Chromecast?

[evilfantasy]

Pretty much Chromecast is a cheap way for people to make their TV into a Smart TV, BUT if you already have a laptop with HDMI port, its kind of pointless because you can quickly turn your laptop into a HTPC with HDMI cable between PC and TV to play the movie or video game on the larger TV screen. 

I have been tempted to sell my used less than 4 hours Chromecast, but after all it was only $30 and cant be worth much used anyways.

Agreed. Chromecast is more of a novelty then it is an entertainment device. Especially when you put it up against Roku.

I got lucky returning my Chromecast. I decided to return it and printed out the shipping label and got it dropped off at UPS on the very last day of return eligibility. If I had waited another 3 hours it would have been ineligible for return.

[strollin]

The difference between using a laptop with the Chromeast vs using HDMI is that with the Chromecast, once the video is started the laptop can be shutdown or you could use it to play a game or whatever since it's not really used anymore (basically becomes a remote to stop/start, pause, etc...).  With the HDMI approach, the laptop is tied up for the duration.  The Chromecast device doesn't need to be in the same room, just on the same network whereas HDMI is limited by cable length.  With the Chromecast, I can use my laptop, netbook, tablet or smartphone to "cast" content.

The Chromecast is actually pretty cool but is held back from a lack of apps to support it.

[evilfantasy]

There are apps that allow you to do more with Chromecast but they all seem to have at least one bug. AllCast is pretty good and what I have kept. It works with Roku also and ClockworkMod is an active developer who keeps improving his apps. I use his Helium backup app and like it a lot too. You just have to search the app store and find one you like.

AllCast lets you send photos, music, and videos on your Android to your TV! (The free version is a trial)

AllCast lets you cast to:

* Chromecast (http://amzn.to/1lOq4bI)
* Subtitles supported
* Amazon Fire TV (http://amzn.to/OMqmnj)
* Subtitles supported
* Apple TV (http://amzn.to/1izCgJ3)
* Xbox 360, Xbox One (http://amzn.to/1iBWxz1)
* Roku (http://amzn.to/1ef4T2p)
* WDTV (http://amzn.to/1oRCTGX)
* Samsung, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs
* Other DLNA Renderers

This is the free version of AllCast, which has a 1 minute viewing limit on pictures and videos. Upgrade to the premium version to remove the viewing limit.

[sebrantley]

Bought one. It gets too hot to leave it plugged in for very long. Not too bad if you are doing a business presentation for an hour or so. But to watch a two hour movie or have an afternoon marathon, you'll need to remove it with a cloth to keep from burning your fingers.

[strollin]

I had my Chromecast plugged in for months without ever turning it off.  When I unplugged it a few weeks ago to replace it with my Roku, it was not hot to the touch.  I suppose it could have gotten hot while streaming video but I never handled it immediately after streaming any content.