[Review] Google Chromecast - A Tiny, Affordable HDMI Media Streaming Dongle

[galliano]

Allcast, now, via ChromeCast, is able to cast photos, videos, etc from your Android device to the TV. ChromeCast is getting better by the day!

What about Apple?

 

[jchoong]

My rooted ChromeCast will not boot; it failed during a OTA upgrade of the Eureka firmware. How do I revive it and unroot? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jchoong]

I put aside my rooted Chromecast and got a new unit and kept it stock. Initially I had problems setting it up - from my PC and N5/N7. It would get connected to my wifi, but would not connect to the internet. After several resets and setups, the device connected and then got its FW upgraded through OTA. Since then, it has been running well. I also use AllCast.

 

[rchang]

For those who are using DNS based VPN (MR teleport/Unlocator...), besides the iptables workaround, there is another method to cast Netflix.

....

Basically, you need to set up a static route for the Google DNS so that it will result in host unreachable and Chromecast will use your DHCP DNS. I've tried it on MR teleport and I am able to cast Netflix now. This method is easier and it will still work after router is rebooted. These are my settings for static route on Asus RT56U:

8.8.8.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.250 1 LAN
8.8.4.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.250 1 LAN

Please read the last few pages in the XDA thread to understand more.

Would you be able to share a SCREENSHOT of the setting? It will be very helpful.

 

[tekster]

V frustratingand limited apps out of the box.

In the end,i just bought apple tv and mirror my ipad.

 

[jchoong]

Chromecast is a cheap dongle that works well with a range of apps that is expanding. With AllCast I can cast photos and videos off my devices. I don't need another black box and more expensive interface cables.

 

[Gribber]

V frustratingand limited apps out of the box.

In the end,i just bought apple tv and mirror my ipad.

can apple tv stream videos + srt/pics/music directly from nas?

 

[Twinsen]

Anyone using Plex for Chromecast? Does it work in Sg? How does it work? Does it talk directly to the Plex media server or you still need an android device somewhere and then cast it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[pustefix]

Anyone using Plex for Chromecast? Does it work in Sg? How does it work? Does it talk directly to the Plex media server or you still need an android device somewhere and then cast it?

Thanks in advance.

I've tried Plex using Chromecast over the weekends. For Synology NAS user, you can also use Chromecast via DS Video, very similar to Plex. Advantage is that DS video is free while Plex client is not.

For Plex/DS video and all chromecast compatible apps, you need to control it with your phone or tablet. In Plex app on phone/tablet, navigate to the media, click on the chromecast icon and select your chromecast device, then press play.

 

[orhanzi]

Where to buy this in local?

 

[Twinsen]

can apple tv stream videos + srt/pics/music directly from nas?

I've tried Plex using Chromecast over the weekends. For Synology NAS user, you can also use Chromecast via DS Video, very similar to Plex. Advantage is that DS video is free while Plex client is not.

For Plex/DS video and all chromecast compatible apps, you need to control it with your phone or tablet. In Plex app on phone/tablet, navigate to the media, click on the chromecast icon and select your chromecast device, then press play.

Thanks for info!

 

[pustefix]

Would you be able to share a SCREENSHOT of the setting? It will be very helpful.

 

[chengsun]

I've tried Plex using Chromecast over the weekends. For Synology NAS user, you can also use Chromecast via DS Video, very similar to Plex. Advantage is that DS video is free while Plex client is not.

For Plex/DS video and all chromecast compatible apps, you need to control it with your phone or tablet. In Plex app on phone/tablet, navigate to the media, click on the chromecast icon and select your chromecast device, then press play.

Hi, you mean that, with Synology and Chromecast, can directly play video on my TV? Does DS support RMVB format?

 

[pustefix]

Hi, you mean that, with Synology and Chromecast, can directly play video on my TV? Does DS support RMVB format?

Yes, with Synology and Chromecast, you can play videos from your NAS directly on TV. You need to install Video Station package on your Synology and DS video app on your phone/tablet. One more thing, you will need to update Synology DSM to version 5.0 to be able to use chromecast.

In my own testing, it is able to play most files, however there are some that doesn't work. I didn't test with rmvb, you might want to check this Can my Synology NAS transcode videos for my device? - Synology - Network Attached Storage (NAS). If your NAS model is able to transcode rmvb, then it should be able to play.

 

[chengsun]

Yes, with Synology and Chromecast, you can play videos from your NAS directly on TV. You need to install Video Station package on your Synology and DS video app on your phone/tablet. One more thing, you will need to update Synology DSM to version 5.0 to be able to use chromecast.

In my own testing, it is able to play most files, however there are some that doesn't work. I didn't test with rmvb, you might want to check this Can my Synology NAS transcode videos for my device? - Synology - Network Attached Storage (NAS). If your NAS model is able to transcode rmvb, then it should be able to play.

so it is not that all model supports...... i was thinking to buy the cheapest model......214ES

 

[civicguy]

I keep having buffering issues with plex on Chromecast for 1080p movies,.. 720p is fine...

Mmm. Will test RMVB later

Update: Test RMVB. It works with Plex and Chromecast. Able to play the RMVB file on my iPhone and then cast onto the TV with Chromecast. My Synology is DS1813+.

 

[vichchu]

I upgraded my router to dual band 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz. Now Chromecast is not working. Disables 5 ghz. Still not working.

Anyone can help me?

 

[pustefix]

I keep having buffering issues with plex on Chromecast for 1080p movies,.. 720p is fine...

Mmm. Will test RMVB later

Update: Test RMVB. It works with Plex and Chromecast. Able to play the RMVB file on my iPhone and then cast onto the TV with Chromecast. My Synology is DS1813+.

I am assuming that you are running Plex server on your DS1813+. According to the NAS compatibility list https://plexapp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201373803, DS1813+ is not able to transcode 1080p videos. Hence 1080p videos will be stream directly to chromecast and the bit rate maybe too high for the chromecast wireless link, so there will be buffering issues.

If you run the Plex server on a modern PC, it will have the processing power to transcode the video before passing to chromecast for casting, thereby reducing buffering issues.

 

[jchoong]

Google has just released Photowall for Chromecast.

 

[rchang]

Many thanks, let me try it.