Chromecast hardware specs

[paperWastage]

Source code for Chromecast (kernel, other stuff...)

So far, the ChromeCast specs did not say anything about display mirroring

Miracast and WiDi are two implementations of wireless mirroring. I'm trying to gather enough details, to see if the Chromecast device supports either/both of the standards

Chromecast has enough hardware to do the encoding/decoding/transfer, and it's a simple software mod to make Miracast/WiDi work properly, then it would be nice

Below is just data collected. Feel free to add more below

Miracast
http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=42853028&postcount=2

That's because Miracast is basically just an MPEG stream sent over a dedicated wifi channel (WiFi Direct). This is why the Nexus 7 can't do Miracast... It doesn't have the ability to have a second channel open at the same time. SHIELD has hardware-accelerated MPEG encoding, so Miracast runs a lot smoother and with less latency. The Nexus 4 either lacks the hardware encoder, or for some reason, doesn't use it.

https://plus.google.com/100811170724158927013/posts/3qUsJBSYfb9

My layman's understanding of Miracast is that we're basically talking a Wi-Fi Direct connection between source and sink, using HDCP for copy protection, and having one device live encode its screen (in our case) as an MPEG stream. H.264 video and some form of audio, LPCM required plus codecs for AAC & AC3 being optional.

In essence and very lay terms, you're recording a very low quality Blu-Ray movie of your screen and streaming it to your TV. All live and in real time. That's terms anyone should understand.

Requirements:
HDCP handshaking?
WiFi Direct Connection support

WiDi

Airplay


Chromecast hardware specs
http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/24/google-chromecast-h2g2-42-fcc-documents-show-off-whats-inside-t/?
Marvell DE3005 - maybe close enough to this DE3100 dual core 1.2ghzSoC Product Brief
(specs below are fon the DE3100)
- Armada 15002(more info on anandtech
- built-in GPU Vivante GC1000(3D graphics GC1000 core)
- ARM v7
? Micron D9PXV 4Gb RAM http://www.micron.com/parts/dram/ddr3-sdram/mt41k256m16ha-125
? Micron 4GB flash memory 29F16G08MAA
AzureWave chip - WiFi

Pics from https://twitter.com/nerdtalker/status/360168961595289600

Looks like some extra output port on the second picture, on the top

 

[dvdmkr]

Wonder what that switch(on top picture) is for..
Also that port on bottom picture, might be used for debug, firmware upgrade?!?! If that's what is for, then linux for ARM possible?! Hope so. That would open for whole new level of usabilty of this gadget.
Very tempting to get one and play with it.

UPDATE-
Went ahead and ordered one from BestBuy website..Scheduled for delivery in between Aug 1 and Aug 9

 

[soccerwuedo5]

Wonder what that switch(on top picture) is for..
Also that port on bottom picture, might be used for debug, firmware upgrade?!?! If that's what is for, then linux for ARM possible?! Hope so. That would open for whole new level of usabilty of this gadget.
Very tempting to get one and play with it.

From Amazon review from (supposed) beta tester:

"The Chromecast can draw power from the HDMI port it's plugged into. If your TV doesn't support that, there's also a USB cable and power adapter included in the box."

So, I suspect that port is for (optional) power supply while plugged in via HDMI to non-powered port.

 

[MikeAshelby]

I'm interested to see about this too... It seems think this could really be a contender if miracast were possible.

 

[paperWastage]

From Amazon review from (supposed) beta tester:

"The Chromecast can draw power from the HDMI port it's plugged into. If your TV doesn't support that, there's also a USB cable and power adapter included in the box."

So, I suspect that port is for (optional) power supply while plugged in via HDMI to non-powered port.

the port that's on the opposite end of the HDMI (i.e. in the top pic on the left), is the microUSB port. look at the pics/videos

dunno what that top port(on the second pic) is for

 

[PacoBell]

the port that's on the opposite end of the HDMI (i.e. in the top pic on the left), is the microUSB port. look at the pics/videos

dunno what that top port(on the second pic) is for

JTAG header?

 

[johnzm]

the button is supposed to be for resetting or helping the chromecast to pickup on a wireless network. as for its "official" labeling of the function, i am not entirely sure as of yet.

there is no mention of the header anywhere that ive seen yet.

 

[ibarra21]

I have a question for this Chromecast.

Would it be possible to play your own music/video in the network using Chromecast (not Netflix, Google Play, etc)? So pretty much, can it be used with DLNA since it also would connect to a network?

All I see from the Description in Google's website was to stream Netflix, Google Play videos, use Chrome etc etc. I didn't see anything about playing local content from your phone/computer/tablet to be played on the TV.

 

[Rebellos]

The unpopulated flex port looks pretty much like LCD display connector.

 

[lowandbehold]

I have a question for this Chromecast.

Would it be possible to play your own music/video in the network using Chromecast (not Netflix, Google Play, etc)? So pretty much, can it be used with DLNA since it also would connect to a network?

All I see from the Description in Google's website was to stream Netflix, Google Play videos, use Chrome etc etc. I didn't see anything about playing local content from your phone/computer/tablet to be played on the TV.

Another thread just popped up on this, check it out. It seems like more and more is being learned about this every hour. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2378276

 

[dvdmkr]

Very good to know that you could stream locally saved movies on TV..
Can't wait for BB to ship mine.. expected delivery date is between 8/1 and 8/9..

It would be a killer if you could load linux(ARM based) on this, access to ext. storages and run torrent...

 

[paperWastage]

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Chromecast+Teardown/16069

ifixit teardown

looking at the info for the AW-NH387, the BT and WiFi share the same antenna... FM uses a separate antenna though

Only BT 3.0

 

[paperWastage]

Bluetooth kernel sources are not present... probably easy to steal it from the google tv's source code

eureka_mv88de30xx_defconfig:316:# CONFIG_MV88DE3100_SDIO_BT_8787 is not set
eureka_mv88de31xx_defconfig:324:# CONFIG_MV88DE3100_SDIO_BT_8787 is not set

EDIT2:
though they could be loaded via modules (not currently loaded, since chromecast = anchovy = uses config 88de30xx instead of 88de31xx

eureka_mv88de31xx_defconfig:766:CONFIG_BT_MRVL=m
eureka_mv88de31xx_defconfig:767:CONFIG_BT_MRVL_SDIO=m

config BT_MRVL
        tristate "Marvell Bluetooth driver support"
        help
          The core driver to support Marvell Bluetooth devices.

          This driver is required if you want to support
          Marvell Bluetooth devices, such as 8688/8787.

          Say Y here to compile Marvell Bluetooth driver
          into the kernel or say M to compile it as module.

config BT_MRVL_SDIO
        tristate "Marvell BT-over-SDIO driver"
        depends on BT_MRVL && MMC
        select FW_LOADER
        help
          The driver for Marvell Bluetooth chipsets with SDIO interface.

          This driver is required if you want to use Marvell Bluetooth
          devices with SDIO interface. Currently SD8688/SD8787 chipsets are
          supported.

there is WiFi Direct support on the 8787 wifi source