7 ms·

Lately, the Chromecast has become substantially worse, with many more ads and of course a stupid update nobody asked for showing kind of a tablet UI when you're

by gadrev 5y ago

Lately, the Chromecast has become substantially worse, with many more ads and of course a stupid update nobody asked for showing kind of a tablet UI when you're in "idle" mode with the phone connected to the TV (idk how you're supposed to operate it, but I don't care, ofc it's a clickbait showcase screen). Before the increase in ad frequency (and some bugs like a random unlinking of the device when you put the app in background) it was pretty good TBH. But of course, everything worsens as viewership gets more concentrated and there are less alternatives. Will there ever be a product that... just stays like it was when you bought it? A lot of things tech related seem like a bait and switch... you have this.. haha! now you don't /rant

curiousgal 5y ago
Well the latest Chromecast comes with its own OS and a remote so you no longer need a phone to use it.
gtirloni 5y ago
Chromecasts have ads? I've never seen one in my life on them. Are you talking about free YouTube? I liked the first Chromecast and since I upgraded to the latest with Google TV, I think it's the best experience ever. I sometimes want to take mine to friends' place so I don't have you suffer through whatever horrible smart TV interface they have.
- denkmoon 5y ago
  Do you not have the leanback launcher/LauncherX which has integrated ads? They put this on my Shield TV and Chromecast Ultra. I now own an Apple TV. https://www.google.com/amp/s/9to5google.com/2020/10/01/google-tv-launcher-play-store/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/9to5google.com/2020/10/01/googl...
  - esrauch 5y ago
    The normal phone-controlled Chromecast definitely doesn't have ads (but ads will play when watching YouTube unless you have premium obviously) I feel like that experience is optimal. I don't want any launcher experience on the tv, much less any ads.
    - southerntofu 5y ago
      > (but ads will play when watching YouTube unless you have premium obviously) Why obviously? Can't you use an adblocker with Chromecast? Isn't it just a dumb IP video streaming device? I've never used or seen a Chromecast, but if you can recommend a free-software/cheap alternative i'd be curious to try it.
      - sofixa 5y ago
        Nope, it's a tiny embedded device you have little control over. It's slightly more intelligent than just IP video streaming ( e.g. there are app integrations) - if you cast a random video, it will play that video; if you cast YouTube or Netflix it does stuff directly with them and there are ads on free YouTube. DNS adblockers don't work by default either, since Chromecasts have Google's DNS servers hardcoded.
        southerntofu 5y ago
        Holy crap it's worse than i thought! Does it do DoH or can you just configure reroute all DNS trafic on your router to your local resolver/pi-hole?
      - esrauch 5y ago
        I think the reality is there is no free-software alternative, because the entire user experience is based on ecosystem buy-in where every media source (Netflix/Amazon/YouTube/Hulu/HBO, even NPR/PBS and Chrome itself) all actively have support for the Cast flows within their products (some only in their native apps, but many in their web experiences as well).
        southerntofu 5y ago
        I did a quick search on Github and i see there's a variety of clients implementing the Chromecast protocols, but no server?! Is there really millions of such devices using a proprietary protocol noone has written a free server for?
mdoms 5y ago
> Lately, the Chromecast has become substantially worse, with many more ads and of course a stupid update nobody asked for showing kind of a tablet UI when you're in "idle" mode with the phone connected to the TV (idk how you're supposed to operate it, but I don't care, ofc it's a clickbait showcase screen). Are you sure you're using a Chromecast? Not only has my Chromecast never once shown me an ad, but I have no idea what screen you're talking about and I use mine every day.
- jjeaff 5y ago
  The new Chromecast is a dongle that comes with a remote and has a Google tv interface built on Android tv. You can still cast to it like the old Chromecast. You are likely using one the older, cast only devices which have been discontinued.
  - gtirloni 5y ago
    I have the new one with the remote and it doesn't show ads.
  - fistynuts 5y ago
    The cast only devices haven't been discontinued. I bought one this week. Only the Ultra has been discontinued.
  - ehsankia 5y ago
    Even ignoring the fact that cast-only isn't discontinued, I believe you can set the new Chromecast in a cast-only mode too. Of course this kinda defeats the point of the device, but it is doable.

by gadrev 5y ago

curiousgal 5y ago

Well the latest Chromecast comes with its own OS and a remote so you no longer need a phone to use it.

gtirloni 5y ago

Chromecasts have ads? I've never seen one in my life on them. Are you talking about free YouTube? I liked the first Chromecast and since I upgraded to the latest with Google TV, I think it's the best experience ever. I sometimes want to take mine to friends' place so I don't have you suffer through whatever horrible smart TV interface they have.

denkmoon 5y ago
Do you not have the leanback launcher/LauncherX which has integrated ads? They put this on my Shield TV and Chromecast Ultra. I now own an Apple TV. https://www.google.com/amp/s/9to5google.com/2020/10/01/google-tv-launcher-play-store/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/9to5google.com/2020/10/01/googl...
- esrauch 5y ago
  The normal phone-controlled Chromecast definitely doesn't have ads (but ads will play when watching YouTube unless you have premium obviously) I feel like that experience is optimal. I don't want any launcher experience on the tv, much less any ads.
  - southerntofu 5y ago
    > (but ads will play when watching YouTube unless you have premium obviously) Why obviously? Can't you use an adblocker with Chromecast? Isn't it just a dumb IP video streaming device? I've never used or seen a Chromecast, but if you can recommend a free-software/cheap alternative i'd be curious to try it.
    - sofixa 5y ago
      Nope, it's a tiny embedded device you have little control over. It's slightly more intelligent than just IP video streaming ( e.g. there are app integrations) - if you cast a random video, it will play that video; if you cast YouTube or Netflix it does stuff directly with them and there are ads on free YouTube. DNS adblockers don't work by default either, since Chromecasts have Google's DNS servers hardcoded.
      - southerntofu 5y ago
        Holy crap it's worse than i thought! Does it do DoH or can you just configure reroute all DNS trafic on your router to your local resolver/pi-hole?
    - esrauch 5y ago
      I think the reality is there is no free-software alternative, because the entire user experience is based on ecosystem buy-in where every media source (Netflix/Amazon/YouTube/Hulu/HBO, even NPR/PBS and Chrome itself) all actively have support for the Cast flows within their products (some only in their native apps, but many in their web experiences as well).
      - southerntofu 5y ago
        I did a quick search on Github and i see there's a variety of clients implementing the Chromecast protocols, but no server?! Is there really millions of such devices using a proprietary protocol noone has written a free server for?

mdoms 5y ago

> Lately, the Chromecast has become substantially worse, with many more ads and of course a stupid update nobody asked for showing kind of a tablet UI when you're in "idle" mode with the phone connected to the TV (idk how you're supposed to operate it, but I don't care, ofc it's a clickbait showcase screen). Are you sure you're using a Chromecast? Not only has my Chromecast never once shown me an ad, but I have no idea what screen you're talking about and I use mine every day.

jjeaff 5y ago
The new Chromecast is a dongle that comes with a remote and has a Google tv interface built on Android tv. You can still cast to it like the old Chromecast. You are likely using one the older, cast only devices which have been discontinued.
- gtirloni 5y ago
  I have the new one with the remote and it doesn't show ads.
- fistynuts 5y ago
  The cast only devices haven't been discontinued. I bought one this week. Only the Ultra has been discontinued.
- ehsankia 5y ago
  Even ignoring the fact that cast-only isn't discontinued, I believe you can set the new Chromecast in a cast-only mode too. Of course this kinda defeats the point of the device, but it is doable.