Chromecast/Allcast questions

Gmash · Feb 5, 2014

I get the sound, no video thing a lot with Avia, and some "codec not supported" issues as well, even though they are all MP4. (no DRM, either) Avia needs a lot of work still. Hopefully Allshare will be better, but that's another $5. I'll wait for the bugs to get worked out this time before spending money on it.

EarlyMon · Feb 5, 2014

Gmash said:
I get the sound, no video thing a lot with Avia, and some "codec not supported" issues as well, even though they are all MP4. (no DRM, either) Avia needs a lot of work still. Hopefully Allshare will be better, but that's another $5. I'll wait for the bugs to get worked out this time before spending money on it.

The mp4 designation is a *general* container description, not a codec spec, nor an exact guarantee of what's inside the file.

Please see http://androidforums.com/chromecast/805990-chromecast-codecs.html

If a video stream inside an mp4 uses a codec that Chromecast does not support - that's never going to make any video.

Here's what all *could* be in an mp4 file.

Here's what codecs Chromecast can support -

Video codecs: H.264 High Profile Level 4.1, 4.2 and 5, VP8
Audio decoding: HE-AAC, LC-AAC, CELT/Opus, MP3, Vorbis
Image formats: BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WEBP
Containers: MP4, WebM
further details at the link above

Tab casting from a PC supports more because it can *transcode* - iow, converts whatever is there into some codec(s) that Chromecast can handle.

To date, no device-only apps provide transcoding.

EarlyMon · Feb 5, 2014

HTC Media Link HD and the Samsung Anycast+ HDMI dongle - from 2012.

Vendor-specific implementations of Miracast (the "specification" that's more like a set of suggestions, read: DLNA is like that) for screen casting.

Miracast got more attention last year when Google started including it but they weren't the first and it's not new.

That's giving your device a second monitor with audio - read: iow, wireless HDMI.

That's what everyone is wanting device casting to really be.

That's not what the new device casting is.

funkylogik · Feb 5, 2014

My problem with MHL-HDMI is that ive had 3 adaptors that didnt last more than a month.
I cant get MHL with the rom my phone is on but i could just dual boot a stock (touchwiz) rom.
I havent looked into using mhl with my nexus tab yet tbh.
Chromecast just seems like a really clean solution but the fact that it has to go through a router kinda makes it less clean to me.
I wish the phone's native wifi hotspot function would just transmit a stream straight to the chromecast

El Presidente · Feb 5, 2014

funkylogik said:
My problem with MHL-HDMI is that ive had 3 adaptors that didnt last more than a month.
I cant get MHL with the rom my phone is on but i could just dual boot a stock (touchwiz) rom.
I havent looked into using mhl with my nexus tab yet tbh.
Chromecast just seems like a really clean solution but the fact that it has to go through a router kinda makes it less clean to me.
I wish the phone's native wifi hotspot function would just transmit a stream straight to the chromecast

Are you getting cheapo cables? That might be the issue.

I never really skimp when it comes to any sort of cabling as I find I'll spend just as much replacing stuff that breaks 1-2 months down the line.

Take a look at Neet Cables on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Neet Cables&index=computers&search-type=ss

If they do MHL, try from there. All of my HDMI cables are neet and I've never had any problems with any of them.

EarlyMon · Feb 5, 2014

Monoprice.com ships to the UK, I asked them last year.

Contrary to folklore, all HDMI cables are not created equally and they do NOT all work the same.

Monoprice.com features low cost cables, that may offset shipping costs, but all of their stuff is really high quality.

funkylogik said:
My problem with MHL-HDMI is that ive had 3 adaptors that didnt last more than a month.

Wth mate?!

The one I got from monoprice.com has lasted me nearly two years and it's seen a lot of use. Less than US$15 with shipping, toss in another $5 for the 11 to 5 pin converter that Sammies need (and of course adjust for currency and shipping).

As for point-to-point streaming, DLNA does that no problem, part of the spec. Except good luck getting codecs to work with TVs or other clients regardless of price.

The only devices I've heard working as advertised - iow, simply - for device streaming are the HTC and Samsung mentioned above and the Apple TV.

Along with the curse of vendor lock in on your device choices. I don't see that changing because it's not in their interests to not behave that way.

You might also want to take a good look at the Roku products.

Not perfect and relatively new to device casting, and they go through your router as well.

Codec limited like other general solutions but still - Roku is pretty good ok.

http://blog.roku.com/blog/2013/09/09/roku-android-app-adds-video-streaming/

See also Juice for Roku in the Play Store.

I don't have the answers, just saying what the options are today.

PS - how we cast our phone videos of the rugrats to our TV: upload to YouTube and just cast.

Simple trick but for people just looking to cast personal videos, there you go, and no codec and software headaches.

funkylogik · Feb 5, 2014

Excellent idea man (uploading to youtube)

I have a very high quality HDMI cable that I bought for my old Sony that had HDMI out. My 1st two mhl-hdmi were off brand ones for Samsung phones and the 3rd was genuine Sammy, all met the same fate

Gona check out this Roku

EarlyMon · Feb 5, 2014

funkylogik said:
Excellent idea man (uploading to youtube)
I have a very high quality HDMI cable that I bought for my old Sony that had HDMI out. My 1st two mhl-hdmi were off brand ones for Samsung phones and the 3rd was genuine Sammy, all met the same fate
Gona check out this Roku

Always more than one way to skin a cat.

And although it's pricy, check out the Roku 3 - you can plug your headphones into the remote control and how cool is that! I can't name the times I couldn't watch a good shoot 'em up late at night because of the sound.

And if the Chromecast picks up some must-have solution later that the Roku doesn't, guess what, the Roku 3 has an HDMI socket so you still won't need to worry about your cabling or hardware paths.

(And just like *that* I brought it back to Chromecast and the topic! :rofl: )

aboatright · Feb 5, 2014

I've got the roku, chromecast and allcast. I prefer the chromecast right now. The allcast won't fast forward a movie! If it stops to reload then you are left with restarting your movie. The roku works great but its limited on Netflix to the point that it stays in a drawer now.

EarlyMon · Feb 5, 2014

aboatright said:
I've got the roku, chromecast and allcast. I prefer the chromecast right now. The allcast won't fast forward a movie! If it stops to reload then you are left with restarting your movie. The roku works great but its limited on Netflix to the point that it stays in a drawer now.

Had you a chance to try controlling your Roku from your phone? Or is there some other Netflix limitation?

Ideally, apps like Moboplayer, MX Player or Dice will allow casting with device control for play/pause/move will support casting soon. Anyway - I hope so. :eek:

funkylogik · Feb 5, 2014

Great segway emon 🍺:beer:

aboatright · Feb 5, 2014

EarlyMon said:
Had you a chance to try controlling your Roku from your phone? Or is there some other Netflix limitation?

Ideally, apps like Moboplayer, MX Player or Dice will allow casting with device control for play/pause/move will support casting soon. Anyway - I hope so.

The phone works great as a controller! It is a lot faster to maneuver your way around. Easier to add/remove channels and much more convenient than the original controller.

EarlyMon · Feb 5, 2014

I just had an obtw moment.

I don't know how many of you have heard of this but there's been another approach waiting in the wings for quite some time called Vbukit.

In their words, it's not an app, it's a platform.

And it's going to cast a whole lot more.

Check out "Vbukit for Chromecast"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.creatingrevolutions.vbukitchromecast

Don't expect the app to work as it's going to - check out the comments with their responses to rig up a sort of demo for yourself. And follow the link from the description to see what they're waiting on for completion.

I'd forgotten to mention that I've been following them to see where they'd land for some time.

I also knew that the idea of "getting the SDK on your phone" by getting the new Play Services was just wrong but I kept getting distracted. My bad lol.

funkylogik · Feb 6, 2014

Can i just ask, whats "obtw"? :thinking:

Gmash · Feb 6, 2014

funkylogik said:
Can i just ask, whats "obtw"?

oh, by the way

funkylogik · Feb 7, 2014

Gmash said:
oh, by the way

Maan im really not "down wit da yoot" today and their fancy-pants internet speak. Just the other day i had to ask what SMH means

I feel like my mum when she thought LOL meant Lots Of Love :banghead:

brosko · Feb 7, 2014

What does SMH mean?

EarlyMon · Feb 7, 2014

brosko said:
What does SMH mean?

Shaking my head - usually in disbelief, disgust, etc.

Mr. Link · Feb 10, 2014

This might not be the correct thread, but it has gone on and off topic so I'll ask it here...I hear a lot of chatter about Chromecast and casting videos...but is no one excited for the opportunities of Chromecast casting a game to the big screen (and possibly using the device as just a "controller" then? Do we think that's not going to happen? When I first heard about Chromecast, that was my first thought. A portable gaming machine.

funkylogik · Feb 10, 2014

Yeah had thought about that but wouldnt there be a problem with lag?

Mr. Link · Feb 10, 2014

Maybe. If it was true screen mirroring, I would say yes.

Gmash · Feb 10, 2014

Seems like you would still have to look down at the screen, but it would be cool for other people to be able to watch easier.

funkylogik · Feb 11, 2014

Be better if it wasnt mirrored and the phone touchscreen just became a controller

EarlyMon · Feb 12, 2014

I don't know if this required a new thread or not - but - because this may or may not be in Allcast, here you go if you've missed it -

http://androidforums.com/chromecast/828560-koush-mirroring-android-chromecast.html

funkylogik · Feb 12, 2014

Exciting stuff man

Chromecast/Allcast questions

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