Database Develop

Use regular Android TV dongle as Chromecast

Hello, I have an Android TV dongle similar to this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A8FWITI
and, as the Chromecast uses Android, I was wondering if it would be possible to put the ROM found in the Chromecast into other devices such as these TV dongles so you could use them in the same way as the Chromecast.
Would it be possible or does the TV dongle lack any kind of hardware feature that the Chromecast has? If it was possible I would like to help develop this, but I need someone to point me to the right direction.
I hope you understood my idea :laugh:

Why would you want to do that? Is there anything that Chromecast can do that you can't make with your device?
The purpose of Chromecast is to play content that is sent via a computer, phone or tablet.
With your Android tv device you don't need any other device to send you any content. You can play it from the device itself.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

titooo7 said:
Why would you want to do that? Is there anything that Chromecast can do that you can't make with your device?
The purpose of Chromecast is to play content that is sent via a computer, phone or tablet.
With your Android tv device you don't need any other device to send you any content. You can play it from the device itself.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
Well, I use my android TV dongle mainly for music and I think it would be much more comfortable to just send and control the music from my phone rather than having to use a mouse or a keyboard, which is what I have now.

Maybe a DLNA app?

You might, in the future be able to adapt the apps from the Chromecast to your device, but chances are the code is hardware dependent, so you'd need to be able to analyse the code and determine that for yourself. A full-on ROM would certainly be hardware dependent.

per the chromecast API, anything can be a receiver and anything can be a controller. the chromecast receiver is not the only receiver possible. its possible for a dev to create an app that can identify itself as "castable." (this is what i heard on launchday from dudes going over the chromecast API, I cannot cite the source directly)

I would venture to say that truecrisis is correct. They announced that Google TV devices will become Chromecast receiver devices in the next update. I saw that a Google TV software engineer indicated it will be part of the OS and not a seperate app. Once the Google TVs get updated to JB with Chromecast, it would make a good blueprint to adding Chromecast to the Android Sticks.

titooo7 said:
Why would you want to do that? Is there anything that Chromecast can do that you can't make with your device?
The purpose of Chromecast is to play content that is sent via a computer, phone or tablet.
With your Android tv device you don't need any other device to send you any content. You can play it from the device itself.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
I have an old Iconia A500 that I mounted in my kitchen as a media center, but being that my girlfriend and myself have different music accounts and so forth, it's already usually more convenient to just play back content locally from the phones. Having the ability to register the tablet as a chromecast receiver would greatly increase the usability of the device in this use-case. It's not about what chromecast can do, it's about how it does it.

ktix007 said:
Hello, I have an Android TV dongle similar to this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A8FWITI
and, as the Chromecast uses Android, I was wondering if it would be possible to put the ROM found in the Chromecast into other devices such as these TV dongles so you could use them in the same way as the Chromecast.
Would it be possible or does the TV dongle lack any kind of hardware feature that the Chromecast has? If it was possible I would like to help develop this, but I need someone to point me to the right direction.
I hope you understood my idea :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will be possible. See https://plus.google.com/107130354111162483072/posts/KMMwKTpNpZr

Just run XBMC on that and you can do automatic play using DLNA. I also heard of cheapcast.

wsimon said:
This will be possible. See https://plus.google.com/107130354111162483072/posts/KMMwKTpNpZr
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! This is great news :laugh:

Try Cheapcast
Try downloading Cheapcast.
It is in the Play Store

It sounds like you want to use the Android TV dongle as a chromecast device. If so, there is already an app called Cheapcastwhich does that. There is no need for you to recreate the wheel here.

Incognitum said:
I have an old Iconia A500 that I mounted in my kitchen as a media center, but being that my girlfriend and myself have different music accounts and so forth, it's already usually more convenient to just play back content locally from the phones. Having the ability to register the tablet as a chromecast receiver would greatly increase the usability of the device in this use-case. It's not about what chromecast can do, it's about how it does it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just create a combined google music account. And you both can upload your music to it. That's what my fiance and I did. Works great. We also signed up for all access. So 2 people have access to Google's All Access Pass for 7.99

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
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Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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)

[Q] Google Chromecast GDK\SDK\hackathon question

Once the Google Chromecast SDK is released, is this rootable serial number and post 12840 bootloader being unrootable going to be an issue?

Here is what I think it will be.
Google has to watch their ass around these archaic studios, these studios want to own everything.
The SDK will be somewhat limited to protect the business interests at Google with Satan (I mean SONY/Hollywood et al)
If you think that Google is going to open it up to watch any video pirated or not, you are delusional. HDMI is basically owned by these studios and they can step in a company like Google and destroy it. Just like Google TV.
Google probably doesn't want another diabocle like Google TV and want some sort of success with televisions so they are going to listen to the developers but always listen to the wallet first.
Chromecast wasn't meant for the tinkering demographic.
Sent from my XT926 using Tapatalk

abuttino said:
The SDK will be somewhat limited to protect the business interests at Google with Satan (I mean SONY/Hollywood et al)
If you think that Google is going to open it up to watch any video pirated or not, you are delusional. HDMI is basically owned by these studios and they can step in a company like Google and destroy it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's a tinfoil hat post if I've ever seen one. We already know Plex has developers working with Google to build casting into their app. Why would Google invite them to do that, knowing that function of their app is to playback any format of locally stored media?

fudsak said:
Well that's a tinfoil hat post if I've ever seen one. We already know Plex has developers working with Google to build casting into their app. Why would Google invite them to do that, knowing that function of their app is to playback any format of locally stored media?
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Click to collapse
Ha, that was a great first line!! :good: Not to throw out the A word but dosent appletv and an iPhone do all the things we want chromecast to do? Stream right from the phone. Local videos? all that good stuff...

If that's true, we might see it come to chromecast. The question is, does chromecast have a powerful enough CPU to do that?
Sent from my XT926 using Tapatalk

cdrshm said:
Ha, that was a great first line!! :good: Not to throw out the A word but dosent appletv and an iPhone do all the things we want chromecast to do? Stream right from the phone. Local videos? all that good stuff...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chromecast works differently from (at least how I understand it) how AirPlay on AppleTV + iPhone work...
According to my understanding (and HowStuffWorks), AirPlay actually streams from the iPhone or other AirPlay source. The iPhone or other AirPlay source has to be on the same network, powered up and have the content, or be able to get the content.
In the Chromecast world, this is equivalent to how Chrome tab casting from a computer and AllCast/AirCast/KoushCast with rooted a Chromecast work, but those two are more exceptions than the rule.
Chromecast's native behavior, on the other hand, simply accepts a request "hand-off" and goes to retrieve the content itself.
There's a subtle but significant difference there. In the Chromecast model, once the cast request is made, the requesting device (phone, tablet) is no longer necessary for playback (of course, you can't control playback). The phone/tablet/computer can be disconnected from the network or powered off, and the Chromecast will continue to play like nothing happened.
The requesting device simply controls the playback from there. It's much like how you use your remote control to change channels on your TV. Once the TV changes to the selected channel, you see what's on and you don't need the remote unless you want to change channels or adjust the volume.
This also allows playback to controlled from a different device, at least for most applications. That's pretty cool for me, as I might start something for the family to watch, then leave for work and my wife can just take over control, just like passing the remote.
---------- Post added at 08:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 AM ----------
abuttino said:
If that's true, we might see it come to chromecast. The question is, does chromecast have a powerful enough CPU to do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chromecast would just be a Plex client like any other mobile device so Chromecast's CPU would only be involved in decoding the video stream from the Plex server.
The Plex server would be responsible for and burdened with any necessary transcoding duties.

^ Exactly.

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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

Gtv with chromecast : any way to cast "FROM" the device

yeah you read the title right, am not looking for how to cast "to" GTV with chromecast rather i am looking for a way to cast my GTV screen to another chromecast enabled device.
One of the reason to buy chromecast with GTV was an "implict" (though seems wrong) expectation that i would have google home from playstore and be able to cast screen from my GTV with chromecast to other chromecast enabled devices in household.
there is no google home in chromecast playstore (says not compatible), and i downloaded latest APK for google home and it runs and i can see all devices within home including chromecast enabled devices but all devices (including connect devices like lights/switches all are shown offfline except google nest thermostat).
I can guess some of you might ask why i want to cast, i use STBEMU to watch IPTV sub that is mac bound....and instead of replicating MAC on another device i was hoping to cast from the (master) gTV with chromecast. My cheap chinese/aliexpress S912 and 905x box can do such a thing albeit they crash every now and then when casting but gtv doesn't even gives me that option to cast
any pointers appreciated ....thanks

anti_maniac said:
yeah you read the title right, am not looking for how to cast "to" GTV with chromecast rather i am looking for a way to cast my GTV screen to another chromecast enabled device.
One of the reason to buy chromecast with GTV was an "implict" (though seems wrong) expectation that i would have google home from playstore and be able to cast screen from my GTV with chromecast to other chromecast enabled devices in household.
there is no google home in chromecast playstore (says not compatible), and i downloaded latest APK for google home and it runs and i can see all devices within home including chromecast enabled devices but all devices (including connect devices like lights/switches all are shown offfline except google nest thermostat).
I can guess some of you might ask why i want to cast, i use STBEMU to watch IPTV sub that is mac bound....and instead of replicating MAC on another device i was hoping to cast from the (master) gTV with chromecast. My cheap chinese/aliexpress S912 and 905x box can do such a thing albeit they crash every now and then when casting but gtv doesn't even gives me that option to cast
any pointers appreciated ....thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I missed the part where you actually tried to sideload a screen mirroring app on CCwGTV to see if you hit paydirt.

rodken said:
I missed the part where you actually tried to sideload a screen mirroring app on CCwGTV to see if you hit paydirt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
considering it runs Android / exposes play store...so its no different than mibox or a phone where tv is screen. In light of same i implicitly assumed i can run google home. (as i tried to state in original post, my android boxes can do that...albeit not very stable).
this ruined all my plans to run stmemu on one device and cast when i want to watch on other tv instead of buying multiple susbcription for my IPTV service. My second implicit assumption was i would find a solution on xda....never in last few years was a case that i wanted to do something with my android devices and XDA didnt had an answer