Google Chromecast now available in New Zealand

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#1195415 11-Dec-2014 09:27

This kinda mimics what you can do with the PS3 youtube app. Would be a good way to send web content to the screen though.

Price seems good for what you get, although there is a mess of smart devices and TV's with those features built in now, and quite a bit of duplication.
Makes it hard to define use processes for parents for example

NzBeagle

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#1195427 11-Dec-2014 09:58

For me it's so simple and easy. Also, navigating your mobile or tablet to dictate content to a screen is much easier than any smart TV interface I've used. Then there's the price. One thing would be nice is Mhl rather than USB for power. But most situations have a spare USB port.

dafman

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#1195431 11-Dec-2014 10:06

NzBeagle: For me it's so simple and easy. Also, navigating your mobile or tablet to dictate content to a screen is much easier than any smart TV interface I've used. Then there's the price. One thing would be nice is Mhl rather than USB for power. But most situations have a spare USB port.

+1 for navigation. I have a smart Panasonic TV, but navigation is such a pain for things like youtube, we have never bothered. Youtube via chromecast is so easy to use via your phone or tablet.

shk292

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#1195453 11-Dec-2014 10:42

I bought one when in the US just because they were really cheap and looked like a cool gadget. However, having plugged it into my Samsung Smart TV in order to cast Youtube videos (easier than using the TV app), I found I can just cast direct to the TV from my phone.
My other use case was when away in a hotel etc and this can be done using a second Android device as a hotspot, but I'm slightly nervous on the amount of data it might use, even for straming media which is on the casting device. Probably need to reeasrch that one a bit more

invisibleman18

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#1195483 11-Dec-2014 11:08

For what it's worth I asked Premier League Pass on facebook whether there is any chance of an app for this now it has officially launched in NZ and they replied that they are looking into it.

Jaxson

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#1195547 11-Dec-2014 13:11

Does this work standalone in any way, or are you streaming youtube content from your phone to the dongle?

ie do you configure your dongle with the local wifi settings, and then use the phone only for navigation purposes, not for routing content?

lol I used the word dongle in every sentence.

NzBeagle

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#1195548 11-Dec-2014 13:17

Jaxson: Does this work standalone in any way, or are you streaming youtube content from your phone to the dongle?

ie do you configure your dongle with the local wifi settings, and then use the phone only for navigation purposes, not for routing content?

lol I used the word dongle in every sentence.

The CC connects to the wifi and pulls the stream directly from the Internet, the phone essentially becomes the remote control.

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freitasm

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#1195555 11-Dec-2014 13:33

You select content on device (smartphone/tablet). This will hand a token to Chromecast and the dongle will use that token to get the content directly. You can turn your smartphone/tablet off and it will continue streaming.

robjg63

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#1195556 11-Dec-2014 13:34

Think of something starting off streaming onto your phone - then you hand it over (cast it) to the chromecast device .
The internet traffic is then between the internet and the Chromecast.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Jaxson

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#1195563 11-Dec-2014 13:49

All good, thanks guys.

4possm

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#1195580 11-Dec-2014 14:27

Anybody know if you can use US Hulu Plus or Netflix through these or are they set for NZ only apps?

shk292

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#1195583 11-Dec-2014 14:37

robjg63: Think of something starting off streaming onto your phone - then you hand it over (cast it) to the chromecast device .
The internet traffic is then between the internet and the Chromecast.

I found an app that let me stream movies stored on my Nexus 7 to the Chromecast. I was hoping this would be possible using an ad-hoc network set up between the N7 and the CC, but I needed to use a phone as a hotspot to make it work. It took a while for the CC to recognise the network, but it did eventually work and the quality was good. It did seem to need an internet connection to work, and I'm unsure of how much phone data it used

muppet

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#1195584 11-Dec-2014 14:38

Sweet. Ordered one.

MikeB4

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#1195616 11-Dec-2014 16:06

So is it worth it or is it just another half baked half stymied dust collector in waiting?

NzBeagle

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#1195630 11-Dec-2014 16:34

KiwiNZ: So is it worth it or is it just another half baked half stymied dust collector in waiting?

So far so good for me. Google Play Music & Movies, YouTube & Plex are my main uses. Occasionally viewing photos as well. I have one in every TV in the house.

Others use them for Netflix as well. Using an existing device, tablet or phone, to navigate and select media is ideal for me.

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