Google Chromecast
Jul 26, 2013, 6:07 pm
#76
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
Basically the first thing I do when I walk into a hotel is to connect my travel router, either via Ethernet if there is one (slightly more secure, and always faster) or via Wifi. Then from my computer I can login to the hotels internet/click Accept/whatever they want, and then immediately any other devices that I have with me (phone, tablet, etc) are all connected as they know my routers AP, and are set to connect to it automatically.
Configure the Chromecast to connect to that network automatically as well, and it just becomes another device that magically starts working the moment you login once.
Jul 26, 2013, 7:34 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
Jul 26, 2013, 9:14 pm
#78
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
I didn't know you could drag and drop local video into Chrome tab to play. Does it play smoothly on Chromecast? I couldn't get any of the online streaming on chrome tab to play smoothly. Lots of skipping and freezing. One way I could make local video play on chromecast is to upload them to YouTube and then play them from YouTube. YouTube and NetFlix works fine.
Jul 26, 2013, 11:34 pm
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 13,988
Chrome spends a minute or so copying the file to the browser's temp directory. The file then shows as downloaded, and then opening it starts playback in Media Player/VLC player, etc.
Jul 27, 2013, 4:21 am
#80
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,434
mp4 and mkv are container formats, so it might depend on the underlying codec.
Jul 27, 2013, 4:39 am
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Install DivX. It's free and works great. By the way that is also what is installed on many TV's. Samsung has had Divx installed for several years now.
Jul 27, 2013, 4:45 am
#82
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,434
It is what google recommends https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2445339?hl=en
The installation tries to add some crapware, so beware
Jul 27, 2013, 9:13 pm
#83
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
Jul 27, 2013, 9:41 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,786
Okay drag and drop video file to chrome browser seems to work for mp4 files. I have not tried other format yet, but still it is very slow with lots of freezing and skipping on the video.
Also casting the desktop seems to work on just about anything on the screen. You have to click the little triangle on the right of the cast option and change from chrome tab to desktop. It is even slower than chrome tab though. Maybe I need a new router...
UPDATE:
I switched the OPTION from 720p to 480p and now everything is smooth. I think it is my 5 years old router causing the problem. Maybe it is time to update my wireless router.
Also casting the desktop seems to work on just about anything on the screen. You have to click the little triangle on the right of the cast option and change from chrome tab to desktop. It is even slower than chrome tab though. Maybe I need a new router...
UPDATE:
I switched the OPTION from 720p to 480p and now everything is smooth. I think it is my 5 years old router causing the problem. Maybe it is time to update my wireless router.
Last edited by Need; Jul 27, 2013 at 11:51 pm
Jul 29, 2013, 8:09 pm
#85
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
My Experiences
I just unboxed and played with it for a few minutes. A few observations:
- When I played Netflix from my Anrdoid phone ane exited Netflix, I could not get the movie to stop playing - it continued to stream from the internet even after I killed Netflix. Yes, I know I could have stopped it from within Netflix before exiting, but the point was to experiment;
- It does not show up as an available renderer from my DLNA software on my phone
- I was able to stream Hulu from a Chrome window just fine (uh-oh, there goes the Hulu Plus revenue stream.). I did notice a delay from the Chrome browser to the TV, and perhaps some degradation in quality;
Last edited by BigFlyer; Jul 29, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Jul 30, 2013, 11:21 am
#86
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,786
- When I played Netflix from my Anrdoid phone ane exited Netflix, I could not get the movie to stop playing - it continued to stream from the internet even after I killed Netflix. Yes, I know I could have stopped it from within Netflix before exiting, but the point was to experiment;
Jul 31, 2013, 5:59 am
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
CNN just posted a mostly negative review at http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/31/tech...ast/index.html
I agree about the current limitations, but I think CNN is a bit short-sighted on the mass appeal and future potential.
I agree about the current limitations, but I think CNN is a bit short-sighted on the mass appeal and future potential.
Jul 31, 2013, 1:02 pm
#88
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Ohio and Colorado
Programs: AA Gold MM, DL Gold, US MM, HH Gold, Starwood
Posts: 953
Good comparison review from the Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...p_EditorsPicks
Cheers
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...p_EditorsPicks
Cheers
Jul 31, 2013, 6:57 pm
#89
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 460
I like the Anandtech review since it gets deeper into the technology http://www.anandtech.com/show/7186/g...35-hdmi-dongle
Jul 31, 2013, 11:05 pm
#90
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
Works With $199 Chromebook
If you read the specs, is only supposed to work with the high end Chromebook pixel, not the lesser Chromebooks.
Well, with my $199 Chromebook I can get the Chrome tab up on the screen. Was able to stream Hulu to the screen.
Better than advertised in this particular respect.
Well, with my $199 Chromebook I can get the Chrome tab up on the screen. Was able to stream Hulu to the screen.
Better than advertised in this particular respect.