Anyone buy and use a Chromecast?

[DNA]

Hulu is fairly decent... but has commercials which is kind of lame for a subscription service IMO, although it does get the recent shows that are on TV so no need to TiVo if you don't have one of those, so that's kind of neat.

Chromecast you can also move from TV to TV without resetting up as long as you're on the same network, works great for entertaining as well.

Dan

[Germz]

I suggest getting an android based one, not necessarily a chromecast.

essentially the device is is a mini-computer with a good wifi receiver.
android i would argue is a better platform than chromecast.

get one that is more openly compatible

[just in joy]

I love my Chromecast I am looking to buy a couple more due to ease and low profile. We do watch a lot of netflix and also pandora radio so it works great for us without issue.

cost was a big factor for my purchase I rather lose out on 35 bucks rather than 75 or 100 bucks.

[the86d]

Update:
Chromecast buffers REALLY FAST ON 802.11N, like: 2,5,7,67...100% (Usually less than 6 seconds for me, but ALWAYS less than 10 second so far...)

There appears to be a glitch (issue) with my chromecast device, let me explain:
I typically let a device pull dynamic DHCP, then I set a descriptive hostname on my router and set a device to a specific static address (not the original).
After naming the device from "chromecast" to "Chromecast1" (as I want to get at least one more for the 2nd floor bedreem) and setting a static DHCP assigned address, say "192.168.1.45" (from it's original 192.168.1.203) upon TV power cycle (turning it on later and letting it try to pull DHCP, all automagically) it displayed an error that it couldn't connect to the Internet. I deleted the static address and it started working again. A power-cycle of the router, and Chromecast did not resolve the issue, but deleting a DHCP reservation did on my FiOS router.

It seems to remember the address it was given before, and if this varies, then it can't connect. Very odd.

[2shotjoe]

AND IT SUPPORTS PLEX!!!!!!


THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!


your whole home library (pics,vids, ANYTHING thats media) that sit on your main home networked computer.

So you grab your smart phone or laptop or pad and launch PLEX select your file through a AWESOME interface and play on your chromecast'ed TV have 5 tvs? 5 chromes will all work. any tv in the house and you have a computer screen to view ANYTHING.

What is plex?

Bruce wished he owned a Droid RAZR.

[2shotjoe]

Plex, holy ****. this is awesome, this is what I have been looking for. 2.50 something for the app is a steal. I've been using the PS3 Media Server computer app for streaming but has been terrible on processing large files.

[Yugo]

Plex, holy ****. this is awesome, this is what I have been looking for. 2.50 something for the app is a steal. I've been using the PS3 Media Server computer app for streaming but has been terrible on processing large files.

If you have files to watch, then this is the best bet!

AND plex pulls its own METADATA so all your cool videos will have the correct art work displayed so it is easy to view what you want to watch. This all happens automatically and no set up is required.

https://plex.tv/

[Barbarossa]

Very pleased with what you get with the Apple TV

[Can'thavenuthingood]

Had a problem with the rebuffering all the time with using a DSL wireless router. So much so that it was impossible to watch anything streaming.

I used a pie pan on the antenna and then it streamed all the way through with no buffering, a cheap dish except for the Marie Calendars pie you have to buy to get a pie pan

I hooked it up through the BluRay player.

SIL gave us a Chromecast for wifes birthday, so far it works well.
Haven't actually explored the depths of its capabilitys yet.
We have to feed Chromecast through wifes ThinkPad which gets its feed from the same router the pie pan antenna gets its feed, kinda cumbersome I think.

Vick

[crufflers]

Had a problem with the rebuffering all the time with using a DSL wireless router. So much so that it was impossible to watch anything streaming.

I used a pie pan on the antenna and then it streamed all the way through with no buffering, a cheap dish except for the Marie Calendars pie you have to buy to get a pie pan

That's awesome. I use a combo of good wifi router, extender, and powerline adapters to hit every spot in the house. The PC downstairs and the Google TV get powerline adapters and they were just the ticket for my signal issues. The extender I have is good for one room, but not much further.

I am about to try one or two Chromecasts to add to the collection of doodads. I really like the Google TV's I have, but they are pretty old at this point.

[jerhyn]

I hate that you can't stream things from your phone to chrome cast without having it in your google cloud.

[like2angle]

I have 2 smart TVs and they do everything a chromecast does without needing a smart phone or computer. I can use DLNA to stream from computer or smartphone.

[crufflers]

I have 2 smart TVs and they do everything a chromecast does without needing a smart phone or computer. I can use DLNA to stream from computer or smartphone.

I have "smart" TV's that are so limited and out-of-date as far as codecs that they just choke, beep, and reboot on half of the DLNA stuff I try to even browse on my LAN. Older Google TV devices aren't much better running Avia for most newer formats. If I could stream from iOS devices, PC's, and MX Player on Android it would help me out a lot. I'd rather not have a laptop sitting by the TV hooked in via HDMI.

If it was just for Netflix and YouTube, most smart TV's are just fine. I might look at the newest 4K Tronsmart devices and FireTV.

[the86d]

WE don't own a SmartTV, and only in the last few years got 3 of our 4 TVs upgraded to HD (LCDs coming from tube-TVs), as we had to keep buying everything they were trying to ban..(. and when half of that child support you get goes to her visitation flights you make-do).

Chromecast was a good option, and we are pretty happy. One issue is that on my lady's stock Nexus 4 she has to close Netflix after switching to the Chromecast, then reopen Netflix... but that is the only "real" issue since we bought even the 1st one.

[antiseen]

I love chromecast. I was originally pretty meh on the idea but it works great with Netflix and YouTube. As a bonus I use plex and use it to steam all my movies from my pc. Works awesome.