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I just picked up a Chromecast (I got the Ultra). On one hand, I like the phone controls for the convenience of queueing up some random YouTube videos while I’m

by baddox 9y ago

I just picked up a Chromecast (I got the Ultra). On one hand, I like the phone controls for the convenience of queueing up some random YouTube videos while I’m lounging around the apartment or doing chores. On the other hand, the phone-only controls can be inconvenient for more attentive viewing (like a movie or TV show) because all actions require unlocking my phone and opening the app that’s casting the video. This is particularly inconvenient when I receive a phone call, since there’s no way to quickly pause.

bhouston 9y ago
Google Home allows you to turn on, off the TV, pause, rewind, fast forward, and play from Youtube, Netflix, but not Plex. Also change the settings on your phone to be unlocked automatically inside your house.
mseebach 9y ago
The pause and other playback control buttons on my TV remote works with the Chromecast. It somehow gets passed on through the HDMI port.
- isaack 9y ago
  You should thank HDMI CEC [1] for that. [1] https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7199917 https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7199917
  - bebna 9y ago
    U must be my soul buddy...
- bebna 9y ago
  It is HDMI CEC channel (existing since 1.1) that allows the TV to control its source. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Control https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Control
- baddox 9y ago
  That’s a great tip! I’ll give that a try.
checker659 9y ago
Do you own a mac? I'm working on an app that'll let you control your chromecast (play/pause/volume/seek) from your mac's media keys. If you're interested, I can give you a beta in two days. Let me know :)
scarface74 9y ago
I can't see any purpose of a Chromecast over a Roku stick. You still get the ability to cast YouTube videos to it just like the Chromecast (from the iOS or Android app). I think you can mirror an Android phone to it. You can use it as a second monitor from Windows. It also has private listening where you can listen to the audio using your phone while watching on your TV. It has native apps for almost everything.
- ajross 9y ago
  Chromecast has better integration with the Android ecosystem on the whole. With most apps that play video (a BIG notable exception being Amazon's video service) you just hit the Chromecast button and select from the list of devices it found already on your local network. No need for "native apps" for anything, the actual Netflix app shows you the button. That said, Roku works fine and is a good product in the space. Neither has any real killer feature the other doesn't. But if you had to pick one for a novice user as a gift or whatever, Chromecast is a much cleaner experience.
  - scarface74 9y ago
    How so? With the Roku, you install the app and you use a regular remote. Most people are more accustom to using a remote to control their TV than a phone. They've also had years of using VCRs and DVD players connected to their TVs. When someone comes over to your house with an iPhone. Would you rather hand them a remote or your phone? Even if they have an Android phone, isn't it simpler to just hand someone a remote than ask them to install the individual apps? The killer feature of the Roku is private listening. If I am watching something on TV and my wife is trying to sleep, I can listen to the audio on my phone. Of course the other killer feature is not to have to have my phone to control the TV. Even though you can - the Roku remote app is excellent. I bought my dad a Roku TV for his birthday, installed all of the apps he needed and signed into everything for him using either his cable providers login or my account. I can't see him messing around with his phone to watch tv. He can use one remote for everything - including volume. The only differences between the Roku TV and the stick are volume control and power on and off from the phone. The two most popular video apps are Netflix and YouTube and they both support casting to the Roku.
addicted 9y ago
Try the pause button on your TV remote. The play/pause/stop buttons on my TV work just fine with the Chromecast, and I have an old 2009 TV that was bought well before the Chromecast was a twinkle in Google’s eye.

by baddox 9y ago

bhouston 9y ago

Google Home allows you to turn on, off the TV, pause, rewind, fast forward, and play from Youtube, Netflix, but not Plex. Also change the settings on your phone to be unlocked automatically inside your house.

mseebach 9y ago

The pause and other playback control buttons on my TV remote works with the Chromecast. It somehow gets passed on through the HDMI port.

isaack 9y ago
You should thank HDMI CEC [1] for that. [1] https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7199917 https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7199917
- bebna 9y ago
  U must be my soul buddy...
bebna 9y ago
It is HDMI CEC channel (existing since 1.1) that allows the TV to control its source. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Control https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Control
baddox 9y ago
That’s a great tip! I’ll give that a try.

checker659 9y ago

Do you own a mac? I'm working on an app that'll let you control your chromecast (play/pause/volume/seek) from your mac's media keys. If you're interested, I can give you a beta in two days. Let me know :)

scarface74 9y ago

I can't see any purpose of a Chromecast over a Roku stick. You still get the ability to cast YouTube videos to it just like the Chromecast (from the iOS or Android app). I think you can mirror an Android phone to it. You can use it as a second monitor from Windows. It also has private listening where you can listen to the audio using your phone while watching on your TV. It has native apps for almost everything.

ajross 9y ago
Chromecast has better integration with the Android ecosystem on the whole. With most apps that play video (a BIG notable exception being Amazon's video service) you just hit the Chromecast button and select from the list of devices it found already on your local network. No need for "native apps" for anything, the actual Netflix app shows you the button. That said, Roku works fine and is a good product in the space. Neither has any real killer feature the other doesn't. But if you had to pick one for a novice user as a gift or whatever, Chromecast is a much cleaner experience.
- scarface74 9y ago
  How so? With the Roku, you install the app and you use a regular remote. Most people are more accustom to using a remote to control their TV than a phone. They've also had years of using VCRs and DVD players connected to their TVs. When someone comes over to your house with an iPhone. Would you rather hand them a remote or your phone? Even if they have an Android phone, isn't it simpler to just hand someone a remote than ask them to install the individual apps? The killer feature of the Roku is private listening. If I am watching something on TV and my wife is trying to sleep, I can listen to the audio on my phone. Of course the other killer feature is not to have to have my phone to control the TV. Even though you can - the Roku remote app is excellent. I bought my dad a Roku TV for his birthday, installed all of the apps he needed and signed into everything for him using either his cable providers login or my account. I can't see him messing around with his phone to watch tv. He can use one remote for everything - including volume. The only differences between the Roku TV and the stick are volume control and power on and off from the phone. The two most popular video apps are Netflix and YouTube and they both support casting to the Roku.

addicted 9y ago

Try the pause button on your TV remote. The play/pause/stop buttons on my TV work just fine with the Chromecast, and I have an old 2009 TV that was bought well before the Chromecast was a twinkle in Google’s eye.