Posted on 09/14/2013 6:21:29 AM PDT by InterceptPoint
As soon as Google unveiled Chromecast, I was lucky enough to scoop up a couple of the $35 devices to connect the two TVs in our home. After a few weeks, it’s fundamentally changed how my family watches TV. It’s also changed some of my perceptions about the evolution of the “second screen.”
Most of the TV viewing in our house is dominated by our kids. Ages 3 and 5, they immediately grasped how to “cast” their Netflix shows from our phones (iPhone and Nexus 4) and iPads to either TV. After all, they were already watching Netflix on their devices, and simply tapping an icon to play it on TV turned out to be an extremely natural act. For them, devices are the starting point to watch video, not the TV.
For me, the remote control has been my historical starting point, but Chromecast is liberating because it’s invisibly tied to my omnipresent devices. I can leave both TVs on Chromecast (why should we have to turn TVs on and off?), then pick up any phone or tablet in my home, find a show and cast it instantly. I always have my phone in my pocket — but not remote controls — and our tablets are always sitting on the couch or next to the bed. Finding a show on a tablet is much easier than tapping up/down/left/right on a remote, and the multitasking wizardry of Chromecast makes it a snap to play something and do something else at the same time.
I don’t have a smartphone. We just connected my computer to my TV with a cable. Turned the TV into a giant monitor. We watch our NetFlix shows and movies like this.
Heck, I don’t even use my DVD player any more. Just put the DVD’s in the computer and it pops right up.
There is truth in that. On the other hand, I have yet to hear anyone say, "Kill Your Library," since libraries are also filled with garbage.
Chromecast and public libraries are tools. How we use them is what is most important. Chromecast and cable are filled with jewels and garbage. But Chromecast also offers greater control, and greater jewels.
There's no need to throw the jewels out with the garbage, unless a person cannot restrain himself from watching garbage.
BING-OH!!!!
I’m not much of a TV person. I DO like movies, and will watch series on DVD (Jesse Stone - YUM!) but I prefer being engaged with the world around me, versus being force-fed.
“Buy the soap, and the car, and the hamburgers - we’ll take care of the rest...”
You can do the same thing wirelessly with Chromecast.
So far I've only used an iPhone and an iPad to connect up using Chromecast. But I've ordered a second unit that I'm going to use in my upstairs office where I have my computer and another HDTV.
In order to see your Computer Desktop on your TV you need to use Chromecast and the Chrome browser with an extension installed. I'm going to try it out. Here is a link that explains how it works:
Tip: Chromecast Can Cast Your Entire Desktop Screen Too, Not Just Tabs
get a roku box.
Cable tv not installed when I moved one year ago- never miss it
I have learned so much from YouTube videos on landscaping, concrete repair, fence building, floor refinishing, refreshed my quantum physics college learning, there is SO MUCH TO Learn and so many videos it is amazing- I just wish I could ‘save’ them to a library for reference when the SHTF
If I didn’t have a smart TV and a smart bluray I’d think about it. But I can already do everything chromecast can do. On the rare stuff that neither device does directly I can network share from the PC to them. It is a slick device but I’m thinking it’s a few years too late, it’s almost impossible to buy a new TV or TV accessory that isn’t smart anymore. I suppose for $35 it’s a good stop gap for people who aren’t yet ready to replace the TV but want the smart features.
I must admit I like movies as well, the older classics in particular instead of the hyper-drive, PC stuff that predominates today. For example, I'll take the 1940 "Mask of Zorro", the original "Manchurian Candidate" or "Flight of the Phoenix" over the politicized crap Hollyweird felt compelled to substitute. I'm not anti-tech either and watch those on an HDTV connected to the PC/DVD player on my home network.
Meet Roku
Once upon a time, watching a movie at home meant ordering a DVD online, waiting for it to arrive, then having it sit on your coffee table for weeks until you were in the mood to watch it.
Then we invented Roku—the original streaming player. Now, millions of people use Roku to choose what they want to watch instantly. Whether you’re exploring over 750 channels and hundreds of thousands of movies and shows, delving into what really interests you, or just stumbling across something new, Roku makes it happen easily, instantly and affordably. Movie night—or any night—will never be the same.
This is true.
I just bought my mother a new Samsung HDTV and it has a YouTube app that is very nice. But, and this is a big but, she still has to access it with her remote. No keyboard. No mouse.
That is the killer app reason for getting a Chromecast. You can use your iPhone or your iPad or similar device to replace your clunky HDTV remote. No more UP-UP-LEFT-LEFT-LEFT-CLICK to just get one letter. Instead you just type and go.
I’m not familiar with the Roku but it seems unlikely that it has a keyboard-like function.
So, assuming you are on YouTube via the Roku, how do you do a search for “Sarah Brightman Time to Say Goodbye”? On a chromecast that would take a few seconds. How about on a Roku?
TV time, anytime
When you need to keep the volume down but still get your TV fix, Roku 3 features an enhanced remote with built-in headphone jack. Just plug in the included in-ear headphones to enter your own private listening world. It’s perfect for cranking up that late-night action movie without waking the spouse. Or kids. Or dog.
If the TV has USB ports then you could attach a wireless keyboard and mouse to the TV. That’s what I did, picked up a little logitech unit that’s about the size of a laptop keyboard for $30 and now most (sadly not all the apps on my TV like it) searched I can do by keyboard. Of course I hardly use it, because once you get the hang of it the remote navigating through that letter field is easy, yeah it’s not as fast but you’re never doing more than a dozen characters anyway. Surely not difficult enough to make solving it the “killer app”, especially since I already solved it for cheaper.
Ours just came in the mail! I’m so excited to see this post!
Regarding John Taylor Gatto, i love his written works... however, the one time i heard him speak in person, he was not good... very disappointing for me and my good friend... we had been so excited and came away shaking our heads... now perhaps he was simply having an off day... i will check him out on youtube... thank you for suggesting it...
I doubt if Roku is cheaper but the wireless keyboard is a nice add-on. Don’t forget, almost everyone has an iPhone or equivalent these days.
BTW, I expect a Roku version of the Chromecast to emerge if it hasn’t already. Roku and perhaps Apple TV are the big players in this market and they are not going to rollover and let Google walk away with their business.
Ours just came in the mail! I’m so excited to see this post!
+++++++++
You will love it. Let me know if you have any installion problems. I might be able to help.
Roku isn’t but Roku also gives a lot more. But I was just talking adding a keyboard to your existing smart TV so youtube searches are easy. A $30 keyboard is way cheaper than chromecast and a smartphone which actually many people don’t have. AppleTV is a non-starter, also too late to the field. Roku is in trouble for the same reason I think chromecast will fail, most TVs and bluray players do 90% of Roku, it was great when nothing else was smart but now everything is smart.
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