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Chromecast |OT|

B

bob page

Member
Plex has never been a free app. The server for PC is free but the mobile app has always been paid. On top that is the Plexpass, which allows access to new features before the general public.
 
H

hodayathink

Member
OriginalThinking said:
No the device actually runs Android. But it's branded as Chromecast likely to avoid Android TV confusion and because it works in a way quite unlike other android devices.
Click to expand...

It's a little more complicated than that. The device runs Android, yes, but any program you run on the device is actually a webpage running in Chrome.
 
Y

yyzjohn

Banned
So I just downloaded and installed Plex media server and the android app. Wow. It's freaking amazing. Love being able to stream my local library through Chromecast now, nicely organizes stuff in the app too.
 
E

e_i

Member
Localcast is great for streaming video files, but it's lack of support for internal subtitles is a downer. But, it looks like the developers are working on it (they say that internal subtitles don't work YET). The app is free, which is a plus.
 
Q

Quasar

Member
yyzjohn said:
So I just downloaded and installed Plex media server and the android app. Wow. It's freaking amazing. Love being able to stream my local library through Chromecast now, nicely organizes stuff in the app too.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Now that the finally fixed the subtitle issue (with android clients at least) I'm using my chromecast a lot more. Now I just wish for a version with ethernet and support for dolby/dts lossless audio.
 
Dr. Kitty Muffins

Dr. Kitty Muffins

Member
I just bought a Chromecast today. I downloaded Pocket Casts and have used the Youttube app a bit.

Any good video podcasts I should hop onto? Dubbed Anime?

I haven't had the chance to browse this thread yet. I am really curious as to what the best apps are for this thing. All I can think of is video podcasts to use this with. I kind of impulse bought this without thinking much abut what I could possibly use it for.
 
Q

Quasar

Member
Dr. Kitty Muffins said:
I just bought a Chromecast today. I downloaded Pocket Casts and have used the Youttube app a bit.

Any good video podcasts I should hop onto?
Click to expand...

Depends on what subject matter interests you.

Dubbed Anime?
Click to expand...

Sure. Via the Netflix and Hulu apps.

I haven't had the chance to browse this thread yet. I am really curious as to what the best apps are for this thing. All I can think of is video podcasts to use this with. I kind of impulse bought this without thinking much abut what I could possibly use it for.
Click to expand...

Well there's all the expected video streaming apps (hulu, netflix, hbo-go, Play Movies and TV, Google Music, etc). Over time I expect pretty much every media streaming app thats on android will support ChromeCast.
 
Y

yyzjohn

Banned
Quasar said:
Yeah. Now that the finally fixed the subtitle issue (with android clients at least) I'm using my chromecast a lot more. Now I just wish for a version with ethernet and support for dolby/dts lossless audio.
Click to expand...


I've tried installing some channels and they work if add them through the media center, but if I try to download a .zip package plugin and copy to the plugins directory the channel shows up in the media center but I can't get any content to play. Any suggestions?
 
Q

Quasar

Member
yyzjohn said:
I've tried installing some channels and they work if add them through the media center, but if I try to download a .zip package plugin and copy to the plugins directory the channel shows up in the media center but I can't get any content to play. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Not really. I haven't installed many channels, and those that i have have been through the interface not by doing it manually.

I'd be asking on the plex forums.
 
G

glaringradio

Member
So for anyone who is thinking of purchasing one of these, Amazon have the following on at the minute:

Amazon Mother's Day promotion

Basically pop your mum's name in there, or login with a fake Facebook account, w/e floats your boat, and get a £5 Amazon voucher off a £30 spend.

Chromecast £25 delivered in the UK. Pretty nifty!
 
Dr. Kitty Muffins

Dr. Kitty Muffins

Member
Quasar said:
Depends on what subject matter interests you.



Sure. Via the Netflix and Hulu apps.



Well there's all the expected video streaming apps (hulu, netflix, hbo-go, Play Movies and TV, Google Music, etc). Over time I expect pretty much every media streaming app thats on android will support ChromeCast.
Click to expand...


I've got Netlfix already and I find Hulu too hard to dig through to find dubbed anime. I guess you could say I'm looking for extra anime.
 
Q

Quasar

Member
Dr. Kitty Muffins said:
I've got Netlfix already and I find Hulu too hard to dig through to find dubbed anime. I guess you could say I'm looking for extra anime.
Click to expand...

Well...the only anime services I know of are: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, Daisuki. And of those only Hulu, Netflix and Funimation have any dubbed anime. And I think the Funimation app is yet to support ChromeCast, though you could cast it from a browser.
 
Dr. Kitty Muffins

Dr. Kitty Muffins

Member
Quasar said:
Well...the only anime services I know of are: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, Daisuki. And of those only Hulu, Netflix and Funimation have any dubbed anime. And I think the Funimation app is yet to support ChromeCast, though you could cast it from a browser.
Click to expand...

I've got this avia app that lets me cast some content provided its a supported file type.

BTW, I named my Chromecast 'Snarf" as I was running out of transformer names to give to tech items and networks. I'm looking to change that to a transformer later ...
 
P

pgtl_10

Member
I am impatient. I want Watch ESPN, Aereo, Fox Sports support NOW. Seriously what's taking so long?

I also want NFL Sunday Ticket Max support. :(

Hurry up and bring those things.
 
Q

Quasar

Member
Dr. Kitty Muffins said:
So what is the best way to watch Bleach dubbed on my TV? I'm currently using the youtube app but the picture isn't great.
Click to expand...

Depends what you mean by best.

Best quality way would be ripping blurays (assumings its on bluray) and using an android app (like Plex or another DLNA app) that supports chromecast.

Next I guess would be using the Hulu Plus app. From what I can tell hulu in a browser is out as its only subbed versions.

Then there's you tube and other unauthorised options.
 
S

sun-drop

Member
dam how did i miss the fact the latest android chrome beta enabled html5 video casting , right from the browser ....

cliphunter here i come
 
K

kaskade

Member
So is there any free way to stream local content from my computer yet? I saw plex but you have to buy the mobile app. I might end up doing that if it's the best solution.
 
C

corn_fest

Member
kaskade said:
So is there any free way to stream local content from my computer yet? I saw plex but you have to buy the mobile app. I might end up doing that if it's the best solution.
Click to expand...

You have to pay for the mobile app, but you can also cast from Chrome on your computer using it if that's an option.
 
Q

Quasar

Member
There might be other DLNA apps that are free. Most seem to charge for the ChromeCast feature though.

The webplayer for Plex has chromecast support, so that should work.
 
V

Vanillalite

Ask me about the GAF Notebook
Andrex said:
Why?
Click to expand...

Presumption on my part, but probably because now that Google caved and put YT on Ruku that Ruku has all of the stuff Chromecast has and more.

The solution isn't as elegant, and its supposedly slower. Yet if you want to watch your team on ESPN3 slow beats nothing since Chromecast doesn't have watch ESPN yet.

I'm hoping at Google I/O that Google announces more dev partners getting their apps on the cast.
 
P

Petrie

Banned
kaskade said:
So is there any free way to stream local content from my computer yet? I saw plex but you have to buy the mobile app. I might end up doing that if it's the best solution.
Click to expand...

The $4.99 for the Plex app is well worth it, but I'm biased because I love how it just takes XBMC and makes it simpler for me to use.
 
A

Aiii

So not worth it
Just got a Chromecast, got Plex as per recommendations here.

Thank you guys, it's amazing, just perfect.
 
B

Blimblim

The Inside Track
So I was experimenting with the Google Cast SDK and got my Chromecast to play videos from my stream on Gamersyde. Sadly it seems that it won't play my 1080p 30 fps videos (bitrate 6000, h264 level 4.1), without any frame drops, let alone 1080p60 (8500 / 4.2). 720p60 (4500/3.2) seems to be the limit.
According to the sdk the dongle should support up to level 5.0 high level, which is much higher than the bitrates I use.
Did you guys ever get to try and play high(ish) bitrate 1080p videos? Youtube uses 2500 for 1080p, and netflix isn't much higher, so I don't have any other references...
Edit: Looks like 5000 it is. Meh, that's very disappointing.
 
Q

Quasar

Member
Blimblim said:
Did you guys ever get to try and play high(ish) bitrate 1080p videos? Youtube uses 2500 for 1080p, and netflix isn't much higher, so I don't have any other references...
Edit: Looks like 5000 it is. Meh, that's very disappointing.
Click to expand...

Well Plex output to ChromeCast has a max of 12000. I'm not sure how it does it.
 
T

thenexus6

Member
I have a question I hope someone can help me with, I installed Hola onto my Nexus 5 so I can access US netflix. It plays fine on my phone however it doesn't stream to my chromecast. Anything I can do?

I just started to watch Twin Peaks which is not available on the UK netflix, but my laptop runs pretty loud when I watch netflix for some reason so i'd prefer to do so via my phone + chromecast instead.
 
T

thespot84

Member
thenexus6 said:
I have a question I hope someone can help me with, I installed Hola onto my Nexus 5 so I can access US netflix. It plays fine on my phone however it doesn't stream to my chromecast. Anything I can do?

I just started to watch Twin Peaks which is not available on the UK netflix, but my laptop runs pretty loud when I watch netflix for some reason so i'd prefer to do so via my phone + chromecast instead.
Click to expand...

hola would have to have chromecast support. it's not the video stream itself that has chromecast or not, it's the app your playing it through.
 
T

thenexus6

Member
thespot84 said:
hola would have to have chromecast support. it's not the video stream itself that has chromecast or not, it's the app your playing it through.
Click to expand...

Well when Hola is enabled I go into the netflix app and the US version appears. I can connect to the chrome cast (my tv displays netflix logos etc) but it just times out when I try loading a show.
 
R

Resident_UA

Member
Could somebody explain the whole Plex thing? Does it stream my PC movie library to chromecast? Do I need to pay at all if I have it installed on PC? I'm confused what I need the app for...
 
T

thespot84

Member
thenexus6 said:
Well when Hola is enabled I go into the netflix app and the US version appears. I can connect to the chrome cast (my tv displays netflix logos etc) but it just times out when I try loading a show.
Click to expand...

ooooh I see, I think the DNS is hardcoded into the chromecast. Does chromecast work with anything else for you?
 
T

Tenacious-V

Thinks his PR is better than yours.
If you have the Amazon App store installed, you can get Plex for $0.99US or $1.09CDN right now!.

http://www.amazon.com/Plex-Inc-for-Android/dp/B004Y1WCDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=mobile-apps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396499599&sr=1-1&keywords=plex

http://www.amazon.ca/Plex-Inc-for-Android/dp/B004Y1WCDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=mobile-apps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396499599&sr=1-1&keywords=plex

Pretty much a steal at that price.

Resident_UA said:
Could somebody explain the whole Plex thing? Does it stream my PC movie library to chromecast? Do I need to pay at all if I have it installed on PC? I'm confused what I need the app for...
Click to expand...

There are 2 parts to Plex, the server and the app.

The server is free. You install it on your PC and set up your shared folders/files/channels. This is the workhorse, all of your local files (and channels) will be casted through it, and your PC will be used to transcode anything that Chromecast doesn't support. This can be used to broadcast locally to yourself over wifi/ethernet, or over the net to anyone you like.

The app is not free (but dirt cheap atm on the Amazon App store). This is basically a media player (to play stuff from the Plex server on your devices). It is also your remote to connect your Plex server to your Chromecast.

If you don't have the app, you can't connect Plex to Chromecast (well you can, with something like bubbleupnp, but there is no transcoding/subtitles/etc support that way).

So basically for the full experience (and easiest solution), you need both.
 
T

thenexus6

Member
thespot84 said:
ooooh I see, I think the DNS is hardcoded into the chromecast. Does chromecast work with anything else for you?
Click to expand...

Yep it works just fine


I just downloaded Plex from amazon app store and i've put a couple of films on there I assume my PC needs to be on to be able to stream from my phone to chrome cast?
 
Q

Quasar

Member
Yeah. Chromecast has google dns hard coded. For me the easiest solution was use my router firewall to block outgoing calls to google dns ips. Then the chromecast just drops back to the dns settings in my router.
 
R

Resident_UA

Member
Tenacious-V said:
If you have the Amazon App store installed, you can get Plex for $0.99US or $1.09CDN right now!.

http://www.amazon.com/Plex-Inc-for-Android/dp/B004Y1WCDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=mobile-apps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396499599&sr=1-1&keywords=plex

http://www.amazon.ca/Plex-Inc-for-Android/dp/B004Y1WCDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=mobile-apps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396499599&sr=1-1&keywords=plex

Pretty much a steal at that price.



There are 2 parts to Plex, the server and the app.

The server is free. You install it on your PC and set up your shared folders/files/channels. This is the workhorse, all of your local files (and channels) will be casted through it, and your PC will be used to transcode anything that Chromecast doesn't support. This can be used to broadcast locally to yourself over wifi/ethernet, or over the net to anyone you like.

The app is not free (but dirt cheap atm on the Amazon App store). This is basically a media player (to play stuff from the Plex server on your devices). It is also your remote to connect your Plex server to your Chromecast.

If you don't have the app, you can't connect Plex to Chromecast (well you can, with something like bubbleupnp, but there is no transcoding/subtitles/etc support that way).

So basically for the full experience (and easiest solution), you need both.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Got the app. Will test how it works today. Still a bit skeptical but you never know :)
 
T

Tenacious-V

Thinks his PR is better than yours.
Resident_UA said:
Thanks! Got the app. Will test how it works today. Still a bit skeptical but you never know :)
Click to expand...

Once it's set up you will enjoy it! It's worth it for $0.99.

Also, you can get the server info from other Plex users and stream things directly from their PCs as well. The quality is based on their PC and internet connection of course.
 
X

xKilltheMx

Member
Tenacious-V said:
If you have the Amazon App store installed, you can get Plex for $0.99US or $1.09CDN right now!.

http://www.amazon.com/Plex-Inc-for-Android/dp/B004Y1WCDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=mobile-apps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396499599&sr=1-1&keywords=plex

http://www.amazon.ca/Plex-Inc-for-Android/dp/B004Y1WCDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=mobile-apps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396499599&sr=1-1&keywords=plex

Pretty much a steal at that price.



There are 2 parts to Plex, the server and the app.

The server is free. You install it on your PC and set up your shared folders/files/channels. This is the workhorse, all of your local files (and channels) will be casted through it, and your PC will be used to transcode anything that Chromecast doesn't support. This can be used to broadcast locally to yourself over wifi/ethernet, or over the net to anyone you like.

The app is not free (but dirt cheap atm on the Amazon App store). This is basically a media player (to play stuff from the Plex server on your devices). It is also your remote to connect your Plex server to your Chromecast.

If you don't have the app, you can't connect Plex to Chromecast (well you can, with something like bubbleupnp, but there is no transcoding/subtitles/etc support that way).

So basically for the full experience (and easiest solution), you need both.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, used my amazon coins to snag this.
 
G

Gully State

Member
Just picked up this device today but I can't seem to get any sound to output from the device. Video works fine but no matter which device I case from (iphone, ipad, or my desktop) I get absolutely no sound. My TV is a bit on the old side (sharp aquos 720p) but it has an HDMI port. I really have no idea how to proceed.
 
Q

Quasar

Member
Gully State said:
Just picked up this device today but I can't seem to get any sound to output from the device. Video works fine but no matter which device I case from (iphone, ipad, or my desktop) I get absolutely no sound. My TV is a bit on the old side (sharp aquos 720p) but it has an HDMI port. I really have no idea how to proceed.
Click to expand...

With all apps? Just one? Is audio disabled or something on that input? I know my parents use one attached to an aquos.
 
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