5 ms·

It seems like Cast would be an inferior way to stream HD content to a TV for many users. If the source host is wifi-connected, you're tripling the amount of tr

It seems like Cast would be an inferior way to stream HD content to a TV for many users. If the source host is wifi-connected, you're tripling the amount of traffic that's passed through your access points: once from the content source (e.g. Netflix) to the laptop via the AP, then presumably from the laptop to the AP and back out to the Chromecast device.

Gurrewe 10y ago
This is not the case for apps such as Netflix, YouTube, and HBO. They all stream directly to the Chromecast from your internet connection, your browser or app on your phone just acts as a remote.
IanCal 10y ago
That's not how it's done. That's a complete fallback. For Netflix what happens is your browser tells the cast device what URL to go to to play the content. Your browser does not need to steam the video to the cast device. It can fall back to that so you can cast anything, however.
- ihsw 10y ago
  This is true but there are a couple caveats, one being the device playing the content has to already be authenticated properly. You cannot simply go near a Cast-enabled device and start playing your stuff, unless I am mistaken. If that is the functionality then that would be terrifying as I would be handing my credentials to this Cast-enabled device.
  - Frank2312 10y ago
    Not sure if it works with desktops/laptops, but there is a guest mode (disabled by default) in the settings (on the Android app) that allows anyone to add thing sto the player queue. Only app I know for sure it works is Youtube. I'm not sure what other app handles it, maybe GPM and Spotify.
  - sarnowski 10y ago
    Actually this is how the chromecast works. You never interact with the chromecast directly to configure your Netflix account for example. I assume (hope) they send a URL to the movie it should play with a one-time token to access the movie source.
    - ihsw 10y ago
      It is inevitable that plaintext username/password will be used. This is why I am terrified.
      - tracker1 10y ago
        Most likely it isn't a username/password but an authenticated URL... https://foo.bar.netflix.com/(UUID-OR-SIMILAR) https://foo.bar.netflix.com/(UUID-OR-SIMILAR) where that is resolved to a resource, and the user authentication is valid for X hours from start... There's no need for a plain username+password to be used... it's just an authentication token as the resource or part of the url.
      - w-ll 10y ago
        They really just need to send the Netflix cookie from your browser to the chrome cast. But I don't think they do that, like sarnowski said, i believe they put some data in the url thats like a 1 time key for your account and the video you want to watch.
      - corobo 10y ago
        Are you really terrified that your Netflix username and password may be revealed? It's a bit much.
  - colemickens 10y ago
    Don't people check their assumptions before asserting them as facts? I don't know why it's a terrifying concept either. Anyway, Chromecasts can be configured to allow guest access at the device level. Phones that are even on distinct networks can still guest-Chromecast via ultrasonic noises emitted by the Chromecast. It's pretty nifty. It's nice to have a bunch of people over and have a shared YouTube queue. For more details (https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6109297?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6109297?hl=en) expand the section "How do mobile devices connect with a Chromecast in guest mode?".
dragonwriter 10y ago
> It seems like Cast would be an inferior way to stream HD content to a TV for many users. If the source host is wifi-connected, you're tripling the amount of traffic that's passed through your access points: That's a fallback method, but the expected methods for most sources is that the you send the Google Cast receiver (chromecast, etc) a URL for the media, and it goes and streams it directly.
- viraptor 10y ago
  Which sadly is default/enforced behaviour. One day I downloaded something on Play Movies, and moved to another location that has Chromecast connected via a 3g access point. I expected the movie to play from the cached file, but no - it just silently downloaded a new version. Most expensive streaming session ever...

Gurrewe 10y ago

This is not the case for apps such as Netflix, YouTube, and HBO. They all stream directly to the Chromecast from your internet connection, your browser or app on your phone just acts as a remote.

IanCal 10y ago

That's not how it's done. That's a complete fallback. For Netflix what happens is your browser tells the cast device what URL to go to to play the content. Your browser does not need to steam the video to the cast device. It can fall back to that so you can cast anything, however.

ihsw 10y ago
This is true but there are a couple caveats, one being the device playing the content has to already be authenticated properly. You cannot simply go near a Cast-enabled device and start playing your stuff, unless I am mistaken. If that is the functionality then that would be terrifying as I would be handing my credentials to this Cast-enabled device.
- Frank2312 10y ago
  Not sure if it works with desktops/laptops, but there is a guest mode (disabled by default) in the settings (on the Android app) that allows anyone to add thing sto the player queue. Only app I know for sure it works is Youtube. I'm not sure what other app handles it, maybe GPM and Spotify.
- sarnowski 10y ago
  Actually this is how the chromecast works. You never interact with the chromecast directly to configure your Netflix account for example. I assume (hope) they send a URL to the movie it should play with a one-time token to access the movie source.
  - ihsw 10y ago
    It is inevitable that plaintext username/password will be used. This is why I am terrified.
    - tracker1 10y ago
      Most likely it isn't a username/password but an authenticated URL... https://foo.bar.netflix.com/(UUID-OR-SIMILAR) https://foo.bar.netflix.com/(UUID-OR-SIMILAR) where that is resolved to a resource, and the user authentication is valid for X hours from start... There's no need for a plain username+password to be used... it's just an authentication token as the resource or part of the url.
    - w-ll 10y ago
      They really just need to send the Netflix cookie from your browser to the chrome cast. But I don't think they do that, like sarnowski said, i believe they put some data in the url thats like a 1 time key for your account and the video you want to watch.
    - corobo 10y ago
      Are you really terrified that your Netflix username and password may be revealed? It's a bit much.
- colemickens 10y ago
  Don't people check their assumptions before asserting them as facts? I don't know why it's a terrifying concept either. Anyway, Chromecasts can be configured to allow guest access at the device level. Phones that are even on distinct networks can still guest-Chromecast via ultrasonic noises emitted by the Chromecast. It's pretty nifty. It's nice to have a bunch of people over and have a shared YouTube queue. For more details (https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6109297?hl=en https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6109297?hl=en) expand the section "How do mobile devices connect with a Chromecast in guest mode?".

dragonwriter 10y ago

> It seems like Cast would be an inferior way to stream HD content to a TV for many users. If the source host is wifi-connected, you're tripling the amount of traffic that's passed through your access points: That's a fallback method, but the expected methods for most sources is that the you send the Google Cast receiver (chromecast, etc) a URL for the media, and it goes and streams it directly.

viraptor 10y ago
Which sadly is default/enforced behaviour. One day I downloaded something on Play Movies, and moved to another location that has Chromecast connected via a 3g access point. I expected the movie to play from the cached file, but no - it just silently downloaded a new version. Most expensive streaming session ever...