I’ve been alerted that Google Cast technology will be hitting existing Google Fiber television hardware in the very near future… making subscriber’s “cable” TV set-top boxes that much more interesting, as tons of over-the-top Internet audio and video apps become available, via smartphone control, in a far more efficient manner than, say, TiVo’s approach of negotiating development of individual apps like HBO GO. Beyond my trusted source, additional evidence can be found in this Chromecast code snippet, referencing the “Google fiber remote,” and from some beta testers who look to have prematurely spilled the beans.
Efficient, yes. Wife-friendly, no. I like the idea of it being included to get an initial burst of content availability but native apps with a remote are the preferred method for me.
“Efficient, yes. Wife-friendly, no. … native apps with a remote are the preferred method for me.”
Obviously fails the WAF test. But also fails the “me” test. Smart phones are stupid, stupid teevee remotes.
(And, yeah, I’m one of those oddballs who really appreciate the unified OnePass queue/interface.)
Yeah, there are definite benefits to a physical remote. But, for many, the dozens or hundreds of current Internet apps suddenly available vs the typical cable box Google competes against, and even TiVo, could outweigh it. How often do we find ourselves asking for TiVo updates? Amazon and Hulu had been ignored for so long. Still so many missing apps like HBO NOW and WatchESPN.
Yeah, what Dave said. I’m happy enough with my Roamio OTA for the time being — the streaming situation has improved a lot since I got it a year ago — but I’ve given up on it ever being the ideal “one TV box” solution for me because it will never be a first-class streaming box. But having Google Cast like the Google Fiber box will have could definitely help fill in some of its gaps though (not that I expect it to ever gain such capability).
Why not just update the Fiber home boxes to be Android TV set top boxes or something? Unless this is exactly what they’re doing. I dunno. I’m still wishing Fiber would come to my area…
Yeah, I bought a Chromecast first gen when they hit, but was turned off by casting programs. I’d start a Netflix movie, and try to cast, but the movie would start casting on my iPad for the first minute or so before it hit the Chromecast. And one time, after not using the Chromecast for a few months (but it remaining connected throughout that time), it wouldn’t even reconnect to my network without a reconfiguration, so by the time I got that done, I ended up being free to return to the living room for my show instead of watching Chromecast in my bedroom. Now that I have Minis throughout the house, the Chromecast sits in my closet with an Actiontec MoCA bridge and a couple of Series 2 TiVos.
You’d think these companies would be bending over backwards to get their apps on as many platforms as possible, regardless of additional development requirements, as that just means more money in their pockets, whether from subs or ad sales. I don’t get the reason for TiVo to have to arm twist and negotiate contracts, unless TiVo themselves are the ones playing hardball by insisting on a cut of the revenue. Seems to me like “The One Box” having as many apps as possible, and the content providers creating apps for as many platforms as possible, would be a win-win scenario for all involved.
Native apps and the ability to use a single remote on a single device would be preferable. But in the absence of such apps, the ability to receive streams is better than nothing. And, like Dave suggested, the ability to receive streams does somewhat lessen the annoyance of being stuck with apps that don’t get updated. Case in point, before they finally/recently updated the Hulu app on the Roamios, I used the DIAL/cast functionality on the phone app to avoid using the ugly, clunky old TiVo app interface.
I was an early adopter of the Chromecast as well, and I still use it from time to time, but it would be great if that generic (i.e., not app specific) cast receiving functionality came to TiVo so I would have one less device to toggle between. Of course, the only services that I actually occasionally use via the Chromecast that are missing from TiVo’s lineup are Google Play Music and Movies. But I would be more inclined to rent/purchase from Play Movies if I could access that content from the TiVo.
(It’s funny because I am reluctant to purchase digital content from Amazon because they don’t support the Chromecast, but I’m reluctant to purchase digital content from Google because they don’t support the TiVo. I’m also reluctant to purchase digital content from Vudu because it’s Walmart.)
Is Google Cast functionality something that the Bolt (or Roamio) hardware could actually support in the future with a software update? I doubt it would happen, but it would be cool.
Y’all are delusional and crazy. (I mean that in the nicest way, of course. All due respect.)
All these statements how about this will be just great in filling in the gaps in theory. But the practice is a bit different, no?
The lean-back space is pretty unique, and civilians in general – even most techies and hobbyists too – don’t want to pilot their lean-back experience with a smart phone.
I mean, we’ve all tried it. We all think it’s a cool proof-of-concept. And then we almost all stop using it…
@Chucky: Well, if you’re a TiVo user who wants apps not available on TiVo, which is the more appealing option? Spend $50 on a Roku stick and switch TV inputs and remotes whenever you want to use those apps OR pick up your phone/tablet and cast the app to your TiVo (assuming that TiVo had Google Cast capabilities)? I don’t see how the latter option is delusional and crazy. Some people would prefer the former, some the latter. Neither is perfect but at least option #2 is free (in the imaginary world in which TiVo becomes Google Cast-ified, which shall never come to pass).
“which is the more appealing option? … switch TV inputs and remotes whenever you want to use those apps OR pick up your phone/tablet and cast the app”
Switch inputs and use a normal lean-back remote and normal lean-back UX. Not even a close decision.
FWIW, I use Plex frequently, and I’ve had Plex casting on my phone for years, along with the ability to use my phone to switch TV inputs. Convenient! Just pick up the phone, and I’m good to go! But after a month, I stopped using it, and went back to 1) Use TiVo remote to switch inputs 2) Fish out that awful Mac Mini remote and use it control Plex. If Plex were on input 1, it wouldn’t change anything for me.
And I’ve got TiVo casting on my phone too! I played with that for about two weeks before I stopped.
“I don’t see how the latter option is delusional and crazy.”
Look, all I’m saying is that despite smart phone casting being a terrific proof-of-concept demo that we all initially love playing with, it’s just not how civilians want to experience the lean-back. Hell, it’s not even how most cutting-edge hobbyists want to experience the lean-back after the initial novelty wears off.
And, hey! I could be wrong! But I do think the lean-back is a unique space with unique UX rules that folks tend to ignore, which is something I’ve harped on for years, generally correctly. But past performance is no guarantee of future success.
Not sure I agree with you, Chucky. For me, it probably depends on how quickly one’s set-up switches inputs versus how quickly the casting begins. I have a Logitech universal remote which definitely eases the pain of switching inputs but I still don’t like doing it — there’s always a several-seconds waiting period while the receiver switches over, the TV switches over, the streaming device fires up. Meanwhile, either my Android phone or my iPad is always at hand. And frankly, I’m not sure I see why browsing and clicking using a remote control and a TV screen is better than browsing and touching a (likely faster and more responsive) handheld device. Vizio seems to think the latter is better as their newest Google Cast-enabled UHD monitors do not have built-in apps but instead come with Android tablets for casting.
http://www.vizio.com/smartcast