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Comment by thekevan | Hacker News Reader

Am I about the only one who considers my Chromecast almost useless? Specifically, I don't want to use it with my phone because when I would use it, I am already on my computer. I really dislike how when it came out and I bought it, their tagline was all about casting what you have on your phone and your browser, then they immediately seemed to move away from the PC browser and straight to the phone.

About the only thing I use it for is sometimes when people come over, we go on YouTube and take turns adding music to play, or sometimes go back and forth showing each other ridiculous, stupid or funny videos.

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If you don't have a living room with a TV that's not near a computer then it's pretty useless, but I would guess most people don't fall in that category. I use mine every day. Watching YouTube and Netflix from my couch using my phone is super convenient. I also use it to play music while I'm cleaning the house.

I've easily gotten more value out of that little thing than any other tech gadget I've purchased in years (maybe even my whole life).

Although we also have an Apple TV, XBox One, and a cable set top box, we use the Chromecast 95% of the time. There are apps for Dutch news (NOS) and public broadcasts (NPO). And if there is no app, we just use tab casting on a laptop.

The XBox One is primarily useful for Blu-Rays, but is pretty annoying otherwise (long startup time, regular updates that take a long time, no casting except for an experimental Miracast app, not energy efficient).

Since both my wife and I switched from iPhone to Android devices, the Apple TV became pretty useless, since it is firmly locked in Apple's ecosystem. Sometimes, we use it with an US account to purchase TV shows that are not available here yet.

Also, since we have a Chromecast, I have come to dislike the typical 'mediacenter with apps' interface of the XBox and Apple TV. A phone is far more convenient app-wise with touch, so the idea to have a dumb dongle was great.

If you rent or don't want to make holes in your wall for HDMI Chromecast is actually pretty neat way to bring Netflix, Plex, Youtube, etc. to your TV.

Of course you could buy new SmartTV that had necessary features, but so far I haven't found SmartTV that supported Plex and I don't want to buy a new TV since my old one works just fine.

Added benefit is that it can be controlled with just phone (or in my case I have dedicated my old tablet for Chromecast duty) which could theoretically save you the hassle with more remotes, but I only use my tablet for my bedroom TV, I don't even know where the original remote is, but Chromecast handles content and volume, so I just need my mobile device.

Its meant for the family room or bedroom. Using it at your desk is a bit counter-intuitive considering how much better support any video player will have for a computer than a phone trying to do chromecast.

Technically, I'm on my couch doing work, in the living room but I get what you mean.

My family uses it daily. We mostly use it from our desktop computer but I like the app also.

Best Hardware for consuming videos for us.

My kids are 4, 9, 21, 23

What do you use on the desktop?

Chrome (Its an extension still?) on the desktop and cast the tab to the Chrome Cast.

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/3212008?hl=en

You just cast the tab? In my experience, the sound quality is lower. Also, casting a tab playing Pandora is not as eye catching as when the app shows it, which is not a big deal but a pet peeve of mine when having a party or people over.

Browser casting has always been a "beta" feature from day one. The main draw was always supposed to be the specialized apps.

I use it to connect to my projector. I actually like the new flexible design - it saves space behind the projector.

The only thing I've seen people use it for is casting Netflix to the TV.

I cast Netflix, HBO Go, YouTube and a couple of different music streaming services. Occasionally even Google Play Movies when there's something that Netflix doesn't have in their library.

my wife uses it (chromecasting youtube videos)

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