Lightbox to support Chromecast within a few weeks

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Lightbox to support Chromecast within a few weeks

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

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#169620 20-Mar-2015 14:24

Just announced in Stuff.co.nz an hour ago http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/67459019/sparks-lightbox-coming-to-googles-chromecast

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262 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1264165 20-Mar-2015 16:06

Awesome, might finally start using my free 12 month subscription!

Killerkiwi2005

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1264214 20-Mar-2015 17:38

Vikings binge coming soon....

andrew027

1286 posts

Uber Geek

#1265518 23-Mar-2015 09:59

LazyDr: Awesome, might finally start using my free 12 month subscription!

Me too - I got one of those 12 month free subscriptions, jumped on immediately to see what was available, and have actually used it once since. Problem is that my only way of connecting at the moment is by plugging a laptop into the TV via HDMI - the lapop my daughter uses to do her school assignments and homework. Hopefully Chromecast will fix this logistics issue and I can start binge-watching...

wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#1265552 23-Mar-2015 10:18

andrew027:
LazyDr: Awesome, might finally start using my free 12 month subscription!

Me too - I got one of those 12 month free subscriptions, jumped on immediately to see what was available, and have actually used it once since. Problem is that my only way of connecting at the moment is by plugging a laptop into the TV via HDMI - the lapop my daughter uses to do her school assignments and homework. Hopefully Chromecast will fix this logistics issue and I can start binge-watching...

Yep,
Just realised that better call saul was available on Lightbox - had to explain to wife that no, we can't watch on the TV because there is no roku or TV app.

watched on laptop but 17" < 60" TV.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1265558 23-Mar-2015 10:26

wasabi2k:
andrew027:
LazyDr: Awesome, might finally start using my free 12 month subscription!

Me too - I got one of those 12 month free subscriptions, jumped on immediately to see what was available, and have actually used it once since. Problem is that my only way of connecting at the moment is by plugging a laptop into the TV via HDMI - the lapop my daughter uses to do her school assignments and homework. Hopefully Chromecast will fix this logistics issue and I can start binge-watching...

Yep,
Just realised that better call saul was available on Lightbox - had to explain to wife that no, we can't watch on the TV because there is no roku or TV app.

watched on laptop but 17" < 60" TV.

the perfect excuse for you to buy a PS4! :P

jol

56 posts

Master Geek

#1267367 25-Mar-2015 10:28

Does this mean we will also get an android app that supports more devices?

kendo

213 posts

Master Geek

#1268328 26-Mar-2015 11:50

^nope

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mattwnz

20141 posts

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#1268340 26-Mar-2015 12:02

How come light box don't have an iPhone app. I mean even Neon has one. Big oversight I think

dafman

3925 posts

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#1268353 26-Mar-2015 12:19

mattwnz: How come light box don't have an iPhone app. I mean even Neon has one. Big oversight I think

About as big as no android app. That said, Chromecast is the best next option for them as it will give punters a $60 route into any HDMI-enabled TV - thus rectifying something that has been seriously lacking since launch. Off suicide watch, moved to life support, or still too early to call?

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1268377 26-Mar-2015 12:38

dafman:
mattwnz: How come light box don't have an iPhone app. I mean even Neon has one. Big oversight I think

About as big as no android app. That said, Chromecast is the best next option for them as it will give punters a $60 route into any HDMI-enabled TV - thus rectifying something that has been seriously lacking since launch. Off suicide watch, moved to life support, or still too early to call?

But without an iphone or android app, there is no way to cast it using those devices, as a chromecast needs another device as well. The only device I am aware of that has a lightbox app is the ipad or a samsung tablet. I believe you maybe able to cast ligthbox already from a PC to chromecast, if you cast the whole desktop, but that is laggy.

davidrg

67 posts

Master Geek

#1268380 26-Mar-2015 12:45

dafman:
mattwnz: How come light box don't have an iPhone app. I mean even Neon has one. Big oversight I think

About as big as no android app. That said, Chromecast is the best next option for them as it will give punters a $60 route into any HDMI-enabled TV - thus rectifying something that has been seriously lacking since launch. Off suicide watch, moved to life support, or still too early to call?

Wouldn't you still need an approved Samsung Galaxy tablet to run the Lightbox app to control the Chromecast? I assume all of those tablets have some form of HDMI out so Chromecast only adds a bit of extra convenience (no HDMI cable) rather than expanding their reach into houses that don't currently have a supported device.

jol

56 posts

Master Geek

#1268381 26-Mar-2015 12:48

jol: Does this mean we will also get an android app that supports more devices?

kendo: ^nope

But the whole point of Chromecast is that you use mobile apps as the remote control to choose the content that is played. If there isn't a mobile app then what's the point? Being able to cast from a laptop adds very little as most can just as easily be plugged directly into a TV. And if we are still required to own an iPad or a specific Samsung tablet to use the service then the potential audience for the Lightbox service has not really increased at all.

BigPipeNZ

1170 posts

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BigPipe

#1268383 26-Mar-2015 12:49

mattwnz: How come light box don't have an iPhone app. I mean even Neon has one. Big oversight I think

dunno about you, but I have had Netflix for the last 3 years, and, despite downloading the iPhone app I have never once used it on my phone. I've used it a lot on my ipad, and a lot on my PS4 (although it gets a lot less usage now that Lightbox is available)

My point is, if people are like me and aren't actually going to use an iPhone app, there is little point building it when you have limited resources that could be spent building an app that people will actually use (e.g. playstation).

(this may change with Chromecase though, since as pointed out you need a companion device to cast to it - something many people overlook when suggesting chromecast as a solution)

bigpipe.co.nz
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Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1268390 26-Mar-2015 13:00

Can't happen soon enough, have had a chromecast for a few months but it hasn't had much use until Netflix arrived and I have to say it gets the job done well

I imagine the number of households with iPad's would outweigh those with PS4/Roku/XBox so a $60 addon to make it work on a big screen is a logical step

iPhone and Android apps will just complete the picture for the lionshare of users I imagine

jol

56 posts

Master Geek

#1268391 26-Mar-2015 13:01

BigPipeNZ: (this may change with Chromecase though, since as pointed out you need a companion device to cast to it - something many people overlook when suggesting chromecast as a solution)

Exactly. Chromecast should be a good solution for these kinds of services because they are very inexpensive and almost everyone I know carries round either an Android phone or iPhone everywhere they go. But without the apps Chromecast support is meaningless to me.

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