Chromecast Audio down to £15

[dmsims]

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertain...

[selym]

I've got mine ordered. I plan to use it via optical out into my TEAC DAC as opposed to the RCA connection.

[AC43]

selym said:

I've got mine ordered. I plan to use it via optical out into my TEAC DAC as opposed to the RCA connection.

Yeah do that. Great feature.

[JimbobVFR]

They were a bargain at 30quid IMO.

[Higgs boson]

Just for info, guys ...
On the basis of this thread, I nipped out to Currys today and bought one. What I didn't realise is that it wouldn't play directly from my iphone's on-board playlists.
A streaming app is required. If you have one, no problem. I don't. ('not sure why!)
A workaround is to download a free app called AllCast. It permits the selection of Chromecast Audio, and music is played directly from the 'phone.

[AC43]

Higgs boson said:

A streaming app is required.

Yes, that's how it's designed. I just use the Google Chromecast app. I can use it to cast all sorts of A/V sources - Spotify, Amazon Music, iPlayer, iPlayer Radio, Tune In radio, Google Photos etc etc etc.

Why it doesn't work with Apple I don't know. But going on past history it's quite likely due to Apple software engineers being encouraged to make Apple-specific things a little clunky therefore encouraging you to buy their streaming box at £69 rather then the Google one at £15......

[kingston12]

AC43 said:

Yes, that's how it's designed. I just use the Google Chromecast app. I can use it to cast all sorts of A/V sources - Spotify, Amazon Music, iPlayer, iPlayer Radio, Tune In radio, Google Photos etc etc etc.

Why it doesn't work with Apple I don't know. But going on past history it's quite likely due to Apple software engineers being encouraged to make Apple-specific things a little clunky therefore encouraging you to buy their streaming box at £69 rather then the Google one at £15......

Doesn't the Google Chromecast app just run in the background? I don't think I have ever actually opened it since I originally set up my CCAs. My main use is Spotify and Plex, and I run those natively from their apps. Is there a better way of doing it using the Google app?

[AC43]

kingston12 said:

Doesn't the Google Chromecast app just run in the background? I don't think I have ever actually opened it since I originally set up my CCAs. My main use is Spotify and Plex, and I run those natively from their apps. Is there a better way of doing it using the Google app?

Yes it just runs in the background.

When I use Spotify, Spotify just tells me "devices are available" and I can choose one of several CC's.

I was only responding to Higgs Bosun who made the comment about needing a casting app.

[paulrockliffe]

You can use the CC App to cast the screen and sound as a manual work-around where apps don't support CC, though it's a lot more clunky user experience.

[Moily]

AC43 said:

Yes it just runs in the background.

When I use Spotify, Spotify just tells me "devices are available" and I can choose one of several CC's.

I was only responding to Higgs Bosun who made the comment about needing a casting app.

Not quite. There are apps that run natively on the CCA itself (Spotify, TuneIn, etc) that will pull the stream directly from your wifi network and do not require your device for the data. These are listed on the Chromecast web-site and the app on your devices.

Other apps (Downcast, eg) are able to cast their data to the CCA. These require constant connection of your device to your WLAN.

[AC43]

Moily said:

AC43 said:

Yes it just runs in the background.

When I use Spotify, Spotify just tells me "devices are available" and I can choose one of several CC's.

I was only responding to Higgs Bosun who made the comment about needing a casting app.

Not quite. There are apps that run natively on the CCA itself (Spotify, TuneIn, etc) that will pull the stream directly from your wifi network and do not require your device for the data. These are listed on the Chromecast web-site and the app on your devices.

Other apps (Downcast, eg) are able to cast their data to the CCA. These require constant connection of your device to your WLAN.

Ah OK - thanks for the clarification. In the past I've just looked to see in which apps the Cast symbol appears and used them. Didn't realise there was another way of doing it.

[selym]

AC43 said:

Moily said:

AC43 said:

Yes it just runs in the background.

When I use Spotify, Spotify just tells me "devices are available" and I can choose one of several CC's.

I was only responding to Higgs Bosun who made the comment about needing a casting app.

Not quite. There are apps that run natively on the CCA itself (Spotify, TuneIn, etc) that will pull the stream directly from your wifi network and do not require your device for the data. These are listed on the Chromecast web-site and the app on your devices.

Other apps (Downcast, eg) are able to cast their data to the CCA. These require constant connection of your device to your WLAN.

Ah OK - thanks for the clarification. In the past I've just looked to see in which apps the Cast symbol appears and used them. Didn't realise there was another way of doing it.

Ignore the list of 'cast'able players on your device, shown by the CCA app; mine didn't show BBC Radio iPlayer but it patently does connect to the CCA.

[Moily]

selym said:

Ignore the list of 'cast'able players on your device, shown by the CCA app; mine didn't show BBC Radio iPlayer but it patently does connect to the CCA.

That's because the Chromecast doesn't run iPlayer Radio natively, it is streamed from your phone/tablet.

The Chromecast app and web-site only show apps the CCA has installed rather than every app that can cast to it.

[jays16]

seems like John Lewis are offering it for the same too - but you gotta pay p&p so not sure http://www.johnlewis.com/store/google-chromecast-a...

[selym]

Moily said:

That's because the Chromecast doesn't run iPlayer Radio natively, it is streamed from your phone/tablet.

The Chromecast app and web-site only show apps the CCA has installed rather than every app that can cast to it.

Aah I see. I still have a lot to learn about this lark.

[aww999]

Thanks for the heads-up on the price drop, I just ordered two. I believe it's possible to stream FLAC and MP3 files stored on a PC, using a phone (android) as a remote control. have any PHers managed to get this working?

[Digitalize]

Perfectly feasible as long as your network is fast enough to transmit the bitrate. Use something like Plex to run on the PC with the music on, and the Plex app to control it.

[aww999]

Thanks Digitalize. I can stream flac files (and HD video) to my PS3 OK so I think wifi speed is OK, I am looking for something easier to use though. Hopefully Plex will do the job!

[Digitalize]

Plex is pretty fantastic to be honest, can use it to store all your media to share across a network. Music, Photos, Videos etc.

[paulrockliffe]

Digitalize said:

Plex is pretty fantastic to be honest, can use it to store all your media to share across a network. Music, Photos, Videos etc.

Amen to that! I was running XBMC/Kodi on Raspberry Pi with the Yatse remote for ages, I switched over to Plex and Chromecast a while ago, because running PLex on your phone or tablet makes Kodi obsolete. Where Plex really scores over Kodi is that any Channels you add go on the server, so they are then available on all devices immediately, without having to be installed on each device.

I recently discovered the Plex Home Theatre software, which is based on OpenELEC/Kodi, so I've put that on a few Raspberry Pi to test it out, it's a great option if you want to retain remote control without needing an Android device to hand. I'm not sure it is syncing playlists back to the server the way the Android app does though.

Anyway, definitely play with Plex!