Chromecast available in Argos now. €40

Greenmachine wrote: »

So this is a cheaper option. Are you saying it is not true hdmi? My knowledge of hdmi goes as far as cables and ports.

As a similar non expert, here's what I've done. I bought this a few weeks ago with amazon credit i had to spend, l left it in the box until last weekend, wasn't really sure of what I wanted it for (streaming sports was the general idea).
Took it out, started reading a bit, downloaded the plex app and now I have a system whereby Ican access my entire media library using phone as the remote and watch it on whatever TV the chromecast is plugged into. Thinking of buying another and a nas server to store my media on. I may not have much of a clue about this sort of thing, but getting to where I am now was very simple and I'm delighted with the results (casting a kids movie to the bedroom TV at the moment, using the phone I'm writing this on)!

Picked one up yesterday to try out

Seems eazy enough to use

Tried beyondstream on the laptop and was able to stream a movie to the TV

Able to play back some music to TV with Google play music

Slight delay when casting a webpage from chrome

Hopefully more apps and games will eventually come along

irishgeo wrote: »

how would this work with my 5,1 surrond sound?

This thread on Reddit seems to answer your question irishgeo:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/comments/21zo4g/chromecast_and_surround_sound/

Glenbhoy wrote: »

As a similar non expert, here's what I've done. I bought this a few weeks ago with amazon credit i had to spend, l left it in the box until last weekend, wasn't really sure of what I wanted it for (streaming sports was the general idea).
Took it out, started reading a bit, downloaded the plex app and now I have a system whereby Ican access my entire media library using phone as the remote and watch it on whatever TV the chromecast is plugged into. Thinking of buying another and a nas server to store my media on. I may not have much of a clue about this sort of thing, but getting to where I am now was very simple and I'm delighted with the results (casting a kids movie to the bedroom TV at the moment, using the phone I'm writing this on)!

Can you tell us how you set this up...?

Picking one up today in Castlebar.

ayo17085 wrote: »

I bought my Chromecast from Groupon when it was first released in the UK

I use Android so I searched anything related to chromecast in google play

Downloaded an app called Web Video Caster

This app allows you to go on putlocker or any website that streams video and connects to your chromecast

Then I heard of the app Showbox a couple of days ago (it is not available in the play store)

Its basically a free netflix that will connect to your chromecast throught the app Video Web Caster

I am a new user so I can't post urls sorry
I know it says I joined May 2011 but this is my first post

Great 1st post but talking about things like 'free netflix' will likely get you a ban around here! Just sayin'.

billy few mates wrote: »

Can you tell us how you set this up...?

What I did (and I am sure there are many better/more efficient setups) was roughly the following:
1. Plugged Chromecast into TV and followed the instructions to connect it to my wi-fi etc.
2. Downloaded the free plex server app for my PC, (note there is a little issue with getting this up and running properly if your default browser isn't IE), but once you know that it takes a few seconds to sort.
3. Then I added my current media (dvd rips, home movies, photos etc) to plex server. This is simply a case of browsing from the plex server to the folder containing the media. Plex then organises the media and downloads dvd covers and short description of the file, this looks really good and is a massive leap forward from the media players I normally use. It's so much more intuitive.
4. I then realised that I had to purchase the plex app for android for my phone, this cost £2.99, which I purchased using the free £4.99 credit that some have linked to on here earlier.
5. And that's it, I can now plug the chromecast into any tv in the house and access any of the media I have linked the plex to, by using the app on my phone without moving anything, no cables or wires or anything. My PC must be on of course, but that's it. I believe that if I purchase a NAS box and transfer my media to that, then the NAS will serve as my plex server from then on (not 100% on that yet though).

Hope that helps, as I say, I'm no expert, but it's been simple to get to where I'm at and it's been a massive leap forward for me.

degsie wrote: »

Again, how do you get the credit for non UK devices?

I bought it on Amazon.co.uk, I set up a gmail and said I was based in UK specifically to get the credit (as I heeded the warnings on here). I logged in using the new gmail account, followed the link on here, it asked me to allow them to test my chromecast (or something like that) in order to determine if it was purchased in the UK i presume. I allowed access to whatever it was and a message appeared telling me that the credit had been added to my account.

I used a genuine NI postcode, not sure if that makes a difference. But i was in Dublin and wasn't disguising my IP address in any way.

^^^
http://www.gizmag.com/videostream-for-google-chromecast-sends-your-videos-to-the-big-screen/32109/

fixed the link

Also, it's a Chrome app, not an android app. There is an android 'remote'.

For anyone traveling through a UK airport, Dixons have it for 30 Sterling.

Was recommended this in another thread on here, the 1 question I have is, is it possible to watch tv channels you have on your phone on your tv.I have an app on my phone that has all sky sports and bt sports channels free so if it did work could cancel my sports subs

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

google the app and see if it works with chromecast

then pm me the name of the app

Ditto, pm me too

unir1916 wrote: »

Was recommended this in another thread on here, the 1 question I have is, is it possible to watch tv channels you have on your phone on your tv.I have an app on my phone that has all sky sports and bt sports channels free so if it did work could cancel my sports subs

Maybe Allcast or Avia would work for that kind of stuff where you essentially need to mirror your screen to your TV