All About Chromecast

Chromecast tips and tricks

Chromecast Preview Program: Everything you need to know

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Chromecast Preview ProgramWhat is Chromecast Preview Program?

As a proud owner of the $35 Chromecast device, you already know the software in the dongle is always updated automatically. Google never asks you to update, or reboot to update.

So, you can enjoy the Chromecast without wasting any time on updating the firmware/OS.

On September 13, 2016, Google released Chromecast Preview Program for opt-in Chromecast owners to enjoy the new features and new version of software before such updates are broadly available.

In other words, Chromecast Preview Program, if opt-in, puts your Chromecast device in a special channel that receives software udpate before Google makes the update available for all other devices.

The update you get through Chromecast Preview Program is NOT beta software. It will be the final update (preview).  In  most cases, you just get it a few days (or one or two weeks) earlier than others,

For modern software udpate, it is impractical to push out updates immediately to tens of millions devices. Most companies roll out update in batches so that the update will not crash the server. And at the same time, quick feedback can be gathered before a full-scale roll-out.

Chromecast Preview Program is just to … Continue to read the post....

How to launch Videostream (and other Chrome apps as well)?

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You can launch Videostream just like other Chrome apps

As explained in this page, Videostream for Google cast is one of the best solutions to stream local contents to Chromecast.

It is both powerful enough and simple enough for most Chromecast owners. We also published a detailed guide on how to use Videostream extension to stream local contents to Chromecast.

But one of the most common questions asked is how to launch Videosteram after initial installation.

Videosteram for Google cast is just a normal Chrome app. So, you can launch Videostream just like launching other Chrome apps.

This is a simple job for Chromebook users, or seasoned Chrome users.

But for many new and casual Chrome users, it can be very confusing about how to launch Chrome app after the installation.

This guide will show you how to launch Videosteram for Google cast app easily. You can even create a shortcut of Chrome apps on desktop.

There are at least 3 different methods to launch Videostream for Google cast from your PC. We will cover all of them one by one.

After Google removed Chrome App launcher for PC (Windows, PC, and Linux) earlier this year, you cannot … Continue to read the post....

How to play games on Chromecast from mobile devices (Android and iOS)?

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play games on Chromecast from mobile devicesYou can play games on Chromecast from Android or iOS devices

Two of the new features for Chromecast and Chromecast Audio are multi-room group playback for Chromecast Audio  (for Chromecast Audio only) and playing games on Chromecast through Android and iOS devices (for Chromecast only, including 1st generation Chromecast). Please refer to this guide on how to use Chromecast Audio multi-room group playback.

For Chromecast-enabled apps, you can cast the game to the TV through Chromecast. Your mobile device then can act as a game controller and can display other info.

You can also challenge your friends or family members with multi-player games.

Please note, playing Chromecast-enabled games on Android and iOS devices is fundamentally different from Android screen mirroring (Android screen casting).  When you play Chromecast-enabled games on Android and iOS devices, you get split view of the game, not simply mirroring the screen.

This post will try to show you how to play games on Chromecast from Android devices.  The procedure is similar to that from iOS devices.

What are the requirements to play games on Chromecast from Android?

The requirements for playing games on Chromecast from Android devices include:

  1. A ready-to-cast Chromecast. Both the first generation and
… Continue to read the post....

Chromecast Audio vs Bluetooth: advantages and disadvantages of Chromecast Audio

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chromecast_audio_vs_bluetoothWhen Chromecast Audio was announced, a lot of people wanted to know the advantages and disadvantages of Chromecast Audio vs Bluetooth.

This is a natural question because Bluetooth speaker is readily available in all countries and regions. Most families have a few Bluetooth speakers, which may be given free when purchasing some expensive home appliances.

Chromecast Audio is new, although Chromecast is about 2 years old.  Even some Chromecast owners may have some misunderstandings about Chromecast Audio.

If you are not sure about the difference between Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, or you are not sure about how Chromecast Audio streams music, you may check our Chromecast Audio guides page.

This post focuses on comparing Chromecast Audio vs Bluetooth to help you understand the advantages and limitations of Chromecast Audio. And therefore, you can make a better decision on whether you should get a Chromecast Audio, or whether you can live with Bluetooth, or whether and how you can use both of them within your budget.

Chromecast Audio vs Bluetooth: audio quality

Bluetooth usually has terrible audio quality because Bluetooth is designed as a low-power, short-range personal area network (PAN). The speed is far lower than that of … Continue to read the post....

How to use Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast?

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If you are not aware of it, Google quietly released the $15 Ethernet adapter for Chromecast early this month.  You can get it from Google devices store for $15.

This guide will show you how to use Ethernet adapter for Chromecast to get best connections for your Chromecast.

Who need Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast?

The Ethernet adapter is a lifesaver for those Chromecast owners:

  • Who do not have a wireless router at home.
  • Whose wireless signal is poor near the TV.
  • Whose wireless signal quality is not good.
  • Whose router is configured with AP isolation.
  • Who are streaming very high quality 1080p videos with Chromecast. Please follow this guide if you want to stream local media files.
  • Who are not satisfied with the WiFi connection quality for their Chromecast.

What are in the box of Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast?

In the box, you can find:

  • One Ethernet adapter for Chromecast, which will replace your current power adapter. It is essentially an 850mA power adapter with an Ethernet port.
  • One 1-page quick start guide. It illustrates you how to connect Ethernet adapter for Chromecast to Chromecast and the router.
  • One 36-page safety, regulatory and warranty information in many languages. You
… Continue to read the post....

Google released $15 Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast

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Ethernet_Adapter_for_Chromecast

Update: a mini user guide is available on how to use the Ethernet adapter for Chromecast.

Google quietly released a $15 Ethernet adapter for Chromecast on July 8.

The adapter will not only improve the network performance of Chromecast, especially if your WiFi network signal (strength and quality) is not so good, but also may introduce new uses for Chromecast.

I will share with you why this $15 Ethernet adapter for Chromecast is actually a big thing for the $35 Chromecast.

Will $15 Ethernet adapter for Chromecast drag you back to the wired era?

The $35 Chromecast is supposed to be very simple to set up and use.

Most of the time, it is.  But not always.

Some Chromecast owners have faced such problems:

  • Weak WiFi signal or poor WiFi signal quality near the TV.
  • No idea how to connect the Chromecast to the wireless network.
  • Very old wireless router only supporting 802.11b.
  • No WiFi in the office.
  • Poor network performance of Chromecast.

Ethernet adapter for Chromecast will surely solve these problems.

Why?

  1. Ethernet connection is far more stable than WiFi. Even the  10M/100M Ethernet ports in some aged routers usually can offer better and smoother streaming than 5G Hz wireless AC  connection
… Continue to read the post....

How to stream photos and videos on OneDrive to Chromecast?

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stream_photos_and_videos_on_OneDrive_to_Chromecast_0_supportIn the latest update (June 27) for Microsoft OneDrive for Android, Chromecast support is added. This means you can stream photos and videos on OneDrive to Chromecast.

This is a compliment to streaming local media files as detailed in this guide, as more and more Chromecast owners save contents in the cloud.

The current limitations of Google Photos

For Android users, the most popular cloud photo storage is probably Google Photos, which was recently revamped with many nice features (e.g., unlimited storage).

However, Google photos for Android does NOT support Chromecast currently. FYI,  the old Google+ photos (the predecessor of Google photos)  supported Chromecast.

So, although Google Photos can back up your photos and videos perfectly to the cloud, it is not easy to enjoy them on the TV.

For photos saved in Google Photos, you can create albums. Then add the albums to the Chromecast backdrop.  In this way, you can enjoy your photos on the TV screen through Chromecast automatically.

Please follow this guide on how to set up and use Chromecast backdrop to stream your Google Photos.

For videos, you are probably out of lack. Currently, there is no direct way to stream Google … Continue to read the post....

How to use Chromecast on Amazon Fire tablets (Fire HD, Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX)

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use_Chromecast_on_Amazon_Fire_tabletsUpdate (November 2023): an updated guide on installing Google Play Store and apps from Play Store on Amazon Fire tablet

If you are using an Amazon Fire tablet from the 5th gen to the current model (the 13th gen, including the Fire Max 11), it is now easier to install the Google Play Store on the Fire tablet.

Please check this updated guide on how to install the Google Play Store on a Fire tablet.

Also, Fire OS 8 supports screen mirroring (Miracast) on Fire HD 8 12th Gen or later, Fire HD 10 13th Gen or later, and Fire Max 11.

Update (July 2019): Amazon Prime Video app now supports Chromecast

As explained in this guide, the Amazon Prime Video app on Android and IOS now supports Chromecast.

However, the Prime Video app on Fire tablets still does NOT support Chromecast. And you cannot install the Google Play Store version of the Prime Video app on a Fire tablet.

Update (2016/02): Android screen mirroring works on Fire tablet 5th generation and later

For Fire tablet 5th generation and later ONLY (you can check yours in Settings– Device options–Device model), you can also use Screencast for … Continue to read the post....

A Guide to Chromecast Offers

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chromecast_offers_guide

For most companies, you can only get some special offers or gifts when buying their product.  After paying them, you seldom get free offers from them unless you upgrade or buy a new one again.

Google is really different.

Many Chromecast owners waste free Chromecast offers for them. Are you one of them?

Google gives Chromecast owners offers after offers, including existing owners. All these Chromecast offers are offered free from Google. Some of them are just like cash rebates, e.g.,  Google Play Store credit,  which you can use for apps, music, TV, or movies. Some are free movies.  Of course, some are free trials.

But many Chromecast owners are not aware of such Chromecast offers and, therefore, let the offers expire.

This guide is to show you how to check the Chromecast offers available to you and how to claim (redeem) them from your PC or Android (or iOS) devices.

Step-by-step guide on how to check and claim Chromecast offers from your PC

Please note you can check and claim the Chromecast offers either from your PC or from a mobile device.  If you want to do this on a mobile device, you may skip this section … Continue to read the post....

Chromecast guest mode guide

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Chromecast guest mode allows your guests to cast to Chromecast without connecting to your WiFi network.

This Chromecast guide explains everything you need to know about the Chromecast guest mode: what the guest mode is, how it works, how to enable or disable it, how to cast in the guest mode, and the limitations of the guest mode.

What is Chromecast guest mode? When will you need it?

By default, the only way to use Chromecast is by joining your device to the same network as Chromecast.

This is part of the security consideration: you don’t want your neighbor to mess up your TV screen.

Sometimes, you have some guests in the house and they want to share something interesting from their devices through Chromecast. In this case, you have to connect their devices to your network to use the Chromecast.

If you have some sensitive files in your home network, you probably are reluctant to have them connected to your network. You may trust your friends, but you cannot trust their devices which may have nasty malware.

Chromecast guest mode comes to solve your dilemma. Thanks to the recent update in Chromecast.

You can turn on guest mode … Continue to read the post....

Android screen casting for Chromecast is now supported on all Android devices with KitKat 4.4.2 or later

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Screen_mirroring_with_chromecast_cast_screen_casting_now

The latest Chromecast app (1.9.6) update brought  Android screen casting (screen mirroring), one of the most anticipated features of Chromecast, to all Android devices with Android KitKat 4.4.2 or later.

If you are new to this feature, you may refer to this post.

Android screen casting makes the TV your second screen!

Essentially, Android screen casting (screen mirroring) through Chromecast will make your TV the second screen of your Android devices.

You can enjoy videos, games, music, and everything on the TV with Android screen casting through Chromecast.

Anything displayed on your Android screen and the audio can be mirrored on your TV through Chromecast.

This makes your $35 Chromecast more valuable.

Previously, the screen casting feature was only supported on a few selected (high-end) devices.

How to start and stop Android screen casting?

After you update the Chromecast app to 1.9.6 or later, you can find the cast screen option as shown below.

If your device is not among the supported device list (see this post for the updated officially supported devices), you will see the following warning message.

“Screen casting is not optimized for this device, your experience may vary.”

Tap OK to continue, as shown below.… Continue to read the post....

How to use Chromecast backdrop to customize the TV screen?

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How_to_use_Chromecast_backdrop_to_customize_TV_screen_current_photo

The chromecast backdrop feature was officially released early this month. Now, you can customize the TV screen when you are not casting content through Chromecast.

This Chromecast guide explains everything you need to know about the Chromecast backdrop.

What contents can be used for Chromecast backdrop?

Essentially, Chromecast backdrop allows you to fill the TV screen with the following contents:

  • Your photo albums (private or public) in Google+. You can enable or disable albums one by one.
  • Artwork from galleries and museums around the world via the Google Cultural Institute.
  • News and lifestyle images from The New York Times, The Guardian, Saveur, and other sources. This is currently for US users only, possibly due to content distribution restrictions.
  • Satellite imagery of some of the hardest-to-reach places on Earth from Google Maps.
  • Photos from the Google+ community

You can enable or disable these contents individually from your Android devices or iOS devices.

More interestingly, you can even learn more about the current images shown on TV  by asking questions directly in Google Voice Search.

How to set up  Chromecast backdrop to customize the TV screen?

In your Android device, start the Chromecast Google Home app.

Tap the menu key (3 … Continue to read the post....

Screen mirroring with Chromecast

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Screen_mirroring_with_chromecast_cast_screen_casting_now

Update: with Chromecast app update to 1.9.6, Android screen casting (screen mirroring) is available in ALL Android devices with Android KitKat 4.4.2 or later versions. 

As announced in Google I/O 2014, Chromecast would get some nice updates and new features. We will discuss these new features in later posts once they are available publicly.

Screen mirroring with Chromecast Arrives: cast your Android screen without relying on apps

One of the most exciting new features of Chromecast is screen mirroring (or screencasting) for Android devices.  You can mirror whatever is on your  Android devices to a TV without using any apps (of course, for non-Nexus devices, you need the Chromecast app), including audio.

Now, with the Chromecast app update (to 1.7.4), screen mirroring with Chromecast is now fully working on some selected (models) Android devices.

Please note screen mirroring is different from the wireless display that has been introduced to Android since Jelly Bean 4.2. Wireless display in Android uses Miracast technology. To use this feature, you need a receiver (usually a TV) that supports Miracast.  Currently, only some high-end smart TVs support Miracast. Otherwise, you need to get a Miracast dongle/adapter (for example, Netgear Push2TV Wireless Display … Continue to read the post....

How to use Plex media server to stream local media to Chromecast (from your PC)

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Why do we need one more solution (robust and free) of streaming local media to Chromecast?

To stream local media to Chromecast is not as simple as many expected. Google intends to make Chromecast an internet thing, not a local media player.

If you used Chromecast for online streaming, you probably are very happy with this $35 device. It works with more and more services, and the online streaming quality is quite impressive most of the time.

But if you have a lot of media files in the hard drive of your PC, you may feel the pain to stream local media to Chromecast  (to watch on the big screen).

In the Chromecast how-to guides section, I shared two methods of streaming local media to Chromecast:

  1. Stream local video to Chromecast through a Chrome browser tab.
  2. Share the whole desktop screen (and audio) to Chromecast through desktop sharing.

Both of the methods are not robust, with obvious limitations.

Using a Chrome tab to stream local media to Chromecast is the simplest method. But it is severely limited by the media formats that you can play through Chrome browser. Very often, the user has to install additional software or … Continue to read the post....

Chromecast VS Miracast: everything you need know about Chromecast, wireless display and screen mirroring

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chromecast-vs-miracast

Update 1: Android screen mirroring through Chromecast is available! Please read this post for details.

Chromecast was hailed by Time Magazine as the most innovative gadget in 2013.  This affordable HDMI dongle changes the way people consume content, especially online video and music.

Most people now have multiple screens: smartphones ( normally 3.5-7″), tablets (normally 7-12.2″), laptops (normally 10-17″), PCs (normally 19-34″), and of course, TVs (normally 34-80″).  Different sizes give different experiences and some content. For example, full-length movies are preferred on a larger TV screen.

How to unify these screens?

There are different answers from different vendors. But most of them are vendor-dependent. In other words, the solution only works for some specific-branded devices. For example, Apple has AirPlay (which requires Apple TV); Samsung introduced  AllShare Cast since Galaxy S3 (which requires certain Samsung Galaxy devices).

Chromecast delivered an answer that is independent of hardware vendors!

Another hardware-independent answer is Miracast.

Because Android has supported Miracast natively since Jelly Bean 4.2, a lot of Chromecast owners confused Chromecast with Miracast.

I will try to explain to you Chromecast vs Miracast: the difference between Chromecast and Miracast (Miracast enabled devices), the advantages and disadvantages of … Continue to read the post....