Google Chromecast

[AustinInDallas]

this product doesnt interest me in the slightest. why is everyone so excited about it? do people really watch that much video/tv???

I will once it gets here tomorrow

 

[cronos]

this product doesnt interest me in the slightest. why is everyone so excited about it? do people really watch that much video/tv???

This product doesn't allow you to watch 'video' or 'tv'. And if you've been reading this thread there are plenty of people who are not excited about this at all.

 

[dlock13]

I couldn't disagree more. None of the things you mentioned are small enough to fit in a pocket, work without a remote of some kind (I always have my phone on or near me, can't say the same about remotes). I have an Apple TV and it's getting put up for sale right after I hook my Chromecast in.

A Roku can more than likely fit in a pocket. If not, it's not that much of a hassle to actually carry. Also, you can use it's Roku remote app to control/launch services from your Roku.

The same can be said for the Xbox with SmartGlass except it's a huge amount to carry in comparison.

Apple TV is a good one except you either have to carry the remote around with you all the time or you need to have an iOS device.

Chromecast is awesome. Sure, it doesn't have as many features as an Apple TV (Screen mirroring of devices/game playing capabilities via screen mirroring), but the fact that you don't need to go to an app store to download it on your streaming box (or stick) is awesome. I can bring my phone, plug in Chromecast, bam. I can Netflix to my hearts desire. That's what is so amazing to me right now.



I can't wait till mine comes in!

 

[tfinch2]

this product doesnt interest me in the slightest. why is everyone so excited about it? do people really watch that much video/tv???

Yes, plus I want to hack on it. I have one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Foscam-FI8918W.../dp/B0046710G6

which I use as a baby monitor. I wrote an Android app that interfaces with it to display video, and allow me to control the camera via swiping.

Now I can make my baby monitor Chromecast enabled.

 

[Super56K]

I'm not completely sold on it's usefulness (yet), but Google launched it in a way that garnered a ton of interest and goodwill. Once I learned 3 months of Netflix came with it it became an instabuy, and I don't own a single Android device.

 

[dlock13]

I'm not completely sold on it's usefulness (yet), but Google launched it in a way that garnered a ton of interest and goodwill. Once I learned 3 months of Netflix came with it it became an instabuy, and I don't own a single Android device.

Exactly. I use Netflix and 3 months free and not having to pay for it is more than enough for me to consider buying it. Essentially getting it for $11 is fantastic!

 

[Red Storm]

Exactly. I use Netflix and 3 months free and not having to pay for it is more than enough for me to consider buying it. Essentially getting it for $11 is fantastic!

We already have Netflix but the 3 extra months is great to have. After basically a one day test run with the Chromecast I imagine I'll be buying two more for the rest of the house.

 

[trmiv]

Yea for me the free netflix for 3 months sold me. It basically made it $11 for me, which was a no brainer.

 

[SithSolo1]

Until it supports Hulu, Amazon Video, and local content its a no-buy for me. However if all you need is Netflix and Google play it sounds like a good deal.

 

[slayer202]

after watching this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnf_nR-XskU I'm excited. Looks super easy and I love the fact that it plays from the cloud and not the device. Should be perfect for my secondary TV.

 

[ControlD]

Until it supports Hulu, Amazon Video, and local content its a no-buy for me. However if all you need is Netflix and Google play it sounds like a good deal.

Yep. Once it gets Plex support this thing will be gold.

 

[dlock13]

We already have Netflix but the 3 extra months is great to have. After basically a one day test run with the Chromecast I imagine I'll be buying two more for the rest of the house.

Yea for me the free netflix for 3 months sold me. It basically made it $11 for me, which was a no brainer.

Exactly! I currently only use Netflix, and it's just fantastic that I won't have to pay for 3 months. I'm getting one for at home, and then I'll see if it would be worth it for my fiance's house.

Currently, I use an Xbox 360 or my Windows PC to stream Netflix. This will make it so much easier and better. I cannot wait till mine comes in!

Until it supports Hulu, Amazon Video, and local content its a no-buy for me. However if all you need is Netflix and Google play it sounds like a good deal.

I think local content will be added pretty quickly, and it's up to Hulu and Amazon to update their apps with the ability to use it. Amazon Instant still isn't on the Google Play Store... Well, it is, but only for Google TV which is essentially pointless in the grand spectrum.

 

[gorcorps]

this product doesnt interest me in the slightest. why is everyone so excited about it? do people really watch that much video/tv???

Because for people that already have netflix it's only $11? It's a simple device that already has a use as a streaming box. If my Roku box had a better netflix interface I might not have bothered, but the Roku interface right now is dated and awful.

 

[Fingolfin269]

This doesn't really interest me at this point either. I have everything I need built in to either my TV, receiver, 360, or PS3. I'll wait to see how it looks in a couple of months to determine if its a good device with great community backing or if this is just a zooomg google! impact right now.

 

[Tom]

This doesn't really interest me at this point either. I have everything I need built in to either my TV, receiver, 360, or PS3. I'll wait to see how it looks in a couple of months to determine if its a good device with great community backing or if this is just a zooomg google! impact right now.

All of that cost you more than $11. Like you I already can do most of this, but not this easily.

This is a big step in integrating the cell phone as the one interface needed to interact with our environment.

 

[AstroManLuca]

You know, I should have ordered one, if only to give it to my parents. I already have Netflix built into my TV AND a separate streaming box, but my parents have nothing like that and are still hooking their computer up to their TV.

 

[superjim]

Chrome just needs an extension that plays local video files and you could just cast the tab to your TV. Using your poweful desktop to decode 1080p 60fps files would be ideal although something tells me there are restrictions with the Chromecast device itself. If it pulls directly from the source, is it rendering the video feed or just relaying it to the TV?

I'm sure XBMC/VLC/MPC will be on this shortly enough.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I just got my Chromecast. Will be playing with it shortly. I'm happy to see that it comes with a short 3 inch HDMI extension cable. I was a bit worried that fat Chromecast might block some of the other HDMI ports on my TV, but happy to see that won't be an issue now. Also comes with a USB cable and power brick.

 

[dlock13]

I just got my Chromecast. Will be playing with it shortly. I'm happy to see that it comes with a short 3 inch HDMI extension cable. I was a bit worried that fat Chromecast might block some of the other HDMI ports on my TV, but happy to see that won't be an issue now. Also comes with a USB cable and power brick.

Can you take a picture of said brick?

 

[superjim]

I just got my Chromecast. Will be playing with it shortly. I'm happy to see that it comes with a short 3 inch HDMI extension cable. I was a bit worried that fat Chromecast might block some of the other HDMI ports on my TV, but happy to see that won't be an issue now. Also comes with a USB cable and power brick.

Thanks for verifying all of this. I was wondering about the USB cable. Hard to believe a HDTV from 2006 is considered "ancient" these days (HDMI v1.2).

From wiki: "HDMI 1.4 was released on May 28, 2009, and the first HDMI 1.4 products were available in the second half of 2009." If your TV is more than 3 years old, you'll probably need the USB power cable.

 

[shocksyde]

You know, I should have ordered one, if only to give it to my parents. I already have Netflix built into my TV AND a separate streaming box, but my parents have nothing like that and are still hooking their computer up to their TV.

You are a terrible son/daughter/manbearpig.

 

[SAWYER]

Well amazon has them for 89 bucks so I am forced to use my local Best Buy *vomits* if I want one.

 

[superjim]

Well amazon has them for 89 bucks so I am forced to use my local Best Buy *vomits* if I want one.

Wow, I just ordered from Amazon an hour ago when they were still taking back-orders for $35. Apparently they hit their back-order limit.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Can you take a picture of said brick?

I can't read the output on the power adapter, it's either 350mA or 850mA (the first number is hard to read).

 

[SAWYER]

I guess if the first batch at best buy has the netflix code I will make the trip but their site doesnt say