Google Chromecast

[sweenish]

I just saw this posted on another site



Customers and developers alike have been waiting for Google to permit the release of homebrew Chromecast apps—ones not made by its special partners, that is—and now they have a new reason to hope. The company could finally be poised to lift restrictions governing support for the TV streaming dongle.
Google has invited several developers to its Mountain View campus next month for a hackathon centered around its Chromecast device and related software developer kit (SDK). The primary focus of the event, to be held December 7-8, will be to let attendees try out the "upcoming release" of the Google Cast SDK. The previous version of the kit was "a preview" only, which meant Chromecast devs couldn't actually publish any apps that used it.
Event Details: Date: December 7-8, 2013 Location: Googleplex, Mountain View, CA

Depending on how well Plex (or something similar) works for it, I probably won't bother building an HTPC.

 

[shocksyde]

Chromecast code found in new Plex Media Server software. Let the games begin! Unhooking my HTPC as soon as it's official.

http://www.androidauthority.com/chromecast-plex-322524/

 

[Kaido]

Chromecast code found in new Plex Media Server software. Let the games begin! Unhooking my HTPC as soon as it's official.

http://www.androidauthority.com/chromecast-plex-322524/

Oh dear. That would be amazing for $35. Would buy!

 

[drbrock]

Yeah this thing is finally starting to shape up. I was a hater until I read this thread today.

 

[SAWYER]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/1...ecast-apps-including-beyondpod-plex-and-vevo/

 

[cronos]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/1...ecast-apps-including-beyondpod-plex-and-vevo/

Awesome! :thumbsup:

 

[Imported]

I think mine is going out. Video keeps flickering (green static for a fraction of a second).

 

[TwiceOver]

The Plex addition is nice, might be useful but I'm not a Plexpass member so I'll have to wait.

More interested in PocketCasts.

 

[ponyo]

Super excited by Plex support. Totally bummed you need Plexpass which is $30 a year subscription. Come on XBMC. Save us from Plex and their closed paid model.

 

[TwiceOver]

Super excited by Plex support. Totally bummed you need Plexpass which is $30 a year subscription. Come on XBMC. Save us from Plex and their closed paid model.

It's not really a paid model. The features trickle down eventually. For the work they do and the amount I use Plex, I should probably pay and might now that there is chromecast support.

 

[dlock13]

It's not really a paid model. The features trickle down eventually. For the work they do and the amount I use Plex, I should probably pay and might now that there is chromecast support.

What's the difference between Plex and Avia?

Also, is it actually worth it for $30/year or $75 for life (for Plex that is)?

 

[Ravynmagi]

I got a few updates today indicating Chromecast support.

Viki on the iPad unfortunately just pops up an error message when I try to turn on Chromecast. So that's a no go.

Plex won't even launch on any of my Android devices, Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 2013. Just crashes instantly. So that's a really bad update.

Plex on the iPad of course asks me for money when I press the Cast button (funny, it's free on the Roku 3 though).

Vevo on the iPad, gives me "an error occurred" when I press the Cast button.

I double checked the YouTube app, it still works fine with Chromecast, so I don't think anything is wrong with my Chromecast. But none of the new Chromecast supported apps I've tried so far actually work.

 

[SAWYER]

Have you powered off your cc and booted it back up then tried them?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Have you powered off your cc and booted it back up then tried them?

You the man. That was the problem. I didn't think to do that because it's powered by the TV and gets a fresh boot everytime I turn it on, so it was rebooted this morning. But I rebooted again and it installed some update, and now it seems the new Chromecast apps are working.

Gah, hate when someone tells me to reboot and it actually works.

 

[s44]

I was hoping for full open API season and a pile of new DLNA apps, not one semi-proprietary one. Blah.

 

[drbrock]

from what I understand the other apps can't stream local media such as mp4. If the chromecast does not support the codec. You are SOL. Someone prove me wrong. Does real player transcode?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Vevo app plays to Chromecast from iOS, but it seems pretty buggy so far. I keep getting these popup error messages and a lot will accumulate if I don't keep dismissing them (so many it's better to just close the app and start over rather than tap OK a hundred times).

Also sometimes it'll start playing on the Chromecast and the iPad at the same time, which is annoying.

 

[sweenish]

I was hoping for full open API season and a pile of new DLNA apps, not one semi-proprietary one. Blah.

I believe there are 3.

 

[Kaido]

Official on Plex's blog:

http://elan.plexapp.com/2013/12/06/plex-on-the-chromecast-its-official/

For PlexPass members only right now. I really need to join, I love their software.

 

[bearxor]

I've been using it for a few nights. It seems to work fine, but my phone constantly loses the connection to the player. The video will keep playing so it isn't a big deal, but the Plex app on my iPhone forgets that a video is playing, so I have no control over it. Which means I can't pause it or anything if I have to.

For some heavier files, it buffers a lot. I've done some testing and I don't think it's the Plex server itself. The CPU isn't overtaxed while playing, and I don't have any issues playing the files on an iPad, iPhone or Surface Pro in Modern. The difference is that those devices are connected over a 5ghz link, whereas the Chromecast is 2.4ghz only. I think I simply have a bandwidth problem. I really wish 5ghz n, even single-link 150Mbps, was included in the Chromecast.

 

[gorcorps]

I've been using it for a few nights. It seems to work fine, but my phone constantly loses the connection to the player. The video will keep playing so it isn't a big deal, but the Plex app on my iPhone forgets that a video is playing, so I have no control over it. Which means I can't pause it or anything if I have to.

For some heavier files, it buffers a lot. I've done some testing and I don't think it's the Plex server itself. The CPU isn't overtaxed while playing, and I don't have any issues playing the files on an iPad, iPhone or Surface Pro in Modern. The difference is that those devices are connected over a 5ghz link, whereas the Chromecast is 2.4ghz only. I think I simply have a bandwidth problem. I really wish 5ghz n, even single-link 150Mbps, was included in the Chromecast.

I had a lot of problems with Netflix as well that I never have with the Roku box. I think that the Chromecast is simply just plagued with a lot of little 1st gen hardware misdesigns that us early adopters are dealing with. It's a great idea but the problems I have with stop me from using it. Luckily it's cheap so I don't feel as bad about being another Google guinea pig.

 

[tsupersonic]

I had a lot of problems with Netflix as well that I never have with the Roku box. I think that the Chromecast is simply just plagued with a lot of little 1st gen hardware misdesigns that us early adopters are dealing with. It's a great idea but the problems I have with stop me from using it. Luckily it's cheap so I don't feel as bad about being another Google guinea pig.

Yeah, for $35, you can't really complain that much. Being an early adopter (ordered on day of announcement), I got 3 free months of Netflix, so really it was ~$11.

I used to have problems where I would cast Youtube videos from the Nexus 7, and it would lose connection. With all the updates recently, it is much better at "reconnecting" with Chromecast so I can change videos/change position in current video/etc. The only problem I have is I can't get 5.1 surround out of Netflix. It is hooked up to my TV's HDMI port (along with TV USB for power), and my TV hooks into the Onkyo 5.1 receiver via optical cable. I end up using my Xbox 360 for Netflix, since I can get surround sound output.

I've also had excellent luck casting from Chrome using a Surface Pro 2. Worked fairly well with minimal frame skips

 

[shocksyde]

http://plex.tv

New website launched for Plex. Allows casting to chromecast even for non-PlexPass members.

HTPC officially unhooked from TV and will now reside in the closet.

 

[SAWYER]

If I could get XBMC/navx on Chromecast I would ditch my apple tv 2

 

[cronos]

http://plex.tv

New website launched for Plex. Allows casting to chromecast even for non-PlexPass members.

How? It still won't work for me.