Chromecast media streamer.

[charleyboy]

I don't know if this has been posted before.

Google Chromecast review: Finally, Internet-to-TV streaming done right | Computerworld Blogs




This is what someone had to say about it.

I think people are missing the forest for the trees with Chromecast. This thing isn't about competing with the Roku or an alternative to GoogleTV. This isn't even about streaming video particularly.

Up to this point, tablets and phones have been beating up the desktop, but they really just couldn't replace it. Anymore than a netbook could. The nicest tablet with a keyboard is basically just a netbook running a different OS, with the same limitations due to it's size and shape.

Google just solved the "size and shape" problem. They just created a new category of "computer" and killed the PC in the process.

Chromecast is basically a full screen web browser that is remote controlled by the phone/tablet/desktop. Add a Bluetooth keyboard and use the phone as a touchpad, "cast" Google Docs to your TV, and you just replaced a computer. And not just replaced it, but made it better. Rinse and repeat with Facebook, the bill pay app, some good games, etc... and the vast majority of people no longer need a "real computer". Or an XBox. Or a BluRay player. Or, as Google is starting out with, the cable box/Roku.

As Chromcast is built into TV's or added by dongles, it'll end up everywhere. You'll just come to expect that you can walk into a room, pick a screen from a list, and pop your presentation up on it, or your document, or a game. Even if graphically intense game if/when OnLive style server game streaming is added. The new XBox and PlayStation seem likely to be the last ones.

I find it truly amazing that Google has just out Appled Apple and truly gone "post PC" with a game changing device that creates a whole new way of computing and is drop dead simple to use... and no one noticed Probably because it's not "magical" and comes in black instead of white.

Chromecast is a little peice of history happening under your noses. If you make a living in the PC world, better look into some job training, your buggy is about to become obsolete.



What are your thoughts?

[Bettyboo]

I'm not convinced... I like to have some applications on the desktop (currently various music software that I use every day, and isn't available to Chromecast), and I like to store some files on my desktop too (my pictures, videos, my music, documents).

But, I haven't used the system, so I don't really know.

Maybe folks who use tablets and just browse the net would be happy with this, if they didn't already have a tablet... I'm not really convinced - why make it a laptop when you're not using some of the core functionality of a laptop???

[charleyboy]

I reckon if they 'blinged' it up a bit, you'd be off down the shops!

[Dillinger]

why make it a laptop when you're not using some of the core functionality of a laptop???

its not a laptop, its a dongle

[Bettyboo]

Oops, sorry, was thinking about the Google Chrome laptop.

I don't know anything about this dongle. How bling is it? What colours does it come in? Who has one, anybody famous?

[charleyboy]

^ Smeg's got two!

[Bettyboo]

^ Smeg's got two!

You're not much of a salesman, Charlie...

Does Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie have one? Do they come in pink?



It's a bit bland looking.

[charleyboy]

I know for a fact that Nigel has got a dongle, he once waggled it at me on Skype!

You know, Nige the painter.

[harrybarracuda]

I'm not overly impressed with it, nor the lack of application support, but there are some good people working on deconstructing it and allowing access to goodies that Google would rather we could not use.

[Release][v0.1][KyoCast] Your ticket outside the Google Garden for rooted Chromecasts - xda-developers

PwnedCast is a custom ROM for Google Chromecast - Android Community

For $30 it's probably worth getting one just to try these out.