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Google’s simple device will shake up television
Marketwatch ^ | July 31, 2013, 7:18 a.m. EDT | Carol Kopp

Posted on 07/31/2013 12:17:59 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Commentary: Easy to watch anything on the Internet on your TV

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Thinking of C-SPAN from their Archives.

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By Carol Kopp

Here’s what all the noise was about on Monday morning.

At Netflix headquarters, people were cheering. At the big cable companies , they were shaking in their boots. At Amazon , one executive might have been trying to explain what went wrong.

At Google , they were just quietly smiling.

It was all about a thumb-size, $35 gadget called Google Chromecast that came out last week with little fanfare, almost as an afterthought to the announcement of a new version of its Nexus 7 tablet.

It’s sold out already, with more stock due in three or four weeks.

(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: appletv; boxee; chrome; chromecast; google; googlechronecast; googleplay; hdtv; hitech; netflix; pandora; prolefeed; roku; simpletv; television; vastwasteland; youtube
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; a fool in paradise

If you’re old enough, you’ll remember how cable TV was going to shake up television. No more commercials with cable TV!


21 posted on 07/31/2013 12:46:52 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: oh8eleven
First of all, your TV has to have a USB connection.
Second, you have to have a WiFi source.
Third, how is this different from a smart TV or smart BlueRay player?

Exactly. My Sony HDTV/PS3 together can already do all of these things.

This reminds me. Why haven't I cancelled my cable yet?

22 posted on 07/31/2013 12:47:00 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: oh8eleven

Sounds like RabbitTV - I picked one of those up for 10 bucks does the same thing. Movies, TV episodes, music that is posted on the internet can be viewed on any USB TV/Computer that is internet connected wifi or otherwise.


23 posted on 07/31/2013 12:48:51 PM PDT by reed13k (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.)
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To: onyx
Geez...I meant to say ....did you mean ...But me

Do you have a smart phone or a tablet,

Google has a app that you download I guess....

Got to read thru the Anandtech article again...I think it is possible to run it from a computer...but the handheld adroid would be better.

Been looking at those...but I need BIG text and icons.

24 posted on 07/31/2013 12:49:47 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Google’s simple device will shake up television

a remote control that only has an "off" button?


25 posted on 07/31/2013 12:50:00 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I will gloat over the demise of the cable companies. The future is unlimited choices using the internet, and viewed on a computer or on a TV.


26 posted on 07/31/2013 12:50:15 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible traitors. Complicit in the destruction of our country.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I already get this on my smart TV. Browser, Netflix, Hulu, Pandora and a host of other apps. I guess this is something I’ll pass on.


27 posted on 07/31/2013 12:50:58 PM PDT by melissa_in_ga (Laz would hit it.)
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To: discostu
so if there’s some streaming content on nbc.com you want to see you probably have to see it on you computer, because your TV either can’t get to it or can’t understand it

I see. Yes, this is improved over what I have. I can watch youtube seamlessly on my TV but I am limited as to what else I can stream.

28 posted on 07/31/2013 12:51:07 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I prefer big-screen TVs. I’m not going to try and watch microbe-sized people on a phone or tablet.


29 posted on 07/31/2013 12:52:13 PM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
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To: jeffc
OOops. Missed the part about plugging it into a TV...

Heh-heh.....

30 posted on 07/31/2013 12:53:17 PM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Cheap Roku Box $25 or so on eBay Includes remote. Use PLEX or Twonky - both free. You can run anything from computer or smart phone to you TV in the highest quality it was uploaded including YouTube Vids. Works great for me + I have Netflix that runs through the Roku along with a hundred or so FREE Roku Channels. Older Roku box will display up to 720P and the newer generation like Roku3 will take 1080P both recorded and streaming. Also, you don't need a HDMI TV or HDMI input for all the Roku boxes other than the newest Roku3
Anyway, any questions you might have, message me as I am an expert in these matters. :-)
31 posted on 07/31/2013 12:54:29 PM PDT by Chance Hart
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Why is this being so hyped? There is already the Roku, which has faster Ethernet available, not just wireless.


32 posted on 07/31/2013 12:55:51 PM PDT by montag813 (NO AMNESTY * ENFORCE THE LAW * http://StandWithArizona.com)
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To: Revolting cat!
No more commercials with cable TV!

*snort!* Yeah, I remember when MTV first debuted, and Band Members on the VJ timeslots promoting it: Commercial-Free Rock and Roll! "I Want My MTV!"

That did not last long...

33 posted on 07/31/2013 12:56:48 PM PDT by Utilizer (what does not kill you... -can sometimes damage you QUITE severely!)
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To: jeffc
Tje smartphone or tablet is just a control device.

Smarter

34 posted on 07/31/2013 12:59:15 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Do I have to unplug my Logitech Google TV box to use this /sarc


35 posted on 07/31/2013 12:59:31 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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To: reed13k

Rabbit TB... Any tips on using it? It seems to require ‘Doze-XP at least, and since I run a Linux setup I still have not figured out how to get it going thus far. I mean, how hard could they possibly make it? About five megs of actual program code, but it justs faceplants no matter what settings I input under Wine.


36 posted on 07/31/2013 1:01:02 PM PDT by Utilizer (what does not kill you... -can sometimes damage you QUITE severely!)
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To: jeffc

Yeah, those sub-thumb size displays require really young eyes.


37 posted on 07/31/2013 1:03:16 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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To: montag813

Guess because it has the Google name on it.


38 posted on 07/31/2013 1:03:52 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: oh8eleven
First of all, your TV has to have a USB connection. Second, you have to have a WiFi source. Third, how is this different from a smart TV or smart BlueRay player?

The chromecast dongle will let you browse via your tablet, smart phone or laptop from your living room. Have you tried to do similar things with a remote control or xbox controller? It stinks! Start to play any video and hit the chromecast icon to send that video to your TV. Unlike Apple TV, it doesn't stream from whatever you used to start the video. You basically tell the dongle what to watch and it connects wireless to your home internet for the connection. It is nice to watch youtube videos on your TV.

It plugs into the TVs HDMI port. The dongle itself has a USB port to be powered. A video review I saw had that going into a wall outlet, like a phone charger. So you need a free HDMI port available. Most flatscreen TVs have several HDMI inputs. Tens of millions of Americans subscribe to netflix, HULU and amazon prime. Now I don't have any experience with Amazon Prime, but I have the other two services. Netflix of course is the most popular. Most ppl watch netflix on their computers. And of the dedicated devices I have personally seen for netflix, it's a bit of meh, because the web site of netflix gives you all the features and ways to search/browse titles. On a "device" like a blu-ray player or xbox, you can't browse titles as nicely (I'd say it's really terrible) as via the website.

I have cut the cord and no longer have cable. I just didn't watch TV often enough, let alone cable channels once I got netflix (and since HULU) to justify the expense. I set up a HTPC to cut the cord with an old PC. It has a TV turner card so I can get over the air broadcast and it records them just like any DVR will. So in that sense, I won't be a customer for this device. However, if I still had cable, and hence no HTPC, I'd be over this gizmo like white on rice. Then again, if you have heard about a company called AERO, it is conceivable that this $35 dollar device could be an all-in-one solution for even me.
39 posted on 07/31/2013 1:08:26 PM PDT by BJ1
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To: BJ1

So ....who or what is AERO?


40 posted on 07/31/2013 1:18:51 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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