Google Chromecast

[TheMatrix31]

Anyone getting one? Got one? I just learned about this thing tonight and it seems pretty cool, especially for $35.

Have a few questions though. It says it'll work on any TV with a spare HDMI port? My TV is is from like, 2006 or something but it still has a spare HDMI port. Should work fine, right?

More importantly, it seems like it's pretty limited right now but that Chrome browsing is supported. Does that mean I can launch my MLBTV subscription in a Chrome browser on my laptop and have it stream onto my TV? If that's the case, that's invaluable to me because I was always interested in hooking up MLBTV to my TV but wanted to have use of my laptop while I did.


EDIT: Oops. Apparently that spare HDMI port I thought I had is actually a USB port. Dammit.

[mestevo]

Re: Google Chromecast

Got one yesterday, youtube and Netflix working flawlessly for me, haven't tried the beta chrome tab casting stuff yet. Have a second on the way from the Google Play store (the first was from Amazon).

Once a couple more apps come on board (Amazon, HBOGo) and toss in some nice-to-have support (Plex) and we can get rid of our Rokus.

They've sold 200k+ of these things in a matter of a day or so.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Google Chromecast

EDIT: Oops. Apparently that spare HDMI port I thought I had is actually a USB port. Dammit.

You can get a HDMI switch to add 3-5 more HDMI input slots for less than $25. I needed one for an older tv than only had 1 HDMI input.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Google Chromecast

Hmm, that's not such a bad idea. I was trying to find something that would be a USB-to-HDMI thing but those were like 40, 50 bucks.

I tried opening up MLBTV in Chrome but the mini window with the actual stream didn't have the "Chromecast" button on the top like the regular Chrome window. I wonder if there's a way.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Google Chromecast

Been on vacation the past few days, wish I had heard about this earlier. If you pre-ordered it came with 3 free months of Netflix (basically $12).

[mestevo]

Thing is so slick, been using it much of the afternoon now as we finally start getting around to watching Orange is the New Black.

Now I just need the phone to give me kinect-like voice control options.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Google Chromecast

Amazon is out of stock. Found an HDMI splitter thingy for 10 bucks. 45 bucks total for this is still very palatable.

Any idea when Amazon would get more of these?

EDIT: Screw it, just ordered it.

[LoWw]

I'm waiting for Amazon too but getting a little impatient, although I don't actually need this, it's just the novelty of new technology! :-)

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[FlyingFinn]

Re: Google Chromecast

Amazon is out of stock. Found an HDMI splitter thingy for 10 bucks. 45 bucks total for this is still very palatable.

Any idea when Amazon would get more of these?

EDIT: Screw it, just ordered it.

Why not just plug an HDMI cable from your laptop to your TV? 6 bucks, problem solved.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Google Chromecast

Why not just plug an HDMI cable from your laptop to your TV? 6 bucks, problem solved.

Not every laptop has HDMI. How many tablets and smart phones have HDMI out? And I think the main selling point is this being a wireless solution.

[mestevo]

Re: Google Chromecast

Why not just plug an HDMI cable from your laptop to your TV? 6 bucks, problem solved.

Did you also never get a smartphone or tablet because your 9lb 1998 Dell can get on the internet?

What you're suggesting only makes sense if you ignore almost every benefit of the Chromecast.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Google Chromecast

At this point I would still pay $15 more and take a Roku 2 (going $50 now that Roku 3 released) but this has a lot of potential, especially at $35.

[mestevo]

Re: Google Chromecast

Via tweets: Redbox Instant, Plex intending to support, Pandora, AOL, Washington Post are working on supporting Chromecast already, and HBO is taking a look at it.

[FlyingFinn]

Re: Google Chromecast

Did you also never get a smartphone or tablet because your 9lb 1998 Dell can get on the internet?

What you're suggesting only makes sense if you ignore almost every benefit of the Chromecast.

With my 360, PS3 and my Smart TV, I can't see this Chromecast having any value to me since I can stream anything I need through those devices.

[Pared]

Re: Google Chromecast

At $35 I can't say this thing is a waste. If you have airplay on an iOS device working this doesn't do anything different to warrant taking up another HDMI slot.

Runs well, but to have such a limited array of things to use for it means it's already gathering dust for me.