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I created this thread for people to suggest features they like to see the chromecast do. Whether it be the chromecast device itself, the chrome browser extension, chromecast app on the phone, or even just to give ideas to developers to create an app for or integrate into apps they already have.
Suggestions:
1) Cast embeded videos like youtube videos in google+ straight to chromecast? I'm currently watching a video on google+ and went to cast it but there is no button in the video. I'd have to start playing it first, click to watch it in youtube, then cast it from there.
2) Be able to use chromecast with Picture-In-Picture. I haven't tried thus yet so it might already work.
3) An app that integrates chromecasting into the android share menu so you can cast any app straight to your T.V. I know Koush is working on sharing the gallery but being able to cast almost any app would be huge! Cast pdfs, facebook pictures, instagram, etc.
Control Control Control
1) When controlling the chromecast from my phone, if a call comes in, it would be great if the Chromecast would record the time the call started and when I hang up, ask me if I want to rewind to that point or optionally pause what's playing when I pickup the phone.
2) I would like a generic app in the notification bar to control ffw/rwd/pause of any media playing on the Chromecast. The idea being it would be a standardized interface for all media apps (instead of the per app notifications like netflix uses) and any device on the wifi network could control any chromecast (rather than having to start up netflix or whatever app the chromecast is servicing on another device.
3) Queuing/queue control either in apps or in the generic app in #2. Watching Mad Men on netflix is a PITA because as a episode ends, I have to open up the phone and then open the series, then scroll to the next episode and hit play. Would be nice if it was easier to just skip to the next episode, song, whatever.
4) Android Netflix App - it's obvious that Netflix app on android is not (yet) optimized to be a remote control. As mentioned in #3 managing the queue is a PITA. Also the lack of FFWD/RWD buttons and the accuracy of the slider in portrait mode only leaves something to be desired. Landscape orientation when controlling chromecast, FFWD/RWD/NEXT/BACK, a better timeline (maybe a gesture to scrub fwd/back?) and most importantly a queue/automatic play of the next episode (like the browser app, PS3, most TVs already do) would all go to making the user experience greater. (While the lock screen overlay controls were a pleasant surprise, why it doesn't have more control buttons is beyond me).
kernelhappy said:
2) I would like a generic app in the notification bar to control ffw/rwd/pause of any media playing on the Chromecast. The idea being it would be a standardized interface for all media apps (instead of the per app notifications like netflix uses) and any device on the wifi network could control any chromecast (rather than having to start up netflix or whatever app the chromecast is servicing on another device.
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I believe RemoteCast does this already. I know it does within the app but I can't remember if it adds any controls to the notification bar.
Two more suggestions:
1) Add an option for auto power off of the device after a specified amount of inactivity. (saw this in another thread)
2) Add caller ID so we can see who is calling when casting from the phone. Pause the cast when the call is answered.
supernova_00 said:
I believe RemoteCast does this already. I know it does within the app but I can't remember if it adds any controls to the notification bar.
Two more suggestions:
1) Add an option for auto power off of the device after a specified amount of inactivity. (saw this in another thread)
2) Add caller ID so we can see who is calling when casting from the phone. Pause the cast when the call is answered.
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Click to collapse
Yes, I learned about remotecast about 20 minutes after posting here, gonna check it out in a little bit.
I do like the Caller ID though.
kernelhappy said:
Yes, I learned about remotecast about 20 minutes after posting here, gonna check it out in a little bit.
I do like the Caller ID though.
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This would be soooo easy to do with Google Voice since the Hangouts app already supports it on the chrome PC extension
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD
Suggestions:
1) Cast the clock app to your TV to display the current time, alarm notification, and/or display the countdown timer.
2) Cast daydream to the TV (I'm not sure the usefulness of this as I have never used the feature on the phone)
3) Cast google earth to the TV. That would be beautiful to have that on a huge screen!
4) Cast specific google now cards to the TV
Soundcloud
Amazon Cloud Player
Tab casting from Android devices.
How about having it work with a wifi webcam or something for a video hangout (similar to kinect)? May not be feasible but I like the idea.
Native chrome tabs
I would like to be able to cast a tab, but instead of it mirroring my screen over the local network, run it locally on the Chromecast. A remote control interface would similate a trackpad and buttons, and only send the pointer coordinates (oh, and keyboard entries) and button clicks over the local network.
I would think that this would give us a higher quality experience, especially when viewing a streaming site that is not "Chromecast optimized".
Another suggestion:
Please for the love of god make chromecast switch the input back to what was on before I casted. This is by far my single biggest gripe.
1) Split audio and video into two separate synchronized casts. That would allow you to send the video only to your TV and then listen to the audio on your PC/phone/tablet using headphones (i.e. similar to the roku 3). Also, it would allow you to send video to your TV but cast to a second device connected to a receiver.
2) Add the option to restrict casting from certain devices. That way you could put the chromecast on a semi-public network (i.e. hotel) and others on the network would not be able to hijack your chromecast.
3) If a cast is in progress, display a warning if you attempt to start a new cast. This would prevent you from accidentally terminating someone elses cast. I could easily see people getting a chromecast for every TV, and without this, you could accidentally cast to the wrong TV which already has a cast in progress.
4) It has been mentioned before, but add a sleep mode option.
5) User defined URL for chromecast backgrounds. This would allow the chromecast to display a sideshow of your pictures when not casting.
6) Cast to remote device. This would allow you to cast if on a network with access point isolation enabled. It would also enable casting to a different subnet. Lastly it would also allow you to start a cast for someone else if you were not at home.
Casting content from SMB shares
I'd like the Chromecast to be able to pull directly from an SMB share, rather than just HTTP.
I'd then also like a companion app on my phone that can browse SMB shares and allows me to select a file to be casted so that the Chromecast fetches and streams the file directly from the SMB share. An existing app that already supports browsing of SMB shares (such as ES File Explorer or XBMC) with the added casting ability would do the trick.
netflix should go to the next tv episode automatically. this is my number one request
UPNP and DLNA
The UPNP and DLNA support would simply be a killer feature for the chromecast. The bigest problem wold be the codec support
uncola said:
netflix should go to the next tv episode automatically. this is my number one request
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I thought I wanted it too but I'm not sure if I trust that to work properly. What if it skips an episode by mistake?
Chromecast Playlist Bridge
I mentioned this in my review at ChromeCastCentral.Com, but one of the big drawbacks for the Chromecast is that while it is cross-platform, it still has a single-user mindset. All my friends can send stuff to it, but only if THEY take control over it. There is no good way to have multiple people/apps add things to a playlist. So what we need is an app (on the PC preferably) that is both a RECEIVER and a TRANSMITTER. It could be called something like Chromecast Playlist. Multiple people/apps could cast to IT and it could build up a playlist queue that it casts to the actual Chromecast on the TV.
Casting content from SMB shares
boffo123 said:
I'd like the Chromecast to be able to pull directly from an SMB share, rather than just HTTP.
I'd then also like a companion app on my phone that can browse SMB shares and allows me to select a file to be casted so that the Chromecast fetches and streams the file directly from the SMB share. An existing app that already supports browsing of SMB shares (such as ES File Explorer or XBMC) with the added casting ability would do the trick.
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It occurs to me that perhaps the Chromecast is already able to pull directly from an SMB share. Apparently Chrome browser itself (in Win7) can play mkv files directly from a share using URL formatted as file://host/share/file.mkv, so perhaps the Chromecast can too? If so, then I'd just need a companion app to support casting a file from an SMB share.
Btw, I don't actually have a Chromecast yet
Turn off TV/AMP after idle, or device disconnect.
Mine turns on and switches inputs automatically using HDMI-CEC, which is fantastic for putting music on in the house, but it would be nice if it would all turn off again when I'm done.
Ensure all app 'home screens' use burn in prevention techniques. The YouTube one is a ***** on our plasma.
Netflix app improvements as mentioned.
Google music on CC to store a playlist so source can disconnect from WiFi without stopping the music.
Various Options for visual stimulation whilst playing music, yet still indicate what's playing. Or even show screenshare /web stuff whilst playing music. Hogging a large screen just for music isn't super efficient, may as well use the Bluetooth method we have used till now and free up the tv.. here using the TVs optical out, can't change input or turn screen off.. Must be quite common.
Google photos /g plus incorporation. photos as screensaver etc..
Uh..
Sent from my Nexus 7
I can't try this right now so I'm curious if anyone has tried this.
I am looking to stream the same thing from my PC to 2 different chromecasts, I am able to open two individual chrome sessions (both can cast separately) but I cant login to the application I need twice (NFL sunday ticket). So I wondered if it would work to cast the tab (with sunday ticket) to one chromecast and then while the tab/sunday ticket is fullscreen, use the other browser to stream entire screen. In theory, the entire screen cast should include the sunday ticket stream.
Has anyone tried something similar? Haven't tried casting entire screen yet so I have no idea if that even works well.
Today I was trying to watch a live YouTube stream from my phone. I got the message that live streams were not permitted on my Chromecast.
I then tried casting the same stream from my desktop. It worked. To verify that I wasn't just casting a chrome tab, I closed all of the chrome windows. The stream kept working.
I also tried casting the stream from chrome beta for android. I didn't get an error, but the casting didn't work. I just got a black screen on the phone and a YouTube screen on the TV.
Is there a way around this restriction? Can I cast a live feed from my android phone to my Chromecast?
Thanks,
Ken F
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
kafarnsworth said:
Today I was trying to watch a live YouTube stream from my phone. I got the message that live streams were not permitted on my Chromecast.
I then tried casting the same stream from my desktop. It worked. To verify that I wasn't just casting a chrome tab, I closed all of the chrome windows. The stream kept working.
I also tried casting the stream from chrome beta for android. I didn't get an error, but the casting didn't work. I just got a black screen on the phone and a YouTube screen on the TV.
Is there a way around this restriction? Can I cast a live feed from my android phone to my Chromecast?
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Being that live streams aren't supposed to work, either you got lucky, or they're working on it.
Not much you can do but wait to see if YouTube updates its info and/or capabilities.
Live streams work for me from my laptop but not from my phone as well. I don't think it's a mistake, I just don't think the mobile app has added that feature yet.
As I understand it the chromecast doesnt render the video but connects to youtube and plays a specially renderd version for the chrome cast, I guess this is not available live. When you cast from a pc the pc renders the video for you.
YouTube added this support on the Website just recently.....
Coming to an Android App near you at some point!
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...romecast-but-only-from-the-desktop-right-now/
Private Videos too!
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...lay-private-youtube-videos-on-the-chromecast/
Looks like the next Android and iOS will remove the live limitation to casting. They may be beta testing it by only offering it on the website for the moment.
I think u should remove it, maybe it is beta?
When I right click on a pic or vid it gives me the option to "cast to device", but it never finds the Chromecast. Everything that's supposed to see my Chromecast sees it, except this. Anyone get this to work?
Nope. I've had to do it through chrome browser. Allcast too.
Yeah that only works for devices Win 10 has installed as devices which the CCast isn't because Google has never made anything for the PC to cast other than the Browser.
Google really should look into opening up the cast screen function to work over any networked device wireless or not and create a CCast APp for PC that allows it to use the CCast with Windows Wireless Display adapter functions.
Asphyx said:
Google really should look into opening up the cast screen function to work over any networked device wireless or not and create a CCast APp for PC that allows it to use the CCast with Windows Wireless Display adapter functions.
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Absolutely G should look into the way you advise.
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That Win10 function only works with Miracast (WiFi Direct) devices. I can get it to work with my Roku 3, for example, although only if I reduce the Win10 desktop resolution.
DJames1 said:
That Win10 function only works with Miracast (WiFi Direct) devices. I can get it to work with my Roku 3, for example, although only if I reduce the Win10 desktop resolution.
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It also works on MS' own Wireless Display device....
I'm surprised it works on a Roku.
Truthfully it should work with any DLNA Target on the network and CCast should also identify itself as a DLNA Target.
The Roku 2/3/4 firmware optionally advertises a Mircast/WiDi Screen Mirror capability (still noted as beta-test status though). The MS Wireless Display device is also Miracast/WiDi (see https://www.microsoft.com/accessori...s-display-adapter/cg4-00001#devkit-highlights)
Not sure what you mean about DLNA - that's a different media streaming standard, nothing to do with screen mirroring. Are you thinking of DIAL? Roku also supports DIAL in their firmware, as did the original Chromecast firmware, but Google has moved on and customized the Chromecast protocol so that it is no longer DIAL compatible. Most Chromecast-compatible apps don't see the Roku DIAL receiver, but Youtube and Netflix still support DIAL, and they do see the Roku as an eligible DIAL cast receiver.
DJames1 said:
The Roku 2/3/4 firmware optionally advertises a Mircast/WiDi Screen Mirror capability (still noted as beta-test status though). The MS Wireless Display device is also Miracast/WiDi (see https://www.microsoft.com/accessori...s-display-adapter/cg4-00001#devkit-highlights)
Not sure what you mean about DLNA - that's a different media streaming standard, nothing to do with screen mirroring. Are you thinking of DIAL? Roku also supports DIAL in their firmware, as did the original Chromecast firmware, but Google has moved on and customized the Chromecast protocol so that it is no longer DIAL compatible. Most Chromecast-compatible apps don't see the Roku DIAL receiver, but Youtube and Netflix still support DIAL, and they do see the Roku as an eligible DIAL cast receiver.
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Actually what I meant was UPnP which can also be identified as a DLNA renderer. The Cast To feature of Win10 is not a screen casting feature it is merely a way of sending media to other devices from the computer (similar to how DIAL operates).
To do screen casting you actually set that up in a different area of WIndows (where you add the wireless display adapter Miracast or MS) and configure it as part of a Multi-Monitor display array.
The Cast feature will work with Kodi Devices and other devices that identify themselves as Media Players/Renderers. Which most DLNA Target devices do.
Unfortunately the CCast doesn't do that. Mostly because it really just loads Webpages, doesn't think of itself or have the software to be considered a Media Player and requires a webpage to be loaded that can be targeted as a Media Renderer before you can send media to it.
It's something all the other Media Sticks and Devices do.
Just not there with the CCast.
I guess I haven't tried the Cast feature then, only the Screen Mirroring. I'll have to try Cast...
Cool, I didn't realize that was supported in Win10. Works perfectly to cast photos and videos from Win10 to my Roku 2.
DJames1 said:
I guess I haven't tried the Cast feature then, only the Screen Mirroring. I'll have to try Cast...
Cool, I didn't realize that was supported in Win10. Works perfectly to cast photos and videos from Win10 to my Roku 2.
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Yep it's a nice feature that Win10 added.
Unfortunately they did not go all the way and include Pictures and Powerpoint to the Castable media types, Just Video and Audio.
I suppose because those items are not normally supported by DLNA/UPnP devices without specific software on the device to handle it.
But If MS put their mind to it they could use a video encode to trick those devices into thinking a Video was being sent.
I think they may have this option (or something similar) on Office 2013 and 365 but I'm still using 2007.
Going back to the post I made before this one....
I wonder if it would be possible to create an App that would throw the CCast into a DLNA Renderer mode?
I'm guessing the biggest hurdle would be the Google Automatic Timeout of idle Apps.
I wish Google would just make the default screen also identify as a DLNA/UPnP target. So you could send media to it outside of just what supports DIAL.
I can Cast photos from my Win10 laptop. Did you mean something different by Pictures?
I think the difficulty with turning the Chromecast into a DLNA renderer has already been mentioned: the Chromecast only plays streams from a web server, and DLNA is a different protocol. I suspect that Google's dev kit for Chromecast doesn't allow generic apps that don't fit their model.
DJames1 said:
I can Cast photos from my Win10 laptop. Did you mean something different by Pictures?
I think the difficulty with turning the Chromecast into a DLNA renderer has already been mentioned: the Chromecast only plays streams from a web server, and DLNA is a different protocol. I suspect that Google's dev kit for Chromecast doesn't allow generic apps that don't fit their model.
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Well technically the CCast only loads Webpages and it is the WebPages that can receive and play streams.
So the CCast is whatever the webpage it loaded makes it be.
The Default screen makes it a Slideshow.
There is no reason why that default screen can't also add code to identify as a DLNA Renderer so you can send Content directly to it via means other than DIAL.
When you DO use DIAL it will go off the default page and load up the webpage and when the Webpage unloads it will go back to default making it into a DLNA Render target again.
In fact I think there maybe an Android app that does allow CCast to become a DLNA Render Target but because Google has a Idle TImeout period for all receiver apps you have to enable it each time you want to send content to it.
By putting that functionality in the Default screen it would always be available when the Device itself is in idle without any timeout due to idle because that is what the default screensaver is there for.
As for the Pictures you are right...Win10 Can send pics as well....
When I or my girl leave the main TV room to use the restroom or feed the dog, etc, is there a method or a 3rd party app that will allow the casted app (Netflix or HBOGo mostly) to still play on the phone while also casting to the TV? This would avoid having to pause the show we're watching. FWIW, screen mirroring from the Chromecast app while watching Netflix locally on the phone... is way too laggy to be a viable solution.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Mirroring the screen is the only option I know of. You either cast or have to switching it from cast to on the phone.
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The other main intention of streaming via CC, besides the big screen, was to let the phone idle during playback to save battery. But you can still stream thru the phone to tv with all the disadvantages.