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I'm a little confused by this device, and I haven't been able to find the info from Google. Is it that this device acts like an AirPlay receiver of sorts and a

I'm a little confused by this device, and I haven't been able to find the info from Google. Is it that this device acts like an AirPlay receiver of sorts and accepts a video feed from an approved device or is it that the device simply acts as a remote and the device gets its own stream from Internet sources? The latter is much more intriguing than the former, although both have issues for sure, but hard to complain for the price. It's an interesting concept either way. I don't see it as a huge threat to the Apple TV or Roku, as both do a lot more and have dedicated controllers. Using an Apple TV with an iPhone is nice in some respects, but the wifi connectivity isn't great. A Bluetooth pairing would be exponentially better. It doesn't appear this device uses Bluetooth either. As I see it, I could envision having an Apple TV or Roku for a main TV and something like this for another TV or for a computer monitor than can support this.

cromwellian 13y ago
It's the latter, although it also supports local receiver mode, so for example, you can cast your browser tab to the display.
- pwthornton 13y ago
  And I'll be able to stream whatever is in that one browser tab to my TV without restrictions?
  - ChikkaChiChi 13y ago
    Yes. But its in 'Beta'
eblume 13y ago
Just curious, what don't you like about the Remote app for Apple TV? I purchased an Apple TV over a Roku just because of how slick the Remote app was, personally, along with the good-but-not-great* airplay functionality you get with an iPad. I haven't had any issues with the wi-fi at all. *: It seemed at first to be superb but then I found out that the AppleTV will refuse to play some (most?) content due to DRM restrictions. It's not clear if that's a problem with my HDMI cable or with AirPlay itself - I think AirPlay is simulating an HDMI connection via WiFi.
- pwthornton 13y ago
  I should clarify that I mostly use the Remote app and largely find it works well, particularly for searching. I find the wifi connection between my iPhone and my Apple TV (via an Airport Extreme) is a bit laggy and sometimes drops. I think it would be a much smoother experience if it paired via Bluetooth 4.0. I'm hoping the next Apple TV includes Bluetooth. The Remote app is much more usable than the Apple TV remote, but the remote has a lot less lag and is easier to move around the interface with. This hasn't stopped me from using my Apple TV several days a week with just the Remote app, but I think that a Bluetooth connection would be much better.
  - lepht 13y ago
    The current AppleTV has bluetooth -- you can use it for pairing of a keyboard. The issue is that AirPlay doesn't support bluetooth as a transmission method in its current implementation.
    - pwthornton 13y ago
      Ah, yes you're right. I'd like to be able to Bluetooth pair my iPhone or iPad to my Apple TV for remote purposes. The keyboard is nice, but overkill.
      - lepht 13y ago
        Yeah. I'd like that functionality too, although I'm not sure how great the range would be.
notatoad 13y ago
it essentially acts as a remote, your controlling device instructs the chromecast where to stream from, it doesn't actually pull a stream from the controlling device. They said that the device you start streaming from can go to sleep (or, i'm assuming, turn off entirely) and the stream will keep playing.
jjindev 13y ago
To answer indirectly, I have Rokus I use for Netflix. I've always wanted freedom to roam Youtube as freely. That would be enough to make me choose this (if my Roku 3 was not a recent purchase). Has Google been holding full Youtube navigation as a content card against the other dedicated players? (as opposed to media pcs) Is this where they spend it?

cromwellian 13y ago

It's the latter, although it also supports local receiver mode, so for example, you can cast your browser tab to the display.

pwthornton 13y ago
And I'll be able to stream whatever is in that one browser tab to my TV without restrictions?
- ChikkaChiChi 13y ago
  Yes. But its in 'Beta'

eblume 13y ago

Just curious, what don't you like about the Remote app for Apple TV? I purchased an Apple TV over a Roku just because of how slick the Remote app was, personally, along with the good-but-not-great* airplay functionality you get with an iPad. I haven't had any issues with the wi-fi at all. *: It seemed at first to be superb but then I found out that the AppleTV will refuse to play some (most?) content due to DRM restrictions. It's not clear if that's a problem with my HDMI cable or with AirPlay itself - I think AirPlay is simulating an HDMI connection via WiFi.

pwthornton 13y ago
I should clarify that I mostly use the Remote app and largely find it works well, particularly for searching. I find the wifi connection between my iPhone and my Apple TV (via an Airport Extreme) is a bit laggy and sometimes drops. I think it would be a much smoother experience if it paired via Bluetooth 4.0. I'm hoping the next Apple TV includes Bluetooth. The Remote app is much more usable than the Apple TV remote, but the remote has a lot less lag and is easier to move around the interface with. This hasn't stopped me from using my Apple TV several days a week with just the Remote app, but I think that a Bluetooth connection would be much better.
- lepht 13y ago
  The current AppleTV has bluetooth -- you can use it for pairing of a keyboard. The issue is that AirPlay doesn't support bluetooth as a transmission method in its current implementation.
  - pwthornton 13y ago
    Ah, yes you're right. I'd like to be able to Bluetooth pair my iPhone or iPad to my Apple TV for remote purposes. The keyboard is nice, but overkill.
    - lepht 13y ago
      Yeah. I'd like that functionality too, although I'm not sure how great the range would be.

notatoad 13y ago

it essentially acts as a remote, your controlling device instructs the chromecast where to stream from, it doesn't actually pull a stream from the controlling device. They said that the device you start streaming from can go to sleep (or, i'm assuming, turn off entirely) and the stream will keep playing.

jjindev 13y ago

To answer indirectly, I have Rokus I use for Netflix. I've always wanted freedom to roam Youtube as freely. That would be enough to make me choose this (if my Roku 3 was not a recent purchase). Has Google been holding full Youtube navigation as a content card against the other dedicated players? (as opposed to media pcs) Is this where they spend it?