Google’s simple device will shake up television

Marketwatch ^ | July 31, 2013, 7:18 a.m. EDT | Carol Kopp

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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

*****************************************************

Thinking of C-SPAN from their Archives.

*********************************

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.

[Revolting cat!]

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

[Drew68]

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?

[reed13k]

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.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Google’s simple device will shake up television

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

[I want the USA back]

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.

[melissa_in_ga]

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.

[Drew68]

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.

[jeffc]

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

[jeffc]

OOops. Missed the part about plugging it into a TV...

Heh-heh.....

[Chance Hart]

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. :-)

[montag813]

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

[Utilizer]

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...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Tje smartphone or tablet is just a control device.

Smarter

[steve86]

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

[Utilizer]

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.

[steve86]

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

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Guess because it has the Google name on it.

[BJ1]

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.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

So ....who or what is AERO?