AppleInsider Staff
Google on Tuesday released the official Chromecast application for iOS, giving iPhone and iPad users the ability to set up the HDTV dongle from their mobile device.
The Chromecast app is a free download available on the iOS App Store. With it, users can set up Chromecast to work with their Wi-Fi network, and manage settings with the device, such as device name or Wi-Fi password.
Google's app can also be used to identify and set up multiple Chromecast devices. The $35 accessory was launched in July as a competitor to the Apple TV in the home theater streaming market.
The official Chromecast app is a 6.2-megabyte download compatible with iPhone 3GS or later and all iPad models. It requires iOS 5.1 or later.
The Chromecast hardware allows users to stream content from their mobile device to their TV, much like Apple's AirPlay Mirroring available with Apple TV. Official Google apps such as YouTube for iOS already include Chromecast support.
Marko Zivkovic
Andrew Orr
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Andrew O'Hara
28 Comments
Thanks, I'll pass. Got the AppleTV already, all 3 generations. So a bit late to the party. Besides, [I]"Chrome"[/I]. Sounds like it needs to be polished.
That last paragraph is wrong. Mobile devices do not stream directly to the Chromecast.
Nothing "Apple" to see here. Moving on!
[quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/159227/official-google-app-lets-chromecast-owners-set-up-streaming-device-from-iphone-ipad#post_2386007"] The Chromecast hardware allows users to stream content from their mobile device to their TV, much like Apple's AirPlay Mirroring available with Apple TV. Official Google apps such as YouTube for iOS already include Chromecast support.[/quote] A smaretphone/tablet is used to [B]initialize[/B] the media request, but then communicates directly with the media provider rather than steaming from the owner's device. Besides offering a stutter-free hi-def media play it leads to another big plus: Your smartphone or tablet is freed up for other tasks. I've yet to see any difference between watching Netflix with a Chromecast or watching Showtime on FiOS. Those folks reporting stutters and lags with Netflix or YouTube were probably not using the Chromecast-specific apps and trying to steam from their smartphone instead.
[quote name="Gatorguy" url="/t/159227/official-google-app-lets-chromecast-owners-set-up-streaming-device-from-iphone-ipad#post_2386039"] A smaretphone/tablet is used to [B]initialize[/B] the media request, but then communicates directly with the media provider rather than steaming from the owner's device. Besides offering a stutter-free hi-def media play it leads to another big plus: Your smartphone or tablet is freed up for other tasks. I've yet to see any difference between watching Netflix with a Chromecast or watching Showtime on FiOS.[/quote]I've heard reports that it's not stutter free. But I can tell you firsthand that my iPhone to apple tv has been stutter free and HD thus far.