Come funziona Chromecast

La maggior parte dei drogati di streaming multimediale ha già una certa esperienza nell'ottenere intrattenimento sui propri televisori da Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube o simili. Puoi farlo con sistemi di gioco, DVR, lettori Blu-ray, smart TV che dispongono di hardware di streaming integrato e set-top box appositamente progettati per lo streaming, come il Roku. Ma con il lancio di Chromecast nel luglio 2013, Google è entrata nel gioco dei media in streaming.

Chromecast è un dongle ingrandito delle dimensioni di una chiavetta USB che si collega alla porta HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) di un moderno televisore e ti consente di trasmettere (o meglio trasmettere) contenuti multimediali dal tuo computer o dispositivo mobile esistente attraverso la tua rete Wi-Fi domestica e su il tuo schermo televisivo. Puoi riprodurre film e programmi TV con una risoluzione fino a 1080p, ascoltare musica attraverso il sistema audio del tuo centro di intrattenimento e in alcuni casi persino visualizzare pagine Web sullo schermo della TV.

Il tuo telefono, tablet, laptop o desktop funge da sito di lancio iniziale per l'intrattenimento e da telecomando per controllare ciò che vedi e ascolta sullo schermo della TV. A condizione che tu disponga già di un dispositivo adatto che esegue un sistema operativo compatibile e disponga di Wi-Fi tramite un router compatibile, ottieni tutte queste funzionalità al costo del Chromecast, che al suo debutto aveva un prezzo inferiore alla maggior parte dei dispositivi di streaming simili a $ 35 al dettaglio.

Continua a leggere per scoprire cosa fa funzionare questo piccolo ma potente dispositivo.

1. Specifiche tecniche del Chromecast
2. Cosa rende Chromecast in streaming sulla tua TV?
3. Quali servizi funzionano con Chromecast?
4. Configurazione di Chromecast
5. Cosa puoi fare con Chromecast
6. Confronto con i concorrenti
7. Accoglienza critica e sviluppo futuro

Il Chromecast è un piccolo dispositivo nero con un fattore di forma simile a un'unità flash a bulbo . È 2,8 pollici (72 millimetri) di lunghezza, 1,4 pollici (35 millimetri) di larghezza e 0,5 pollici (12 millimetri) di altezza, con un peso di 1,2 once (34 grammi). Ha un connettore di uscita HDMI su un'estremità e una porta micro-USB sull'altra estremità. Ha anche un pulsante di reset e una spia di stato a LED.

Le sue parti interne includono una scheda madre con un processore system-on-a-chip, 512 megabyte (MB) di SDRAM, 2 gigabyte (GB) di memoria flash e un modulo WLAN WiFi, Bluetooth e FM. Curiosità per tutti gli appassionati di Douglas Adams: il numero di modello del dispositivo, H2G2-42, sembra essere un riferimento alla "Guida galattica per autostoppisti" [fonte: iFixit ].

Per utilizzare Chromecast, avrai bisogno di una TV o di un monitor con almeno una porta HDMI aperta, che dovresti trovare su quasi tutti i televisori ad alta definizione (HD). Il dispositivo ha un'uscita video con risoluzione massima di 1080p. Chromecast è compatibile con il controllo elettronico dei consumatori (CEC). Avrai anche bisogno di una buona connessione di rete WiFi. Il WiFi è 802.11b/g/n (802.11n solo a 2,4 GHz) con sicurezza WEP, WPA e WPA2.

Il dispositivo viene fornito con quanto segue:

Gli ultimi due di quanto sopra possono essere utilizzati opzionalmente. L'extender funziona per collegare il dispositivo se non si adatta perfettamente a nessuna delle porte HDMI disponibili, ma il suo utilizzo può anche aiutare a migliorare la ricezione Wi-Fi se il Chromecast ha problemi di connessione alla rete.

Il dispositivo viene alimentato utilizzando il cavo di alimentazione USB collegato al Chromecast tramite la porta micro-USB, con l'altra estremità collegata a una porta USB standard o all'alimentatore per l'inserimento in una presa a muro.

Chromecast è supportato con i seguenti sistemi operativi, sebbene alcune delle sue funzionalità possano funzionare con sistemi operativi leggermente meno recenti in alcuni casi:

Chromecast trasmette le cose allo schermo della TV da un dispositivo remoto in parte utilizzando qualcosa chiamato protocollo DIAL (Discovery And Launch). DIAL è stato sviluppato congiuntamente da Netflix e YouTube, che è di proprietà di Google. DIAL è stato effettivamente lanciato su Google TV, la precedente incursione di Google nel controllo TV, e ora viene integrato in dispositivi e app da numerosi produttori e fornitori di contenuti.

Uno dei componenti di Chromecast, il protocollo DIAL Service Discovery, utilizza il Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP) versione 1.1, definito da UPnP (Universal Plug and Play), per consentire a un dispositivo client DIAL di individuare un dispositivo server DIAL in esecuzione sullo stesso Rete. L'altro componente, il servizio DIAL REST (Representational State Transfer), è quindi accessibile per interrogare, avviare o arrestare applicazioni utilizzando richieste HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) dal dispositivo client al dispositivo server. Nel caso di Chromecast, il tuo telefono, tablet o computer è il client e il Chromecast stesso è il server.

Google ha creato la tecnologia di condivisione dello schermo di Google Cast per funzionare su DIAL, aggiungendo molte più funzionalità di quelle che DIAL potrebbe offrire da solo. Ha sviluppato Google Cast SDK (Software Development Kit) per consentire agli sviluppatori di aggiungere funzionalità correlate ad app di terze parti che possono essere utilizzate per avviare contenuti multimediali dal dispositivo client al Chromecast. Esistono API di Google Cast (Application Programming Interfaces) per ogni sistema operativo compatibile. Tutto ciò consente funzionalità come la pausa e il controllo del volume, oltre a funzionalità aggiuntive che gli sviluppatori di app sono liberi di implementare. A gennaio 2014, l'SDK era ancora disponibile solo in modalità di anteprima e solo i partner selezionati potevano avviare app sul dispositivo. Tuttavia, ciò potrebbe cambiare quando Google aprirà un SDK definitivo a tutti più tardi nel 2014.

Il Chromecast esegue in realtà una versione ridotta del browser Chrome e le applicazioni sul dispositivo sono applicazioni Web che ricevono le suddette richieste HTTP e reagiscono di conseguenza. Una volta avviata, l'app sarà effettivamente in esecuzione sul Chromecast, ma si aprirà un canale di comunicazione che consentirà al dispositivo client di agire come una sorta di telecomando. Questa dinamica ti consente di spegnere il tuo dispositivo mobile senza interrompere tutto ciò che è in streaming dal Chromecast alla tua TV.

Per configurare Chromecast, devi installare un'app speciale o un'estensione di Chrome, a seconda del dispositivo che stai utilizzando come lanciatore multimediale. Una volta configurato, utilizzi app di terze parti come Netflix, YouTube o il browser Chrome per avviare e controllare i tuoi contenuti.

Attualmente ci sono altre app che funzionano in combinazione con set-top box come i sistemi di gioco per consentirti di utilizzare uno smartphone o un tablet come telecomando. Ma in questi casi, devi avviare l'app sul set top box e l'app sul dispositivo mobile ed eseguirle contemporaneamente. Chromecast (tramite DIAL) elimina un passaggio consentendo l'avvio e il controllo di un'app da un singolo dispositivo per la riproduzione sulla TV tramite Chromecast. Potrebbe annunciare la futura semplificazione della situazione del telecomando del nostro soggiorno.

Continua a leggere per scoprire quali app funzionano attualmente con il dispositivo.

Al momento del lancio, non molto oltre a Netflix e YouTube funzionava su Chromecast, ma da allora molti altri servizi sono stati integrati con il dispositivo. Includono video, musica, notizie, archiviazione multimediale e app di condivisione e persino il browser Internet di Google, Chrome, con alcuni avvertimenti.

Quanto segue potrebbe essere lanciato su Chromecast a partire dall'inizio del 2014:

La funzione di trasmissione delle schede del browser Chrome è ancora in versione beta su tutti tranne alcuni siti Web ottimizzati per Chromecast a partire da gennaio 2014. Non funziona ancora dai browser Chrome degli smartphone e richiede un computer veloce su una rete Wi-Fi veloce con una forte connessione a funzionare correttamente.

Ovviamente, dovrai registrarti e, in alcuni casi, pagare, per molti dei servizi sopra elencati per poter eseguire lo streaming di contenuti da essi.

If you have the requisite WiFi network, a compatible device that is connected to that network, and the desire to use any of the services that can stream through Chromecast, the next step is getting one and going through a few simple steps. You will need to know your WiFi password for setup.

It may also require some configuration of your WiFi router under certain circumstances, and it's possible for your router to be incompatible with the Chromecast. Google's support site has a Chromecast Router Compatibility page with a long list of compatible routers, which also includes the firmware version, possible workarounds for certain issues and contact information for the router manufacturers.

Barring connection issues, you simply plug the USB power cable into the Chromecast and into a power source, and plug the Chromecast into an HDMI port on your television set. The HDMI connector on the Chromecast can also be plugged into the included HDMI extender, which can be connected to the TV, either if there is no room for the device directly in the HDMI port or if you are having WiFi reception issues.

Suitable power sources are either a USB port on a device like your TV, or the included power adapter plugged into a wall outlet. There's a warning on the Chromecast site and in the documentation not to plug the USB cable into a port labeled "service," but only into one clearly marked as a USB port.

Once the device is connected and powered, switch the TV's input to the right HDMI port, and the television will display a "set me up" screen that prompts you to visit google.com/chromecast/setup. You should go to this site on the device you want to use to control the Chromecast. The setup screen also shows the default name of the Chromecast.

From there, you'll download, install and run a Chromecast app if you're using a smartphone or tablet (it will direct you to the appropriate app store), or the Google Cast extension for the Chrome browser if you are using a desktop or laptop. If you are using a computer that doesn't already have the Chrome browser, you will have to install that, as well.

If you go to the setup site from a device that runs an unsupported operating system, it will warn you but let you try to install software anyway. The Google Cast extension may install on some non-supported OSes, and in some cases may even work to an extent, but the functionality will likely be unpredictable.

In the case of the Chromecast app, it will take you through several more steps to set up your new device. You connect your phone's WiFi to the Chromecast itself rather than your home network. A code should appear both on the TV screen and on your launch device screen. You confirm that they match to move forward. You'll be prompted to change the name of the Chromecast to something personal. You then select your home WiFi network, enter your password and hit a button to finish set up.

Once it's connected to WiFi, the Chromecast will probably do an auto-update to grab the latest software, which may take a few minutes. Anytime updated software is available, the device downloads and installs it automatically, whether you're performing setup or not.

After all this, provided there are no connection issues, your mobile device or computer should be ready to stream to your TV via Chromecast. The next step is opening an app and casting away.

To use Chromecast on your mobile device, make sure you're connected to WiFi, and open a supported application, such as Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus or Pandora. Installation of the Chromecast app (which you already did for setup, most likely) makes a special Cast icon appear within supported apps. You may see the icon as soon as you enter the app, or it may appear once you select a video, song or other media to cast. When you click the icon, it prompts you to select a Chromecast (in case you have multiples) and, after a moment, your chosen media should appear on the TV.

In the Chrome browser on a computer, once you've installed the Cast extension, a cast icon will appear in the upper right-hand corner or your browser that lets you cast a single tab to the screen. You also use the icon to stop casting the tab. There are some Web sites, like Netflix and YouTube, which are already optimized for Chromecast. They will include a Cast icon on each video that allows you to rather seamlessly cast the media to your TV rather than the tab itself, which should result in higher quality and fewer playback glitches. Video cast from a Chrome tab has a maximum resolution of 720p, whereas video streamed via the Cast button for a video housed on a supported site can reach 1080p.

You generally control streaming from your mobile device using a volume bar, a scrub bar (the scroll bar that lets you move forward and backward through a song or video), and stop, pause and play icons on the screen. There may be other controls available, depending upon the app. The volume in this case is Chromecast's internal volume, so you may have to use the TV's remote to really get the volume to your preferred setting. If you have an Android device, you can also control your streaming from the lock screen or notification bar.

You can leave the control screen and browse within the app, go to other apps, let your computer or mobile device go to sleep and even shut it off, and your chosen entertainment should keep playing on the TV via the Chromecast. The latter cannot be done when casting a Chrome tab, but it does work with Netflix and the like.

While you're streaming a video via Chromecast, if you select another video from within the same app, that video will likely play to your TV screen instead. But you can actually go to another application and play a different video on your mobile device or computer while the original video continues to stream on your TV screen, unless you choose a cast icon in that app (if available), in which case the video in the new app will take over your TV. If you have wandered off and want to take control of a streaming video to once again, you go back to the app, and there should be a "Now Playing" bar or similar that takes you back to the control screen for that video.

Multiple devices can be used to launch content to the Chromecast, provided they can all connect to your WiFi network and have the appropriate apps or extensions installed. They can include your phone, your tablet , your computer or the devices of other household members or friends who are over. That means you can end up fighting for control of the TV, or you can purposefully do a bit of organized social streaming of videos or music.

There are quite a few other methods of streaming content to your television, including game systems, DVRs and Blu-ray players. If you have one of those and don't mind the inconvenience of regular remote controls, you may not need an additional device. But if you're interested in a stand-alone streaming device, Chromecast isn't the only game in town.

One choice, the Roku box, has four different models ranging from $50 to $100 as of early 2014. The base Roku LT streams at a maximum of 720p, whereas all others can stream at 1080p. All include WiFi, but the most expensive, the Roku 3, also includes Ethernet. Roku offers more than 1000 channels of content, far more than Chromecast and a lot of other streaming boxes on the market. It also comes with its own remote and doesn't require that you have a tablet or smartphone for control, but you can download an app to use your mobile device as a remote if you want. You need an HDMI cable if you want to watch in high-def and it doesn't come standard, so that's an additional cost. Roku has another device, the Roku Streaming Stick that, like Chromecast, looks like an oversized flash drive. It costs around $70 ($90 with a remote) and requires the fairly rare Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) connection port. The beauty of using MHL is that the Roku Streaming Stick does not require a power cable, but unfortunately, most TVs do not currently have MHL. Roku is also working on incorporating DIAL into its devices.

Another competitor is Apple TV. It costs $99 and allows you to stream anything from your Mac computer or iOS device (iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch), or anything in iCloud , to your television. It supports more than 25 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, ABC, PBS, Crackle, YouTube, Vimeo and several Disney, sports and news channels. You can stream your own iMovies, photos and videos from your computer, as well as podcasts and any media from iTunes. You can also mirror anything on your iOS device screen to your TV and use your iOS mobile devices as remotes. The major downside is that it doesn't work with Android devices. You can get to some things through Windows computers, but Apple TV really better suited for Mac enthusiasts.

Miracast is another alternative, but it isn't one particular dongle. It is built into multiple devices of varying prices (some nearly as cheap as Chromecast), and sometimes even built into TVs. It works through WiFi Direct, which, as the name implies, lets devices connect to each other directly via WiFi. One device creates a mini-network to which the other connects, rather than both connecting through your home WiFi network. It allows you to mirror content from a device to your TV, meaning whatever is on your mobile device screen shows up on your TV. One major downside is that your smartphone or tablet has to stay active for the content to stay on your TV screen, so it can quickly run down your mobile device battery, and whatever you are viewing will disappear if the device auto-locks.

Google TV is another option that's not a single device, but rather hardware and software built into either smart TVs or streaming set top boxes. Some of the boxes include the Netgear NeoTV Prime, the VIZIO Co-Star, the Hisense Pulse and the Asus CUBE. Google TV devices sometimes come with large remote controls that include keyboards for text input, although newer remotes sometimes feature microphones that allow you to give voice commands using Google's cloud-based voice recognition system. It makes a few streaming apps available to your HDTV, as well as Web browsing capabilities, and allows you to switch easily between online streaming and traditional television.

The Chromecast has been very successful since it went on the market in July 2013. Initially, it sold out very quickly, and the availability of a limited Netflix promotion (three free months of service) ran out within a few hours of launch -- the device wound up on backorder for up to three months for some purchasers. By the end of 2013, Chromecast was readily available from retailers.

Reviewers praise the device for being one of the cheapest streaming options, for ease of setup, for working quite well via its supported apps and for its unobtrusive form factor that allows it to hide behind your TV in most cases. It does require a power cable, however, which can make it a slightly awkward addition to your home entertainment system, although it does avoid adding a new box to your collection.

Its Chrome browser tab mirroring functionality gets some criticism for poor picture quality and technical glitches, although that feature was still in beta as of early 2014. The strength of your WiFi network can also affect Chromecast's streaming picture quality. Some users experiencea lag of a few seconds between casting media and when it actually plays. And if you don't have a compatible client device running a supported OS and a compatible router, you're out of luck entirely.

Because any compatible device on the same network can control any Chromecast on that network, multiple devices can interfere with each other. The last one that tries to play a video or music or cast a tab to your Chromecast will win out. This might not be much of a problem on a home network, unless someone unintentionally casts something they wouldn't want their family or visiting friends to see (or if you live with a jerk).

The only real security is your WiFi password, provided your network is password protected. Anyone with this password can stream through the Chromecast. But as of January 2014, the only authentication information it prompts you for is your WiFi password, so you may not be able to use it with WiFi networks that require other information, like corporate sites that ask for a username or hotels that ask for your room number and name.

So far, Chromecast has far fewer channels available compared to other streaming devices on the market, which isn't terribly surprising since it is the new kid on the block. Google plans to release the finalized SDK and to launch the device outside of the United States in 2014. Wider availability and access by more developers should lead to a much larger number of Chromecast-compatible apps over time. And once the device's ability to run things from a Chrome browser tab comes out of beta, the sky might be the limit as to what it can stream.

How does Chromecast work?

What apps can be used on Chromecast?

How do I reset my Chromecast?

Is Roku or Chromecast better?

Is there a monthly fee for Chromecast?

Author's Note: How Chromecast Works

I bought and played around with a Chromecast as part of my research for this article because I really needed another way to get Netflix to my TV besides the four consoles I already have attached to it.

But all sarcasm aside, so far I do not regret the purchase. There are some minor downsides. It took me a little while to get it working with my network. I didn't do much but try over and over again, and then add the extender, which really did seem to help with reception instantly. It only works with a few apps right now, and I can't yet use my Mac fully because I'm on a slightly older OS that isn't supported. But that said, I did install the Google Cast extension anyway, and even though I get a 404 error when I try to cast a browser tab, it allowed me to play a YouTube video.

With my phone, I've been able to stream videos and music without any issues. I was even able to launch a TV show, exit the app and take a picture of my TV screen with the phone while the video was still going, which was impressive.

Still more useful is the incredible ease with which I am able to find and play YouTube videos. I hate, hate, hate searching YouTube on my other consoles. Entering the text with a remote or game controller is maddening, and the video I'm looking for rarely ends up in the top 10 without a couple of search parameter changes. But now it is easy and painless to find a video on my phone or computer and throw it to my TV, and the picture quality on the big screen has been better than expected so far. I may never stream YouTube any other way.

Netflix also gives me the 10-second back button that I sorely miss whenever I'm running the app on a console. I'm always trying to backtrack to hear dialogue I didn't quite catch.

Time will tell how much I use this device, but my initial impression is favorable. I usually play around on my phone when the TV is running anyway. Now it can do double duty.

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