Netflix removes casting from app to TV

Netflix "enshitification" continues, now removing the ability to cast from a smartphone to TV.

Google enhances Chrome to Chromecast streaming

Tired of listening your computers fans speed up when you're casting a Chrome tab to Chromecast? Soon you won't have to, and still enjoy a much better video quality while doing so.

Google unveils Pixel smartphones (and Home, WiFi, Chromecast Ultra, Daydream VR View "Made by Google" family)

It's finally out of the bag, Google has officially unveiled their Pixel phones and other devices of its new "Made by Google" family which includes the Google Home home hub (anti-Amazon Echo), Google WiFi (hassle-free WiFi repeaters/routers), Chromecast Ultra (with 4K HDR support and Ethernet) and it's Daydream VR View glasses.

Google unveils new Pixel C, Nexus 5X, 6P, and Chromecasts

Google has already unveiled it's product line for this fall, and it was mostly what was already expected (it's hard to keep secrets these days.) We have a refreshed line of Nexus (5X and 6P), Chromecasts (for video and audio), and also a new convertible tablet: the Pixel C.

Ethernet adapter for Chromecast

Google's  Chromecast is possibly the most popular HDMI media streamer available, and the fact that it uses WiFi makes its installation as easy as possible. But WiFi can sometimes be troublesome, and if you'd prefer to connect your Chromecast to your wired ethernet network, Google now has you covered as well.

Use your TV remote to control Google's Chromecast

If you use Google's Chromecast, you'll be used to using your smartphone or tablet to control it. But now, you'll also be able to do so from your existing TV remote.

CheapCast turns any Android device into Chromecast

Google's ChromeCast has made a lot of people interested in cheap media streaming devices that turn your big screen TV into a secondary screen you can send your mobile content to. But you don't actually need to get a ChromeCast device to be able to achieve that. Using the CheapCast app, you can turn any Android device into a ChromeCast receiver, allowing you to stream content to it just like you would do with the real one.

CheapCast acts as a ChromeCast emulator, and while it won't make much sense using it to stream videos to your smartphone or tablet, things start to look better when you consider all those cheap Android media player HDMI sticks you can find online for cheap. In this case, the one we used was a MK809 HDMI Stick Android that can be found for less than $50 - and as you'll be able to see, it works like a charm.

If you're really interested in getting a ChromeCast, then you'll probably be better buying the real one. But if you happen to have one of the Android media players around, then maybe you won't have to spend any extra money to be able to do the same... and more. For instance, this way, you'll even be able to run XBMC as well - now with AirPlay support - and stream videos from iPhone and iPads as well. Do try and do the same with an actual ChromeCast. :)

Google Unveils new Nexus 7, Android 4.3 and Chromecast

Google has unveiled what's coming for this Summer season (similarities with the fashion world are to bound to become even greater when wearables come to market in a larger scale :) and we've finally got to see everything we were waiting for, like the New Nexus 7 and Android 4.3... as well a small unexpected device that might actually be the biggest thing ever: Chromecast.

New Nexus 7

No surprises here. The new and improved Nexus 7 make Google's Android mini tablet better than ever, with a more powerful S4 Pro quad-core CPU (up to 80% faster, and 4x more powerful GPU), which will be put to good use moving pixels around in the higher-resolution 7" (1920x1200 instead of the previous 1280x800). You also get stereo speakers, dual cameras, 2GB of RAM, and optional 4G/LTE.

All this in a thinner and lighter tablet.

Prices are raised a bit, and now start at $229 for the 16GB model; $269 for the 32GB model; and $349 for the 4G version.




Android 4.3

The new Nexus 7 comes with the newest Android 4.3 - which is also deplying for the rest of the Nexus family (Nexus 4, 7, 10, and Galaxy Nexus). Most of the changes are under-the-hood improvements like Bluetooth Smart (low power) support, OpenGL ES 3.0, faster app switching, etc, but you do get some visible changes like restricted user profiles that allow you to limit what your children accounts will be able to do (like blocking purchases to avoid nasty surprises).


Google Chromecast

But the biggest announcement popped up in the tiniest form: Google's Chromecast. This small HDMI dongle is similar to many of the recent compact media player "sticks" running Android, and shows that Google has taken a new approach to winning the battle for the living room screen.

Instead of the more powerful (and more expensive) TV boxes, Google has focused on the most basic features at an unbeatable price.

Chromecast might be underestimated by many, because all it does is act a a receiver for internet streaming. Allowing you to easily launch YouTube on your Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone, and with a single touch send the video stream directly to your Chromecast device and watch it on your bug screen TV.

Sure, the lack of local media playing might put some off, but on the other side it costs just $35.

A price low enough for most people to simply buy it and play around with it, even if they don't think they'll use it much.

... The thing is: they very much might find out they'll actually begin using it, a lot!

I sincerely thing this is a tiny trojan horse that has put Google in a very strong position to lead the offensive for the living room screen that so many have been trying to do. Time will tell us if it did, or if it becomes one more footnote on the history of technological blunders.

For me, I can't stop but wonder what this tiny Chromecast might provide next. Instead of just streaming video contente, there's nothing stopping Google from using it to stream interactive videogames (similar to OnLive), or even virtualized desktop sessions, offering an instant computer on any screen. Can you see just how insidious this tiny dongle might be? :)