Chromecast

[gingerjedi]

XBMC is just a media player though isn't it?

I have an Android dongle thingy. Can I use the above to do what Chromecast does and have it display web pages/you tube video/games controlled from my phone?

In it's native form maybe, 3rd party add-ons make it sing, YouTube, iPlayer, Hulu etc are the legit ones, there are plenty of less legit ones that give you Sky/BT sports (Al Jazeera for Sat 3pm games) and new movies+TV etc.

Realistically viewing web content on a TV is never a great experience when you have to refocus between screens, Chromecast is aimed at getting paid for media services on the big screen, not that different from a smart TV.

[d000hg]

Streaming from your phone doesn't sound that great though, even if it doesn't slow the phone down for normal use you've battery life issues. And then if you're watching TV and nip out, your partner has to lose TV until you return?

And saying "I don't need a £25 device because I spent £300 on my phone" isn't really that sensible

[Scruff]

If you have a SmartTV then you can stream wirelessly and don't need HDMI out on the phone

[VectraMan]

If you have a 2nd Android device you can control it via the yatse app which can send content over wifi to the plugged in device just like chromecast... but all content is stolen/free.

XBMC is just a media player though isn't it?

I have an Android dongle thingy. Can I use the above to do what Chromecast does and have it display web pages/you tube video/games controlled from my phone?

[gingerjedi]

And then you have to plug your phone into your TV via HDMI cable?

You'll need an MHL or Slimport adaptor depending on the Android device.

I use XBMC on a Nexus4 with a Slimport when staying away from home, works well.

If you have a 2nd Android device you can control it via the yatse app which can send content over wifi to the plugged in device just like chromecast... but all content is stolen/free.

...Or you can get XBMC on a cheap android stick or Raspberry Pi and do the same.

[d000hg]

If you have an Android device, check out CheapCast....Its an App which turns your Android phone into a ChromeCast

And then you have to plug your phone into your TV via HDMI cable?

[Scruff]

If you have an Android device, check out CheapCast....Its an App which turns your Android phone into a ChromeCast

[Scrag Meister]

Only cost me £25 so thought it would be worth it, to have a fiddle with a piece of new and upcoming tech.

[d000hg]

Indeed, but those are 3rd-party sellers and based on the price they are just importing from the US and putting a markup, like buying Region 1 DVDs

Originally, some apps didn't work here - they're controlled by Google - but I recall reading they had been turning on stuff like Netflix in the UK.

Best to wait for the official launch IMO.

[Pondlife]

Quite interested in it but it's not been officially launched here yet IIRC so even some of the basic stuff might not work yet.

Amazon (UK) have them for sale

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Google-Chrom...rds=chromecast

[d000hg]

Quite interested in it but it's not been officially launched here yet IIRC so even some of the basic stuff might not work yet.

[Scrag Meister]

Mate of mine bought me one back from New York.

And it has a lot of potential.

You Tube looks great in FULL HD on my main TV.

My main gripe is that it supports so few video formats.

Allegedly there is a lot of new apps and stuff coming for it over the next year, and presumably some existing ones will be updated to use it too.