If you have a Chromecast, do yourself a favour and try Videostream.

If you have a Chromecast, do yourself a favour and try Videostream.

I've been using and enjoying my Chromecast ever since they were first released. But with the release of Videostream the humble little Chromecast just became a whole lot more useful. For those who don't know, a Chromecast is simply a little HDMI dongle that connects to your wireless network and which you plug into your TV; once set up you can send or "cast" YouTube videos, Google Music, etc to your TV. You can grab a Chromecast from the Play Store https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=chromecast&hl=en. 

Videostream is a Web App that you can add to Chrome browser here https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/videostream-for-google-ch/cnciopoikihiagdjbjpnocolokfelagl. Once running in your browser Videostream connects to your Chromecast (so long as you're running on the same WiFi network) and allows you to select videos and movies stored on your computer (or a connected external HDD) and cast them straight to your TV. It buffers for a couple of seconds but then, in my experience, runs and plays perfectly with no noticeable degradation in image quality as far as I can tell. 

Even better, when you install Videostream the Android App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.videostream.Mobile&hl=en you have a simple and convenient remote control for movie playback on your phone. 

The whole system is simple, easy to set up and, for me at least, really reduced the friction I encounter in this form of media consumption. 

#chromecast   #videostream   #media