Discussion
I'm still unsure, but I can send to my TV quite happily from Chrome and I can get youtube from my phone - From my phone (S3), from what I can tell, you tell the Chromecast to run the Youtube video.
Nice, but almost useless for me and my 1mb internet connection.
I will decide in the next few days...
Nice, but almost useless for me and my 1mb internet connection.
I will decide in the next few days...
On a slightly related subject, installed Plex on the home server and it's simply amazing!
Gives a whole new level to chromecast imho.
The great thing is that you don't need another remote, just set the tv to the right HDMI port and everything else is controlled on your smartphone/tablet.
Gives a whole new level to chromecast imho.
The great thing is that you don't need another remote, just set the tv to the right HDMI port and everything else is controlled on your smartphone/tablet.
ZesPak said:
Alex said:
Yes. No.
Recommended for this!
Absolutely.Recommended for this!
Steps your mom will have to take:
- Set the TV to the right HDMI input
- Open the app and press the "cast" icon:
bigandclever said:
ZesPak said:
Alex said:
Yes. No.
Recommended for this!
Absolutely.Recommended for this!
Steps your mom will have to take:
- Set the TV to the right HDMI input
- Open the app and press the "cast" icon:
2) I clearly stated "Steps your mom will have to take:". Which, in the end, is what matters imho. My mom had several tablets but she for the life of her cannot connect a new iPad to her wifi.
Alex said:
Not tried this myself yet. From a colleague:
"Top tip for Chromecast users - drag a video file into your Chrome tab, and then cast it. Works for most video files, (although struggles with hi-res mkv), and more reliable than the 'play any video' extension I found..."
Yep, that works - I have to drop the quality to 480 though. I've not seen what happens when the laptop's screen goes off (for powersave), but as it's in the browser, it should work fine."Top tip for Chromecast users - drag a video file into your Chrome tab, and then cast it. Works for most video files, (although struggles with hi-res mkv), and more reliable than the 'play any video' extension I found..."
Google Play Music works nicely too - even over my comedy internet connection.
What I'd like to see is an ability to "cast" my whole android screen to the ChromeCast - or even a way to play videos on my phone on the ChromeCast...
Edited by james_tigerwoods on Tuesday 25th March 13:21
ZesPak said:
On a slightly related subject, installed Plex on the home server and it's simply amazing!
Gives a whole new level to chromecast imho.
The great thing is that you don't need another remote, just set the tv to the right HDMI port and everything else is controlled on your smartphone/tablet.
Interesting, just had a brief look on their website. What's your setup like and how are you using Plex? I've currently got all my music and photo's on an external hard-drive on a PogoPlug, I wonder if Plex could cope with that?Gives a whole new level to chromecast imho.
The great thing is that you don't need another remote, just set the tv to the right HDMI port and everything else is controlled on your smartphone/tablet.
Top tip for apps:
LocalCast - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.s... - Handy for playing from a NAS (it doesn't cache it that much and it works nicely)
EZCast - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.... - Seems to do browser streaming and other stuff too
Google play music - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.... - For music streaming. I'm currently uploading/syncing my iTunes library (well, I'll let it run overnight) for this too.
This is assuming you don't use Plex which I don't/can't....
LocalCast - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.s... - Handy for playing from a NAS (it doesn't cache it that much and it works nicely)
EZCast - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.... - Seems to do browser streaming and other stuff too
Google play music - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.... - For music streaming. I'm currently uploading/syncing my iTunes library (well, I'll let it run overnight) for this too.
This is assuming you don't use Plex which I don't/can't....
Wouldn't see why not, it's just a regular network share isn't it?
I've got a NAS and a home server, installed Plex on the home server and then through the web interface added the external drive for my shows and movies to the "library". Scanning went very good, recognised nearly everything ('cept for added content/extras which I still have to figure out).
Now the Plex app on our Android devices can just "take" it, you can select quality. Even on poor wifi the higher 1080p settings don't seem to be a problem.
I used to have the setup in where you navigate to the external drive with the Android device, and play it from there. That worked for 90% of the stuff, but it struggled with some codexes and high bitrates (talking about +6GB movies for example).
I understand that the big stumbling block for most people will be the need of a dedicated machine, but since I've had the home server for other uses it wasn't an issue for me.
I've got a NAS and a home server, installed Plex on the home server and then through the web interface added the external drive for my shows and movies to the "library". Scanning went very good, recognised nearly everything ('cept for added content/extras which I still have to figure out).
Now the Plex app on our Android devices can just "take" it, you can select quality. Even on poor wifi the higher 1080p settings don't seem to be a problem.
I used to have the setup in where you navigate to the external drive with the Android device, and play it from there. That worked for 90% of the stuff, but it struggled with some codexes and high bitrates (talking about +6GB movies for example).
I understand that the big stumbling block for most people will be the need of a dedicated machine, but since I've had the home server for other uses it wasn't an issue for me.
LordGrover said:
My telly's knocking on a bit and has only two HDMI ports, currently one for Aple TV and the other Humax box.
I've googled and found HDMI splitters and similar devices to convert one into three and similar... are they any good?
I bought one of these for my TV as the HDMI things started taking over I've googled and found HDMI splitters and similar devices to convert one into three and similar... are they any good?
. The only difference between this and mine is that mine has red LEDs not blue. I've got Chromecast, PS3 and a WD Live plugged into mine, not had any problems with it, I just need to note down what is plugged into which HDMI port 
.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-PORT-HDMI-Switch-Switc...
KTF said:
I connected mine up this evening and its brilliant.
Plex Server on the NAS, Plex App on the Nexus 7 and it plays everything I can throw at it.
The other apps like youtube, iplayer, etc are just a bonus. My Acer Revo HTPC is now redundant.
Absolute bargain imo.
I've got a synology NAS box which comes with it's own apps that can send it to the Chrome cast. Just so i know is Plex for peoples that don't have these apps on their NAS?Plex Server on the NAS, Plex App on the Nexus 7 and it plays everything I can throw at it.
The other apps like youtube, iplayer, etc are just a bonus. My Acer Revo HTPC is now redundant.
Absolute bargain imo.
richatnort said:
I've got a synology NAS box which comes with it's own apps that can send it to the Chrome cast. Just so i know is Plex for peoples that don't have these apps on their NAS?
Yes, its a 3rd party option. I have a HP Microserver running s2k8 so installing Plex (or similar) allows the content to be streamed to the chromecast. Plex will also transcode the content into a format that chromecast can play back.Many dedicated NAS boxes already have this functionality built in but if you specifically wanted to use Plex then you can also install it on your synology device:
https://plex.tv/downloads
ajprice said:
I bought one of these for my TV as the HDMI things started taking over . The only difference between this and mine is that mine has red LEDs not blue. I've got Chromecast, PS3 and a WD Live plugged into mine, not had any problems with it, I just need to note down what is plugged into which HDMI port .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-PORT-HDMI-Switch-Switc...
Ta. . The only difference between this and mine is that mine has red LEDs not blue. I've got Chromecast, PS3 and a WD Live plugged into mine, not had any problems with it, I just need to note down what is plugged into which HDMI port .http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-PORT-HDMI-Switch-Switc...
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