Using a tv dongle w/out...

[robbiegreene508]

Haven't been on here in a while, or really kept up with Android as much as I had wanted to for that matter... Anyways, in the past I've always bought and had the flagship phones, but after breaking my latest one, I realized how much I wasn't using all the bells and whistles and went and just bought a cheapo but decent LG L90. Unfortunately I wasn't really paying attention to much more than screen size when I bought it, and now realize there's no MHL capabilities, which I've always used fairly often for movies to tv. My real question is, if I opt for Chromecast, or Roku, or any of the android boxes I'm about to read about on here (not sure I even need/want one yet), can one or all of these devices work without MHL? They all basically stream wirelessly and mhl is just mini usb output, correct? These all should allow me to watch videos from my phone regardless of being downloaded or streamed via Netflix, YouTube, etc?

 

[EarlyMon]

Chromecast limits screen casting by device but there's a root mod that works on many phones.

Mostly, you use Chromecast with apps.

Unlike other dongles, it basically runs one app - a browser with a media player - and supporting network services.

When you cast Netflix, the movie doesn't go to your phone, it goes directly to the Chromecast - and your phone just gets and uses the player controls on the Chromecast.

A Roku can be more flexible with screen casting, at a signal quality price.

Chromecast: movie from source, your router, Chromecast, TV.

Screen casting: movie from source, your router, your phone, your router, your dongle, TV.

Chromecast is popular because it doesn't bottleneck the media through your home network.

Chromecast doesn't care about MHL or not, it's all wireless.

 

[robbiegreene508]

So if I'm understanding you and Chromecast right, it doesn't matter that I don't have MHL, but is more or less app only/specific? If that's the case, it's probably not the option for me... For someone like myself who downloads media, like a movie in a torrent file, and the occasional YouTube/Netflix movie, what would be my best option without having MHL or MiraCast abilities? Is Roku what you were suggesting as a more capable device to do such, or what are other ScreenCast options I should check out? Thanks

 

[EarlyMon]

I can't help on torrented movies, they're illegal where we're hosted.

If it fits the Chromecast supported formats - most piracy doesn't - you can cast it with an app from your phone.

So, I handbrake a disc to my pc or copy it to my phone - Chromecast has no problem with it.

You'll have to check a Roku forum to see what latitude it allows.

No one is going to be friendly about torrented movies though.

That's just natural when you think about it.

 

[robbiegreene508]

I'm technologically impaired compared to most, I unfortunately use the word torrent for just about anything downloaded. It's now and probably forever drilled into my head. I have kids that for about 8 months straight did nothing but discuss how "cool" torrents were, and torrent this, yada that. They still get pissy with me when I tell them about "a new torrent on YouTube I downloaded", or some dorky crap like that. After they correct me I realize I've officially turned into my own "trying to be cool" father I was always embarrassed of. I understand the backlash behind it and apologize for lack of using a better descriptive word. I know first hand the seriousness of copyright infringement and the negativity surrounding it. I literally went to school with Sean Fanning, BOTH on the Cape where we grew up playing little league together, AND both accepted to NorthEastern, I was literally the first of a handful of college kids using it in our dorm before it was cast out through the internet. While it was certainly a great experience (as college is for everyone), I've always steered clear (for the most part) of the illegal sharing stuff and always tried to stay cautious and use the sites that were "pay for service", or at least free ones that claimed to be legal.

Back to the options, do you have any opinions of NetGears "Push2Tv"? Or are there any really cheap eBay ones that work just as well for the same thing?

 

[EarlyMon]

I can dig it, thanks. Check your private messages, you probably have a red indicator in your upper right browser window to get you there.

But anyway - I'm way into TV, and hope I can help.

First, another commercial -

Chromecast will do Netflix, Google Play movies, YouTube and a whole lot more, including a lot of DLNA content. Plus cast a lot of local content and Web videos if in the right format.

Speaking of which - MiraCast is a lot like DLNA. Both are specs but both are implemented more as suggestions than actual specs.

I checked out the Netgear and Roku before choosing - I came down on the Chromecast and the Amazon Fire TV Stick - and generally, as I've made clear, I have a bias for the Chromecast lol. (But both are good.)

MiraCast sounds easy - it promises - basically - to be a wireless hdmi. What your phone has on screen and speaker - goes to your TV.

It works well on paper when it works and if your phone supports it, the Netgear promises a lot. Except it has a lot of user complaints with updates breaking things. (Check their support forums.)

Let's reset - can you list your top media-to-tv preferences?

Fwiw - the Roku mirroring is as good as any, plus - it's a Roku - good stuff.