Google Chromecast - $35 HDMI Dongle

[pigpen81]

Has anyone tried this yet?

[dbdynsty25]

Ordered one. Still waiting. Wasn't in a hurry so just got the free shipping. Will be here Friday apparently.

It's legit. Especially when you get three months of Netflix for free (new users). I was about to sign up anyway and scrap Hulu, but now I'm just waiting for it to be delivered so essentially I get it for free. Netflix streaming from my phone/ipad/computer in 1080P for free? Yes please.

[dbdynsty25]

It arrived. And it's easy as hell to set up. Plug it in, install the app on your phone or laptop and configure it to your wifi. Done. Works like a charm too. Very impressed.

[jLp vAkEr0]

For my tastes, I would have preferred that the video streaming apps would reside on the device perse (like Roku/Apple TV) and that it had it's own remote.

Never enjoyed to use my phone/table as remotes.

All the other Chromecast stuff could be done with your devices.

Still, can't really complain for $35.

[dbdynsty25]

But then it would be an AppleTv/Roku. Why would they do it exactly the same as the two established players? Gotta be different/cheaper to innovate. I've got an AppleTV too if I want to use that, but for a quick youtube video while the wife and I are sitting on the couch, it's perfect. It's much easier to type and search for things on my phone than on the AppleTV remote...that thing is terrible. The Chromecast is a perfect device for that type of application. Especially at the price.

[jLp vAkEr0]

But then it would be an AppleTv/Roku. Why would they do it exactly the same as the two established players? Gotta be different/cheaper to innovate. I've got an AppleTV too if I want to use that, but for a quick youtube video while the wife and I are sitting on the couch, it's perfect. It's much easier to type and search for things on my phone than on the AppleTV remote...that thing is terrible. The Chromecast is a perfect device for that type of application. Especially at the price.

I guess searching/typing is better, but what I meant is control inside the streaming apps. FF/Rewind. That kind of stuff.

You really can't dish the Chromecast. It's an insane value and I would get it as soon as I can find one.

But for myself, I was looking in to purchasing a Roku and i wouldn't have mind a similar product from Google.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Found one @ Best Buy.

[FatPitcher]

Pretty cool for web browsing on the big screen. Also lets my housemate stream her parents' Showtime and HBO (which I don't subscribe to) to the TV. Obviously these could both be done by hooking up via HDMI, but whatever, this is easier and I like gadgets. Works well, but mobile app support seems limited, and the HBO/Sho streams weren't perfectly fluid.

[Brando70]

Got one yesterday and it has been a headache so far. First it didn't work with my modem until I went in and messed with the MAC settings. Then, after getting it set up, my receiver won't recognize the signal. If I plug it straight into my TV's HDMI, it works fine. If I plug other HDMI devices into my receiver, they work fine. But for some reason when I plug the Chromecast into my receiver, I get nothing. It's a 1080p compatible receiver, too, and I have never had a problem with it recognizing a video signal. Hoping I can get it resolved because it seems like a bargain for what it does and would be a very cheap solution for getting Netflix to my main home theater system.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Yeah, I've barely used it.

It's real finicky with WiFi signals.

I can use multiple wifi devices in my bedroom except the Chromecast.

That will be resolved when I dd-wrt and old wifi router I have laying around and use it as a extender.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Blah...

Took it back yesterday and got a Roku LT.

My wife just kept nagging me that she wants HBO Go and Hulu in the bedroom TV and clearly there's no timetable for those 2 apps to be available on the ChromeCast.

Gonna hook up the Roku 2night to see what's what.

[dbdynsty25]

Roku is pretty nice...my parents have one. Definitely more functional than a chromecast, at this point.

Mine is just sitting in my computer...I realize I don't do all that much streaming, but it's good to have in my computer bag if I ever want to project my laptop or phone to a screen somewhere. It's definitely a good little accessory for on the go.

[Brando70]

I got it to work with my receiver. Marantz suggested that their was potentially an HDCP issue, so I tried plugging it into one of the rear HDMI ports instead of the front one and voila, it worked. Not sure why that port would be different but at least I can give it a spin now.