[FAQ] Chromecast Frequently Asked Questions

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bhiga

bhiga

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Oct 13, 2010
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¿kernelpanic? said:
Looks to be a Micron 29F16G08 maybe http://semiconductorexpert.blogspot.com/2013/07/google-chromcast-use-marvell.html

I couldn't find a datasheet for the exact model in the picture.

Could this maybe be read with something like a mcumall gq 4x? it lists some 29f chips in TSOP package so it wouldn't be too far-fetched.

Would be a shame to desolder it for nothing though...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Made me LOL when I realized the EEPROM is the biggest chip on that side of the board.

Not sure about interfacing, hardware isn't my strong spot. I do remember back in the XBOX and PS2 hacking days there were some specially-designed "piggyback" sockets that would pop onto the top of chips that needed intercepting.
 
F

Furma

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Aug 15, 2010
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so i cant cast chrome tabs from my android phone and have to use PC?
thats pretty much lame and goes against googles policy of android ecosystem (having all your stuff available and connected on all of your devices)

whats with all the restrictions on this thing? did google mention casting from android chrome will be supported in the near future? if not, anything modders can do about it (altho i doubt they can mod chrome..)?
 
W

wptski

Senior Member
Dec 8, 2011
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Warren, MI
Furma said:
did google mention casting from android chrome will be supported in the near future? if not, anything modders can do about it (altho i doubt they can mod chrome..)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The talk is that Google is working on casting from Android Chrome but since it's called "beta" with PC Chrome, no telling how long that will be.
 
bhiga

bhiga

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Furma said:
so i cant cast chrome tabs from my android phone and have to use PC?
thats pretty much lame and goes against googles policy of android ecosystem (having all your stuff available and connected on all of your devices)

whats with all the restrictions on this thing? did google mention casting from android chrome will be supported in the near future? if not, anything modders can do about it (altho i doubt they can mod chrome..)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, currently you can't cast Chrome tabs from Android and you have to use a PC. Google's policy is irrelevant - you still have all your stuff (bookmarks, whatever) - but that doesn't mean you can do everything you can on desktop Chrome on mobile Chrome.

Despite the popular notion that Google is "the man" and holding you back, it's not the case here.

Casting a tab or the desktop requires real-time compression to H.264 - that's a non-trivial amount of CPU power.
To put things into perspective,
Intel's Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge have specific hardware optimizations for accelerating H.264 compression.
NVIDIA CUDA and AMD Stream use the GPU to help accelerate H.264 (and other) compression.
This is all because except in rare super-high-performance server type configurations, the desktop computer lacks the CPU power to compress to H.264 in real-time at reasonable framerates.

NVIDIA's ShadowPlay is the perfect scenario, but that uses a hardware H.264 encoder on the graphics card.


For the sake of argument, let's say mobile Chrome was modified/upgraded so it could use the Google Cast extension.

The load on the device would be approximately 4x that of a Skype video call using the high-res camera (usually rear), perhaps even more (I'm not sure what compression Skype uses).
Even if the processor could keep up, you'd be out of battery quite quickly.
Not to mention having this load in addition to whatever the load of what you're trying to do (play a video, play a game, etc) is.

So fact of the matter is, mobile platforms just aren't quite there yet.

That's probably why mobile Chrome doesn't support extensions to begin with - it's the user experience. If a user loads their mobile Chrome with a bunch of extensions, Android users will complain that their browser is slow and clunky, and the Apple zealots will do their thing. Doesn't matter which one can do more or less - if the user experience suffers, it hurts the platform.


Now, Google is working on Android screen mirroring (and so is Koush), and ultimately that would be the solution, as it could be implemented in a lower level than the regular user app, which would provide some consistency in the casting quality while not bogging down the system so apps are sluggish or unresponsive.
But we'll have to wait.

Having the remote end compress UI and video to send to Chromecast is not Chromecast's core competency or usage model. Chromecast is made to do what it currently does well - pull already-compressed streams from the Internet and play them.
 
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Furma

Senior Member
Aug 15, 2010
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"Chromecast is made to do what it currently does well - pull already-compressed streams from the Internet and play them."

basically, for majority of citizens outside of US, that boils down to streaming only youtube videos (which my smart tv can already do) - yes, i get tab casting on my PC but thats in the other room and not as aluring of an option as casting from my smartphone in front of the tv
i live in a country without netflix, hulu, google music/video

so, what was googles plan with this device? other devices, to my knowledge, have more functionality and streaming options (Roku, applte tv, etc)


btw thanks for the clarification
 
bhiga

bhiga

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Furma said:
basically, for majority of citizens outside of US, that boils down to streaming only youtube videos (which my smart tv can already do)
...
i live in a country without netflix, hulu, google music/video

so, what was googles plan with this device? other devices, to my knowledge, have more functionality and streaming options (Roku, applte tv, etc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct, especially given how difficult Google has made it to use DNS abstraction services like Unlocator, Unotelly, etc.

The main goal and differentiation I see for Chromecast is remote control centralization (use your phone/tablet instead), what I call anti-YAR (Yet Another Remote). Side benefits include low-price commoditization and some related push for Android apps and platform.

Other boxes can do similar or more, but boxes like Roku are their own platform, so providing for it is specific development rather than an extension to an existing app.
Apple TV is closer, but it's more expensive and Apple. ;)

There's also something nice to the fact that casted content is generally not exclusively on Chromecast (Google Santa Tracker was a notable exception).

I can play a movie on my TV while I'm at home. Then in the middle I need to go to class so I pause and disconnect. Between classes I can resume right where I had left off, on my phone or tablet. And when I'm done with classes I can watch the remainder back on the TV.

I suppose you could do that on other devices with screen mirroring.

But here's where it gets interesting - my wife and I can connect to the same Chromecast (using the same app) and control it jointly. Moreover, when we disconnect, our phone or tablet gets pointed to what was playing.

This means I could be watching my favorite movie in another room and say "hey you gotta see this part" and all my wife needs to do is run the same app I'm running (ex. YouTube), connect to the same Chromecast, disconnect and her device will have the same video I'm watching at the same point to see what I'm talking about.

That's something you can't do just with screen mirroring.

Future unique usage of Chromecast would be apps or games that use it as a second screen.
Imagine a Monopoly game that showed the main board on the TV and each player had their money and properties on their phone or tablet.
It could be similar to the Wii U and PS4+PS Vita model of having a controller that has its own screen that interacts with the main common screen.

Apple TV and Roku could potentially pull that off and so could a Smart TV if they had an app for both ends, I guess, but it would be a lot more work to interface everything, especially in the Smart TV case.

Sent from a device with no keyboard. Please forgive typos, they may not be my own.
 
F

Furma

Senior Member
Aug 15, 2010
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all that talk about resuming currently played content from multiple devices and what not seems nice in theory

but in reality its not as smooth as you describe it.. in my case, youtube will often show the video as paused even tho its running on the tv, time seeking is also a buggy experience (especially if you count in the delay between chromecast and your device)

and i am running this setup in a small flat with the only thing connected to my router being my desktop PC and android phone (12mbit cable connection to the internet)
in theory i should be getting great results with minimum lag/delay but alas its not happening

in its current state chromecast is just a nice gimmicky toy with lot of promises and few of them coming thru so far
for version 2 they should use better hardware and have more streaming options (also the option to be able to set up chromecast without using wifi, ie pc connected over lan to the same router..)
 
bhiga

bhiga

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Furma said:
but in reality its not as smooth as you describe it.. in my case, youtube will often show the video as paused even tho its running on the tv, time seeking is also a buggy experience (especially if you count in the delay between chromecast and your device)

and i am running this setup in a small flat with the only thing connected to my router being my desktop PC and android phone (12mbit cable connection to the internet)
in theory i should be getting great results with minimum lag/delay but alas its not happening
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My lag is 1 second or less, and that was with 3 devices, one on 2.4 GHz and two on 5 GHz. Connect/disconnect/migrate works well for me.

It would be nice to have a wired version or at least option.
It's a new operation model so there are some bumps in the road.

Sent from a device with no keyboard. Please forgive typos, they may not be my own.
 
eep2378

eep2378

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Aug 12, 2010
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bhiga said:
Let us know how it goes - I'm definitely curious as to whether your AVR can pull the audio without relying on the TV to send it back down. I can't really think of a technical reason it shouldn't be able to. The audio return is really meant for when the TV is doing on-board decoding, like when using an on-board QAM tuner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Using the CC with my AVR has turned out to be a great solution for me. Connecting the CC directly to my AVR allows me to listen to Google music without the TV on :D
 
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mauzzz

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Mar 6, 2014
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how to easily switch netflix locale

I have a chromecast to watch netflix from The Netherlands. I use my tomato router to redirect chromecast dns requests to unlocator using iptables. I use an iphone set to unlocator as remote. It works and I can watch content from the netflix US library.

However, I like to watch the US library, my children like the local Dutch library. Can I set up a remote to watch local content while the chromecast is directed to unlocator? Any ideas how to switch easily? Easy as in a child can do it? The hard way to do it is (1) set your preferred locale in your unlocator settings on their website or (2) change iptable rules.

As a last resort I'll have two chromecasts on the same tv, one plain, the other redirected to unlocator. For each a corresponding remote. Switching between US and local content by using the TV source input.
 
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Matthew Carson

Member
Dec 12, 2011
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mauzzz said:
I have a chromecast to watch netflix from The Netherlands. I use my tomato router to redirect chromecast dns requests to unlocator using iptables. I use an iphone set to unlocator as remote. It works and I can watch content from the netflix US library.

However, I like to watch the US library, my children like the local Dutch library. Can I set up a remote to watch local content while the chromecast is directed to unlocator? Any ideas how to switch easily? Easy as in a child can do it? The hard way to do it is (1) set your preferred locale in your unlocator settings on their website or (2) change iptable rules.

As a last resort I'll have two chromecasts on the same tv, one plain, the other redirected to unlocator. For each a corresponding remote. Switching between US and local content by using the TV source input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

If I understand you correctly you want your kids to watch the local content on the remote, not on the Chromecast. In that case you should be able to just change the DNS on your iphone to your ISP's DNS and it should work, and you could switch back and forth. There are DNS switching programs to make it easy on Android. Not sure about iOS.

-Matt
 
M

mauzzz

New member
Mar 6, 2014
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Matthew Carson said:
If I understand you correctly you want your kids to watch the local content on the remote, not on the Chromecast. In that case you should be able to just change the DNS on your iphone to your ISP's DNS and it should work, and you could switch back and forth. There are DNS switching programs to make it easy on Android. Not sure about iOS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

No, that is not what I meant. I want to watch netflix through chromecast, not on a tablet or phone. But I'm trying to find a way to easily switch locale. The only easy way I can think of is using two chromecasts, one plain, the other redirected. (example: I watch netflix US and after that my children want to watch netflix local - because of the dubbed movies - how can they switch?).
 
bhiga

bhiga

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mauzzz said:
I have a chromecast to watch netflix from The Netherlands. I use my tomato router to redirect chromecast dns requests to unlocator using iptables. I use an iphone set to unlocator as remote. It works and I can watch content from the netflix US library.

However, I like to watch the US library, my children like the local Dutch library. Can I set up a remote to watch local content while the chromecast is directed to unlocator? Any ideas how to switch easily? Easy as in a child can do it? The hard way to do it is (1) set your preferred locale in your unlocator settings on their website or (2) change iptable rules.

As a last resort I'll have two chromecasts on the same tv, one plain, the other redirected to unlocator. For each a corresponding remote. Switching between US and local content by using the TV source input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct - because Chromecast needs to be able to access the requested URL, you would either need to disable the iptables rules (to access Dutch content) or change the Unlocator settings. The kids device would use Dutch DNS while your device uses Unlocator.

Probably easier to have two Chromecasts - one using Dutch DNS and one using Unlocator. If you enable HDMI CEC control on your TV inputs, Chromecast will automatically switch the TV to the selected input when a request arrives, so switching between should be seamless, as long as nobody makes a request while the other is watching TV. :)

EDIT: Actually, I guess you could make a script on your router that sets and deletes the iptables rules, then telnet/SSH to it and execute it. If you use a client that can auto-execute a script upon login, like PuTTY, then it might be slightly more convenient than going to the Unlocator website to change settings. I'm not sure...
 
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mauzzz

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Mar 6, 2014
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bhiga said:
EDIT: Actually, I guess you could make a script on your router that sets and deletes the iptables rules, then telnet/SSH to it and execute it. If you use a client that can auto-execute a script upon login, like PuTTY, then it might be slightly more convenient than going to the Unlocator website to change settings. I'm not sure...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

That could work, but not from the iPad mini the kids use to control netflix over chromecast :)

I also contacted Unlocator support for ideas.

we are planning in making an IOS app, which allows you to switch region without having to log in to our website to do so
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

That is of course the simpel and clean solution. You don't need to switch dns servers, you just need to switch the Unlocator region. BTW, they mention iOS because I contacted them saying I was using iOS devices as remotes.
 
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bhiga

bhiga

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Unlocator mobile app would probably be ideal - much cleaner than reconfiguring router (even if automated).

Of course the bright side of your current situation is that your children must ask for your help when they want to watch something! ;)
 
eNkrypt

eNkrypt

Senior Member
Apr 14, 2010
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Lexington, Kentucky
This may have been asked 1000000 times, but I was curious as to if there was any development on the possibility of finding another exploit for updated devices (Hardware or Software Methods)

Is there a team that is actively pursuing the possibility of an exploit, or are the people who just bought ChromeCasts out of luck?

Thanks :)
 
bhiga

bhiga

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Oct 13, 2010
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Reneg4d3 said:
This may have been asked 1000000 times, but I was curious as to if there was any development on the possibility of finding another exploit for updated devices (Hardware or Software Methods)

Is there a team that is actively pursuing the possibility of an exploit, or are the people who just bought ChromeCasts out of luck?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we're only at the handful mark. ;)

tchebb details things in this post.
 
P

punkmexic

Senior Member
Nov 27, 2012
142
10
the youtube remote (youtube leanback) should be compatible with chromecast
can someone make that possible?
i can't belive google is not doing that yet.
 
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    bhiga
    bhiga
    Please use the Find function of your browser (usually Control-F or Command-F) to search for words within.

    FAQ is split into two parts because... I write too much. ;)

    TABLE OF CONTENTS (Note: Only 1st level for brevity)

    PART 1    : (just scroll down)
    1. General
      • What can I do with a Chromecast?
      • How can Chromecast keep playing when I disconnect/shut down/reboot my phone/tablet/computer?
      • How is Chromecast different from Apple AirPlay?
      • Can I use Chromecast outside of the United States?
      • How does Chromecast differ from using a TV output option on my phone/tablet/computer?
      • How does Chromecast differ from other media players like Roku and Apple TV?
      • I'm having trouble setting up my Chromecast with the app - is there a manual setup?
      • Any known issues with routers?
      • What control protocol does Chromecast use?
      • Can I have more than one Chromecast on the same network?
      • Can I cast to more than one Chromecast at the same time, from the same device?
      • My Chromecast came with a 3-month Netflix subscription code. I'm already a Netflix subscriber, can I use this?
      • My Chromecast came with a $6 Google Play Movies credit. What can I use that for?
      • What wireless type does Chromecast use?
      • What are the LED statuses for Chromecast?
      • Where is the Chromecast source? Known issues?
      • Can Chromecast control my TV?
      • Where is the Chromecast API or SDK?
      • Can I use a wired Ethernet connection with Chromecast for better bandwidth/performance?
    2. Capabilities
      • What official apps and sites does Chromecast support?
      • What media types does Chromecast support?
      • Can I cast media stored on my phone/tablet?
      • Can I cast media stored on my computer?
      • Can I cast my computer's desktop?
      • Can I cast my phone/tablet's screen?
      • Can I cast a browser tab?
      • Can I use my computer's speakers while casting to Chromecast?
      • Can I use a DNS other than Google?
      • Can I specify what output resolution (480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, etc) Chromecast uses?
      • Can I use Chromecast on a public hotspot or hotel Wi-Fi?
      • Do I need to have another device with WiFi in order to use Chromecast? Can't I just use it from a wired device on my network?
      • Casting my own media - which app is the best?
    3. Connectivity
      • Can I connect Chromecast to...
      • How do I get audio from Chromecast out my...

    https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2563143#post48788011
    PART 2    : (just scroll down)
    1. Root
      • Which Chromecasts are rootable?
      • My Chromecast is supposed to be rootable, but it has already downloaded a Google OTA update. Can I still root it?
      • How do I root?
      • What does root give me?
      • How can I check what firmware build my Chromecast has if I can't connect it to the Internet?
      • I had root with Eureka-ROM and now it appears I don't?
    2. Official Apps (Questions pertaining to them, not a comprehensive list of official applications)
      • YouTube
      • HBO GO
      • Avia
      • Plex
      • Netflix
      • RealPlayer Cloud

    Proceed to Part 1
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    39
    bhiga
    bhiga
    ^ Go back to Table of Contents (Home, or scroll to top of page)
    > Jump to Part 2 (or just scroll down)

    FAQ is split into two parts because... I write too much. ;)
    Please use the Find function of your browser (usually Control-F or Command-F) to search for words within.

    PART 1
    1. General
      • What can I do with a Chromecast?
        Read Google's walkthrough, it's much better than the Chromecast product page. Also see Google's Chromecast app page. Here is a list of Chromecast-enabled apps on the Play store.

        Important to note here that Chromecast is not a "wireless replacement for a HDMI cable" in all cases. Save for screen-mirroring (coming), use of Chromecast requires that each individual application support it, unlike an HDMI cable which shows the device's entire screen.

        In this manner, Chromecast is more like an accessory that enhances applications that support it.
        One advantage Chromecast has over an HDMI cable is that it can run at full 1080p on the TV, whereas HDMI cable connections can be limited to device's screen resolution.

        Even though Chromecast is technically a standalone device, it's best to think of it as an extension of your tablet or phone's capabilities, rather than a full-fledged device.
      • How can Chromecast keep playing when I disconnect/shut down/reboot my phone/tablet/computer?
        Yes. See this post for more.
      • How is Chromecast different from Apple AirPlay?
        See this discussion.
      • Can I use Chromecast outside of the United States?
        As of March 19, 2014 Chromecast is now available in Canada and Europe.
        You can use Chromecast in other countries but without extra fiddling you will only have access to services available in your country. Region-aware services like YouTube, Netflix and Hulu will only show you content for your country.
        To view content from other countries will require using a DNS relocation service or VPN to get content from another region if the app is not supported in your region. @bagl0312 wrote a guide that should apply to most OpenWRT-based routers.
        See this discussion and Can I use a DNS other than Google? below.
        Also, allowed wireless channels vary outside of the US/Canada, so you might have to set your AP/router to a specific channel if it likes to auto-select one that Chromecast doesn't use.
      • How does Chromecast differ from using a TV output option on my phone/tablet/computer?
        The TV output of your phone/tablet/computer shows everything from your phone/tablet/computer, which can be quite nice. But, of course, the output on your TV is dependent on your phone/tablet/computer - you can't turn your phone/tablet/computer off an expect what's playing to continue playing on your TV.

        Chromecast, on the other hand, operates independently like a "second screen" type device. You send a request from your phone/tablet/computer to Chromecast and it goes and handle the request to play video, music, etc on its own. Unless you are streaming content stored on your phone/tablet/computer, your phone/tablet/computer is just used to monitor and control Chromecast. You can turn it off, or even have another device take over control. Your phone/tablet/computer is just the remote control for the Chromecast playback, and just like a TV remote control, the TV keeps playing if you take the remote away - you just can't control it. And Chromecast is wireless. :)

        If you have a spare Android device with WiFi and TV output, you can try using that as a Chromecast with [App] Cast Receiver app for Android or [App] YouMap Chromecast Receiver for Android
        (Below no longer works as of Cast SDK 2.0 release)
        If you have a spare Android device with WiFi and TV output, you can turn that into a Chromecast with Cheapcast.
        If you already happen to have a computer connected to your TV, you can use it as a Chromecast with the CR Cast extension or Leapcast for Google Chrome.

      • How does Chromecast differ from other media players like Roku and Apple TV?
        There's no remote. Your phone/computer/tablet is your remote. That means no more searching for the remote!
        While Chromecast may not have quite as wide a variety of content available, the the list of applications continues to grow.
      • I'm having trouble setting up my Chromecast with the app - is there a manual setup?
        Yes. Go here: https://cast.google.com/chromecast/setup?np=manualsetup
        Also check Google's Chromecast setup pages and Troubleshooter.
      • Any known issues with routers?
        Here's Google's Router Compatibility list. (The old Router Known Issues & Workarounds page seems to be no longer)
        At least one person needed to disable Parental Controls on their router. Access Control and Content Filtering do similar things so if you are having trouble, try toggling those options as well.
        Also, there are some WiFi Bandwidth and Router considerations to consider as well. Sustainable WiFi bandwidth is critical for a smooth casting experience.
        ISP-supplied Cisco DPC3825 seems not to allow Chromecast traffic between wired and wireless segments. See this post.
        If you suspect there is a bandwidth or router issue and have Netflix, you can try this diagnostic video
      • What control protocol does Chromecast use?
        Chromecast uses the DIAL protocol for discovery and casting.
      • Can I have more than one Chromecast on the same network?
        Yes. Available Chromecasts will appear in a list by name when you initiate the cast.
      • Can I cast to more than one Chromecast at the same time, from the same device?
        Yes, but only from different apps, for example, casting HBO GO to Chromecast #1 while casting YouTube to Chromecast #2.
      • My Chromecast came with a 3-month Netflix subscription code. I'm already a Netflix subscriber, can I use this?
        (Expired)
        Yes! And be sure to use it (or give it to a friend or family member) before December 31, 2013 because that's the date the code expires!
        jbl0ggs reports:
        According to Netflix rep, the 3-month Netflix code from the Chromecast promo, can be redeemed until 01/31/2014
        It'll add on to an existing subscription anyway, so don't delay!

      • My Chromecast came with a $6 Google Play Movies credit. What can I use that for?
        The credit applies to your Google Wallet, so you can use the credit for any content on the Google Play Store except for subscriptions. In other words, anything in Google Play Store with the exception of hardware and subscriptions.
        Be sure to redeem your code before March 31, 2014 because that's the date those codes expire, and the funds must be used by March 31, 2015.
      • What wireless type does Chromecast use?
        From the Play Store specifications Chromecast supports 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n, though I really don't recommend trying it on an 802.11b network unless you have zero interference and minimal other usage.
      • What are the LED statuses for Chromecast?
        Blinking white - Chromecast is not connected to a WiFi access point, or it needs to be set up.
        * In current FlashCast, this means flashing is in progress.
        Solid white - Chromecast is connected to a WiFi access point. It may or may not be able to reach the Internet.
        * In older versions of FlashCast, this means flashing is in progress.
        Solid red - in the boot process (it should go white afterward), settings reset has been requested (by holding the button down)
        * In FlashCast, this means there was a problem flashing. Bad/missing eureka_image.zip or Chromecast may not be rootable.
      • Where is the Chromecast source? Known issues?
        Mirrored source
        Cast SDK issues
        Google Cast Release Notes
      • Can Chromecast control my TV?
        For automatic TV power-on and channel-switching, Chromecast uses HDMI-CEC. Most TVs with HDMI support CEC. Computer monitors, projectors and non-televisions generally do not support CEC.
        HDMI-CEC functionality is sometimes known by other names such as LG Simplink, Panasonic VIERA Link, Samsung Anynet+, Sony BRAVIA Sync. Your TV must have this feature enabled for the input Chromecast is connected to.
        In order for Chromecast to turn your TV on, it must be powered on - not all TVs provide USB power while switched off, so it is recommended to use wall power for Chromecast if you want it to be able to turn your TV on automatically.
        Chromecast does not turn the TV off.
      • Where is the Chromecast API or SDK?
        As of February 3, 2014, it is here!
      • Can I use a wired Ethernet connection with Chromecast for better bandwidth/performance?
        Yes, Google has released an Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast. The adapter is a combined power and OTG Ethernet adapter. The network plugs into the power "brick" which then has a long single cable that goes to the Chromecast. When using the Ethernet adapter you do *not* need to provide your wireless credentials to Chromecast. Unfortunately, because the Ethernet is hardwired to the OTG lines, you cannot use the official Ethernet adapter in conjunction with a powered OTG cable or USB storage. Some third-party USB Ethernet adapters should work if you want to easily switch out USB peripherals on rooted ROMs. Google "Chromecast OTG ethernet"
    2. Capabilities
      • What official apps and sites does Chromecast support?
        See Google's list of Chromecast apps.
        You can also check the Chromecast section of Google Play on your Android device for applications that support Chromecast. Store Home > Apps > Categories > Chromecast button at top
        Or you can check the list of Chromecast-enabled apps on the Play store.
      • What media types does Chromecast support?
        See Google's Supported media types page. Also, Avia notes that Chromecast has difficulty with media bit rates over 10 Mbps. @Asphyx recommends "Encode in H.264 Codec MP4. Keep the Video Bitrate lower than 4000."
        The author of BubbleUPnP has some great information regarding bandwidth and on-the-fly transcoding requirements and how it affects Chromecast streaming. The page is geared toward BubbleUPnP Server, but the information applies to all local-network Chromecast streaming applications.
      • Can I cast media stored on my phone/tablet?
        If media is in a format compatible with Chromecast...Transcoding allows a file that is not natively supported by Chromecast to be converted on-the-fly for playback on Chromecast.
      • Can I cast media stored on my computer?
      • Can I cast my computer's desktop?
        Yes, via the Cast extension for the Chrome browser. Note that there will be some lag between what you see on the computer and what you see on Chromecast as performance will depend greatly on your computer's processing power and your (home) network's bandwidth and latency. See this discussion for more.
      • Can I cast my phone/tablet's screen?
        Android screen mirroring to Chromecast was officially announced at Google I/O 2014 and went live July 9, 2014. It currently requires KitKat 4.4.1 or higher and a supported device, though see below...
        Supported devices at the moment are
        • Nexus 4
        • Google Nexus 5
        • Google Nexus 7 (2013)
        • Google Nexus 10
        • Samsung Galaxy S4
        • Samsung Galaxy S5
        • Samsung Galaxy Note 3
        • Samsung Galaxy Note 10 (2014)
        • HTC One M7
        • LG G Pro2
        • LG G2
        • LG G3
        The list is expected to grow, though the exact device limitations/requirements for screen casting are still not known.
        r3pwn has created an enabler to use screen mirroring on unsupported devices. Your mileage may vary, but worth checking out.

        The lag for screen mirror is minimal under ideal conditions

        If you can't get native mirroring for whatever reason, there is a pure software mirror called mirror4cast. It requires root and performance is nowhere near the native screen mirroring, but it does show what's on the Android display and works on devices running older Android versions.
      • Can I cast a browser tab?
        Yes, via the Cast extension for the Chrome browser
        1. with video?
          Yes, though playback performance will depend greatly on the source format of the video, your computer's processing power and your (home) network's bandwidth and latency.
        2. with full screen video?
          Yes, subject to above, just full-screen the video and it should appear full-screen on Chromecast as well. You can Alt-Tab (Windows) or Cmd-Tab (Mac OS) to let things play in the background while you do other tasks
      • Can I use my computer's speakers while casting to Chromecast?
        While casting, audio will be redirected to Chromecast, so audio will play out of your TV, not your PC. Besides, even if you got the PC speakers playing audio, it would be out of sync with the video on your TV because of compression/decompression and network transfer delay between your computer and Chromecast.
      • Can I use a DNS other than Google?
        By default Chromecast uses Google's DNS servers, regardless of what your DHCP-supplied DNS is.
        1. Stock
          You might be able to have Chromecast "fall back" to DHCP-supplied DNS by having your routerWhich one works will depend on your router's response. See this this thread
          If you have a more-intelligent router, you can set up iptables rules to intercept and re-route DNS requests to a different DNS server.
        2. Rooted
          Flashcast-AutoRoot lets you set the DNS in /data/dns.conf
          Eureka-ROM defaults to using the DHCP-supplied DNS servers, and includes presets for common DNS relocators, or you can set manually specify DNS IPs.
          If you are not using Eureka-ROM, there is a mod to use DHCP-supplied DNS. There are also mods to use the Unlocator DNS service and use the UnoTelly DNS service.
      • Can I specify what output resolution (480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, etc) Chromecast uses?
        Not at this time. You can specify streaming resolution for tab casting, but as far as actual output resolution, Chromecast appears to use the HDMI handshake to determine what it should output. This can potentially be a problem for displays that report 1080p support but do not correctly support 1080p input.
      • Can I use Chromecast on a public hotspot or hotel Wi-Fi?
        While Chromecast might connect to a public hotspot or hotel Wi-Fi network, most public hotspots and hotel Wi-Fi networks are configured to disallow connections between clients, which will prevent Chromecast from receiving cast requests and control from your tablet/phone/computer.
        Also, most of them require accepting some Terms of Service in a browser. Since Chromecast has no interface, you can't accept the terms. The same applies if the service requires a passcode or other authentication.
      • Do I need to have another device with WiFi in order to use Chromecast? Can't I just use it from a wired device on my network?
        Yes, at least for setup. Chromecast setup requires a supported Windows computer with WiFi, Mac OS computer with WiFi, Android device with WiFi, or iOS device with WiFi in order to set up Chromecast. This is because Chromecast acts as an access point during its setup process, so you need a WiFi-enabled device to connect to its access point to configure it. Once it is set up and connected to your wireless network, you can cast to Chromecast from both wired and wireless devices (assuming you're on the same subnet and wireless and wired networks are bridged, which is the default for most routers).
      • Casting my own media - which app is the best?
        It all depends on your needs and your media.
        @Asphyx posted a comprehensive comparison of the initial offerings.
        There are a number of offerings now including BubbleUPnP, Plex, Avia, RealPlayer Cloud, Localcast, etc. so it's probably best to do some searching and read feedback from other users to determine what's best for your case.
        Old information based on the initial offerings (Avia, Plex, RealPlayer Cloud) hidden below.

        Avia is better if...
        1. Your primary playback client is your Android phone/tablet
        2. All your media is in a Chromecast-compatible format, or you are willing to convert it to a Chromecast-compatible format
        3. You have a lot of media on your phone/tablet that you want to play and is Chromecast-compatible
        4. You have a DLNA server that is not a Plex server and you want to cast content from it
        5. You don't want to have a media server running (you don't have a server, or a system you're willing to have running for media playback)
        BubbleUPnP is better if...
        1. Your primary playback client is your Android phone/tablet
        2. All your media is in a Chromecast-compatible format, you are willing to convert it to a Chromecast-compatible format, or you are willing to run BubbleUPnP server
        3. You have a lot of media on your phone/tablet that you want to play and is Chromecast-compatible
        4. You have a DLNA server that is not a Plex server and you want to cast content from it
        5. You don't want to have a media server running (you don't have a server, or a system you're willing to have running for media playback), but you want the option to use one in the future (BubbleUPnP Server)
        Plex is better if...
        1. Your media is not in a Chromecast-compatible format or you have no idea what that means
        2. You have no clue what transcoding means, or you know what transcoding means, but you are unwilling to transcode your media library to make it Chromecast-compatible
        3. You are okay with running Plex Media Server on a system for media playback
        4. You have multiple playback devices (Roku, etc) that you use
        RealPlayer Cloud is better if...
        1. You need transcoding but are unwilling or unable to have a Plex Media Server in your network
        2. You want the convenience of having media on the RealPlayer Cloud
        3. You don't mind uploading non-Chromecast-compatible media to RealPlayer Cloud

    3. Connectivity
      • Can I connect Chromecast to...
        1. a computer monitor?
          Yes, in most cases, as long as the computer monitor supports video (as opposed to computer graphics) over HDMI or DVI.
          Note that connecting over DVI may not provide audio, so you may need an HDMI audio extractor device to "break out" the audio to go to speakers or an aux input.
        2. a HDTV with VGA?
          To be honest, it's probably cheaper and easier to upgrade your TV to one with HDMI.
          Yes, but it will require some kind of HDMI-to-VGA or HDMI-to-RGB converter, preferably one with audio output(s) like the HDfury2 or newer.
          If the converter does not have audio output(s), you will also need an HDMI audio extractor device to "break out" the audio to go to speakers or an aux input.
        3. a HDTV with analog component HD input?
          To be honest, it's probably cheaper and easier to upgrade your TV to one with HDMI.
          Yes, but it will require some kind of HDMI-to-Component converter, preferably one with audio output(s) like the HDfury2 or newer.
          If the converter does not have audio output(s), you will also need an HDMI audio extractor device to "break out" the audio to go to speakers or an aux input.
        4. a TV without HD inputs?
          To be honest, it's probably cheaper and easier to upgrade to an HDTV with HDMI.
          Yes, but it will require some kind of converter to convert HDMI to SD Component, S-Video or Composite video and audio.
          Unless your TV automatically handles widescreen input and the converter you choose sets the widescreen flag on output, make sure to get a converter that handles aspect ratio conversion (ARC, not to be confused with Audio Return Channel for HDMI, which is also ARC) as the Chromecast outputs 16:9 widescreen. Otherwise your Chromecast output will be horizontally squashed (people will be extra skinny).
          If the converter does not have audio output(s), you will also need an HDMI audio extractor device to "break out" the audio to go to speakers or an aux input. See this discussion.
        5. an UltraHD ("4K") TV?
          Sure. The TV will upscale the Chromecast output to the TV's native resolution.
      • How do I get audio from Chromecast out my...
        1. AV receiver?
          If your Chromecast is plugged into your AV receiver, it should pick up the audio automatically.
          If Chromecast is connected to your TV and both support ARC (Audio Return Channel), Chromecast's audio should be able to route through the HDMI cable connected between your TV and AV receiver.
          If Chromecast is connected to your TV and one or both do not support ARC, then you will need to take the audio output from your TV back to your AV receiver. TVs usually have a Digital output for this purpose, either coax SPDIF or optical TOSlink which you can take back to your receiver. If you TV's output and receiver's input don't match, you can get a Coax-to-Optical or Optical-to-Coax converter box.
          If Chromecast is connected to your TV, and one or both do not support ARC, and your TV does not have a digital audio output, then you will need to use analog audio, or get an HDMI audio extractor box to "break out" the audio from the HDMI stream so you can route it to your receiver.
        2. external sound bar or speakers?
          If your sound bar or speakers have HDMI input the information above about hooking up to an AV receiver applies.
          For other situations, you will need an HDMI audio extractor box to "break out" the audio from the HDMI stream so you can route it to your receiver as either a digital or analog signal.

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    bhiga
    bhiga
    ^ Go back to Table of Contents (Home, or scroll to top of page)
    < Back to Part 1 (or just scroll up)

    FAQ is split into two parts because... I write too much. ;)
    Please use the Find function of your browser (usually Control-F or Command-F) to search for words within.

    PART 2
    1. Root
      For additional root questions, please see the Root Mini-FAQ: What's the big deal with root? thread.
      • Which Chromecasts are rootable?
        A new root exploit was released on August 22, 2014. This exploit covers devices with builds older than 19084 (the exploit was patched in build 19084) and requires a Teensy 2.0 or 2++ development board along with a powered USB OTG cable and 1G+ flash drive. See this post for all the details!
        Old: Currently only devices with the original vulnerable bootloader (firmware build 12072) can be rooted.
        As newer Chromecasts are already shipping with newer firmware versions (and therefore no vulnerable bootloader), the serial number seems the most reliable way to tell whether an unused, unopened Chromecast can be rooted.
        Once set up, a stock Chromecast will automatically update its firmware (OTA updates from Google), so the serial number test is not valid for Chromecasts that have already connected to the Internet, unless you are very lucky and it has not yet downloaded or applied an update. See this discussion.

      • My Chromecast is supposed to be rootable, but it has already downloaded a Google OTA update. Can I still root it?
        A new root exploit was released on August 22, 2014. This exploit covers devices with newer bootloaders (12940-17977, perhaps newer), but requires a Teensy 2.0 or 2++ development board along with a powered USB OTG cable and 1G+ flash drive. See this post for all the details!
        Old: If Chromecast has not applied any OTA update, and you did not let it perform the update at boot, then you may be able to abort the update and still root it by opening it, jumping some pins and booting a FlashCast USB stick (it will delete the cached OTA update data). Not for the faint of heart! See this discussion.
        If your Chromecast has already applied any OTA update (your firmware build is no longer 12072), then no. Once an update is applied, the bootloader vulnerability is removed and you can no longer root with FlashCast.

      • How do I root?
        A new root exploit was released on August 22, 2014. This exploit covers devices with newer bootloaders (12940-17977, perhaps newer), but requires a Teensy 2.0 or 2++ development board along with a powered USB OTG cable and 1G+ flash drive. See this post for all the details!
        Old: You go from a stock Chromecast to a rooted Chromecast by using FlashCast to write a rooted firmware (like Eureka-ROM) by using the vulnerability in the original bootloader. The first time you use FlashCast you have to plug it into and boot it on Chromecast twice - first to prepare the FlashCast stick to accept mods, and the second time to flash a rooted, OTA-disabled firmware so you don't lose root.
        Read the Cliff notes version of the procedure, longer more-detailed version, or watch a video of the flashing/rooting process. For a flowchart and troubleshooting, see the Rooting with FlashCast Mini-FAQ.

      • What does root give me?
        ADB, Telnet, SSH, protection from Google OTA updates, ability to run unofficial apps (via Eureka-ROM), ability to change default behavior (like use a different DNS than Google) and the power to peek into the dark corners of your device. ;) See this discussion.
        1. Unofficial apps
          • Audiour - free audio sharing Info & Download
          • put.io - download torrents to cloud storage, rather than local
            See this post
          • AllCast (aka AirCast/KoushCast) old beta - stock Chromecasts should use released AllCast - send video stored on Android phone/tablet to Chromecast Download & Info
          • fling - send (Chromecast-compatible) video stored on computer to Chromecast Download & Info No longer works with Cast SDK 2.0
        2. Custom firmware (installing one of these is REQUIRED to preserve root!)
          • Flashcast-AutoRoot Keeps up-to-date with Google updates, automatically rooting on install. No extra features, but you can customize since you have root. Must install another rooted firmware like Eureka-ROM first! (See hidden below)
          • Eureka-ROM (KyoCast functionality and Use DHCP-provided DNS mods built-in, plus automatic Eureka-ROM OTA updates that upgrade while preserving root and a nifty web management panel)
            USB storage can be mounted via shell, see this thread.
          • Stock OS with updates disabled (to preserve root)[/url] no longer maintained, use Flashcast-AutoRoot
          • Rooted build 13300 (ADB and telnet enabled, OTA updates disabled)
          • PwnedCast - replaced by Eureka-ROM above. Existing PwnedCast installs will OTA upgrade to Eureka-ROM, unless you have disabled PwnedCast OTA updates.

        3. Mods (apply on top of rooted/custom firmware)
          • Use non-Google DNS (Unlocator, Unotelly, etc) - unnecessary for Eureka-ROM users who can specify DNS via the Eureka web panel
            For reference:
            Use DHCP-supplied DNS
            Use Unlocator DNS service.
            Use UnoTelly DNS service
          • Stock boot animation - switch back to the stock Chromecast boot animation when using custom firmware
          • rCast - use Chromecast as a standalone media player without an Internet connection (applies over Eureka-ROM, see the thread)
          • KyoCast (alternate whitelist) old - see below - run apps that have not been blessed by Google without being a developer.
            KyoCast is being phased out and its functionality is included in Eureka-ROM. For reference only, here is the original discussion on KyoCast

      • How can I check what firmware build my Chromecast has if I can't connect it to the Internet?
        Better instructions here.
        In order to use the Chromecast app to check the build, your Chromecast just needs to be connected to your WiFi, it doesn't need Internet. So, disconnect the WAN cable on your router. If you have an integrated modem/router, disconnect the DSL or Cable signal line to it - then nothing will connect to the Internet and you can safely check your Chromecast build from the app. If you have a spare AP or router, you can set up an isolated network and connect your phone/tablet/computer and Chromecast to it for setup.
        Don't forget to disconnect power on Chromecast before you reconnect the Internet!
        To be extra safe, perform a Factory Reset on it by holding down the button until the LED turns red. This will clear the Chromecast settings and it will prompt to be set up again.
      • I had root with Eureka-ROM and now it appears I don't?
        This can happen if the power is pulled or lost during an update.
        You may still have the vulnerable bootloader and be able to get root back, depending on how long it has been since the attempted update.
        Unplug Chromecast from power until you can re-flash the newest Eureka-ROM via OTG.
        This is a good reason to use AC/wall power rather than USB on the TV, as the TV often cuts USB power when the TV is turned off.
        For further details, see this post.
        Also, see note about rooting newer firmware version above.
    2. Official Apps (Questions pertaining to them, not a comprehensive list of official applications)

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    eep2378
    eep2378
    bhiga said:
    Let us know how it goes - I'm definitely curious as to whether your AVR can pull the audio without relying on the TV to send it back down. I can't really think of a technical reason it shouldn't be able to. The audio return is really meant for when the TV is doing on-board decoding, like when using an on-board QAM tuner.
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Using the CC with my AVR has turned out to be a great solution for me. Connecting the CC directly to my AVR allows me to listen to Google music without the TV on :D
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    F
    frantisek.nesveda
    nikkifm said:
    Root or not to root? I have a rootable one but don't have access to a computer at the moment thought. And I know there is some apps that I can use local files with and screen mirroring with but was there a way to root from a android terminal just curious or a imager app? Kinda wanna use this kinda been putting it off lol
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Hi, if you don't have access to a computer, but you have a powered USB OTG cable, you might be able to root it only with your phone, even without a flash drive.
    There is an app called Drivedroid which simulates a flash drive from your phone. Not every phone is supported, but I believe it works on most of them, it works on my old HD2 and on my 2012 Nexus 7 just fine. I haven't tested it, but you might be able to make your phone emulate the flashcast drive image and boot from that, and then root. This is just a theory, though. I don't know if DriveDroid supports the Flashcast image format. But there is no harm in trying.

    If you do not have a powered OTG cable or anything similar, you are unfortunately still out of luck.

    Post back if it worked.

    ---------- Post added at 01:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:06 PM ----------

    Or, I thought of a way that could be much easier.

    If your phone is rooted and supports USB OTG, you can download the flashcast disk image and dd it from your phone to a flash drive. In Android Terminal Emulator type:
    Code: 
    dd if=/path/to/downloaded/image.bin of=/path/to/flashdrive/device bs=1m
    Warning: this will DELETE EVERYTHING on your flash drive and there is no way to get it back. You have been warned.
    Also, if you are NOT 100% SURE with the path to your flash drive device, do not use this command, YOU COULD OVERWRITE SOMETHING IMPORTANT on your device and somehow damage it. In general, anything that begins /dev/block/mmc... is wrong, it is in the internal memory on the phone, not the flash drive. Really, be very careful. You have been warned.

    You should find out where is your flash drive device in the filesystem (NOT /usbdisk or /storage/usbdisk or similar, it is probably somewhere in /dev). On my tablet, it was on /dev/block/sda, but this can vary across devices. You can find out by looking into /dev/block with a file manager, first with the flash drive connected and then with the flash drive disconnected, and see what files are missing there.

    When you prepare your flash drive this way, you can continue with the flashcast guide.

    I just tested this on my Nexus 7 and it works well.
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