UKBouldering.com
technical => computers, technology and the internet => Topic started by: slackline on April 06, 2014, 01:52:13 pm
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Dedicated thread for Chromecast (http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromecast/) stuff.
I document some stuff here (http://kimura.no-ip.info/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=slack:google_chromecast&#applications) (will load slowly as its running on my NAS). They are one of the simplest pieces of hardware I've ever had to install/configure (so easy my technophobe wife could do it). NetFlix/YouTube/iPlayer and all the other default supported programs work fine casting from the tablet or phone (all of which are running >= Android 4.2*).
To cast anything (web-pages, local content, media from a uPnP server on your home network) I'd recommend using LocalCast (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.stefanpledl.localcast) (free and works very well, picks up Mediatomb uPnP (http://www.mediatomb.cc/) and my ReadyNAS uPnP as well as wifes M$-Win shares). Don't see the point in paying for a Plex server having already been using Mediatomb for ages (and there not being a version for my GNU/Linux distro of choice anyway). Found a web-site/Vimeo or anything else you want to cast, then just "Share this page" with LocalCast and it will appear on your TV.
Automation can be achieved with the Tasker plugin AutoCast (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joaomgcd.autocast) (potential to turn your TV on & start playing things/showing information etc etc).
The /r/Chromecast (http://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/) sub-reddit is pretty useful (but has a lot of noise of repeated questions, but sift through and there are good posts with useful information and resources).
As has been mentioned elsewhere a lot of what it does can be done with a Raspberry Pi running XBMC, but there isn't any way to get Netflix working on Raspberry Pi's at present (due to lack of Linux support from Netflix) and you need to have the inclination to tinker and learn what you're doing (which not everyone is). I can envisage TVCatchup/4OD/ITVPlayer/etc. incorporating casting in due course too (none of which currently work on Pi's).
Couple of cool things to cast and have on in the background...
7.5hr timelapse of a train journey in Norway (http://nrkbeta.no/2009/12/18/bergensbanen-eng/) (suggested other videos include a different 5hr journey if you like it)
Bergensbanen in HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgEY-57IBoA#ws)
5 day cruise along the coast of Norway by M/S Nordnorge from Bergen to Kirkenesshortened to 37 minutes
Hurtigruten Minutt for Minutt - the complete voyage in 37 minutes. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uXzkNYsQfM#ws)
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I can envisage TVCatchup/4OD/ITVPlayer/etc. incorporating casting in due course too (none of which currently work on Pi's).
Are the plugins currently broken, I used iPlayer just the other night via the Pi?
That said, plugins (in general) do seem to come and go as iplayer etc. change the sites etc. (that, and a text list isn't the easiest form to find things).
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4oD has been marked as broken (http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Add-on:4oD) for quite some time (Full list of Add-ons (http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Category:All_add-ons)).
<aside>
I'll be re-deploying my Pi to replace my NAS using WoL and rsync to scheduled via cron on my main system to boot it and back up my main server as I've decided having a NAS thats on 24/7 is overkill as my desktop is on anyway.</aside>
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Had one since Christmas (US version, present from my 'early-adopter' bro ;))
Initial experience although easy to set up and neat, was that it replicated built in features of our TV and Sony blu-ray.
However last night found a great feature that neither of the others let me do. My bro has a Synology Diskstation NAS on his network which he's given me access to. There is a set of Android Diskstation apps including a video one...which is chromecast compatible.
So my bro has ripped all his DVDs to his NAS, and I can access them via my Nexus tablet and them use Chromecast to play them on my TV like a private Netflix. Great quality, no lag or freezing issues. Now we just need our bro in law who has 1000s of movies to do the same. :popcorn:
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Thats what I was alluding to when I mentioned using Mediatomb. Your brothers NAS will have some sort of uPnP on it which broadcasts the media on it for other devices (PS3, RaspBMC, Chromecast etc.) to pick up and play back. Sounds like you've got this working over the t'internet by setting up port-forwarding of some description?
Although re-reading it could be that the NAS is serving up the files as a network share that the tablet can see (e.g. through ES File Explorer) and these are then being cast.
Be interested in the finer details as I can then share my media with my brother too.
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My bro gave me Synology URL in the format of http://xxxxxx.quickconnect.to (http://xxxxxx.quickconnect.to) along with a username and password. Once you login to the web interface you can see the public IP address and port number (5000 I think), he didn't say if he had to open any ports on his router.
It may be using a Synology server as a proxy to avoid to much config on either end. Before I found the Synology apps I tried a 3rd party one but couldn't get it to connect. With the Synology one, I just pasted the IP address of the web interface and username and password and ©It just works.
Lots of info here including a live demo site
http://www.synology.com/en-global/products/dsm_livedemo (http://www.synology.com/en-global/products/dsm_livedemo)
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Forgot to say, why the Chromecast is especially good is that although the box and apps supports DNLA it only does for devices on the same network, so from my tablet that feature is unavailable, however the Chromecast button still works fine.
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Cheers Obi, so neither plain NFS nor uPnP.
uPnP/DLNA should be workable if there are no rules in the firewall to prevent it and port-forwarding is active. I'll see if I can convince my non-geeky brother that he might want to have access to my videos on his RaspBMC and if he's game for trying it report back.
It should be quite easy really as the uPnP server I have installed on my server has a webUI running on a specific port. Opening that in the firewall and port-forwarding to the correct IP address on my network should mean that its viewable from any browser at my brothers (or anywhere else I happen to be with my phone/tablet/laptop for that matter) and I can then click on whatever I want to play/view.
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/r/fullmoviesonyoutube (http://www.reddit.com/r/fullmoviesonyoutube) :thumbsup:
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£5 of Play Store credit for sharing your Chromecasts DeviceID (https://cast.google.com/chromecast/offers/) (and get advertising of subsequent Chromecast offers).
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Spoticast (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nop.spoticast) (requires premium account).
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Castddit.com (http://www.castddit.com/)
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Latest update of the Chrome browser on Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.chrome) includes...
• Support for casting some videos with Chromecast
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If you don't like paying to stream your movies/TV series/documentaries.... PopcornTime is coming to Chromecast (http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/07/this-app-will-liberate-your-streaming-video.html)
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And you can now cast your phone/tablet screen (http://officialandroid.blogspot.nl/2014/07/mirror-your-android-screen-to-tv-with.html).
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So. Is it any good? I'm thinking of getting one (mainly so we can netflix stuff easy from tablets etc.. bla blah..)..
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I think they're great.
Get something like LocalCast (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.stefanpledl.localcast&hl=en) (my preference over AllCast) and you can send anything on your tablet or from your uPnP/DLNA media server that the phone/tablet detects straight to the Chromecast.
If your tablet/phone is Android and up-to-date (definitely works with 4.4.4, possibly 4.4.3) then you cast your device to your Chromecast and browse or do anything you would there.
Netflix works without any problems as does YouTube (hint : make playlists on YouTube, then cast them when wanting to watch something) and Google Music (not sure if you have this on iFern's or whether Apple have bared it as its a competitor to iTunes). You can play pretty much any HTML5 video in your browser and when you full-screen it you get a little icon to cast it to your choice of Chromecast device on your network (we have two).
Sits behind the TV using not much power at all and is ready to go just by switching to the appropriate input.
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Chromecast owners get 90 days free All Access on Google music (https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6008760)
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Got this a couple of days ago (Chromecast). Piss to set up though not the greatest wifi reception...
I think its 'alright' but MrsTT loves it. Now Netflix etc. works on the main telly she's taken full control of the sofa zone leisure area.
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Got this a couple of days ago (Chromecast). Piss to set up though not the greatest wifi reception...
I think its 'alright' but MrsTT loves it. Now Netflix etc. works on the main telly she's taken full control of the sofa zone leisure area.
Is the poor reception down to the WiFi signal? Could you use an iOS equivalent to WiFi Analyzer (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en_GB) to see what the signal strength is like next to the Chromecast and perhaps switch channels to something stronger.
Does it actually affect the streaming? You can check the quality of streaming on Netflix by watching this film (http://www2.netflix.com/WiMovie/70136810?trkid=50276800) which is pretty boring but displays the streaming speed for different resolutions of film. Various people in the US found that their ISP was throttling their streaming and that going through a VPN improved the speed of the streaming (http://mattvukas.com/2014/02/10/comcast-definitely-throttling-netflix-infuriating/). You could perhaps try checking this too to see if your ISP are messing with your connection.
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Could you use an iOS equivalent to WiFi Analyzer (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en_GB) to see what the signal strength is like
Unless things have changed recently Apple banned these from the app store as they thought they would only be used as hacking tools. :slap:
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Could you use an iOS equivalent to WiFi Analyzer (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en_GB) to see what the signal strength is like
Unless things have changed recently Apple banned these from the app store as they thought they would only be used as hacking tools. :slap:
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7033/6402242123_95757706dd_z.jpg)
Have to buy an Android device then :clown:
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Any joy troubleshooting the weak WiFi tomtom?
An interview with the guy in charge of Chromecast (hence the slightly biased title)....
Why Chromecast is more than just an impulse buy (http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/chromecast-at-year-1-why-its-more-than-just-an-impulse-buy-q-a/)
Really the metric of number of minutes the Chromecast is watched/used should be put in the context of the total number of minutes that each user watches other things, i.e. a proportion, because different people watch different amounts of TV (e.g. I don't watch a great deal as when I'm not climbing I'm wasting time posting on forums).
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Looks like its just a bit crap at picking up the wifi... suppose I may ahve to get a booster of some sort - though TBH nothing else has a problem... it gives 2-3 bars on the Chromecast homescreen...
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Looks like its just a bit crap at picking up the wifi... suppose I may ahve to get a booster of some sort - though TBH nothing else has a problem... it gives 2-3 bars on the Chromecast homescreen...
Does this actually affect connectivity/playback though?
If not why bother with a booster?
Not all connections need to be full strength to be usable.
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Well at the moment its largely anecdotal, but netflix seems to work fine on the iPad (same room) but stutter and buffer on the Chromecast...
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Does the iPad stutter/buffer when placed in the same area as the Chromecast (obviously might be tricky watching it behind the TV)? Does this happen simultaneously (good playback on iPad, stuttering/buffering on Chromecast whilst watching the same thing)?
Also, have you tried changing channels on your WiFi router to a stronger one (even if you can't use an application such as perviously suggested)
Have you another TV you can try it on?
I find that Netflix can buffer a bit on my PS3 which has a wired connection to the router which sits next to it. Its sometimes a problem at the other end.
Not trying to be picky, but it could simply be that you got a dodgy unit, it happens, but its possible to trouble shoot other aspects to narrow down the problem.
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I suspect the wifi connection - as the buffering went from very bad to fairly bad by using the chromecast extension lead... Sadly router and TV locations are annoyingly fixed...
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If they can't be moved then the last thing to try would be a different channel for your WiFi, particularly useful is avoiding busy channels that lots of your neighbours might also be using. Could still be worth trying streaming the iPad next to the TV (rather than sat on the couch on the other side of the room where I guess its been tried?).
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£20 at Currys at the mo
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£20 at Currys at the mo
Well I bought two of these, one for my Dad and one for myself. Finally I got around to setting it up yesterday and I'm seriously underwhelmed.
Screen casting works (Nexus 7), but just. It's laggy as hell and not very usable at all (that's with any app not just video or bandwidth heavy apps).
Streaming video from my ReadyNAS to it via various players is unwatchable. It continually buffers.
Streaming local video (from the tablet) is unwatchable. It continually buffers, stutters etc.
The only thing that works well is Apps with built in cast support (such as iplayer), I imagine these are picking some optimum stream to use and thus I'm not having an issue.
It's not as if the CC is far from the router either (one very poorly constructed modern wall), although the router itself is an old Linksys WRT54g. Strangeley I've tested the same video files from the NAS to the Pi (running raspmbc) and that just destroys the CC (especially in supported codecs, I'm not going to start re-encoding all of the old climbing clips I have either [p0rn]).
Does anybody have any clues?
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Well mines fantastic, you need to get more fruit in your life ;)
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I'll try casting from another device and see if that has any impact.
I'm thinking if it isn't faulty then the router is.
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I've not had much joy apart from with apps that have CC support.
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I'll try casting from another device and see if that has any impact.
I'm thinking if it isn't faulty then the router is.
ours is 'sub optimal' from apple flavoured devices...
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Anyone got one of these working properly yet? Just needs a HDMI input right?
Looking at options for a projector at work - death by powerpoint etc. Looks a lot cheaper than epson's £100 dongle, which gets shit reviews...
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I'm pretty unimpressed to be honest - but if you want a punt you can take mine off my hands for a tenner... seems to need a fairly strong wifi signal....
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Cheers, I'll take it please yes. Seem to remember Paul B bought a new router? Ours is shit anyhoo, so I'd rather spend on that than a dongle.
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Cheers, I'll take it please yes. Seem to remember Paul B bought a new router? Ours is shit anyhoo, so I'd rather spend on that than a dongle.
OK - landed from Australia at 6am this morning - so I won't try and find it and the box today or I'll do something daft (fall asleep in the cellar or somewhere random) but I'll dig it out in the next day or so if thats OK.. Probably be out in the Peak at some point in the next four days if its easier to meet up than post etc...
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Ours works fine, easily worth £30 to watch iplayer on our non-smart telly alone.
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I watch the bouldering comps through YouTube on the big screen
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I watch the bouldering comps through YouTube on the big screen
With a box of tissues...
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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I only wank when the men are on though!
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Was looking to get Chromecast but just come across the Amazon Fire Stick and reviews seem to suggest it outperforms the Chromecast. Anyone got one of these and care to share knowledge/experience?
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Cheers, I'll take it please yes. Seem to remember Paul B bought a new router?
Yes I did; a tp-link offering for around £30, so far its been great and the setup was a doddle. Moving into the new place I had to switch modes with it to 'piggyback' (with permission of course) the existing router connection, this took <5 seconds.
Since updating the router, Chromecast has been bulletproof although since my NowTV 3 months free has expired I haven't used it too much.
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Shit JB - still not sent it. Sorry. Still interested?
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Tescos selling Chromecast 2 @ £25 and you get £20 of Google Play credit.
Tescos are also doing a "double your points" at the moment so if you've £10 of Clubcard points this doubles to £20 and you then pay £5 for the Chromecast 2 with £20 of Google Play credit.
In essence you're paying £5 for a Chromecast2 and swapping credit at Tescos for credit at Google Play.
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Does the C2 have any of the issues people were talking about earlier on this page?
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:shrug:
Too lazy to re-read the thread (vague recollection people complaining about connection problems but solved through new routers with stronger signal?*) and I can't be arsed searching for issues with the Chromecast 2.
I don't own a Chromecast 2 either to say how they compare but I've three of the original chromecasts all working fine on Wifi around the house (not an old build with thick stone walls though).
* Why the fuck I remember shit like this I do not know.
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Cheers Slackers. Worth a punt I reckon.
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I upgraded from a C1 to a C2, for no real reason other than occasionally (once a week?) it would struggle to play music consistently.
The new one has been flawless. not just with music, but YouTube, Plex (Better than the Samsung App on the Blu-ray player) and others.
They've added Spotify support too which may be of interest to people (I actually switched from Spotify to Google Play Music for this reason a few years back).
Compared to the Amazon Firestick - the main driving force will essentially be whether you use Amazon Prime or not? Amazon have decided not to support Chromecast for their instant video, so if you use this, it's a no-brainer. Netflix et al work fine on both.
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My Chromecast audio has been working well with Spotify, seems to be pretty stable. Spotify are a bit naughty and for some reason the free version works with Chromecast but not Chromecast Audio for which you need the premium version.
After using it for a while I'm not massively impressed with the sound quality, I've set it on the 'hi-fi' setting but still get quite bad distortion at medium volumes, I've not tried swapping cables/inputs etc, but don't have a problem with the same ones when using iPods etc.
Not that it particularly matters for having fun with Spotify at a party, but with less background noise it is a bit disappointing.
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Compared to the Amazon Firestick - the main driving force will essentially be whether you use Amazon Prime or not? Amazon have decided not to support Chromecast for their instant video, so if you use this, it's a no-brainer. Netflix et al work fine on both.
I'm very impressed with MrsTT's firestick... works really well - slick I would describe it as. And it has its own remote/doesnt need a phone which seemed to be the crappy going wrong part of chromecast..
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And it has its own remote/doesnt need a phone which seemed to be the crappy going wrong part of chromecast..
Perhaps its the crappy iOS on your phone(s) since Android works no problem. :jab: :P
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My Chromecast audio has been working well with Spotify, seems to be pretty stable. Spotify are a bit naughty and for some reason the free version works with Chromecast but not Chromecast Audio for which you need the premium version.
After using it for a while I'm not massively impressed with the sound quality, I've set it on the 'hi-fi' setting but still get quite bad distortion at medium volumes, I've not tried swapping cables/inputs etc, but don't have a problem with the same ones when using iPods etc.
I didn't realise it had different settings! It'll be interesting to see how the one I've bought for my Dad performs with his much better stereo equipment. Both of my CCs (v1 and audio) have been fantastic and I recently bought a nexus 9 which came with a free v1 (refurb).
Spotify - I think they always try it on and then see sense in that nobody will pay extra for that (plus with no T Swift who bothers these days anyway :-* ).
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Native casting of tabs in Chrome (http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/01/12/native-extension-less-casting-is-currently-in-development-for-google-chrome/)
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Heads up.. £18 in Tescos Black Friday shizz.. http://www.tesco.com/direct/google-chromecast/282-8819.prd?sc_cmp=soc%2Afb%2Asp%2Astt%2Awk_38_blkf_google_chromecast_carousel_cpc&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=wk_38_blkf_google_chromecast_carousel_cpc
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Nice. Purchase complete, many thanks.
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Compared to the Amazon Firestick - the main driving force will essentially be whether you use Amazon Prime or not? Amazon have decided not to support Chromecast for their instant video, so if you use this, it's a no-brainer. Netflix et al work fine on both.
Is there any workaround to get Amazon Prime from an iPad Air to a TV using a chromecast? Loads of "how to" guides and links to apps, but not managed to get it to work.
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I'm in exactly the same boat. I await help with baited breath!
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I don't have a Prime account, nor any Apple devices so can't offer any real insight.
You're likely going to be playing cat and mouse here because Amazon don't want you using their streaming outside of their ecosystem, so whatever solution you might find on t'web will likely get blocked in the not too distant future.
One possible option you might have is casting from the Chrome browser as described here (http://chromecasthelp.net/chromecast-amazon-prime-instant-video-android/).
Another possible solution is the LocalCast (http://www.localcast-app.com/) app which has the broadest, most comprehensive support for streaming I've seen (although I don't spend hours trawling around trying lots of alternatives, it was one of the first apps I used after initially getting a Chromecast and its improved gradually over time). It supports casting to Amazon Fire (I realise this isn't what you want to do, but suggests Prime is supported) and allows you to cast from "Other Apps" so you might find that it allows you a workaround.
If neither of those work I guess you can still cast from a desktop browser, but that doesn't really solve what you are trying to achieve.
Good luck and report back.
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I'm in exactly the same boat. I await help with baited breath!
No idea but Peewee happily casted prime video to Chromecast from an Android app; he said it required the installation of Underground (?) first.
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Got a firestick with extra apps from brother in law for Xmas, so problem avoided I guess
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Has anyone on UKB upgraded to the latest generation of Chromecasts?
I was wondering if it's possible to watch LV TV through them (but streaming). I tried (and failed) last night to cast All4 live. The reason I'm asking is reception here is woeful and there's no satellite connection upstairs; I can't see rectifying that being cheaper than a CC.
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Has anyone on UKB upgraded to the latest generation of Chromecasts?
I was wondering if it's possible to watch LV TV through them (but streaming). I tried (and failed) last night to cast All4 live. The reason I'm asking is reception here is woeful and there's no satellite connection upstairs; I can't see rectifying that being cheaper than a CC.
Think it's the TV service app which impacts whether you can cast. I have casted BBC live via Iplayer with no problem, just checked now and ITVHub and All4 don't appear to allow casting of live shows , strangely My5 does (not that I imagine you would have too much need for that!). Casting from a Google Pixel 5 to <12 month old Chromecast.
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Thanks for going to the effort. I think you can side load apps.
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I finally cracked and bought a new Chromecast with Google TV after being unable to watch the last 5 minutes of a long movie. I should've done this much sooner as the remote, GTV interface and playback is markedly better.
They're currently discounted directly from Google at £40 vs. £60:
https://store.google.com/gb/product/chromecast_google_tv?hl=en-GB&pli=1
I replaced one and a week later replaced the second. I haven't yet gone to the effort of sideloading any apps but it can be done (although it's a little involved).
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I've got a Chromecast which is more than 5 years old, I haven't really had any issues with it, still seems to work fine and stream all 4, ITV player, Netflix or iPlayer. Are the new ones noticeably better in some way?
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asking the same! TBH we have barely used ours since we got a firestick.
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I've got a Chromecast which is more than 5 years old, I haven't really had any issues with it, still seems to work fine and stream all 4, ITV player, Netflix or iPlayer. Are the new ones noticeably better in some way?
I think mine was considerably older than that and came reconditioned with one of the Google Nexus tablets (either the 7 or the 9). It definitely struggled with some of the streaming services
GTV is as you might expect, an Android OS running on the device with a GUI and apps so that you can select directly from the device rather than via the phone and then 'casting' it to the TV. I like the remote and like that it has control over the TV in terms of turning it on/off, input, volume etc.
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Any recommendations for an app for casting from Android phone to Amazon Firestick? Vimeo is no longer supported on my TV or the Firestick. There are at least half a dozen, but the free ones I've downloaded have been crap and keep cutting out. Don't mind dropping a few quid on one that is the most reliable. Thanks
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I take it you're looking for something more sophisticated than screen cast which is built into Android itself?
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Yeah, our TV is too old, only casting we can do is through the firestick which needs an app.
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If you don't mind spending a little then you could always swap it in for a chromecast, £30 at the mo and well supported across lots of devices in my experience https://store.google.com/config/chromecast_google_tv
You can probably find older models on fb marketplace for a decent price.
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Thanks, but, annoyingly, there is one in the house. Somewhere. Last saw it when we took it on holiday a year ago, and pretty sure it came back. No idea where now it is now though, hence the reluctance to buy another, when if I can spend a fiver on a reliable app it will do the same thing.
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If you want to spend a ~fiver on postage you can have the one I have kicking about (old style). I sold one via FB marketplace but it wasn't worth the hassle.
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Cheers, I'll have one last rummage and get back to you.
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Chris.. PM me your number.. got one here BNIB you can have.
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https://photos.app.goo.gl/zGBqPGJDhceJY4mJ6
Its pre 2016 mind looking at the blue offer label on the front.