Chromecast App functionaility outside US - Google Chromecast

UK here. Does anybody know how to get the US version of the app so that I can get all the latest functionality??? Or am I on a non starter???
Tried searching but can't see anything.

Which OS-fruit or candy? I have no idea what it will do for you, though.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

What functionality is it that you're trying to get? The Chromecast app is really just for setup, although it now also lists the other Chromecast-enabled apps on your device in an attempt to be a rudimentary portal. It doesn't block or enable access to any Chromecast functions or apps.

Related

Amazon Appstore app

I can't get the Amazon Appstore app to install. It gives me the message "Do you want to install this application? It will get access to:" then a list of areas and boxes for cancel or install. When I click install nothing happens. The cancel box works. (I did check the unknown sources in settings)
If it is being blocked by Google, that would suck.
I'm pretty shure its being blocked by Google.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app
Threevo said:
I'm pretty shure its being blocked by Google.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's being blocked I might return my Nexus 7. It would suck that they would only let you buy apps from them.
chisaki said:
I can't get the Amazon Appstore app to install. It gives me the message "Do you want to install this application? It will get access to:" then a list of areas and boxes for cancel or install. When I click install nothing happens. The cancel box works. (I did check the unknown sources in settings)
If it is being blocked by Google, that would suck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true it's working for me. Go to Amazon& request a new link to be sent to your email.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Thats strange, i was able to do it on my N7. Maybe a reboot of some sort?
Works fine here. Go into Setting>Security and check Allow unknown sources. Go to Amazon web site and follow instructions to download and install. Did that to download an older version of a zombie killing game that works on N7.
Works fine for me. I use it every day to get the free "cr"app of the day.
Try rebooting it then re-installing.
If you're installing it from a previous backup from another device, it most likely won't work (not assuming you are, but just in case...) Like the others said, go to Amazon and get it directly and you should have no problem.
What worked for me was clicking the link for tablets. It says something like "no email or phone number, click here" and that downloaded the APK directly into my system download folder. From there it installed just fine. I had to do this to get it on my Google TV also. It seems to bypass some sort of test since the Google TV isn't officially compatible with it.
I just worked with an Amazon tech, got it to install using by going to this like in the browser on the N7.
http://www.amazon.com/app-email
Works fine now.
Mine installed fine. I used the APK from my phone. Got a bunch of the nicer FAOTD apps working perfectly too.
Compusmurf said:
Works fine for me. I use it every day to get the free "cr"app of the day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Idk man, I've gotten a few awesome ones for free, like quick office, sketchbook mobile, and some games like monopoly for free.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I find it incredible that everyone is giving Amazon a free pass for contributing to the Android Malware myth.
The fact you have to enable side loading on an Android phone to allow Amazon, means any other malware could also slip in. Using Amazon app store is a REALLY bad idea (plus the fact it's a barren wasteland compared to Google Play, and most of the apps are really out of date versions).
Surely the lure of free versions of old apps is not that strong that you want to open your phone up to allsorts of Android malware nasties?
CrazyPeter said:
I find it incredible that everyone is giving Amazon a free pass for contributing to the Android Malware myth.
The fact you have to enable side loading on an Android phone to allow Amazon, means any other malware could also slip in. Using Amazon app store is a REALLY bad idea (plus the fact it's a barren wasteland compared to Google Play, and most of the apps are really out of date versions).
Surely the lure of free versions of old apps is not that strong that you want to open your phone up to allsorts of Android malware nasties?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bugger the Apps they get games too. Of course only if you're from a certain country.
Majority of the free apps are a joke.
I usually check it every day and realize they're all trash (except maybe 2 apps so far) and then I uninstall it. For some reason I get struck with the idiotic idea that I may be missing out on some good free apps, so I stupidly install it again in hopes of some decent apps...... it never happens
Andrew025 said:
Majority of the free apps are a joke.
I usually check it every day and realize they're all trash (except maybe 2 apps so far) and then I uninstall it. For some reason I get struck with the idiotic idea that I may be missing out on some good free apps, so I stupidly install it again in hopes of some decent apps...... it never happens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what most people think. Once you discover what Amazon are offering for free is basically stuff that deserves to be free anyway, make sure you re-tick the Android security setting and revert back to the proper Android store that Google host.
mtfsandlin said:
Idk man, I've gotten a few awesome ones for free, like quick office, sketchbook mobile, and some games like monopoly for free.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When it first came out, it was great. Now, the free app is usually a very crappy game. In the past, I got:
Fancy Widgets Pro, Weatherbug Elite, Thumb Keyboard, App 2 SD Pro, Moon Phase Pro, Quickoffice Pro, SoundHound Infinity, Shazam, SwiftKey 3, and several other good ones.
CrazyPeter said:
That's what most people think. Once you discover what Amazon are offering for free is basically stuff that deserves to be free anyway, make sure you re-tick the Android security setting and revert back to the proper Android store that Google host.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I've never once gotten malware and I always sideload apps. I always leave that setting unticked as do most folks I'm sure.
2. having Amazon app store or any other app store doesn't change your default android Google play store.
You want malware, go download Blackmarket apps or pirate stuff, you'll get it then. I do suggest tho, that everyone should install a malware scanner. Avast, lookout, etc.
CrazyPeter said:
I find it incredible that everyone is giving Amazon a free pass for contributing to the Android Malware myth.
The fact you have to enable side loading on an Android phone to allow Amazon, means any other malware could also slip in. Using Amazon app store is a REALLY bad idea (plus the fact it's a barren wasteland compared to Google Play, and most of the apps are really out of date versions).
Surely the lure of free versions of old apps is not that strong that you want to open your phone up to allsorts of Android malware nasties?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What? Side loading doesn't put you at any greater risk of malware. You always choose to install an app, whether you side loaded it or not.
Nothing wrong or risky with downloading the Amazon app store, being able to choose a different app store is one of the best things about android. CHOICE.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

CheapCast in Google Play Store

https://plus.google.com/107130354111162483072/posts/bc1TZChjhRE
Installed it on my NeoTV Prime and it works great with YouTube videos cast from my Samsung Galaxy S3.
EDIT: Well egg on my face. Seems it was not CheapCast that was sending YouTube to my NeoTV Prime. YouTube will cast to my NeoTV Prime without CheapCast even installed. If anyone has Netflix and NeoTV Prime could you confirm this as working for you?
EDIT. The new update to CheapCast will not run on NeoTV Prime. Causes Force Close.
Waiting on Chrome Tab support now.
EDIT. Chrome can see any device that I have CheapCast running on (Galaxy Tab 2.7 and MK802IIIs) and both respond to a Cast from Chrome but nothing plays and Chrome errors out shortly. Both the Tab and MK802IIIs are running the updated CheapCast.
EDIT. I can cast YouTube video from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.7 to my MK802IIIs most of the time. Sometimes complains about taking too long to play but for the most part works OK>
What's this supposed to do?
Sent from the TermiNOTEr 2!
borijess said:
What's this supposed to do?
Sent from the TermiNOTEr 2!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Emulate a chromecast on other android devices.
Since it's beta I figure you want feedback. Here is my setup: Source: Galaxy Note 2. Server: Galaxy Tab 10.1
I started sending a YouTube video. It started but after 20 seconds I got a continual spinning circle on both the source and server.
So, I shut down the server app on the tablet by pressing the stop server button. However, even though it was shutdown on the tablet it would play that 20 seconds of YouTube over and over again. I couldn't figure out where it was playing. It didn't show up in the app, it didn't show up in the YouTube app, nowhere. I could just hear that video playing in the background. I finally reboot the tablet to stop it.
Don't mean to be an ass, but what's the point of this? Do we really need to use our phones as a "remote control" for our tablets?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Think of those Android dongles that you already hook up to a tv. Yes they have native apps but being able to control them quickly is a plus.
Sent from my SGH-I317 using xda premium
michaelg1030 said:
Don't mean to be an ass, but what's the point of this? Do we really need to use our phones as a "remote control" for our tablets?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think it through. Most of us have an extra, old Android phone laying around. Just buy a $5 MHL cable and connect to your TV. Now you have a Chromecast for $5. If nothing else, it will hold you over until Amazon gets them back in stock.
michaelg1030 said:
Don't mean to be an ass, but what's the point of this? Do we really need to use our phones as a "remote control" for our tablets?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on your usage scenario.
For instance, I have an old Android phone plugged into the aux input on a stereo, which I use to stream music. The phone is less-than-accessible, so it'd be great to be able to control it remotely from my phone.
In my living room, I have an old Google TV (The Revue), which Google isn't going to be adding support for casting to. Being able to queue up music and such from my phone would be nice, but what will be nicer is when apps that don't have Google TV versions add Chromecast support. HBO Go, for instance. I think that's the place this helps the most, allowing you to use phone/tablet media apps on older Google TV devices, and some backwards compatibility scenarios (Imagine HBO Go only supports Jellybean, and your tablet can only run Ice Cream Sandwich).
Imagine having this app on something like a Kindle Fire, where it might allow you to stream media from an application that's unavailable in your sandbox (which is really the same situation as Google TV and outdated versions of Android).
Also, considering Chromecast can be added to iOS, imagine there are apps available only for iOS that support Chromecast. You could use this to get whatever they provide onto an Android device. Essentially, it's useful in a number of various situations where (1) the target device doesn't support something your phone does (2) the target device is less accessible than your phone is (3) the target device is more visible than your phone is.
Heck, it's even somewhat useful to be able to send media to a tablet without having to pick the tablet up. I have a Nexus 7 sitting in a stand, plugged into the charging cable, paired with some Bluetooth headphones. The charging cable on the Nexus 7 is very, very short, so I have to unplug the device every time I pick it up. So, there's some small convenience to be had even in the phone-to-tablet scenario.
michaelg1030 said:
Don't mean to be an ass, but what's the point of this? Do we really need to use our phones as a "remote control" for our tablets?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
msm903 said:
Think of those Android dongles that you already hook up to a tv. Yes they have native apps but being able to control them quickly is a plus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EXACTLY! I only got one Chromecast before they were sold out. But I have an Android stick/dongle on the other TV. By turning that on, I can cast to it OR the Chromecast on the other TV. Can't wait to try it!
I am curious if this emulator is hindered by the same API restrictions as the actual Chrome Cast? If not, that would make this very interesting.
I am guessing it will probably be hindered instead by lack of proprietary binaries... Netflix and so on. It should be easy to support non-Google-approved features like what Koush has been working on, though.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
In my opinion the nice thing would be to have the ability to cast content instead of stream content.
What I mean is that aside from sending a movie from our phone/tablet/computer to the "cheapcasted device" (streaming), it would be nice to open a movie on netflix/youtube/vimeo/ on our phone/tablet/computer and tell the "cheapcasted device" tablet to download it directly from the servers of the video site (without needing to stream anything from one device to another)
Can anyone confirm whether Cheapcast used UDP multicast to identify it on a network? I have an Asus tf700 that doesn't show up on my main router(linksys e4200v2). Ifi connect to my secondary router I can see it if my phone is on the same 2nd router. Chromecast works fine on my primary router and is visible from both devices. It is only visible from devices on my secondary device if it is directly hooked up to the 2nd device.
Do note my primary router works as the dhcp server while the second one is a reapeter bridge.
Sent from my SGH-I317 using xda premium
titooo7 said:
In my opinion the nice thing would be to have the ability to cast content instead of stream content.
What I mean is that aside from sending a movie from our phone/tablet/computer to the "cheapcasted device" (streaming), it would be nice to open a movie on netflix/youtube/vimeo/ on our phone/tablet/computer and tell the "cheapcasted device" tablet to download it directly from the servers of the video site (without needing to stream anything from one device to another)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless I am totally confused my your post you have it backwards. When you cast something, for example you are in Youtube, select a video then cast it to Chromecast (or CheapCast) your phone is just telling the device to stream it from the Internet. You phone is basically done at that point. Once the SDK is offical there will be apps that allow you to cast a local video in which Chromecast (CheapCast) will stream it from your phone...
rkirmeier said:
Unless I am totally confused my your post you have it backwards. When you cast something, for example you are in Youtube, select a video then cast it to Chromecast (or CheapCast) your phone is just telling the device to stream it from the Internet. You phone is basically done at that point. Once the SDK is offical there will be apps that allow you to cast a local video in which Chromecast (CheapCast) will stream it from your phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's what I mean. Maybe I didn't explained it properly.
I'm more interested on casting a video from youtube, netflix and similar sites than streaming a local video to the cheapcasted device.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4
Anyone who could be kind to post the latest chromecast app (1.1.2)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Sld I sell my chromecast and install cheapcast on my android pc stick and use it as an alternative?
Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4
jessesam said:
Sld I sell my chromecast and install cheapcast on my android pc stick and use it as an alternative?
Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Test first. I can't get Netflix or AMZ Prime to cast on Cheapcast, so far.
Anyone managed to Get Koush' Allcast to stream to Cheapcast?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Chromecast gets Plex, Vevo, RealPlayer, Viki and more with massive app update

Here it is folks, the first wave of new apps and boy oh boy it's a big list!
*unlocks garden gate*
http://gigaom.com/2013/12/10/chrome...player-viki-and-more-with-massive-app-update/
Plex is a great little app but this feature will be rolled out FIRST to premium subscibers.
RealPlayer cloud opens the door to streaming video from their online storage (2GB free - more than that = paid) and is limited to 15 minutes to discourage piracy.
aVia indexes photos on Picasa, Dropbox and Facebook, allowing users to show any of their photos on any of these services on their TV but alas you need to be a paid subscriber for this service also.
Now play podcasts via BeyondPod and enjoy the Washington Post’s PostTV, online music service Songza, RedbullTV, Revision3, VEVO and Viki on your little dongle of delight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the full list of available apps:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrom...utm_source=chromecast.com&utm_medium=referral
Support for plex is awesome!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
Drizwaldo1 said:
Here it is folks, the first wave of new apps and boy oh boy it's a big list!
*unlocks garden gate*
http://gigaom.com/2013/12/10/chrome...player-viki-and-more-with-massive-app-update/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
aVia hopefully will replace both Fling and AllCast, and doesn't require root.
Looks like I know where some of my Google Play store credit is going!
Great stuff!!
My question is what are the implications for the rooted user on a custom ROM?
I am sure Team Eureka are watching :cyclops:
smrsxn said:
Support for plex is awesome!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Crap.. requires premium plex pass.
Waiting foe koush to add cheomecast support then
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
Drizwaldo1 said:
Great stuff!!
My question is what are the implications for the rooted user on a custom ROM?
I am sure Team Eureka are watching :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh we are watching Hopefully kyonz can get this added to his whitelist server soon so rooted users can get these apps ASAP.
smrsxn said:
Crap.. requires premium plex pass.
Waiting foe koush to add cheomecast support then
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wider support for the average PLEX user will come... but in time. Confirmed in their Chromecast statement today.
ddggttff3 said:
Oh we are watching Hopefully kyonz can get this added to his whitelist server soon so rooted users can get these apps ASAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that's what I am talking about.
LOL aVia's site is getting bombarded. Their database can't keep up (search is giving me database connection error). That gives us a little bit of insight as to how many Chromecast users and followers there are out there!
This is pretty important.. Is there a possibility that someone can release an "emergency" pwncast to get these new streaming abilities? Or does it just have to do with the Whitelist?
abuttino said:
This is pretty important.. Is there a possibility that someone can release an "emergency" pwncast to get these new streaming abilities? Or does it just have to do with the Whitelist?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only the whitelist.
It's a good point to make that one of the downsides of using a custom ROM/firmware is that updates and such will encounter some delay. After all, people like the folks on Team Eureka are donating their own free time. It's not their job, nor do they work at/for Google (at least not as far as I know), so with the power of root comes a requirement of patience.
Viki
Not sure why but all the new apps don't stream to my chromecast. Not even an icon to do it. HTC One. Not sure why,
bhiga said:
Only the whitelist.
It's a good point to make that one of the downsides of using a custom ROM/firmware is that updates and such will encounter some delay. After all, people like the folks on Team Eureka are donating their own free time. It's not their job, nor do they work at/for Google (at least not as far as I know), so with the power of root comes a requirement of patience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In good news tho, once we release this new OTA we have been cooking up, there should be NO delay between when rooted users get google served applications.
djdanska said:
Not sure why but all the new apps don't stream to my chromecast. Not even an icon to do it. HTC One. Not sure why,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock or rooted?
If you're rooted, you'll have to wait for the custom whitelist to get updated.
If you're stock, just make sure all your apps are up-to-date.
Chromecast support in Plex is currently limited to PlexPass members.
Chromecast support in aVia is part of the paid extras (at least that's what the article in the original post says, and from what I can tell so far - free has no Cast icon or option)
EDIT: Hmm... just bought aVia and still can't find the Cast option... might be because I don't have a Chromecast visible at the moment...
2 of the apps i installed had an update. vevo and the PostTv. I switched to another account on the play store and it showed up. So it appears the apps are being updated now.
t-mobile HTC One on the 4.3 rom
Which app would be used to achieve local media streaming?
Sent from my XT907 using xda premium
Leraeniesh said:
Which app would be used to achieve local media streaming?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plex and aVia.
The link from the original post is worth a read, lots of other stuff too.
The Plex support announced so far for early release to paid PlexPass members is currently limited to video, with mention of music and photos to come later. No mention of Plex Channels.
PlayOn Too
Leraeniesh said:
Which app would be used to achieve local media streaming?
Sent from my XT907 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seen on the Playon.tv site, they will be adding Chromecast support "soon" as well. I've been a lifetime subscriber to playon and it's flippin sweet. Sorry to say but on my i7, 16GB monster of a pc plex still has trouble transcoding (audio/video sync) while playon has always been perfect.
http://www.playon.tv/supported-devices
Streaming Devices
Chromecast - Coming Soon!
Google TV HD capable - view setup instructions
OmniBox - view setup instructions
Roku HD capable - view setup instructions

Possible Root Exploit?

Now that the "gates are open" on the Google Chromecast it *should* in some way, be possible to root it now. I have done some security researching and I was wondering if we could create a malicious streaming app to stream a shebang file (hashbang, whatever you wanna call it; same tactic used in both versions of iOS' evasi0n) to run a script to root the device. We might also be able to stream over elf binaries that use kernel exploits to root the device then use adb to execute them from there. Please comment on your suggestions/thoughts/why this will or will not work. As always, thank you for taking the time to read this.
r3pwn
r3pwn said:
Now that the "gates are open" on the Google Chromecast it *should* in some way, be possible to root it now. I have done some security researching and I was wondering if we could create a malicious streaming app to stream a shebang file (hashbang, whatever you wanna call it; same tactic used in both versions of iOS' evasi0n) to run a script to root the device. We might also be able to stream over elf binaries that use kernel exploits to root the device then use adb to execute them from there. Please comment on your suggestions/thoughts/why this will or will not work. As always, thank you for taking the time to read this.
r3pwn
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like your thinking.
The first order would be to get root and disable OTA updates.
As long as the whitelist exists, a malicious app would be difficult to get past Google's approval. Kind of like how iOS had the "flashlight" app that allowed tethering until Apple shut it down.
It might actually have to be two parts - a functional app that has a vulnerability, and some specific trigger that can utilize the vulnerability. A backdoor into a normal app, or a some kind of specific login that triggers a specific server-side response, for example.
AFAIK, ADB isn't enabled on stock Chromecast.
Another potential attack vector is the setup mechanism on the Chromecast-side - for example if the SSID or keyphrase strings can be overrun, but Google may have already checked that stuff.
Because stock Chromecasts auto-accept OTA updates, I fear it will be a continual cat-and-mouse game of finding exploits and having them auto-patched by Google OTAs. Still, at least it would provide an option for folks who have an updated bootloader.
bhiga said:
I like your thinking.
The first order would be to get root and disable OTA updates.
As long as the whitelist exists, a malicious app would be difficult to get past Google's approval. Kind of like how iOS had the "flashlight" app that allowed tethering until Apple shut it down.
It might actually have to be two parts - a functional app that has a vulnerability, and some specific trigger that can utilize the vulnerability. A backdoor into a normal app, or a some kind of specific login that triggers a specific server-side response, for example.
AFAIK, ADB isn't enabled on stock Chromecast.
Another potential attack vector is the setup mechanism on the Chromecast-side - for example if the SSID or keyphrase strings can be overrun, but Google may have already checked that stuff.
Because stock Chromecasts auto-accept OTA updates, I fear it will be a continual cat-and-mouse game of finding exploits and having them auto-patched by Google OTAs. Still, at least it would provide an option for folks who have an updated bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The whitelist still exists? I had thought they removed that with the SDK.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
r3pwn said:
The whitelist still exists? I had thought they removed that with the SDK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to this in the developer's guide you still have to allow your Chromecast to send its serial number, register your app which gives you an API key, and register your device so it can receive the app.
Only "published" apps will be available without registering your device, so still sounds like Google is the gatekeeper to publicly-available apps.
Hmm... I may have to hand over the $5 for the developer fee just to fool around. Or I may find an alternative by the time I can get around to getting a Google play card. Lol.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
r3pwn said:
Hmm... I may have to hand over the $5 for the developer fee just to fool around. Or I may find an alternative by the time I can get around to getting a Google play card. Lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure about your neighborhood, but the WA/OR Costcos are selling a 3-pack of $20 Google Play cards for $54 (so 10% discount)
bhiga said:
Not sure about your neighborhood, but the WA/OR Costcos are selling a 3-pack of $20 Google Play cards for $54 (so 10% discount)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think I want to spend that much. If I don't find something else by then, I could just go to GameStop in the mall (right across the street from my school) and get a $15 one.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Walmart also sells play cards!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Not sure we will ever find a security hole in the CCast with the whitelisting in effect but perhaps the search for a vulnerability should be made on the Player Apps that are already whitelisted.
Finding some content that could be sent to (ie via aVia) to play on CCast that isn't really media but does trigger some exploit to root the device.
In fact the cast a tab feature may be the weakest point in the CCast security. Hacking that extension could be the key to exploiting the CCast.
We need to get Chainfire to do the rooting stuff.
Asphyx said:
Not sure we will ever find a security hole in the CCast with the whitelisting in effect but perhaps the search for a vulnerability should be made on the Player Apps that are already whitelisted.
Finding some content that could be sent to (ie via aVia) to play on CCast that isn't really media but does trigger some exploit to root the device.
In fact the cast a tab feature may be the weakest point in the CCast security. Hacking that extension could be the key to exploiting the CCast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was actually thinking that to myself. There has to be some sort of thing to root the device other than the 2nd stage bootloader exploit that was patched already.
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
If anyone did sneakily get an app published with a root exploit, it would certainly risk revoking their SDK permissions due to a ToS violation.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
cmstlist said:
If anyone did sneakily get an app published with a root exploit, it would certainly risk revoking their SDK permissions due to a ToS violation.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is true. But if we exploited an existing app, Google would just "suspend" the app from the Play Store until the bug gets fixed. If the app were free, however, we could just back up a copy of the apk before the bug fix was patched and spread it around here on XDA. I'll look into some apps to see if it's possible.
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
r3pwn said:
That is true. But if we exploited an existing app, Google would just "suspend" the app from the Play Store until the bug gets fixed. If the app were free, however, we could just back up a copy of the apk before the bug fix was patched and spread it around here on XDA. I'll look into some apps to see if it's possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the exploit I was referring to would not be in an APK at all...
It would be on the App server CCast loads it's player's from.
The APKs that support CCast do not have any access to the filesystem of the CCast but the Player Apps CCast loads are on the device and the exploit would attack a vulnerability of that app to do something on the unit that the player app never considered.
Sort of like the old WMV exploit to launch web pages inside a Video that if existed as a capability in a CCast loaded Player App could launch a browser operation to a page with the Exploit code.
I'm sure Google has thought about all of that in their implementations but perhaps the 3rd Party Developers have not been so diligent about it.
In fact I think that precise issue is why Google does not allow someone like the PlexDevs to allow launch of Media to CCast from the Local PlexWeb (that can easily be user manipulated since it resides on their local machine) and will only allow them to implement it from the Plex.tv site that is not accessible to user manipulation at all.
Asphyx said:
In fact I think that precise issue is why Google does not allow someone like the PlexDevs to allow launch of Media to CCast from the Local PlexWeb (that can easily be user manipulated since it resides on their local machine) and will only allow them to implement it from the Plex.tv site that is not accessible to user manipulation at all.
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And probably why Google maintains the whitelist.
As long as there is whitelist, Google can disable an app at will.
So once an external exploit becomes known (ie, "Play this specific video"), Google could easily disable the app until the developer updates it to patch the vulnerability.
The inability to refuse OTA updates and the lack of external accessibility/sideloading makes Chromecast quite secure.
bhiga said:
And probably why Google maintains the whitelist.
As long as there is whitelist, Google can disable an app at will.
So once an external exploit becomes known (ie, "Play this specific video"), Google could easily disable the app until the developer updates it to patch the vulnerability.
The inability to refuse OTA updates and the lack of external accessibility/sideloading makes Chromecast quite secure.
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Tying CC to google framework/Play is annoying and disappointing. It's a walled-garden Apple approach.
wideasleep1 said:
Tying CC to google framework/Play is annoying and disappointing. It's a walled-garden Apple approach.
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It all goes hand-in-hand for making sure things work and making sure the content providers don't yank the carpet out from under them.
If the content providers leave Google, Chromecast becomes useless for all the folks who bought it for what it does, rather than what we want it to be and do.
End-of-day for a product like this, it's user experience that will make or break it. That's probably why Google's being extra-cautious here. They're treading on Apple's turf.
wideasleep1 said:
Tying CC to google framework/Play is annoying and disappointing. It's a walled-garden Apple approach.
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I've often wondered why Google is being this way with Chromecast of all things. Not that they roll out a red carpet to allow Android to be rooted. But they aren't actively trying to prevent it. I mean they've looked the other way forever with Gapps distribution.. I love Chromecast and worth every dime though. Just strange how much they're throwing up the walls everywhere for it
Sent from my Nexus 10
bhiga said:
It all goes hand-in-hand for making sure things work and making sure the content providers don't yank the carpet out from under them.
If the content providers leave Google, Chromecast becomes useless for all the folks who bought it for what it does, rather than what we want it to be and do.
End-of-day for a product like this, it's user experience that will make or break it. That's probably why Google's being extra-cautious here. They're treading on Apple's turf.
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Not that I don't disagree, but for the sake of argument, I think that is Google's cop-out. They haven't concerned themselves with this in prior endeavors, although I'm sure the poor showing of GoogleTV had to smart. The truth as I see it: Google wants the data (sigint, if you will) our 'casting' provides, THAT is why it's walled. They may want to couch it with 'quality, content provider compliance,etc.', but only so far as it maintains THEIR sigint. After all, the content providers will always constrain their content as they see fit...it must be on their servers/cdn networks by their own hand. CC is a protocol, and now cannot be enjoyed without their sigint (framework/Play version). Google's modus is provide convenience products for the non-free price of your sigint data, so you can be sold to advertisers.
styckx said:
I've often wondered why Google is being this way with Chromecast of all things. Not that they roll out a red carpet to allow Android to be rooted. But they aren't actively trying to prevent it. I mean they've looked the other way forever with Gapps distribution.. I love Chromecast and worth every dime though. Just strange how much they're throwing up the walls everywhere for it
Sent from my Nexus 10
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Click to collapse
My explanation above offers a possible reason.
edit: apologies to OP for accidentally steering into non-root discussion!
styckx said:
I've often wondered why Google is being this way with Chromecast of all things. Not that they roll out a red carpet to allow Android to be rooted. But they aren't actively trying to prevent it. I mean they've looked the other way forever with Gapps distribution.. I love Chromecast and worth every dime though. Just strange how much they're throwing up the walls everywhere for it
Sent from my Nexus 10
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Could be a requirement from the providers due to copyright concerns.

Is it me or.....

..... Are there way to many local media casting apps?
It seems another one pops up every few days.
I am all for a free market but, c'mon, let's get some originality!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Nothing wrong with it, in my opinion. One of them might come up as the ultimate Chromecast app. So far for me, top stop is reserved for BubbleUPnP, but I would change in the heartbeat if something better comes out (tough ask).
abuttino said:
..... Are there way to many local media casting apps?
It seems another one pops up every few days.
I am all for a free market but, c'mon, let's get some originality!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I was about to post the same thing. So far it has been very redundant and underwhelming. We need mirroring ASAP. And I'm still waiting for that app that makes me say, "Wow, I never thought of using the chromecast that way!"
Don't get me wrong, I love my chromecast. Best bang for the buck in the history of computers/electronics. I'm just spoiled. LOL!
I've never been opposed to choice. In fact it's why I own Android products and not an iPhone.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013) using xda-developers app
I stated that in my post. I am all for free market.
I would just hope that someone can think of something better than all these local media streamers.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
abuttino said:
..... Are there way to many local media casting apps?
It seems another one pops up every few days.
I am all for a free market but, c'mon, let's get some originality!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's just a matter of those apps being the most logical early adopters for CCast support cause once one media player supports CCast the rest have to make sure to follow or lose marketshare.
And I wouldn't discount Google and the Whitelisting for reasons why we aren't seeing more innovative Apps for the CCast.
Players are pretty straight forward and other Apps are probably getting a bit more scrutiny from Google before getting approved for Whitelisting since those operations actually require a more complex code on the CCast side than the Local Player apps do.
The only thing that I'm disappointed in is the fact that none of the Local Stream Devs are doing much to expand the capabilities of the player on the CCast side. Bubble has probably done the most with it's subtitle support, and Plex's latest release has added a ton of features including Music Photo and some Eye Candy during navigation.
The Most popular Android player apps were popular due to the extra container and codec support they had but unless they can add that support to the CCast side player (difficult I know) their supporting CCast really isn't going to help them retain Market.
As for Mirroring you probably have two forces at play holding it up.
First the Operating System support has to be there which means only devices with 4.2.x or higher will likely be able to run it,
and Second would be the security issues (@bhiga mentioned early on) that could be triggered by some malware that could trigger your unit to mirror to someone else and violate privacy.
Even if someone finds a way to do Mirroring well I would expect Google to go over it with a fine tooth comb before they whitelisted it and lets be honest they may NEVER allow 3rd party Mirroring Apps and prefer to control that function all on their own. Perhaps as part of future versions of Android which currently the SDK seems to have the code for it but is not being used by anyone at the moment.

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