this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2024
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Google has sold more than 100 million Chromecast devices globally, making it one of the most successful products rolled out by the firm.

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[–] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 24 points 3 months ago (2 children)

And Pixel phones have casting to TVs disabled... unless you use a Chromecast. This is FTC level fraud.

[–] akilou@sh.itjust.works 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Dude, this is straight misinformation. I'm on my third pixel and I've never had a problem casting to anything and have never had to use a workaround

[–] ramble81@lemm.ee 10 points 3 months ago

I think he’s talking about MiraCast. I couldn’t use that protocol on my Pixel because it was blocked by Google. Which sucked because it was used in my car before Android Auto and my TV natively supported it. So in both cases I couldn’t cast without additional devices or Google licensed products.

[–] dogsnest@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I can cast with zero issues whatsoever from my pixel to any firestick, using fcast.

What, exactly, are you on about?

[–] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 7 points 3 months ago (2 children)

You are using one of the workarounds for the Pixel. It will not cast directly to a TV unless the TV has a built in Chromecast. Or you can use a janky third party app.

With my TV, iPhone works perfectly, laptops work, desktops with Bluetooth work, but a Pixel intentionally has casting disabled. It is stupid to disable this, and borderline fraud.

https://deviceverge.com/how-to-cast-google-pixel-to-tv/#1_Can_I_cast_my_Google_Pixel_to_any_TV

  1. Can I cast my Google Pixel to any TV?

Yes, you can cast your Google Pixel to any TV that is equipped with a built-in Chromecast or has a Chromecast device connected to it. To cast, make sure your Pixel and the TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Then, simply open the content you want to cast on your Pixel, tap the cast icon, and select your TV from the list of available devices.

If your TV doesn’t have built-in Chromecast or a separate Chromecast device, you may still be able to use a streaming device like a Google Chromecast or a Roku Streaming Stick. These devices can be plugged into your TV’s HDMI port, allowing you to cast content from your Google Pixel.

  1. How do I cast my Google Pixel to a TV without Chromecast?

If you want to cast your Google Pixel to a TV that doesn’t have built-in Chromecast or a separate Chromecast device, you can use a third-party casting app or device. These apps and devices work similarly to a Chromecast, allowing you to mirror your Pixel’s screen or cast specific apps to your TV.

One popular option is using a streaming device like a Roku Streaming Stick or an Amazon Fire TV Stick. These devices often have screen mirroring capabilities, which can be used to cast your Pixel’s screen to the TV. Additionally, there are third-party casting apps available on the Google Play Store that can help you cast your Pixel to a TV without Chromecast.

[–] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 20 points 3 months ago (2 children)

They can fuck all the way off. I'm not buying the new device, and if they kill functionality on Chromecast, I will be livid.

[–] dogsnest@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago (2 children)
[–] laughterlaughter@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes, but I think OP means, if they make old Chromecast unusable.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

What does a Chromecast do these days, I don't own one, but a lot of new tvs have casting features built in now. Sounds like they might just be a product that isn't needed anymore. I've seen several TVs at work that even Windows can just connect wirelessly as another screen without any special apps or devices added. Sounds kind of like saying "sony stopped making VCRs" if the product has been outgrown

[–] laughterlaughter@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Chromecast, at least the one I own, does one thing and does it well. It plays whatever I tell it to play through my phone. I turn on my dumb TV, cast, done.

I will NEVER buy a smart TV. Ever. My experience with them has been subpar compared to a Chromecast.

[–] Redfugee@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

There are different apps you can install on it. Jellyfin for watching my local media but mainly use it for the GeForce now app to play games.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

GeForce now, hadn't heard of it. Surprised Nvidia didn't keep that exclusive to their hardware, although that may not exist anymore. I haven't spent much time looking into these in years. In your opinion is it better than the Steam version / google stadia was (heard that one is gone)

[–] Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 months ago

why would they keep it exclusive to their hardware. making it open platform is the main reason (outside of microsoft) why they are effectively the largest cloud gaming provider.

[–] freebread@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago

This is true but the new device is significantly larger. Not easy to pack for a hotel trip.

[–] dust_accelerator@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

This motivates me to check out Linux SBCs and something like FCast https://gitlab.futo.org/videostreaming/fcast

[–] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 18 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I don't get the rage about this. I've had a variant of chromecast from the beginning to the most recent model. The new streamer is effectively the same thing as the Chromecast 4k with twice the RAM and 4 times the storage capacity and they addressed my issues with the remote, those being the volume buttons are exceptionally easy to accidentally trigger, adding a programmable button, and adding a find my remote feature that makes the remote chirp! And the find my remote thing is even usable from other devices beyond the streamer. Even supports AV1 decoding.

This coming from someone who also uses a Linux SBC for some media. Which I get why some people want that, but Jesus, sometimes I just want something I don't have to spend hours setting up, troubleshooting, and praying its software is compatible across versions and boards and my specific use case and my library file formats.

[–] dogsnest@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

This guy gets it - the faux outrage of the other commenters is laughable.

[–] brygphilomena@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

This isn't so much killing the Chromecast but releasing a new, albeit more expensive, version. They changed the name, but it's not exactly another product in the Google graveyard. It's more of a rebranding.

That said, I did like the original Chromecast and especially the Chromecast audio. I liked the idea of my phone did just about everything. I didn't need a remote or a shitty UI on an underpowered device. It did one thing, and one thing well, play the video/audio stream url that got sent to it.

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

It just seems colossally stupid to throw the brand away.

[–] pixxelkick@lemmy.world 14 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

killing

They're just releasing the next gen with a different name people need to stop getting clickbaited.

Newer chromecasts are just running a flavor of Android TV OS, and the new machine is the same thing but better specs.

I don't think Google can even "kill" chromecast, as all it's functionality operates over local network.

Even if my internet is down, for example, I can still stream my local apps like Plex.

The other majors apps are Netflix, YouTube, etc, so even if your chromecast stops getting OS updates that doesn't mean the individual apps will stop getting updates.

This is the equivalent to just if the new gen of your phone comes out. Doesn't mean the apps on your old phone stop getting updates 🙄

[–] amio@kbin.run 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Oh no. Anyway.

(Seriously, Chromecast was so fucking awful to use)

[–] CluckN@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Chromecast was the only way I could easily pirate media to a TV.

[–] thedirtyknapkin@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

really? or do you mean wirelessly specifically? cause you can always plug in a cheap laptop or a pi or even just a usb drive. most smart tvs have a media player built in. it might not have the best features or support, but it'll work in a pinch.