News - Google: millions of Chromecasts sold, international launch soon

[HEXUS]

So says Sundar Pichai, Google’s SVP of Android and Chrome.

Read more.

[Chadders87]

Initially I misunderstood these "Cast" sticks, including the Roku offering.

So all it does it receive a sound and video stream from a compatible "Casting" device?

Not too impressed to be honest. If it were able to stream anything from my PC / mobile then that's a different matter, but restricting it to only certain browsers or apps just restricts the use too much for my money.

[Dooms]

I've been using a chromecast for few months now and for US$35 can't really complain. Yeah you have to stream from something but these days when don't you have a smartphone or tab near you... I was already using mine for a remote anyway.

Streaming tabs from Chrome PC is good as well.

Now that they have opened up the API more and more apps are getting support.

[Chadders87]

Yeah you have to stream from something but these days when don't you have a smartphone or tab near you... I was already using mine for a remote anyway.

That's a good point. My mobile is generally an extension of me and is always within arms reach. Still tempted and might just have to take a gambit and see where it leads, although i'll need to find one that can stream from PC without going through chrome browser.

On a side point, anyone know if chromebooks get native support for casting the screen / sound? i.e. can I use the chromecast to setup a 2nd monitor?

[Smudger]

The way I understood it, your phone/tablet (with Chromecast app) tells the chromecast what to stream, but the Chromecast itself streams from the internet so once you're finished with the act of 'casting', you can do what you want with the phone/tablet, even switch it off and the film/music will still stream.

[Dooms]

The way I understood it, your phone/tablet (with Chromecast app) tells the chromecast what to stream, but the Chromecast itself streams from the internet so once you're finished with the act of 'casting', you can do what you want with the phone/tablet, even switch it off and the film/music will still stream.

That is true (unless you are streaming from a tab in chrome) - I quite often swap control devices mid stream when I want to pause or something and I just grab the closest device

[Smudger]

It's out now, £30 on Google Play, Amazon etc. I just need to know if it''' work with my Onkyo amp. No point just plugging it in the telly, I won't get surround then...