Database Develop

Chromecast feature suggestions (For the device, app, extension, and/or dev apps)

I created this thread for people to suggest features they like to see the chromecast do. Whether it be the chromecast device itself, the chrome browser extension, chromecast app on the phone, or even just to give ideas to developers to create an app for or integrate into apps they already have.
Suggestions:
1) Cast embeded videos like youtube videos in google+ straight to chromecast? I'm currently watching a video on google+ and went to cast it but there is no button in the video. I'd have to start playing it first, click to watch it in youtube, then cast it from there.
2) Be able to use chromecast with Picture-In-Picture. I haven't tried thus yet so it might already work.
3) An app that integrates chromecasting into the android share menu so you can cast any app straight to your T.V. I know Koush is working on sharing the gallery but being able to cast almost any app would be huge! Cast pdfs, facebook pictures, instagram, etc.

Control Control Control
1) When controlling the chromecast from my phone, if a call comes in, it would be great if the Chromecast would record the time the call started and when I hang up, ask me if I want to rewind to that point or optionally pause what's playing when I pickup the phone.
2) I would like a generic app in the notification bar to control ffw/rwd/pause of any media playing on the Chromecast. The idea being it would be a standardized interface for all media apps (instead of the per app notifications like netflix uses) and any device on the wifi network could control any chromecast (rather than having to start up netflix or whatever app the chromecast is servicing on another device.
3) Queuing/queue control either in apps or in the generic app in #2. Watching Mad Men on netflix is a PITA because as a episode ends, I have to open up the phone and then open the series, then scroll to the next episode and hit play. Would be nice if it was easier to just skip to the next episode, song, whatever.
4) Android Netflix App - it's obvious that Netflix app on android is not (yet) optimized to be a remote control. As mentioned in #3 managing the queue is a PITA. Also the lack of FFWD/RWD buttons and the accuracy of the slider in portrait mode only leaves something to be desired. Landscape orientation when controlling chromecast, FFWD/RWD/NEXT/BACK, a better timeline (maybe a gesture to scrub fwd/back?) and most importantly a queue/automatic play of the next episode (like the browser app, PS3, most TVs already do) would all go to making the user experience greater. (While the lock screen overlay controls were a pleasant surprise, why it doesn't have more control buttons is beyond me).

kernelhappy said:
2) I would like a generic app in the notification bar to control ffw/rwd/pause of any media playing on the Chromecast. The idea being it would be a standardized interface for all media apps (instead of the per app notifications like netflix uses) and any device on the wifi network could control any chromecast (rather than having to start up netflix or whatever app the chromecast is servicing on another device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe RemoteCast does this already. I know it does within the app but I can't remember if it adds any controls to the notification bar.
Two more suggestions:
1) Add an option for auto power off of the device after a specified amount of inactivity. (saw this in another thread)
2) Add caller ID so we can see who is calling when casting from the phone. Pause the cast when the call is answered.

supernova_00 said:
I believe RemoteCast does this already. I know it does within the app but I can't remember if it adds any controls to the notification bar.
Two more suggestions:
1) Add an option for auto power off of the device after a specified amount of inactivity. (saw this in another thread)
2) Add caller ID so we can see who is calling when casting from the phone. Pause the cast when the call is answered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I learned about remotecast about 20 minutes after posting here, gonna check it out in a little bit.
I do like the Caller ID though.

kernelhappy said:
Yes, I learned about remotecast about 20 minutes after posting here, gonna check it out in a little bit.
I do like the Caller ID though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This would be soooo easy to do with Google Voice since the Hangouts app already supports it on the chrome PC extension
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

Suggestions:
1) Cast the clock app to your TV to display the current time, alarm notification, and/or display the countdown timer.
2) Cast daydream to the TV (I'm not sure the usefulness of this as I have never used the feature on the phone)
3) Cast google earth to the TV. That would be beautiful to have that on a huge screen!
4) Cast specific google now cards to the TV

Soundcloud
Amazon Cloud Player

Tab casting from Android devices.

How about having it work with a wifi webcam or something for a video hangout (similar to kinect)? May not be feasible but I like the idea.

Native chrome tabs
I would like to be able to cast a tab, but instead of it mirroring my screen over the local network, run it locally on the Chromecast. A remote control interface would similate a trackpad and buttons, and only send the pointer coordinates (oh, and keyboard entries) and button clicks over the local network.
I would think that this would give us a higher quality experience, especially when viewing a streaming site that is not "Chromecast optimized".

Another suggestion:
Please for the love of god make chromecast switch the input back to what was on before I casted. This is by far my single biggest gripe.

1) Split audio and video into two separate synchronized casts. That would allow you to send the video only to your TV and then listen to the audio on your PC/phone/tablet using headphones (i.e. similar to the roku 3). Also, it would allow you to send video to your TV but cast to a second device connected to a receiver.
2) Add the option to restrict casting from certain devices. That way you could put the chromecast on a semi-public network (i.e. hotel) and others on the network would not be able to hijack your chromecast.
3) If a cast is in progress, display a warning if you attempt to start a new cast. This would prevent you from accidentally terminating someone elses cast. I could easily see people getting a chromecast for every TV, and without this, you could accidentally cast to the wrong TV which already has a cast in progress.
4) It has been mentioned before, but add a sleep mode option.
5) User defined URL for chromecast backgrounds. This would allow the chromecast to display a sideshow of your pictures when not casting.
6) Cast to remote device. This would allow you to cast if on a network with access point isolation enabled. It would also enable casting to a different subnet. Lastly it would also allow you to start a cast for someone else if you were not at home.

Casting content from SMB shares
I'd like the Chromecast to be able to pull directly from an SMB share, rather than just HTTP.
I'd then also like a companion app on my phone that can browse SMB shares and allows me to select a file to be casted so that the Chromecast fetches and streams the file directly from the SMB share. An existing app that already supports browsing of SMB shares (such as ES File Explorer or XBMC) with the added casting ability would do the trick.

netflix should go to the next tv episode automatically. this is my number one request

UPNP and DLNA
The UPNP and DLNA support would simply be a killer feature for the chromecast. The bigest problem wold be the codec support

uncola said:
netflix should go to the next tv episode automatically. this is my number one request
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I wanted it too but I'm not sure if I trust that to work properly. What if it skips an episode by mistake?

Chromecast Playlist Bridge
I mentioned this in my review at ChromeCastCentral.Com, but one of the big drawbacks for the Chromecast is that while it is cross-platform, it still has a single-user mindset. All my friends can send stuff to it, but only if THEY take control over it. There is no good way to have multiple people/apps add things to a playlist. So what we need is an app (on the PC preferably) that is both a RECEIVER and a TRANSMITTER. It could be called something like Chromecast Playlist. Multiple people/apps could cast to IT and it could build up a playlist queue that it casts to the actual Chromecast on the TV.

Casting content from SMB shares
boffo123 said:
I'd like the Chromecast to be able to pull directly from an SMB share, rather than just HTTP.
I'd then also like a companion app on my phone that can browse SMB shares and allows me to select a file to be casted so that the Chromecast fetches and streams the file directly from the SMB share. An existing app that already supports browsing of SMB shares (such as ES File Explorer or XBMC) with the added casting ability would do the trick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It occurs to me that perhaps the Chromecast is already able to pull directly from an SMB share. Apparently Chrome browser itself (in Win7) can play mkv files directly from a share using URL formatted as file://host/share/file.mkv, so perhaps the Chromecast can too? If so, then I'd just need a companion app to support casting a file from an SMB share.
Btw, I don't actually have a Chromecast yet

Turn off TV/AMP after idle, or device disconnect.
Mine turns on and switches inputs automatically using HDMI-CEC, which is fantastic for putting music on in the house, but it would be nice if it would all turn off again when I'm done.

Ensure all app 'home screens' use burn in prevention techniques. The YouTube one is a ***** on our plasma.
Netflix app improvements as mentioned.
Google music on CC to store a playlist so source can disconnect from WiFi without stopping the music.
Various Options for visual stimulation whilst playing music, yet still indicate what's playing. Or even show screenshare /web stuff whilst playing music. Hogging a large screen just for music isn't super efficient, may as well use the Bluetooth method we have used till now and free up the tv.. here using the TVs optical out, can't change input or turn screen off.. Must be quite common.
Google photos /g plus incorporation. photos as screensaver etc..
Uh..
Sent from my Nexus 7

Chromecast plays pandora on its own, cant turn it off

When i connect my iphones pandora to my chromecast the tv plays the music like it should, and the music on the tv matches what is displayed on my iphone, volume works, skip, pause all works like it should. However, when i go to the ipod app on my iphone and press play the iphone stops pandora and plays the ipod like it should, but the chromecast on the TV keeps playing pandora. when i go to the pandora app on the phone it has to restart (like it wasnt running in the background) and starts playing a song, but the song is different than the one chromecast is playing. the iphones controls no longer control chromecast like it did before and chromecast will continue to play song after song even when the iphone is turned off completley. when i change the input on the tv to cable or something else the chromecast will make the tv switch back to it when the next song starts, it will also turn my tv on if i turn the tv off. the only way i can get the chromecast to turn off is to unplug the power. does anyone know why its doing this? as far at i know the chromecast is just to transfer media from another device to a tv, not make its own media. where is it getting the pandora from?

shordinges said:
as far at i know the chromecast is just to transfer media from another device to a tv, not make its own media. where is it getting the pandora from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's where you're wrong, you aren't 'slinging' the actual content to your Chromecast, just the login/tokens and content SELECTION to the chromecast... then it takes over, it runs a regular instance of chrome on the chromecast and does all the streaming of the media directly on the chromecast over the internet... for instance, I can start watching Netflix on my Chromecast from my Android phone... I can then put my phone into airplane mode (which turns off wifi), it will continue playing Netflix... luckily, on Android, when I reconnect, and open Netflix, it realizes that my Chromecast is already playing, and gives me control again. Probably just an iOS bug with Pandora, I would just stop playing it before jumping over to the standard music app, or... Use an an Android device.
*edit*: the exception to the above is if you're casting a tab from a desktop/laptop browser, then you are encoding whatever is on the tab to video, then decoding it on the Chromecast.... This would require the computer as a intermediary as the page itself will always be rendered on the PC.

jmhalder said:
*edit*: the exception to the above is if you're casting a tab from a desktop/laptop browser, then you are encoding whatever is on the tab to video, then decoding it on the Chromecast.... This would require the computer as a intermediary as the page itself will always be rendered on the PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or if you have a rooted Chromecast and you are using AllCast to play media from your Android phone/tablet.

(depending on what you are watching)
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

which app can I use on Android to cast from a NAS without transiting through my phone (Galaxy S4)??
I've tried LocalCast and the ES File Manager chromecast plugin and both stream my files to my phone and then on the chromecast... What a useless loop...
NAS -> wireless N router -> phone -> wireless N router -> chromecast
How can I make it stream directly from the NAS in that sort of way: NAS -> Router -> chromecast, and the phone as remote controller????
Thanks you

mathieums said:
How can I make it stream directly from the NAS in that sort of way: NAS -> Router -> chromecast, and the phone as remote controller????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your NAS supports DLNA you might have more luck. If it strictly supports only CIFS/SMB/AFP type file-sharing, I don't know of any apps whose Chromecast component can browse those.

bhiga said:
If your NAS supports DLNA you might have more luck. If it strictly supports only CIFS/SMB/AFP type file-sharing, I don't know of any apps whose Chromecast component can browse those.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, I say NAS but in reality it is a HDD conencted to a Asus RT-N16 router running tomatousb which (I think) runs minidlna of something similar.
My smart TV, xbox, ps3, computers... they all see the files and stream it no problem.

mathieums said:
well, I say NAS but in reality it is a HDD conencted to a Asus RT-N16 router running tomatousb which (I think) runs minidlna of something similar.
My smart TV, xbox, ps3, computers... they all see the files and stream it no problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. Check BubbleUPnP or maybe Avia. I'm pretty sure there as one early app that later started pulling directly, but I can't remember which one it was at the moment. I think it was discussed in a thread here.

bhiga said:
OK. Check BubbleUPnP or maybe Avia. I'm pretty sure there as one early app that later started pulling directly, but I can't remember which one it was at the moment. I think it was discussed in a thread here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I'll look into it right now!

If you're lucky @Asphyx might remember

I think Bubble may be the answer provided no transcoding is required.
I know the dev was dabbling in limited in device transcoding as well but not sure where that is at or if it is even needed for Music.
aVia most definitely runs everything through the phone if I'm not Mistaken but that too could have changed since I least used it.
Pretty much everything I stream to CCast now is via Plex which does not require the launch device to stay on.
Most 3rd party Content providers whose content is on the web and who support CCast via the casting icon will send the stream direct.
That would include Pandora, Hulu Etc...
Bubble or Plex is probably the best option but both will require a PC to handle the streaming.
It doesn't take much or affect the PC's ability to function but it will require an always on PC.

I think last time I checked (which was more than a year ago, probably closer to 2), Avia kept streaming from my server running Serviio (UPnP server) even after I rebooted my phone, but I'm not in a spot that I can retest this.

Asphyx said:
I think Bubble may be the answer provided no transcoding is required.
I know the dev was dabbling in limited in device transcoding as well but not sure where that is at or if it is even needed for Music.
aVia most definitely runs everything through the phone if I'm not Mistaken but that too could have changed since I least used it.
Pretty much everything I stream to CCast now is via Plex which does not require the launch device to stay on.
Most 3rd party Content providers whose content is on the web and who support CCast via the casting icon will send the stream direct.
That would include Pandora, Hulu Etc...
Bubble or Plex is probably the best option but both will require a PC to handle the streaming.
It doesn't take much or affect the PC's ability to function but it will require an always on PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just tried Bubble and it works with the launch device turned off. Exactly what I was looking for :good:
Avia is a paid app, I didn't try it. I'll look into Plex, thanks!

mathieums said:
I've just tried Bubble and it works with the launch device turned off. Exactly what I was looking for :good:
Avia is a paid app, I didn't try it. I'll look into Plex, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In some respects Plex is a semi-paid app...
You don't need to pay to use it with a CCast but to get everythig requires a Plex pass account which has grown very expensive from the day when I bought my lifetime membership.
If Bubble works and the interface is not an issue then stick with it...
Plex is a little prettier and does full scraping of titles for a better display but if all you want to do is fling content you might not need all of that.

Native Chromecast Support?

I don't have a chromecast but I just updated to TMO 4.4.2 for Moto X and I noticed that under display in settings, there is a cast screen option. I don't think its miracast as that is the option above Cast Screen. Does anyone know if this works with a chromecast? Screenshot:http://i57.tinypic.com/3027uqr.png
Sent with Tapatalk - Help fund my craziness? 1LftA6pHiZgkgBH2s6wh9VxmVA1oe8pEHq

Yes, it is for Chromecast. You have to set up Chromecast by installing the Chromecast extension in the Chrome browser on a PC. Follow the instructions to connect the Chromecast to your wifi network. Then with certain apps on your mobile device, you can 'cast' or stream content to the tv. It is still limited by available apps and does not yet mirror the screen for mobile devices, but you can get most local pics, videos, and music to the tv. And you can cast from cloud storage or from Chrome browser media content.

Groid said:
Yes, it is for Chromecast. You have to set up Chromecast by installing the Chromecast extension in the Chrome browser on a PC. Follow the instructions to connect the Chromecast to your wifi network. Then with certain apps on your mobile device, you can 'cast' or stream content to the tv. It is still limited by available apps and does not yet mirror the screen for mobile devices, but you can get most local pics, videos, and music to the tv. And you can cast from cloud storage or from Chrome browser media content.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I might have worded it the wrong way. I know about casting app content such as Youtube and Play music. That being said, a separate option has appeared on my phone in Settings > Display. If you look at the photo that I attached earlier, there is a list item called "Cast screen". This item is separate from "Wireless Display", leading me to believe it is for the chromecast. I realize that currently there is no known NATIVE way to mirror the phones screen onto a chromecast (Other than Allcast/shou?/etc.). That is why I decided to post here to ask if anyone with a chromecast has tried the option or if it is even available on other devices. Thanks nevertheless.

I have a CC, but when I select "cast screen" it simply tells me no devices found. Guessing this is a work in progress that may work in the future.

streaming torrents to chromecast - Single app solution?

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

Alternative's to "Cast your entire screen"

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...