(2013-07-26) Chromecast Playing Computer Video Files On Tv

Google made a big splash announcing its $35 ChromeCast device which plus into any HDMI input (on TV or Home Entertainment receiver) to let you watch streaming Video over WiFi on your TV. You use your Tablet/Mobile as a Remote Control, but it never stores/feeds the video.

I know I'm never going to get The Wife to stop paying for lots of Cable channels. So adding NetFlix/Hu Lu isn't a big win for us (though I may give it a try anyway).

A bigger win would be being able to play computer Video files we have on the TV, esp the TV in the bedroom.

• semi-related: Copying Non Itunes Video From Computer To Ipad fail

Since there's no computer in the bedroom, wouldn't want to need that in the middle of the process (to pick the episode, etc.). So the Google Chrome stream the contents of tabs directly from the browser feature of ChromeCast wouldn't cut it. Using Mobile/Tablet as Remote Control might be OK.

In terms of UX, I'd like to make it easy to take ~3 series episodes or a movie from my computer to the TV as easily and cheaply as possible.

A USB Keychain Memory would be an OK transport medium.

Hmm, the UVerse Set Top Box has a USB port in the front...

• you can connect a computer, but that's not what I want
• as of 2010 you couldn't do anything with the port.
• Jul28 update: tried plugging Keychain Memory into USB port - it flashed a few times, but nothing happened, couldn't find anything in any menus, etc.

USB port right in TV?

• Bedroom: The Sony Bravia TV has a USB port (urgh, in the back), which we can use to play video, but maybe only if in MP4, not AVI.
  • hrm some articles make it sound like you can only deal with photos and audio...
  • this talks about videos but notes challenges around varieties of file formats.
  • Jul28 update: I was wrong, my Bravia is a KDL-32L5000 and does not have a USB port, those are all HDMI-in ports.
• Family Room: the LG TV has a USB port. But when plugged in, the only options are Photos and Music. It won't show the video files at all.

How about a Raspberry Pi project?

• you can build a whole XMBC player, but parts (and UX complexity) add up fast.
• this seems simpler but still requires a USB Keyboard as Remote Control. Can I use my Android Mobile/Tablet, or IPad, as Keyboard?
  • Remote Droid sounds like it will work, over WiFi.
  • Simple Computer Remote might work, too.
  • maybe VNC?

OK, enough research, time to stick a couple different-format files on a stick and start shoving it places!

Bought one May'2014 - see ChromeCast page for details.