Forum Discussion

GabeU's avatar
GabeU
Distinguished Professor IV
7 years ago

Chromecast...what's the advantage?

BirdDog monicakm   What exactly is it that Chromecast does?  It says "Stream entertainment from your device to your TV".  What does this mean, exactly?  Does this mean like streaming HBO Go, DirecT...
  • BirdDog's avatar
    BirdDog
    7 years ago

    Yea, the advantage is it is wireless so if someone's only other option is running a cable accross the floor or ceiling it is handy. It casts local content to the TV using Chrome and can also cast/stream online content. There's differents feeds that can be subscribed to, some free and others with a fee. Basically it can make a relatively dumb TV smart. My one older Roku TV is kind of clunky when it comes to casting so I purchased the Chromecast for it.

     

    The newest edition of VLC video player can cast to it pretty well if not wanting to use Chrome all the time, with a few minor bugs yet. It should get better with future releases.

     

    In the end, just another tech gadget to play with that can be useful at times.

  • BirdDog's avatar
    BirdDog
    7 years ago

    Also Gabe there is this. A simple casting device that doesn't require Internet. It is available on a popular auction site and also the site that has the jungle name. Less bells and whistles but costs more it appears. Go figure.

     

    UPDATE: Just found it on Newegg refurbished for $19 + free shipping. That's a deal.

     

     

     

     

BirdDog's avatar
BirdDog
Assistant Professor

Yea, the advantage is it is wireless so if someone's only other option is running a cable accross the floor or ceiling it is handy. It casts local content to the TV using Chrome and can also cast/stream online content. There's differents feeds that can be subscribed to, some free and others with a fee. Basically it can make a relatively dumb TV smart. My one older Roku TV is kind of clunky when it comes to casting so I purchased the Chromecast for it.

 

The newest edition of VLC video player can cast to it pretty well if not wanting to use Chrome all the time, with a few minor bugs yet. It should get better with future releases.

 

In the end, just another tech gadget to play with that can be useful at times.

GabeU's avatar
GabeU
Distinguished Professor IV
7 years ago

BirdDog

 

Thanks!!!  While I can pretty much do that kind of thing with the long HDMI cable and I have Netflix on my TV already, I can see how it could come in handy, and maybe even be something I'd like so I wouldn't have to use the cable.  The cable works, but it does get in the way, and the thing is HUGE, as in the thickness of an orange extension cord.  That could just be the brand of cable, but I probably wouldn't have bought it from Amazon had I known that it was so huge.  

 

So the Chromecast device is a one time purchase, and I wouldn't have to subscribe to some monthly plan or anything, right?  I already get the HBO, Cinemax, and DirecTV on the go apps which I can use on my laptop.  The only other thing would be Netflix if I decide to do that.  But, again, to do what I already do, but wirelessly, I would just need the device and no monthly Chromecast subscription or something like that, right?  If so, it might be worth the $35 bucks.  Heck, the cable cost me $20, and I have to avoid tripping over it.  LOL.  

 

And I'd be one to just unplug it when not in use.  I don't mind doing that, and would rather do so.  I don't trust some things when it comes to my data usage.  :p 

  • maratsade's avatar
    maratsade
    Distinguished Professor IV
    7 years ago

    "So the Chromecast device is a one time purchase, and I wouldn't have to subscribe to some monthly plan or anything, right? "

     

    Right. There's no subscription.  I don't unplug mine -- I have them set up in such a way that they get their power from the TV, so when the TV is off, they are off.  

    • GabeU's avatar
      GabeU
      Distinguished Professor IV
      7 years ago
      maratsadewrote:

      "So the Chromecast device is a one time purchase, and I wouldn't have to subscribe to some monthly plan or anything, right? "

       

      Right. There's no subscription.  I don't unplug mine -- I have them set up in such a way that they get their power from the TV, so when the TV is off, they are off.  

      Ah.  Well, I'll definitely have too look into that, then.  

       

      I don't stream much, but when I do and do so from my laptop it looks great on my TV.  I tried "casting" it from my WiFi directly to my TV, and it worked, but the sound was quite out of sync and the picture didn't look that great.  With the Chromecast it sounds like that would be fixed.  

       

      Thanks for the info!  

  • BirdDog's avatar
    BirdDog
    Assistant Professor
    7 years ago

    No charge to use it, just for subscription services like you already mentioned. You just sign in through Chrome like normal.

     

    Just be sure to tame the Backdrop thing as described in the other threads and turn off the free feeds using an Android phone. That is another negative, need a smart phone with the Home app to get to some of the settings.

    • GabeU's avatar
      GabeU
      Distinguished Professor IV
      7 years ago
      BirdDogwrote:

      No charge to use it, just for subscription services like you already mentioned. You just sign in through Chrome like normal.

       

      Just be sure to tame the Backdrop thing as described in the other threads and turn off the free feeds using an Android phone. That is another negative, need a smart phone with the Home app to get to some of the settings.

      Coincidentally, I finally got a smart phone a couple of months ago.  It's a Tracfone, but it's still an Android based smart phone, so I can add apps through the app store.  So I got that covered.  :)  

    • maratsade's avatar
      maratsade
      Distinguished Professor IV
      7 years ago

      Yes, you need a smartphone with the Home app for the settings.  

      I haven't noticed a big data drain from the backdrops. 

      GabeU, if the broaband speed is low, Chromecast will be slow and pixelate a bit -- when that happens to me, I revert to the HDMI cable and using a wireless mouse to control the laptop. (I use a short HDMI cable)

      • GabeU's avatar
        GabeU
        Distinguished Professor IV
        7 years ago
        maratsadewrote:

        I revert to the HDMI cable and using a wireless mouse to control the laptop. (I use a short HDMI cable)

        Ya know, sometimes things are right in front of you and you feel like a moron for not seeing them.  I have a wireless mouse, but it never dawned on me to just use the mouse as a remote and have the laptop out of the way so I don't have to trip over the cable.  SMH.  Just unbelievable.  That's a HUGE DERP moment.  :p