Chromecast

51 'Chromecast' stories July 2013 - July 2014

Apple TV loses ground to Roku and Chromecast, drops to 3rd most popular set-top box in U.S.

Mike Beasley Jul 9 2014 - 9:51 pm PT

A new report compiled by Parker Associates and discovered by Gigaom revealed that the Apple TV has lost some U.S. market share to competitors like the Roku and Chromecast last year, causing it to become only the third most popular device in the category.

According to the report, Google’s Chromecast and the Roku streaming device each sold around 3.8 million units in 2013—though the figure is more impressive in the case of the Chromecast, which was only introduced in the second half of the year. Apple, on the other hand, reportedly moved 2 million devices, putting it just below the others.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Mozilla developing streaming stick in bid to compete with AirPlay and the Apple TV

Mike Beasley Jun 20 2014 - 10:25 pm PT

5 Comments

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS0VUOfrycw]

Video gia GigaOm

Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox web browser, is working on a stream stick set to directly compete with the Apple TV and other similar products, according to GigaOm. The device runs Mozilla’s own Firefox OS, originally designed for smartphones, and is apparently referred to as “Netcast” within the Firefox browser.

Unlike Apple’s current offering, the Netcast would allow developers to integrate the technology into applications on a wide variety of operating systems and hardware devices, including many platforms not currently supported by the Apple’s AirPlay feature. In a statement to GigaOm, Mozilla noted that anyone is welcome to work with Firefox OS and that hardware running that system does not necessarily have to come from that company.

Expand
Expanding
Close

LG’s new Connect SDK helps bridge the gap between mobile apps and TVs

Sarah Guarino Apr 17 2014 - 8:45 am PT

0 Comments

LG today announced a new system to help bridge the gap between a range of televisions and mobile software. The Connect SDK is an open-source, multi-platform tool that developers can use to make their mobile apps compatible with different TV set-top boxes and smart TVs. In a press release, Samuel Chang, LG Electronics USA vice president and head of the LG Silicon Valley Lab said:

Connect SDK is breaking down barriers to enable apps and devices to work together harmoniously. The screen size, capabilities and social nature of Smart TVs enable experiences that consumers will absolutely love.

Connect SDK is designed to address the problem of connecting apps with a second screen, the TV, which still serves as a main point of content consumption for many households. The company has released versions of the SDK compatible with devices on both iOS and Android.

Expand
Expanding
Close

MLB At Bat mobile apps adding Chromecast support today for Premium subscribers

Jordan Kahn Apr 17 2014 - 8:15 am PT

5 Comments

Chromecast-MLB

Google announced today on its Chrome blog that Major League Baseball is adding support for its $35 Chromecast streaming stick through the MLB At Bat app for Android and iOS. That means that users with the app and an MLB.TV Premium subscription will be able to stream live and on-demand video content from the app (or from a browser tab in Chrome through MLB’s site) to a Chromecast connected TV. You’ll also be able to use the phone or tablet you’re streaming from as a second-screen experience to “check scores, stats and news” while watching the game on the bigger screen:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Rdio, Crackle, & Vudu updated with Chromecast streaming support

Zac Hall Mar 31 2014 - 10:05 am PT

0 Comments

chromecast

Adding to the catalog of Chromecast-supported content, Rdio and Crackle are both adding the ability to play more content from your smartphone, tablet, or browser to your TV today.

Crackle has refreshed its Android and iOS apps with support for Chromecast streaming. The Sony-backed content provider serves up a number of movies and TV shows for free including comedian Jerry Seinfield’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” original.

Video streaming service Vudu has also added Chromecast support in the latest versions of its Android and iOS apps. The Walmart-owned service includes HD movies and TV shows with no subscription.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google’s new Photowall app turns your Chromecast-connected TV into an interactive photo frame

Zac Hall Mar 24 2014 - 6:46 am PT

9 Comments

Adding to the capabilities of the Chromecast HDMI streaming stick, Google is out with a new app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users called Photowall that lets you turn your Chromecast-connected TV into a live, interactive photo frame.

Google’s Photowall app allows you alone or a group of Photowall users to beam not just one photo, but an entire collage of images to your TV through your Chromecast. The app includes the ability to doodle or annotate images before beaming to your big display as well.

Expand
Expanding
Close

RealPlayer Cloud rolls out internationally, adding SMS text capabilities and refer-a-friend rewards

Sarah Guarino Feb 23 2014 - 11:00 pm PT

5 Comments

Today RealNetworks, Inc. announces RealPlayer Cloud is now available for international users. The app allows users to easily move, watch, and share videos with any user on any device, including iOS, Android, Windows 8 Modern UI, Kindle Fire, Roku and Chromecast.

Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: Dell 28″ 4K display $560, Brother Laser Multi-Fuction Copier $86, Coboc 6′ MFi Lightning cable $10, more

Feb 17 2014 - 10:06 am PT

0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

HooToo 4-Port Slim Bus-Powered USB 3.0 Hub $11 shipped (Reg. $15)

Coboc 6' MFi Lightning cable (Black) $10 shipped (Reg. $20) http://t.co/yCHcZWTEyO

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) February 17, 2014

Dell 28-inch Ultra HD P2815Q 4K display: $560 shipped

Brother Printer Monochrome Laser Multi-Function Copier $86 shipped (Reg. $180)

Google Chromecast streaming media player $30 w/ free shipping (Reg. $35)

Free Apple media: $100 iTunes Gift card for $85 at Best Buy

Pioneer SP-BS21 bookshelf speakers: $50 + $3 shipping (Reg. $100) http://t.co/xTp2awnugz

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) February 17, 2014

Other great deals from today (and weekend leftovers):

New! Belkin Fusive Slim Portable Bluetooth Speaker $100 shipped (Reg. $130)
New! Home Deals: Up to 60% off Gerber hand tools, Margaritaville drink mixer: $170, cookware, more
New! Game/App Deals: 50% off Batman Arkham Asylum & City for Mac, Trine 2: $3 (Reg. $15), Twitterrific 5: $1 (Reg. $3), more iOS freebies
New! Daily Deal Roundup: Insignia 42″ 1080p HDTV $250, Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard Cover for iPad $40, much more
New! Kindle Fire HD 32GB (Refurb) $185 (Reg. $299), Nexus 7 32GB LTE $320 (Reg. $350)
New! Samsung 840 EVO Series SSD Deals: 750GB: $379, 1TB: $500 shipped
New! LG 24″ LED 720p 60Hz HDTV $130 shipped (Reg. $200)
New! Amazon Bundle: Slingbox 350 and Roku 2 media player $168 shipped (Reg. $260)
New! Logitech K360 Wireless Keyboard w/3 year battery for $15

More great deals still alive:

$50 Parallels update bundle: 1Password, Fantastical, Kaspersky, CleanMyMac and more or $80 w/ a full copy of Parallels 9
Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock: $200 shipped ($100 off)
Get 20% off site-wide on Griffin accessories for iPhone, iPad, and more
Polk Audio 35B bookshelf speakers: $100 + $2 shipping (Reg. $249)
OUYA game console, controller, and $25 game credit for $85 ($125 value)
Scoshe reVIVE.II Dual 2.1A USB Tablet/Phone Car Charger: $5 shipped
Take $150 off MacBooks and iMacs at Best Buy with .edu email
Yamaha RX-V375 5.1 Channel 3D A/V Home 4K Theater Receivers: $200 shipped
Apple TV 3rd gen. 1080p streaming media player $84 shipped (Reg. $99)

New products:

Just Released: Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III: $299

How-to: Setup and Use Chromecast to stream your content from a Mac and iOS device

Sarah Guarino Feb 9 2014 - 12:00 pm PT

33 Comments

The Chromecast, Google’s streaming HDMI dongle came out last summer. It is compatible with any Android device running 2.3 or later, iOS device with iOS 6 or 7, and any Mac or PC. Initially, users were able to stream Netflix or Youtube from an iOS device and Android device, Google Play Movies and Music only on Android, or cast websites using the Chrome browser on a computer. The Chromecast works differently from Airplay in that you can multitask and do other tasks on the device or you can let it go to sleep while streaming.

Very quickly after its release, Chromecast has received support for Hulu +, Pandora, and HBO GO. Last month a major update added ten new apps including Plex, Vevo, Songza, Red Bull TV, Post TV from the Washington Post, Viki, RealPlayer Cloud, Avia, Revision3 Internet Television and BeyondPod. The most recent update the Chromecast received allowed users to stream Google Play Movies and Music directly from the Chrome browser on a computer.

In this How-to, we’ll discuss how to setup the Chromecast, use it with a Mac and iOS device and explore its gaming potential.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Chromecast SDK now available for iOS developers

Zac Hall Feb 3 2014 - 11:16 am PT

0 Comments

Cross posted from 9to5Google.com

Google announced today a public SDK for Chromecast allowing developers to build support for casting into Android, Chrome, and iOS apps and websites.

If you’re a developer looking to bring your content to the big screen, head on over to the Google Developers Blog for a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of it all. Meanwhile, for everyone else, a current list of apps that work with Chromecast can be found at chromecast.com/apps.
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: Up to 33% off Belkin WeMo home automation, Chromecast from $25, LifeProof Frē iPhone 5 $30, more

Jan 29 2014 - 9:59 am PT

0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

Sony RX100 Cyber-shot 20.2 MP digital camera w/ Carl Zeiss lens (black): $400 shipped (Reg. $650) http://t.co/NdKmrrZd68

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) January 29, 2014

Amazon Gold Box: Up to 33% off select Belkin WeMo home automation products

Google Chromecast $25 for .EDU emails or $30 for everyone else

LifeProof Fre case for iPhone 5 (black): $30 shipped (Reg. $80)

Other great deals from today:

New! Game/App Deals: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: $30 (Reg. $60), Simply Ludo & File Manager Pro: FREE, iOS freebies, more
New! Samsung 840 EVO Series 750GB 2.5″ SATA III Solid State Drive $400 shipped (Reg. $530)
New! Monitor Deals: Dell 24″ w/DisplayPort (refurb): $165, HP 27″ IPS display: $450, Viewsonic 24″ monitors (refurb): $125

More great deals still alive:

Apple 15″ MacBook Pro w/ Retina display (current gen) 2.0GHz/8GB RAM/256GB $1,700 shipped (Reg. $1999)
Apple Tablet Roundup: $30 off 32GB/64GB iPad mini w/ Retina display WiFi models, iPad 4th gen 128GB $520, more
Virgin Mobile cuts unsubsidized iPhone 5s to $440 or iPhone 5c for $360 shipped (Update)
Seagate 2TB Backup Plus Slim USB 3.0 portable drive: $120 shipped (Reg. $200)
JBL Micro II ultra-portable speaker in black or white: $21 shipped ($30 off)
Anker 5-port Family iPad/tablet/iPhone USB charger: $16 shipped
Apple TV 3rd gen. 1080p streaming media player $84 shipped (Reg. $99)
Staples 1080P Monitors $30 off $150: HP Pavilion 22″: $110, Samsung 24″: $120, AOC 27″: $170
Get 50% off all Otterbox Armor Series cases & 25% off select Otterbox Defender cases
Philips Shoqbox splash/drop-proof portable Bluetooth speaker $80 shipped (Reg. $150)
Bose AE2 fold-flat headphones $99 shipped (Reg. $150)
Philips Monitor Deals: 27″ Quad HD w/ mic & webcam: $600 (Reg. $900), 29″ UltraWide HD display: $450 (Reg. $700), more
Pad & Quill Little Pocket Book for iPhone 5/5S $60 shipped ($10 off)
Western Digital My Net N750 Dual-Band wireless router w/ dual USB, quad Gig Ethernet and QoS: $30 shipped (Reg. $90)

9to5Toys Last Call: JBL/Vizio sound bars, Dell 24″ UltraSharp $229, LifeProof 50% off, iPod Touch $40 off, more

Jan 6 2014 - 10:00 am PT

0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

25% off a variety of tech accessories for a limited time at T-Mobile

JBL Soundbar w/ 150W subwoofer: $199 (Reg. $500), VIZIO theater system w/ wireless sub: $200 (Reg. $330)

Dell UltraSharp 24″ 1080p IPS monitor w/ USB hub, tilt/swivel $229 (Reg. $370)

50% off select LifeProof accessories for iPad/iPhone

Apple iPod Touch 32GB 5th gen in multiple colors $260 shipped (Reg. $300)

Other great deals from today:

New! Apple iPad Air Wifi 16GB Space Gray or Silver $470 shipped (Reg. $500)
New! Aliph Jawbone JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Refurb $60 shipped (Reg. $150)
New! Sony 64GB SDHC/SDXC 40MB/s, Class 10 memory card: $33 shipped (Reg. $65)
New! Roku set to release smart TV plus $10 off Roku 1 player
New! Jawbone UP fitness tracker $100 shipped (Reg. $130), Fitbit Aria WiFi scale discounts
New! Google Chromecast streaming media player $30 or $25 for students (Reg. $35)

More great deals still alive:

Monoprice $10 off $30 Coupon: Save on cables, headphones, chargers, more
Cowboom 20% Off Sitewide: Save on iPads, game consoles, laptops, more
iPhone 5/5S Wallet Case $7 shipped (Reg. $30)
Amazon Kindle Wifi 6-inch eReader: $50 shipped ($20 off)
Free Month of Redbox Instant Streaming + 4 DVD Rentals Free
Pad & Quill: $5 off any product
Olloclip 4-in-1 iPhone 5/5s lens kit: $50 shipped (Reg. $70)
OtterBox offers up to 15% off sitewide
HP X2401 24-Inch ultra-thin 1080P LED display with HDMI: $160 shipped

Review: Seiki’s 39-inch 4K TV as a display for a 2013 MacBook Pro with Intel Iris

Seth Weintraub Dec 16 2013 - 10:11 am PT

22 Comments

On Black Friday week, Amazon ($449) and Sears ($499) went into a price war on the 39-inch “120Hz” Seiki 4K displays culminating in a Sub-$400 price (that I jumped on) for the 39-inch variant.

Screw it, I bought a 4K TV for $373 bucks. https://t.co/wO93y2bbQp

— Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) December 9, 2013

I’ve been using it as a 4K, 3840×2160 display for my MacBook Pro 2013 base model (no discrete graphics) off and on for a week.

How is it as a HDTV? Can you use it as a 4K display? Should you? Here’s my take:
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: Pebble Smartwatch from $90, Logitech Mini Boom $72, iTunes 20% off, Chromecast from $25, more

Dec 15 2013 - 1:28 pm PT

1 Comment

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature. Also, check out our updated Daily Deals page (for iPad/iPhone) featuring the day’s best deals from across major US retailers.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Pebble Smartwatch in Red or Black: $90 shipped ($60 off) with .edu email ($120w/o)

Logitech UE Mini Boom portable Bluetooth speaker $72 shipped (Reg. $100)

$50 iTunes gift card: $40 (20% off) at Staples (limit 4)

Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player $30, $25 for Amazon Students (Reg. $35)

Klipsch S4 II in-ear headphone in black or white: $30 shipped (63% off)

Other great deals from today:

New! PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: 128GB $80 shipped (Reg. $200)
New! Game Deals: Nintendo 3DS XL: $150 (shipped and in-store), The Last of Us: $35 (reg. $60) , Uncharted Dual Pack: $10 (Reg. $30)
New! USB Hub Deals: Anker 7-port hub w/ charging: $30 (Reg. $70), Satechi 4-port Apple-style hub: $17 (Reg. $40)
New! Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush Masticating Slow Juicer: $180 shipped
New! Logitech K400 Wireless Touch Keyboard in Black or White for $20 shipped
New! Logitech On-Ear Headphones (dented box): UE 4000 $30 (Reg. $100), UE 6000 $70 (Reg. $200)
New! 2 one-year magazine subscriptions for $8: Popular Science, Wired, GQ, Men’s Health, many more
New! Prism II No-Contract Android 4.1 smartphone for T-Mobile: $30 shipped (Reg. $100)

Roku 1 streaming media player just dropped to its lowest price ever, $48 shipped (Reg. $60) http://t.co/NfNUAPRuHa

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) December 15, 2013

The best deals that are still alive:

Take $75 off any iPhone 5s when you sign a new 2-year agreement (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint)
Philips Twin Play portable iDevice video viewer w/ two 9″ LCD displays $50 shipped (Reg. $220)
Nexus 7 (2013) 16GB: $180 shipped, 32GB $230 shipped + add free 16GB USB stick
Dell UltraSharp 32″ Ultra HD 4k Monitor $3,000 shipped (Reg. $3,500)
IGN’s FREE iOS game of the month: Infinity Blade II ($7 savings)
Amazon Promo: Free $5 credit on purchases of $35 or more

9to5Toys Last Call: iPhone 5s $75 off, iPad 3 refurb $300, Chromecast $25, free apps/games, iTunes 16% off, more

Dec 12 2013 - 10:00 am PT

0 Comments

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

$50 iTunes Gift Card: $40+$2.49 shipping ($10 off)
RCA 55″ LED 1080p 120Hz HDTV $500 shipped (Reg. $800)

Take $75 off any iPhone 5s when you sign a new 2-year agreement (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint)

Refurb Apple 16GB iPad 3 w/ Retina Display in Black or White $300 shipped

Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player $25 when bought with PayPal account

fallout-free-mac Game/App Deals: Fallout FREE, Elder Scrolls sale: Skyrim $8 / Legendary Edition $20 / Oblivion GOTY $5, Xbox One savings, iOS freebies, more

Time to get your holiday cheer on, Amazon introduces $.01 shipping on select bottles of wine http://t.co/47dLKLzhD4

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) December 12, 2013

Other great deals from today:

New! Logitech UE6000 Headphones $70 shipped (Reg. $200)
New! Philips Twin Play portable iDevice video viewer w/ two 9″ LCD displays $50 shipped (Reg. $220)
New! Jawbone Jambox portable Bluetooth speaker $100 shipped (Reg. $150), refurbs: $70
New! Nexus 7 (2013) 16GB: $180 shipped, 32GB $230 shipped + add free 16GB USB stick

$75 gift card at Amazon for signing up for Discover card https://t.co/M5ZAiUs4gQ

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) December 12, 2013

The best deals that are still alive:

Dell UltraSharp 32″ Ultra HD 4k Monitor $3,000 shipped (Reg. $3,500)
Logitech UE wireless AirPlay speaker $138 or $88 shipped after rebate (Reg. $200)
Google Chromecast streaming media player $30 for Amazon Students, Nexus 7 (2nd gen) $195
Logitech Ultimate Ears 350vm noise isolating earbuds: $17 shipped (Reg. $60)
Sennheiser Around Ear Headphone $50, Audio-Technica Noise-Canceling Headphones $44 shipped
IGN’s FREE iOS game of the month: Infinity Blade II ($7 savings)
Blue Microphones Snowball USB mic up to 50% off: $40-$50 (Reg. $60-$100)
Seiki 4K TVs drop again: 39-inch now $405, 50-inch now $625 shipped
Amazon Promo: Free $5 credit on purchases of $35 or more

Chromecast adds support for 10 new apps including Plex, Vevo, & Songza

Zac Hall Dec 10 2013 - 8:33 am PT

7 Comments

(via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/apollo_zac/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>)

Google announced today a major round of app additions for its media streaming Chromecast HDMI stick including Plex, Vevo, Songza, and more.

Chromecast, which retails for $35 (currently $32.88 on Amazon Prime), can now play local files synced with your Plex media library from iOS, Android, or Chrome. Plex support is highly requested and offers a major advantage for content consumers looking to play content from a device to an HDTV.

Expand
Expanding
Close

New AllCast app allows Android users to wirelessly beam local content to Apple TV, Roku, and more

Chance Miller Dec 1 2013 - 5:28 pm PT

1 Comment

Well-known CyanogenMod developer Koushik Dutta is at it again, this time with a new app for Android that allows users to beam their local content to a variety of set-top streaming boxes, including the Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, PS4, and any other DLNA renderers (via Engadget). The app, entitled AllCast, is incredibly simple to operate. Once it is installed, simply go to a video that is local on your device and tap the cast button in the upper right corner and a menu will pop up, asking you where you would like to cast it. Within seconds of choosing a device, the video will begin playing on your TV.

Expand
Expanding
Close

HBO GO for iOS picks up Chromecast support

Zac Hall Nov 21 2013 - 7:21 am PT

0 Comments

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9jA2km9TKM]

Google announced today Chromecast support for the HBO GO apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

This means HBO GO subscribers can now push content from their iOS Devices to their Chromecast-connected HDTVs. HBO GO casting is also available from the website from Chrome browser.

The actual Chromecast hardware is only $35 on Amazon (and if that’s not cheap enough, keep an eye on 9to5Toys for more deals) and offers a comparable experience in many ways to AirPlay on Apple TV. HBO subscribers can download and use the HBO GO apps at no additional charge from the App Store.
Expand
Expanding
Close

HBO Go appears on Chromecast support page, streaming support likely coming soon

Chance Miller Nov 13 2013 - 4:16 pm PT

10 Comments

Just a few weeks ago, Pandora became the latest app to receive support for streaming via the Chromecast, as did Hulu Plus just before that. This left a couple of key holdouts, one of which being HBO Go. HBO Go has been rumored as coming to the Chromecast since the device’s launch, with HBO confirming earlier this summer that it was in talks to support the Chromecast in the “future.” It now looks as if the launch is not very far off.

As first noted by Droid Life, Google’s “Now Casting” support page has been updated to include HBO Go. It’s touted as a “new” app, along with Pandora and Hulu Plus. Oddly, however, there is no HBO icon and the description simply reads “none.” This makes it seem like Google’s support page was updated a bit prematurely, although it does signal that a launch is imminent and that the two are still in talks to work together. We wouldn’t be surprised to hear an official announcement from Google and HBO relatively soon.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Hulu Plus iOS app updated w/ Chromecast streaming on iPhone

Jordan Kahn Oct 21 2013 - 10:49 am PT

0 Comments

Hulu-Plus-iOS

Earlier this month Google announced that Hulu had updated its Hulu Plus mobile apps with support for Chromecast feature, something that it promised was on the way back in July when it first announced the $35 HDMI streaming stick. The iOS version of the Hulu Plus app previously only supported Chromecast streaming from iPad, but today the app was updated with the ability to stream TV shows and movies to Chromecast from iPhones running iOS 6 and up:

The Hulu Plus integration with Chromecast will convert your app into a custom remote letting you control video on your Chromecast connected TVs, while allowing you to browse the Hulu Plus app directly from your iPhone.

What’s New in Version 3.3.1

Start casting your favorite TV shows and Movies on Chromecast from Hulu Plus, now from your iPhone (iOS6 and above)

Amazon ‘Firetube’ to take on Apple TV and Chromecast for living room supremacy?

Seth Weintraub Oct 3 2013 - 6:26 am PT

2 Comments

amazon_instant_video_google_tv_1-580x326

It appears that Amazon’s long-rumored TV product may be called ‘Firetube’ according to recent Trademarks filed in the US and Canada. There are, of course, rumors of an Amazon TV that stretch back quite awhile. Lots of rumors. Bloomberg thinks Fall 2013 is the planned launch window. That’s right now.

As for Amazon on iOS products, Amazon has pushed out a lot of updates, including Airplay last month, but noticeably absent is an Apple TV app. Currently, the best way to watch Amazon content directly on a TV is through a Roku box or Google TV.

Head over to 9to5Google for the full story.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Hulu Plus iOS app adds support for Chromecast for big-screen viewing

Ben Lovejoy Oct 2 2013 - 4:41 am PT

0 Comments

Google has announced that Hulu has added Chromecast support to its Hulu Plus app, enabling online shows to be viewed on the big screen – something it promised back in July.

Now you can easily enjoy your favorite shows, such as “Modern Family,” “New Girl” and “Parks and Recreation,” on your big-screen TV by casting from Hulu Plus on your mobile phone or tablet. It’s the same intuitive, remote-free experience you’ve come to enjoy with the other Chromecast-supported apps, and is as simple as pressing the Cast button which will now appear in the app …

Chromecast is a small, $35 stick that plugs into the HDMI port of a TV set or monitor and allows users to stream content, such as YouTube and Netflix, from devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones. Think of it as a tiny, cut-down Apple TV with functionality limited to AirPlay-style casting of content. It’s available from Amazon with free shipping. The Hulu Plus app is available for both iOS and Android.

Apple TV will get more Chromecast-y in an iOS 7 update next week

Ben Lovejoy Sep 11 2013 - 4:07 am PT

9 Comments

Photo: cnet.com

We mentioned last week that an Apple TV software update would allow owners to stream content from a friend’s Apple TV box elsewhere, and AllThingsD now has a little more info on how this will work.

The new software will allow people who have purchased content from Apple’s iTunes store to play that stuff on other people’s TVs, via its Airplay system.

The key part is that they will be able to tell an Apple TV box they don’t own to stream the media they do own, directly from the cloud. That’s a change from the current system, which requires users to download stuff to their iPhones and iPads and fling it to the TV from there. It also echoes the way Google’s new Chromecast device works …
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google launches app for iOS to set up Chromecast, manage settings

Mark Gurman Aug 27 2013 - 6:27 am PT

1 Comment

Google has released a new application for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to make it easier for users to setup and manage the Chromecast TV device.

• Set up your Chromecast to work with your Wi-Fi network
• Manage your Chromecast settings (such as changing your device name, Wi-Fi password, etc.)

The application is free on the App Store. The Google Chromecast is a device that plugs into a TV set via an HDMI port and allows users to stream content, such as YouTube and Netflix, from devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Update: Chromecast is currently available at Best Buy for $35 including the 3 months of Netflix (value $27)

Expand
Expanding
Close