. This money has to come from somewhere. For some very popular Apps, Ads may be able to pay it for you . They cannot for vGet - we tried that initially.
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I got the price by asking in another thread.
It's not listed in the Play Store - it simply says that an in-app purchase is added.