Google Chromecast replacement? - General Questions and Answers

After a short (yet cheap) disappointment with the Google Chromecast, I'm looking to get a nice piece of hardware to place next to my TV in the living room.
Wanted features:
HD Video playing capabilities with wide variety of formats.
Play downloaded files.
Play from distance (inside the house). Video could be either streamed OTA or transferred to a locally attached storage unit through a LAN connection (either wireless or not, the router is gonna be right next to it anyhow... :laugh: )
Affordability is always a pro...

Raspberry Pi with raspbmc or openelec?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

Does that little thing play HD videos without any glitches?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

The gbox midnight mx2 is an awesome device. Its essentially a rooted android computer that uses your TV as a monitor. You can get info on it from matricom.net
You would need a wireless keyboard/remote device to control it. There is a Logitech one recommended on the amazon page.
You can also use a 32gb micro SD card for additional storage too
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CH...ue&ref_=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl&tag=matricom0f-20
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Its 25 dollar for raspberri or 100 for the other one. Does it really worth the extra buck?
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Yes it plays them very well.
I yet have to find a file which doesn't play well.
It's not an out of the box experience, but the price and after all results are worth the hassle.
You can use your android as a remote and there are a lot of plugins (online streaming etc.)

Related

Anyway to get Android Phone to wirelessly display on big screen tv?

I want to be able to beam wirelessly what's on my Android Charge phone to my large screen tv... as we know the Android Charge has an HDMI output.. but I want to do this wirelessly... I found out that Bluetooth is TOO slow for this use.. I just got a laptop with the new Intel WiFi built into it.. just wondering if it's possible to use a technology like this with the Android smartphone?
aliensquale said:
I want to be able to beam wirelessly what's on my Android Charge phone to my large screen tv... as we know the Android Charge has an HDMI output.. but I want to do this wirelessly... I found out that Bluetooth is TOO slow for this use.. I just got a laptop with the new Intel WiFi built into it.. just wondering if it's possible to use a technology like this with the Android smartphone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might be able to do it with dlna, but only while playing videos
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DLNA is your best option. HDMI wireless adapters are over $100. Why not just use a regular HDMI cable?
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
well this is my issue... I have a big screen tv that I'm looking to cancel my ridiculously expensive monthly cable on (that I don't even get HD with btw). I have a Boxee Box hooked up to this tv... the Boxee Box is great for local content on my LAN, for Netflix, Vudu, etc. BUT... I really want Hulu+ and it doesn't look like that is going to be coming to the Boxee Box anytime soon (if at all ever).
So I was thinking... I could use my Droid Charge smartphone to run Hulu+ on it... but then I would need to get that video content onto my big screen tv... I don't want to keep my phone plugged into the tv via HDMI cable.. so I am looking for a way to transmit the video from my phone to my TV.. not sure if this is possible?
What about vnc? You could have the viewer on either the boxxee box or laptop. I believe there are vnc clients in the market. Only problem would be sound. Also , why not connect the laptop to stream via HDMI to the TV.
Btw quality would be unbareble from this phone . I'd be surprised if it was watchable
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Btw quality would be unbareble from this phone . I'd be surprised if it was watchable
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you would be going from 800x480ish to 1080p
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If your tv is internet compatible, then you can do this.
tappin' that....
No the tv is not
Being that almost every television made in the last two to three years ago has internet, (including mine) I'm intrigued by this post.
one thing I may experiment tonight is connecting the Charge to the TV via HDMI wire, and use the "Viera Link" on Panasonic TV. This Viera link supposedly allows the TV's remote control to control any device when connected via HDMI.... will post results later.
however, I have seen with an internet TV that the "allshare" app does show a movie file on the tv wirelessly, just could not get the movie to play.
the FIOS remote app though, does allow me to stream photos on the tv wirelessly.
JihadSquad said:
Yeah you would be going from 800x480ish to 1080p
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can output HD video fine. I had no problem watching HD videos from movies downloaded with my MediaHub credit on a 42" HDTV (well, no problem after I got around the DRM).
Keep in mind, for whatever you're trying to play, if it's DRM protected you may be unable to play it over an HDMI connection.
Do tell how did you get around the drm?
tappin' that....
jco23 said:
Do tell how did you get around the drm?
tappin' that....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of the earlier GB leaks (like EP1W) seemed to not have DRM fully implemented so you could output video if you connected the HDMI cable after starting video playback. I'm assuming this was "fixed" at some point but not sure when.
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charlie_c said:
It can output HD video fine. I had no problem watching HD videos from movies downloaded with my MediaHub credit on a 42" HDTV (well, no problem after I got around the DRM).
Keep in mind, for whatever you're trying to play, if it's DRM protected you may be unable to play it over an HDMI connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless using vnc or any display mimicking program which only displays the resolution of the phone not its capable HDMI output resolution
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scarygood536 said:
Unless using vnc or any display mimicking program which only displays the resolution of the phone not its capable HDMI output resolution
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course the only way to get HD video displayed is to output HD video. That's kind of self evident. If you're not streaming media stored on the device, that limits you to using the HDMI output.
That means either connect the phone with HDMI cable or spend $150+ on a wireless HDMI kit and try and get that working.
The easier route would be for the OP to hook up his new laptop to the TV (assuming it has a DVI/HDMI output) and watch it that way. He may have to put down $30 for a cable, but at least he won't have to keep his phone tethered to the television.
charlie_c said:
Some of the earlier GB leaks (like EP1W) seemed to not have DRM fully implemented so you could output video if you connected the HDMI cable after starting video playback. I'm assuming this was "fixed" at some point but not sure when.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah ha. So that explains why someone claimed they could do it with gummy charged rom. Thx.
Would bw nice if one of our esteemed developers could unblock that either via updated rom or app. I would certainly pay for that - to get nfl network to display on my tv from my phone.
tappin' that....
jco23 said:
Ah ha. So that explains why someone claimed they could do it with gummy charged rom. Thx.
Would bw nice if one of our esteemed developers could unblock that either via updated rom or app. I would certainly pay for that - to get nfl network to display on my tv from my phone.
tappin' that....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 Worth paying for, for sure!!!!!
See what happens if you freeze the DRM related apps with titanium backup.
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try to get this...
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/22/xbounds-adds-hdmi-mirroring-to-android-phones-lets-you-kill-th/

The apps you need

OnLive - This will enable you to play PS3 and Xbox games from your phone such as Saints Row 3 and Dirt 3 (Many other games available on onlive)
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.onlive.client
Flash player is an app that will help you watch videos from DESKTOP VERSION WEBSITES
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.adobe.flashplayer
ScreenCast - This app can record what you do on your android phone which is useful for making 720p YouTube videos without having to get another device to take the video. It may work or not on your device and it requires root access
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.ms.screencastfree
Please continue this thread by POSTING YOUR MOST FAVOURITE APPS OR THE ONES PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT!
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i installed onlive...but it say internet video quality problem...i tried wifi n 3g data...both oso cannot launch...help
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I run the Onlive using virgin fibre optic 10mb over wifi and it doesn't run that well. I'D say you would need something a bit faster or you may need to be. Closer to your router.
ALSO. DO NOT PLAY USING 3G it will not work and if it does :you will juice up all your data in an instance(10mins)
Please continue this thread with your FAVOURITE APPS
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Android to replace windows media center

Hi
I'm currently using a windows media centre PC to watch films and listen to music etc on my TV. Its on it's last legs and I was thinking of trying to replace it with some kind of android setup. other than Google TV has any one had an android box plugged into their TV to use for watching movies and Netflix etc? I'd like to be able to control it from my android phone or tablet as well as with a keyboard and mouse.
thanks
steve
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA Premium HD app
steevwatson said:
Hi
I'm currently using a windows media centre PC to watch films and listen to music etc on my TV. Its on it's last legs and I was thinking of trying to replace it with some kind of android setup. other than Google TV has any one had an android box plugged into their TV to use for watching movies and Netflix etc? I'd like to be able to control it from my android phone or tablet as well as with a keyboard and mouse.
thanks
steve
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use an mk802 hdmi stick but it gets hot after three or four hours, there is also the upcoming console called ouya which is $99 and will make a good media centre as the xmbc media app was announced for it today.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
steevwatson said:
Hi
I'm currently using a windows media centre PC to watch films and listen to music etc on my TV. Its on it's last legs and I was thinking of trying to replace it with some kind of android setup. other than Google TV has any one had an android box plugged into their TV to use for watching movies and Netflix etc? I'd like to be able to control it from my android phone or tablet as well as with a keyboard and mouse.
thanks
steve
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the upcoming Ouya (which is mainly meant to be an Android-based gaming console) would be a good fit for this?
EDIT: Beaten!
Thanks guys. I was just looking at the ouya. It looks very interesting. I'm tempted to donate on kickstarter. Do you know if we will have access to Google play with this or do you think it will be restricted to a ouya market much the same as the amazon kindle? Mind you it's rooted out of the box so I can imagine it won't be long until someone had cm10 running on it
Thanks
Steve
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Premium HD app
There's the Nexus Q, but it's very expensive and only streams media. There are some Android TV boxes with USB and SD input. They're not perfect as they mostly run Froyo/Gingerbread and stretch them out to the TV, meaning apps like Netflix would run the mobile version which would be pretty low resolution, but there are some ICS ones now. They seem good, and affordable, some come with motion remotes to work as the mouse, others with an actual mouse.
Just search for 'Android TV Box'.
Also try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTy1H60NJL4
steevwatson said:
Hi
I'm currently using a windows media centre PC to watch films and listen to music etc on my TV. Its on it's last legs and I was thinking of trying to replace it with some kind of android setup. other than Google TV has any one had an android box plugged into their TV to use for watching movies and Netflix etc? I'd like to be able to control it from my android phone or tablet as well as with a keyboard and mouse.
thanks
steve
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the raspberry-pi is a good choice. Wifi version with hdmi port.
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The raspberry-pi is an interesting idea. I'm a little worried it will be under powered though. I like the spec on the upcoming ouya. Just a shame it doesn't have google play access out the box.
thanks
steve
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Note 10.1 as a second monitor

Just intersted to know if anyone else is using their tablet as a second monitor and what software / setup is being use and there general latency / experience is like. I use idisplay on both USB and wifi and performance is pretty good, refresh is high enough to watch web video but it crashes media player when I drag movies onto it, havent found out why that is yet.
I mainly use mine as a second monitor for use with Presonus Studio one, I sometimes drag the midi track or a vst synth onto it so I can twiddle the knobs with touch instead of my mouse.
I use splashtop 2 on mine to access my 2 monitors.
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steveharris87 said:
I use splashtop 2 on mine to access my 2 monitors.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks but I talking about using my table as an extra monitor for a PC, not to access the desktop on my PC, I use VNC for that.
Have you tryed idisplay thats aparently really good
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Google Chromecast or nexus player?

Looking to get one or the other but unsure if i want to pay the $40 difference. What I would be using it for would be too stream movies from Google play, vudu, netflix ,hulu and movies I have obtained that are stored on my nexus 6 Watch youtube and stream apps. I would want to connect it directly to my surround sound system HDMI port. So it the nexus played worth the extra $40.
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