Extended Google Play Music Trial for Chromecast Users

To celebrate Chromecast's first birthday, Google extended the Play Music All Access free trial from 30 days to 90 days, but only in the US. You can redeem Chromecast offers from <a href="https://cast.google.com/chromecast/offers/">this page</a>. "In order to check for available offers, we require you to share your device's serial number with Google. We use the serial number to provide your device with offers that may be relevant to you," informs Google.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fJ8YMM-Ay2urMdspH52_RI17FX6jGj7Cn3kb-buqNrf1tt7mpOgmGQoENGOu6mmyNbLD7UQ3tW8HgwaEv58g5iAa3hlCUHiflKXfY6GFMfCNdd7uOLHE-4jdz5W3GJRlHyEzkP7nX3aN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-25+at+4.17.41+.png" /></div><br />The extended trial is only available if you haven't subscribed to All Access and you haven't used the 30-days free trial. There's <a href="https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6008836">more information</a> in the help center:<br /><br />"Promotion only open to users in United States who have purchased and set up a Chromecast on or before September 30, 2014. Users must set up their All Access account and redeem their code by September 30, 2014 to be eligible for the offer."<br /><br />What happens when <a href="https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/3119802?hl=en">the free trial ends</a>? You'll pay $9.99 per month until you cancel the subscription.<br /><br />"Once your trial period has ended, you'll be automatically billed each month for your All Access subscription. As an active subscriber, you'll have access to unlimited streaming music from All Access. During your free trial, you can cancel at any time. Unless you cancel, you will not be charged until the start of the first paid billing period."<br /><br />{ via <a href="https://plus.google.com/+GooglePlay/posts/VXvtZJX9RSp">+Google Play</a> }

Extended Google Play Music Trial for Chromecast Users

To celebrate Chromecast's first birthday, Google extended the Play Music All Access free trial from 30 days to 90 days, but only in the ...

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Chromecast Adds Support for Android Screen Mirroring

As previously announced at Google I/O, Chromecast is about to become a lot more functional. The latest version of the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.chromecast.app">Chromecast app for Android</a> (that's version 1.7) adds support for screen mirroring. The feature is still in beta and it's limited to <a href="https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6059461">a few high-end Android phones and tablets</a> running Android KitKat 4.4.1+: Nexus 4, 5, 7 (second generation only) and 10, Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5, Note 3 and 10, HTC One M7, LG G2, G3 and G Pro 2. Google promises to add more devices to the list.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL01o1kHfrj6Gy6k1_v50xkByt83ZJwLsup55V8v2Q2l7VupzjeCxAoReBHim8LcAxCLJAfRm_zJLS0sxQ-G1WR-DNNx1karjSkMAYkT3zGj2kRay3akPxFPfmtoQDURP-MKQ_r30X9UNv/s1600/cast-screen-android.png" /></div><br />"To start mirroring, simply select 'Cast Screen' from the navigation drawer in the Chromecast app and select your Chromecast device. On Nexus devices, this feature is also available through the quick settings menu," <a href="http://chrome.blogspot.com/2014/07/mirror-your-android-screen-to-tv-with.html">explains Google</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtvkU0oX7-CB1rZuLO0qWTVogoQ90ObaBnoYYqb0CZ9pr7-nMpdkbprJtlFpu2psu37q1OHELKlUOVDprJYTGF2iyG2xALcgPD-YCm0dOSRcec6CqotWZXs4ALrPgOEESZ1lGn3WPmVJT/s1600/cast-screen-android-2.png" /></div><br />Hopefully, Android L will add native support for screen mirroring, so you'll no longer have to use the Chromecast app.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromecast/apps.html">This screenshot</a> shows screen casting in action. Obviously, the entire screen is mirrored, including the on-screen navigation buttons, if your device has them. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SF4Qc_IwCIGtCYGPiQhWrIaXLU1eISl-Iap5WhkkNlNkw7Y3oz4DvHQkQI3h_mutTA-AKjr_bx_eo8J2N6oVwacSkLDBj2-wj8JmlDVzKOFhW-1Bb5caJ3mX005Beh2HMNaSoA0T_J6u/s1600/cast-screen-android-3.png" /></div>

Chromecast Adds Support for Android Screen Mirroring

As previously announced at Google I/O, Chromecast is about to become a lot more functional. The latest version of the Chromecast app for And...

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Chromecast Support for YouTube Live Streams

Chromecast is now even more useful: you can watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/SBAaOjE-GIlRI">YouTube's live streams</a>. This should work in YouTube's mobile apps and in Chrome for Android.<br /><br />Here's a screenshot from YouTube's app for Android:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdBafqzqDskhM_JQuXq3_BRwYHXFdhBf4YpOBiw-AfwYALGPGK45E5fIPHwLaNwyz5XKDaw0uzHkM7-ycTwpp6aG7CD8cAm8s8Bh0w1DSl33Gyo0e54skB3Zvt1NE4YwpAViKWE0Ep2Nf/s1600/chromecast-youtube-live-streaming.png" /></div><br />"With Chromecast available in 18 countries and YouTube live streams happening on the regular, we wanted to share one of our favorite ways to use Chromecast. Head to one of the live streams in the YouTube app, just press the cast button, then kick back and enjoy these live events from the comfort of your living room," <a href="https://plus.google.com/+chrome/posts/g5x79wFx2To">informs Google</a>.<br /><br />Here are some live streams you can watch:<br /><br />* <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ASPWorldTour">ASP World Tour</a> (surfing)<br />* <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/adidasfootballtv">Adidas Dugout live from Rio</a> (football / soccer)<br />* <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ThePetCollective/videos?shelf_id=0&view=2&sort=dd&live_view=501">Birds, puppies, cats and more streaming live</a> @ The Pet Collective<br />* <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/SBAaOjE-GIlRI/featured">other live streams</a><br /><br />Apparently, "YouTube Live streams <a href="https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853834?hl=en">cannot be viewed from Germany</a>." Here's <a href="https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/youtube/qLbjwfP9_IU">an explanation</a>: "because of the German law (RStV), you must have a broadcast licence from the media authorities when you make a live stream that can reach more than 500 people at the same time. Not getting one would result in a fine of up to 500000€. "

Chromecast Support for YouTube Live Streams

Chromecast is now even more useful: you can watch YouTube's live streams . This should work in YouTube's mobile apps and in Chrome f...

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Cast Videos in Chrome for Android

The latest beta release of Chrome 35 for Android added support for casting HTML5 videos. You can now send videos to the Chromecast from any site that uses HTML5 video players, including YouTube.<br /><br />To connect to a Chromecast, you need to play a video in fullscreen, click the cast icon and select a Chromecast device. You can then change the volume, fast forward or switch to a different video. YouTube's mobile site has support for the TV queue, so you can add videos to the queue instead of playing them right away.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_k5WIRYL3E117c3JSLH1Lp1r7H12dBiMVZP2oyOH2sU9EW_gNQ8e1Ik_CMhKHd7Rr_V7gInye4DQ-aNn5fHnqx0kKOOiRY1Gst0XjJjDWeIMP-7hUmmHwquhDRMIq4Be9S8k_3Iqft0x6/s1600/chrome-android-chromecast-1.png" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoJDNdUd_oKPnTOLfXVGC7wST69mcIq16amFFULr72pSZd5kWV_oWtnxRorTlqEOYCFETJjMvFFkQHEpGAmdRKbkU9XLWvHN1NC2Pvu2Kz-lY_NLMQd0bRyiqG8ShBAWgtfctmT-bcUaw/s1600/chrome-android-chromecast-2.png" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUTE7K_IfYKFcn9wNqn5zA2BpnsnkJOCuFiyAXzNYrr9Vh5DFXZMm-5X5UU4G3LQAwMhh4YLZJRElX30FybfSSf98lzAlC-WsprSPmVDowcZL2b7axr4un3JC8wQqYDWOVP2jpx5jL0JU/s1600/chrome-android-chromecast-3.png" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGp8FpHyMoSeKxzW3qRDcV2aONGO29JBNIw5ompRKAGaklyJWFvAV_rCkvcmp_qiLjKlq6-p6fqzDTzP5O0rUTNOWwXCxTybT5CCrSVxrJHDyNbzm2I_NuM0uf05Nq5Uox1odhhjrnsYeD/s1600/chrome-android-chromecast-4.png" /></div><br />The Chromecast integration is not perfect, there are some bugs that need to be fixed, but it's nice to see that you can cast almost any video right from the mobile browser, without having to install other apps and wait for the developers to integrate their apps with Chromecast.<br /><br />Chrome 35 for Android <a href="http://googlechromereleases.blogspot.com/2014/04/chrome-beta-for-android-update.html">also adds support</a> for undoing tab closing, Samsung's multi-window feature and fullscreen videos with subtitles and HTML5 controls. Here's a video that shows the undo close tab feature in action, courtesy of <a href="http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/04/10/chrome-for-android-beta-version-35-adds-undo-tab-close-better-fullscreen-video-and-samsung-multi-window-support/">Android Police</a>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JI070mJ5FDE?feature=player_embedded" width="580"></iframe></div><br />{ Thanks, Sterling. }

Cast Videos in Chrome for Android

The latest beta release of Chrome 35 for Android added support for casting HTML5 videos. You can now send videos to the Chromecast from any ...

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Chromecast Photowall

<a href="https://www.chrome.com/photowall/">Photowall for Chromecast</a> is a cool experiment that makes Chromecast more useful. It's a simple way to upload photos from multiple devices and display them in real time on the TV.<br /><br />"Setting up a Photowall is easy. You'll need to have a Chromecast plugged into your TV, then you can create a Photowall from your laptop, phone or tablet. Once you're set up, you and your friends can start sending photos directly to the big screen. When you're finished, a YouTube video of your Photowall is automatically generated, which is perfect for sharing with everyone who took part," <a href="http://chrome.blogspot.com/2014/03/chrome-experiments-now-featuring.html">explains Google</a>. Photowall works even if you don't have a Chromecast: it will use your computer screen.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8OAsWMBE-yUomgVdQXC5pgdhvHbnJr4GPk2_t7YS4mNkVw2hr1dO2f7VM8Byetxww_26RUCpOF17i94D8BfCcReeAUvM0qaOqF8u88jGPCAJdajqbfOI7o4IZyGn1rrkKW7z00M_YGz5/s1600/chromecast-photowall-2.png" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvHF5lO-1jh_p1boWcXizKPSpiGzp-Bw2T7Md0nHjHvHhRd6gM4sClkRgN05mdGzDnfKB_hB_bIUHYWX9OtRcrSAIZuBAxwRbIdyry-ifeETu4uWAIW_94t6pfoPfC9OBo6cn7NHDdVsr/s1600/chromecast-photowall.png" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6RMZhCJG3mg" width="560"></iframe></div><br />Google also developed apps for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.photowall">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photowall-for-chromecast/id814088518?mt=8">iOS</a>. You can also upload photos from your favorite mobile browser by visiting g.co/photowall. Google even lets you tweak the photo before sending it to the TV: you can crop it, add captions and draw using the "doodle" feature.

Chromecast Photowall

Photowall for Chromecast is a cool experiment that makes Chromecast more useful. It's a simple way to upload photos from multiple devic...

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Google Chromecast Goes Global

Chromecast quickly became <a href="http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2013/10/googles-hardware-projects-amazon-best.html">the best selling electronics product</a> at amazon.com. Now it's at #2 and it has 13,788 reviews. Somehow, everyone had to buy one. It was cheap, it was a Google product and it promised to solve a big problem: connecting your mobile devices to your TV.<br /><br />The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromecast#Chrome_and_mobile_apps">apps</a> has continually increased, there's <a href="https://developers.google.com/cast/">a public API</a> that can be used by developers and now the hardware is no longer available only in the US. "Chromecast is available in an additional 11 countries — Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the U.K," <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/chromecast-now-casting-in-11-more.html">announced Google</a> a few days ago. Google worked with local content providers, so you'll find many new apps that support Chromecast: BBC iPlayer in the U.K., France TV Pluzz and SFR TV in France, Watchever in Germany and more.<br /><br />Chromecast achieved what Google TV couldn't do. Hardware was cheap and easy to use, content providers felt welcome, software was updated frequently. Google TV tried to solve too many problems at once, hardware wasn't great, software was rarely updated, content providers blocked the browser and didn't develop apps, few people bought Google TV devices. Chromecast did a few things very well and broke the cycle.<br /><br />"Chromecast complements our Google TV efforts as a low-cost, easy device for consumers to watch online content on their TV without a new TV, new remotes or interfaces. Our partners still offer Google TV-enabled HDTVs and boxes that have the core functionality of Chromecast plus a rich, interactive Android experience," <a href="https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/3210071?hl=en&ref_topic=3447927">says Google</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ8rjNWPxmnAbU3BtNbALkPLT6je6B4DCkUHqwatVS7UrsO42wN1ydaMBPEH7vIW7mxSb7VxebR9pbzOD2R8T1bDQ7hpJF7mccYpTy0kRT2w-ekYqxzFXuzain9hrQS5PgN29bU41-Hjt/s1600/ready-to-cast.jpg" /></div>

Google Chromecast Goes Global

Chromecast quickly became the best selling electronics product at amazon.com. Now it's at #2 and it has 13,788 reviews. Somehow, everyo...

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Chromecast Screensaver

If you don't cast music, videos or photos, Google's Chromecast starts to display a slideshow with some beautiful photos. It's a screensaver you can't customize, but the photos are constantly updated by Google.<br /><br />The Chromecast screensaver is actually <a href="https://clients3.google.com/cast/chromecast/home/v/c9541b08">a web page</a> you can access from any device, just in case you want to see some great photos or to save them. It's interesting that Google doesn't use Media RSS feeds and the image URLs are hardcoded.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbI_4sVX6MeyiRwHreSOFhLhcwj6_2OFooUuhS0X1Hz9lqZDKkHbAOpDivyF6t6ZGp9Zv8SN8s_KqsMc7bvfV56PZDYNLgY7ei1cjyq5_VmDUurRs2GJMHyd9G0CKpkj2gDI4L_0gs4ci/s1600/chromecast-screensaver.jpg" /></div><br />To find the URL of the image that's displayed, right click the page and select "inspect element". Find the code that starts with <i><div id="container" picture-url=</i> and double click the URL that follows, so you can copy it. I only tested this in Chrome and Firefox.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB_xHrL03g1o82Tk0kwI2PIFnU23EoLaPGd33JKCB7SUVM8AbpFEw2fc06o6Dw4rS39hf8k7QYFXardkwDK8AJcMBWcCWZ5HjPT5VYqHLUzQ8Ao9pC4J6fz75y23SizgfgI8aAwPe5bNi/s1600/chromecast-screensaver-code.png" /></div><br />{ via <a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/chromebook-central/Ihzm1HwghoM">Chromebook Central</a> }

Chromecast Screensaver

If you don't cast music, videos or photos, Google's Chromecast starts to display a slideshow with some beautiful photos. It's a ...

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10 New Chromecast Apps

The number of apps that support Chromecast has increased: there are <a href="http://chrome.blogspot.com/2013/12/new-chromecast-apps-for-holidays.html">10 new apps</a> and most of them are free. Here's the list: <br /><br />* VEVO (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vevo">Android</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vevo-watch-free-hd-music-videos/id385815082">iOS</a>) - music videos app, available in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vevo#Availability">a few countries</a>: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, UK and US.<br /><br />* Red Bull.TV (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nousguide.android.rbtv">Android</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/red-bull-tv/id364269164">iOS</a>) - videos and shows<br /><br />* Songza (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ad60.songza">Android</a>) - music streaming, online radio (there's <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/songza/id453111583">an iOS app</a>, but it doesn't support Chromecast yet)<br /><br />* PostTV (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wapo.posttv">Android</a>) - news from Washington Post<br /><br />* Viki (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.viki.android">Android</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/viki-watch-free-tv-movies/id445553058?mt=8">iOS</a>) - "Korean dramas, Taiwanese, Chinese and Filipino dramas, Telenovelas, Japanese dramas and anime, American cartoons, NBC Universal, History Channel, A&E, E! TV shows, as well as movies from Indonesia, Hong Kong"<br /><br />* Revision3 (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.revision3.android.revision3">Android</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/revision3-for-ipad/id523450577?mt=8">iOS</a>) - shows<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdn0yv1dhXZF1Eio5DPgSEmrWriUls-7sYBI2Jp-ZwpPWVSE66XPv1HS0ifK3SaOi0nqxFuGoxbvhZKvDiXiJw7BRiznbpilLlU6EcQyIY2F06ialEL3W4CpOfa4xFEsX7QC8wxOTChS8/s1600/revision3-chromecast.png" /></div><br /><br />* BeyondPod (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.beyondpod">Android</a>) - podcast manager<br /><br />* Plex (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plexapp.android">Android</a>) - media player, Chromecast support only for videos, the app costs $5 (there's <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plex/id383457673">an iOS app</a>, but it doesn't support Chromecast yet)<br /><br />* Avia (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.videon.android.mediaplayer">Android</a>) - media player, Chromecast support for local videos, music and photos, requires an in-app purchase that costs $3. I tried the app and it works well for local files, but the Google Cast API supports <a href="https://developers.google.com/cast/supported_media_types">a small number of file formats</a><br /><br />* RealPlayer Cloud (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.real.RealPlayerCloud">Android</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realplayer-cloud/id666575946?mt=8">iOS</a>) - movie player that stores your videos online, <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-3513_7-57604222/realplayer-cloud-launches-with-cross-platform-storage-and-video-playback/">US and Canada only</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCzv5sVrZRHjmvf11AW9RPZfbBhVSwTZdVDFv20ppTyYXGY3tc9sSJ4WDhXKYjJhBQRAQzn6aH4EiqVTSNGdV5grRdHWy7i8HX29FncrNE_y2-PjdUQsNrnx4qivBFu4xk_jQSMuyFVeD/s1600/real-player-chromecast.jpg" /></div><br />"There's no need to huddle around small screens when you can share your own photos and videos using your phone, tablet, or laptop," <a href="http://chrome.blogspot.com/2013/12/new-chromecast-apps-for-holidays.html">mentions Google</a>.<br /><br />From what I tried, the most interesting apps seem to be Songza (for playing online music) and Avia (for playing local files).

10 New Chromecast Apps

The number of apps that support Chromecast has increased: there are 10 new apps  and most of them are free. Here's the list: * VEVO ( An...

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Chromecast Game

If you have a Chromecast and you want to try a new app that supports Google's dongle, install <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swishly.cast.tictactoe">TicTacToe for Android</a> or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tictactoe-for-chromecast/id725532362?mt=8">for iOS</a>. It's a very simple game that requires 2 players and displays the results on your TV. You can install it on an Android phone or tablet, on an iPhone or iPad, but you need 2 devices to play the game.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mzUkuo7xOA4HNPzVfjSX3lJ_GjGlFj-xrgziwjlnZkfq-PBkFMiH28J13wDy-tdz7uTv35NgeKD-ZmsfRaV6s9IsTsxsuirXGGPopDIBGAgW40B9_Tc7nKrjtz1Pcu6tdo3G4YrJipcU/s1600/tic-tac-toe.png" /></div><br />While the game is pretty basic, it shows that Chromecast isn't just for streaming music and video. Once the Google Cast API is out of beta, you'll find a lot more interesting apps. TicTacToe is based on <a href="https://github.com/googlecast/cast-android-tictactoe">this sample app</a>.<br /><br />{ via <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1rsdyd/if_anyone_hasnt_seen_it_already_there_is_a/">Reddit</a> }

Chromecast Game

If you have a Chromecast and you want to try a new app that supports Google's dongle, install TicTacToe for Android or for iOS . It...

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Chromecast Button in Google Play Store

Sometimes you have to go back to basics, create something simple that works and constantly improve it. That's how Google Search, Gmail, Chrome and other Google products became successful. Google TV tried to solve too many problems and ended up with <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-tv-from-sony-gets-chilly-reviews/">complicated remote controls</a>, buggy software, browsers with <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303339504575566572021412854">blocked content</a>, <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57322966-93/logitech-confesses-to-gigantic-mistake-with-google-tv/">unhappy partners</a> and disappointed users.<br /><br /><a href="https://developers.google.com/cast/">Google Cast</a> and <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromecast/">Chromecast</a> try to solve fewer problems and are much more limited. Apps live on your phone or tablet, the remote control is your phone or tablet and Chromecast is just a way to play content on your TV.<br /><br />The number of apps that support Google Cast is still very small, but they're some of the most popular apps in their category: YouTube, Google Play Music, Google Play Movies, Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, HBO Go. This is about to change when <a href="http://www.androidheadlines.com/2013/11/get-ready-host-new-chromecast-applications-google-releases-sdk.html">Google releases the official Cast SDK</a> and allows any app or site to integrate with Chromecast.<br /><br />For now, Google continues to promote Chromecast. "For a limited time we're giving you an HD movie rental from Google Play with every purchase of a Chromecast device. It's the perfect treat to add to that special someone's stocking. At just $35 each, why not pick one up for both of you?" suggests Google Play's site. The promotion is actually "valid for any movie rental or other content on Google Play valued at $6 or less".<br /><br />Sterling Alvarez noticed a Chromecast button in the Google Play Store app (landscape mode). It only lists the apps that support Google Chromecast, but it's interesting to notice that the link is prominently placed in the default Play Store section for apps.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrJ__RA2FXDW1OouXkRHeu-1-ID-_JCSTPXv5N4dcmwfpLpvrV-0cvLuVCJMVzxXZpwXL4WLVm7yoIMsJsHkmNl05OLH077O2tmFMRvrChGNT08P1ZoLj9T077Qsh8USWtETPSADYkpwF/s1600/chromecast-tab-1.png" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY4wUNoEa2d-mE8mNDkNRSJKTwpFl6RLv7edtnTSj2YjNkldnJBsgW5-i79-OX2-Z5WbTSY0i6-dXGM-ouHZvW8uavw-J4bg6YtqiabqdQ-v7UQPzL8eofxPhBU_oddEM-yO-01RgPmA_/s1600/chromecast-tab-2.png" /></div><br />{ Thanks, Sterling. }

Chromecast Button in Google Play Store

Sometimes you have to go back to basics, create something simple that works and constantly improve it. That's how Google Search, Gmail, ...

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Google Cast for Local Files

Who said that Google Cast is only for files stored online? Koushik Dutta, a CyanogenMod developer, <a href="https://plus.google.com/110558071969009568835/posts/QuQdJQEd82e">wrote an Android app</a> that lets you watch videos from your phone or tablet on your TV. <br /><br />The application is not yet publicly available, but it's not difficult to guess that it uses a local web server. "It's heavily leveraging another project that I've been working on for the better part of 2 years," says the author. The project is probably <a href="https://github.com/koush/AndroidAsync">AndroidAsync</a>.<br /><br />Here's a demo:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DMIsMjms_Zw?feature=player_embedded" width="580"></iframe></div><br />I'm sure we'll see Koushik's app or a similar app in the Google Play Store pretty soon. It will make Chromecast more useful. The next step would be to mirror the device, but that's a lot more complicated.<br /><br />Right now, Chromecast is <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromecast/">only available in the US</a>, at least officially. If you're not in the US, you can try <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=chromecast">eBay</a> and buy one for $45-70 + shipping fees.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdNc8mYbIThHSjF0uG_s_x5Nsrw1tPa1IWqdAmqwW93mjkSCwnK3OqskVsqipUf-gkIt3V7rm7kRjlmkKpMhyphenhyphenPkf77OH757epHv98ZXkHAWdt2FeU8S7glUY9fltE88bHA3DtagW1Triz/s640/chromecast-ebay.png" /></div><br />Speaking of Chromecast, it's interesting to know that it doesn't run Chrome OS. It's based on the <a href="http://blog.gtvhacker.com/2013/chromecast-exploiting-the-newest-device-by-google/">Android TV code</a>. "It's actually a modified Google TV release, but with all of the Bionic / Dalvik stripped out and replaced with a single binary for Chromecast. Since the Marvell DE3005 SOC running this is a single core variant of the 88DE3100, most of the Google TV code was reused. So, although it's not going to let you install an APK or anything, its origins: the bootloader, kernel, init scripts, binaries, are all from the Google TV."

Google Cast for Local Files

Who said that Google Cast is only for files stored online? Koushik Dutta, a CyanogenMod developer, wrote an Android app that lets you watch...

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