Which tech for streaming VLC to a TV Stick from Chrombook
Discussion
When I am away from home for months over winter, my usual items are a
1. Firestick
2. GL iNet Shadow travel router which is used to connect the firestick for streaming via a VPN (back to PiVPN at home)
3. Samsung T7 SSD USB hard drive plugged into the router to stream to the Firestick
4. A power bank in case there are no spare plug sockets next to the TV and the TV USB isn't powerful enough to power the Firestick.
I found Chromecast to be 'fine' but could be a bit hit and miss with hotel wifi.
1. Firestick
2. GL iNet Shadow travel router which is used to connect the firestick for streaming via a VPN (back to PiVPN at home)
3. Samsung T7 SSD USB hard drive plugged into the router to stream to the Firestick
4. A power bank in case there are no spare plug sockets next to the TV and the TV USB isn't powerful enough to power the Firestick.
I found Chromecast to be 'fine' but could be a bit hit and miss with hotel wifi.
PF62 said:
When I am away from home for months over winter, my usual items are a
1. Firestick
2. GL iNet Shadow travel router which is used to connect the firestick for streaming via a VPN (back to PiVPN at home)
3. Samsung T7 SSD USB hard drive plugged into the router to stream to the Firestick
4. A power bank in case there are no spare plug sockets next to the TV and the TV USB isn't powerful enough to power the Firestick.
I found Chromecast to be 'fine' but could be a bit hit and miss with hotel wifi.
I have a fireTV with a usb cable. If the accommodation does not have wifi i connect to my phone. The VPN is taken care of on the FireTV through an APP. This is the same setup I use at home because I regularly watch geo blocked content.1. Firestick
2. GL iNet Shadow travel router which is used to connect the firestick for streaming via a VPN (back to PiVPN at home)
3. Samsung T7 SSD USB hard drive plugged into the router to stream to the Firestick
4. A power bank in case there are no spare plug sockets next to the TV and the TV USB isn't powerful enough to power the Firestick.
I found Chromecast to be 'fine' but could be a bit hit and miss with hotel wifi.
Griffith4ever said:
Yeuch , yeuch, yeuch! f
king thing.
if you set the second display as a second display, rather than mirror, then you absolutley can't get rid of the taskbar on the TV. It auto hides on the tablet screen. This means you can't even click on the VLC controls as the are behind the task bar. I've tried everything.
If it's the system Shelf you refer to when you mention taskbar, then it's very much possible to have it auto-hide on any desktop screen on Chrome OS (I use a multiple-monitor setup, and it's always set to autohide across displays/desktops etcking thing.if you set the second display as a second display, rather than mirror, then you absolutley can't get rid of the taskbar on the TV. It auto hides on the tablet screen. This means you can't even click on the VLC controls as the are behind the task bar. I've tried everything.
But I'm gonna guess here and say you've installed the VLC android app on Chrome OS?
If yes, then that's your issue. It's written for android, and the developers don't fully support Chrome OS in their android app. So that's VLC is the problem.
I've often said it on here, but android apps on Chrome OS are a pain in a lot of circumstances. And VLC has been overrated for well over a decade at this stage. At one point it was the default recommendation, but that was many, many years ago.
If the stock media player in Chrome OS doesn't support the video codecs used for your files then set VLC to run in a resizeable window. It likely defaults to tablet or phone. Then maximise/full screen the VLC window - you may have to click-and-hold on the VLC app window maximise button, and then select 'Full'.
Once that is done and VLC is playing your media then you can use the full-screen playback button in VLC to, well, take it fullscreen.
This is all down to VLC not being optimised and not fully supporting android on Chrome OS. If the VLC team don't want to support it fully then they should remove it and make it unavailable to Chrome OS machines.
It's hard to blame the OS for a badly written app on that platform from third-party developers. I'll give them a pass as they're mostly volunteers, but it's not on that they leave it available when it's so buggy on Chrome OS.
Edited by Corso Marche on Monday 20th November 21:04
h0b0 said:
PF62 said:
When I am away from home for months over winter, my usual items are a
1. Firestick
2. GL iNet Shadow travel router which is used to connect the firestick for streaming via a VPN (back to PiVPN at home)
3. Samsung T7 SSD USB hard drive plugged into the router to stream to the Firestick
4. A power bank in case there are no spare plug sockets next to the TV and the TV USB isn't powerful enough to power the Firestick.
I found Chromecast to be 'fine' but could be a bit hit and miss with hotel wifi.
I have a fireTV with a usb cable. If the accommodation does not have wifi i connect to my phone. The VPN is taken care of on the FireTV through an APP. This is the same setup I use at home because I regularly watch geo blocked content.1. Firestick
2. GL iNet Shadow travel router which is used to connect the firestick for streaming via a VPN (back to PiVPN at home)
3. Samsung T7 SSD USB hard drive plugged into the router to stream to the Firestick
4. A power bank in case there are no spare plug sockets next to the TV and the TV USB isn't powerful enough to power the Firestick.
I found Chromecast to be 'fine' but could be a bit hit and miss with hotel wifi.
PF62 said:
h0b0 said:
PF62 said:
When I am away from home for months over winter, my usual items are a
1. Firestick
2. GL iNet Shadow travel router which is used to connect the firestick for streaming via a VPN (back to PiVPN at home)
3. Samsung T7 SSD USB hard drive plugged into the router to stream to the Firestick
4. A power bank in case there are no spare plug sockets next to the TV and the TV USB isn't powerful enough to power the Firestick.
I found Chromecast to be 'fine' but could be a bit hit and miss with hotel wifi.
I have a fireTV with a usb cable. If the accommodation does not have wifi i connect to my phone. The VPN is taken care of on the FireTV through an APP. This is the same setup I use at home because I regularly watch geo blocked content.1. Firestick
2. GL iNet Shadow travel router which is used to connect the firestick for streaming via a VPN (back to PiVPN at home)
3. Samsung T7 SSD USB hard drive plugged into the router to stream to the Firestick
4. A power bank in case there are no spare plug sockets next to the TV and the TV USB isn't powerful enough to power the Firestick.
I found Chromecast to be 'fine' but could be a bit hit and miss with hotel wifi.
eein said:
I feel your pain! As noted above I have tried so many 'niche' things that people claim are the best thing ever only to find they work some places and situations and not others. The old skool basics I list above are the most likely to work most places.
... I write this sitting in a hotel not a million miles south of you watching stuff on my phone because I didn't take my own advice and forgot to heed my own advice!
made me laugh :-)... I write this sitting in a hotel not a million miles south of you watching stuff on my phone because I didn't take my own advice and forgot to heed my own advice!
Cheers. WIll play more but the system shelf (correct, not taskbar) as you have suggested just won't go away on the TV screen. I've tried the video player that came with the OS too, though I had a problem with that overlapping subtitles. I also have then ChromeOS version of Plex installed.
Currently we are just watching stuff on the tablet. It's a 15" oled so not too bad. EVen then, I have to turn off power saving or the screen goes blank whilst watching video (on all apps I've tried). I think I've had enough of ChromeOS. Mrs might be getting a big tablet uograde and me a surface!
Currently we are just watching stuff on the tablet. It's a 15" oled so not too bad. EVen then, I have to turn off power saving or the screen goes blank whilst watching video (on all apps I've tried). I think I've had enough of ChromeOS. Mrs might be getting a big tablet uograde and me a surface!
Edited by Griffith4ever on Tuesday 21st November 02:25
The clue with the system Shelf is in the name of the feature. It's 'AutoHide'.
If you've something open on that screen or desktop then the shelf will hide itself. If there's nothing on the screen the Shelf will show, as it's needed for you to open or launch something in the first place.
And that's where badly supported/unfinished stuff like VLC can wreak havoc. Manually forcing it between the Phone/Tablet/Resizable modes shouldn't be necessary, but it is with apps which haven't added full support for the windowing mode and varying size of app windows in Chrome OS.
Android apps on Chrome OS are an added value benefit which add a little versatility, but they're often a compromise. As you're learning.
I don't know what Chromebook you have, but if it was powerful enough I'd suggest turning on the Linux apps function and using the full desktop version of VLC or any player of your choosing.
But if it's a low cost Chromebook then it may not have the guts necessary to deliver satisfactory performance with Linux desktop apps.
If you've something open on that screen or desktop then the shelf will hide itself. If there's nothing on the screen the Shelf will show, as it's needed for you to open or launch something in the first place.
And that's where badly supported/unfinished stuff like VLC can wreak havoc. Manually forcing it between the Phone/Tablet/Resizable modes shouldn't be necessary, but it is with apps which haven't added full support for the windowing mode and varying size of app windows in Chrome OS.
Android apps on Chrome OS are an added value benefit which add a little versatility, but they're often a compromise. As you're learning.
I don't know what Chromebook you have, but if it was powerful enough I'd suggest turning on the Linux apps function and using the full desktop version of VLC or any player of your choosing.
But if it's a low cost Chromebook then it may not have the guts necessary to deliver satisfactory performance with Linux desktop apps.
Corso Marche said:
The clue with the system Shelf is in the name of the feature. It's 'AutoHide'.
If you've something open on that screen or desktop then the shelf will hide itself. If there's nothing on the screen the Shelf will show, as it's needed for you to open or launch something in the first place.
And that's where badly supported/unfinished stuff like VLC can wreak havoc. Manually forcing it between the Phone/Tablet/Resizable modes shouldn't be necessary, but it is with apps which haven't added full support for the windowing mode and varying size of app windows in Chrome OS.
Android apps on Chrome OS are an added value benefit which add a little versatility, but they're often a compromise. As you're learning.
I don't know what Chromebook you have, but if it was powerful enough I'd suggest turning on the Linux apps function and using the full desktop version of VLC or any player of your choosing.
But if it's a low cost Chromebook then it may not have the guts necessary to deliver satisfactory performance with Linux desktop apps.
it didn't hide itself at all. Does on the tablet screen, just not the TV. Wasn't aware of the Linux underpinning. It supports it. LEnovo duet 5.If you've something open on that screen or desktop then the shelf will hide itself. If there's nothing on the screen the Shelf will show, as it's needed for you to open or launch something in the first place.
And that's where badly supported/unfinished stuff like VLC can wreak havoc. Manually forcing it between the Phone/Tablet/Resizable modes shouldn't be necessary, but it is with apps which haven't added full support for the windowing mode and varying size of app windows in Chrome OS.
Android apps on Chrome OS are an added value benefit which add a little versatility, but they're often a compromise. As you're learning.
I don't know what Chromebook you have, but if it was powerful enough I'd suggest turning on the Linux apps function and using the full desktop version of VLC or any player of your choosing.
But if it's a low cost Chromebook then it may not have the guts necessary to deliver satisfactory performance with Linux desktop apps.
You'll find it'll hide when set to autohide using other apps, but as mentioned VLC doesn't support the windowing on Chrome OS because the developers haven't developed or supported the app, hence the multitude of issues you've encountered. And the need to forcefully override it by manually setting it to Resizeable and hoping for the best.
Google should be stricter with the Play Store and if it's not 100% compatible in Chrome OS then the developer shouldn't be allowed list it for Chromebooks. They made some moves on this a couple of years ago, but only went so far. The Play Store is the one thing on Chrome OS I wish Google had handled very differently. It's what causes the most confusion and issues for people with Chromebooks.
PWA's and web apps first and foremost on Chrome OS.
Android apps only if there's no other option. The Play Store on Chrome OS needs to be seen more so as running Android apps in an emulator.
If you setup the Linux environment just remember the first time you launch a Linux desktop app after a boot to wait a little. Think of it as booting up a Linux machine from scratch inside your Chrome OS desktop - it needs to fire up the Linux environment before the app. Once done the first time any subsequent app closures/launches will be much quicker though as the Linux environment will be running in the background.
Google should be stricter with the Play Store and if it's not 100% compatible in Chrome OS then the developer shouldn't be allowed list it for Chromebooks. They made some moves on this a couple of years ago, but only went so far. The Play Store is the one thing on Chrome OS I wish Google had handled very differently. It's what causes the most confusion and issues for people with Chromebooks.
PWA's and web apps first and foremost on Chrome OS.
Android apps only if there's no other option. The Play Store on Chrome OS needs to be seen more so as running Android apps in an emulator.
If you setup the Linux environment just remember the first time you launch a Linux desktop app after a boot to wait a little. Think of it as booting up a Linux machine from scratch inside your Chrome OS desktop - it needs to fire up the Linux environment before the app. Once done the first time any subsequent app closures/launches will be much quicker though as the Linux environment will be running in the background.
Edited by Corso Marche on Tuesday 21st November 19:28
Oh yeah - one other thing. When using multiple displays you should be in desktop mode.
Not tablet mode. For obvious reasons. Multiple displays or multiple desktops are for desktop situations.
Tablet mode is for single display on-device only.
Trying to run both simultaneously will cause confusion.
Not tablet mode. For obvious reasons. Multiple displays or multiple desktops are for desktop situations.
Tablet mode is for single display on-device only.
Trying to run both simultaneously will cause confusion.
Well, I'm three weeks into my winter break and all I can say is if you want a device for linking to a TV when away to cast MKVs and TV, don't get a Chromebook!
It's a pain in the arse every single time.
Last night attempted to watch something in ITV X. That was a no go, nothing in the chrome store and Play store said my device is not supported for ITV X. Gave up on that.
Ok, let's watch the Mandelorian. Both the included video player and VLC would not support the codec.
OK,let's watch The Dark. SUbs on VLC overlapped each other. Included video player worked, but the max volume was so limited we struggled to hear, even through a Bluetooth speaker. Odd.
All the while I have to have power saving off otherwise the screen shuts off mid movie/TV as it doesn't recognise Im watching something. Plus the tablet screen is always on as I have to mirror, so I throw a pair of pants over it!
Then, we get the fking WiFi notifications when I finds networks, during the film. I turn WiFi off. What does it do a min later? Turned WiFi back on.
It's going on eBay when I get back and I'm grabbing a Surface Pro!
It just feels like a mess and I'm not prepared to put the time into tweaking what feels like a half baked OS. For work, it's been fine. For play,not so.
It's a pain in the arse every single time.
Last night attempted to watch something in ITV X. That was a no go, nothing in the chrome store and Play store said my device is not supported for ITV X. Gave up on that.
Ok, let's watch the Mandelorian. Both the included video player and VLC would not support the codec.
OK,let's watch The Dark. SUbs on VLC overlapped each other. Included video player worked, but the max volume was so limited we struggled to hear, even through a Bluetooth speaker. Odd.
All the while I have to have power saving off otherwise the screen shuts off mid movie/TV as it doesn't recognise Im watching something. Plus the tablet screen is always on as I have to mirror, so I throw a pair of pants over it!
Then, we get the f
king WiFi notifications when I finds networks, during the film. I turn WiFi off. What does it do a min later? Turned WiFi back on.It's going on eBay when I get back and I'm grabbing a Surface Pro!
It just feels like a mess and I'm not prepared to put the time into tweaking what feels like a half baked OS. For work, it's been fine. For play,not so.
In the time you've been there I've had multiple work trips to Asia locations. The most recent one I found a new solution to avoiding the hassle of trying to watch content...
... I didn't take any media IT, instead put all my 'hassle time' in to packing up my road bike, taking it as my checked luggage, reassembling in my hotel room and riding it around the city in the evening, thus getting back to the hotel too late and too tired to watch anything!
... I didn't take any media IT, instead put all my 'hassle time' in to packing up my road bike, taking it as my checked luggage, reassembling in my hotel room and riding it around the city in the evening, thus getting back to the hotel too late and too tired to watch anything!
Yeah... Slight different scenario here.... We come the SE Asia for two months over winter. In between beaches, sight seeing, and dinners, watching some some tv is a welcome change here and there.
I could take the scooter out for a ride but the Mrs is going to suspect I'm off to go go bars on my own..... :-) plus, I'm already a few beers in by the time we've got back from dinner!
I could take the scooter out for a ride but the Mrs is going to suspect I'm off to go go bars on my own..... :-) plus, I'm already a few beers in by the time we've got back from dinner!
Edited by Griffith4ever on Tuesday 5th December 10:12
An awful and frustrating experience.
But ditch VLC, as mentioned it's absolute crap on a Chromebook - has been for years, and it was never good. The developers never put much time into it, and the android version isn't fully supported for Chrome OS so it shouldn't even be available - both the VLC developers and Google are responsible there. The developers shouldn't list it as compatible, and Google should be doing more to screen for compatibility.
Shipping the Play Store out of the box is the biggest cause of issues on Chrome OS.
We've exclusively run Chromebooks in the household for 9 years now, and they fit perfectly in our environment. A Windows machine is the last thing I'd consider for home use in our circumstances. Tech needs to be like a coffee machine - turn it on, press button, job done, turn it off.
Windows still isn't there from that viewpoint.
I know that from fixing and repairing the stuff!
But the media side of Chrome OS has caused you the same frustration as a Windows machine does for me in personal use. Horses for courses etc
But ditch VLC, as mentioned it's absolute crap on a Chromebook - has been for years, and it was never good. The developers never put much time into it, and the android version isn't fully supported for Chrome OS so it shouldn't even be available - both the VLC developers and Google are responsible there. The developers shouldn't list it as compatible, and Google should be doing more to screen for compatibility.
Shipping the Play Store out of the box is the biggest cause of issues on Chrome OS.
We've exclusively run Chromebooks in the household for 9 years now, and they fit perfectly in our environment. A Windows machine is the last thing I'd consider for home use in our circumstances. Tech needs to be like a coffee machine - turn it on, press button, job done, turn it off.
Windows still isn't there from that viewpoint.
I know that from fixing and repairing the stuff!
But the media side of Chrome OS has caused you the same frustration as a Windows machine does for me in personal use. Horses for courses etc
I hear you. It's why I've always had android tabs for general browsing, but I started to find they were not up to the job for working whilst away, so I ended up here with the Duet 5 Chromebook.
My larger SSD laptop is great for work, but! As you know, the moment you want to quickly pop something on it enters a 40 min fking update loop.
We'll see. Will have a fondle of a surface pro when I'm back in 10 days.
My larger SSD laptop is great for work, but! As you know, the moment you want to quickly pop something on it enters a 40 min f
king update loop. We'll see. Will have a fondle of a surface pro when I'm back in 10 days.
FWIW we use an Nvidia Shield at home, for online streaming and streaming our own media from a NAS.
For your type of scenario I've an older MiBox S and a 4TB external USB with media on it. But we've seldom used it in recent years.
My wife carries her Chromebook for streaming when she wants to. We've connected hotel TV's via HDMI to a number of Chromebooks through the years, but haven't done so in a long time.
ITVX works in the browser by the way. Again, stay away from android apps where possible on Chrome OS.
For your type of scenario I've an older MiBox S and a 4TB external USB with media on it. But we've seldom used it in recent years.
My wife carries her Chromebook for streaming when she wants to. We've connected hotel TV's via HDMI to a number of Chromebooks through the years, but haven't done so in a long time.
ITVX works in the browser by the way. Again, stay away from android apps where possible on Chrome OS.
I tested this app this morning to see if it still worked and behaved on Chrome OS, and the good news is that it does.
NOVA Video Player
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org....
It's an android app so once launched change the window handle to Resizeable (only needs to be done once), then press the full-screen button on your keyboard, and then you can tap the full-screen button in the app when playing whatever media file you've chosen.
This app will also scrape your media collection and catalogue it with all the usual information you get in services such as Plex etc and provide you with a nice catalogue which is easy to browse and navigate.
NOVA Video Player
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org....
It's an android app so once launched change the window handle to Resizeable (only needs to be done once), then press the full-screen button on your keyboard, and then you can tap the full-screen button in the app when playing whatever media file you've chosen.
This app will also scrape your media collection and catalogue it with all the usual information you get in services such as Plex etc and provide you with a nice catalogue which is easy to browse and navigate.
Corso Marche said:
I tested this app this morning to see if it still worked and behaved on Chrome OS, and the good news is that it does.
NOVA Video Player
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org....
It's an android app so once launched change the window handle to Resizeable (only needs to be done once), then press the full-screen button on your keyboard, and then you can tap the full-screen button in the app when playing whatever media file you've chosen.
This app will also scrape your media collection and catalogue it with all the usual information you get in services such as Plex etc and provide you with a nice catalogue which is easy to browse and navigate.
Cheers! Will test this evening with "the dark "NOVA Video Player
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org....
It's an android app so once launched change the window handle to Resizeable (only needs to be done once), then press the full-screen button on your keyboard, and then you can tap the full-screen button in the app when playing whatever media file you've chosen.
This app will also scrape your media collection and catalogue it with all the usual information you get in services such as Plex etc and provide you with a nice catalogue which is easy to browse and navigate.
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