Since you are integrated into the Apple ecosystem the Apple TV would make more sense, though since the chromecast is so cheap you might as well get both and be done with it.
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Apple TV or Chromecast?
- Thread starter ghsDUDE
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Since you are integrated into the Apple ecosystem the Apple TV would make more sense, though since the chromecast is so cheap you might as well get both and be done with it.
The nice thing about Apple TV is EVERYTHING on your Mac/iPhone/iPad can be on the TV or used as an external monitor, my parents just got chrome cast, I would say spend the extra money.
I have heard refurbished Apple TV (from Apple) is only $75 and still has the full warranty
I havent gotten to use it much (waiting on a tosilink cable for audio) but having an external Tv is pretty cool
love watching youtube videos from my iPhone on my TV
I have heard refurbished Apple TV (from Apple) is only $75 and still has the full warranty
I havent gotten to use it much (waiting on a tosilink cable for audio) but having an external Tv is pretty cool
love watching youtube videos from my iPhone on my TVApple TV. Especially if u are already heavily invested into other apple products. It is a good extension of all of these devices. To be able to send things from another apple device to the atv is a really cool feature in my opinion. Although honeslty, i personally rarely do it. The native apps on the atv fulfill most of my needs. I feel like atv is a more refined device than the chromecast. While it is a cool little device, you get what you pay for. I literally use my atv every day.
I think usability is number one. For the most part I have to open all these separate apps on my iPhone to use it (and there are only a handful of those), it has no menu structure of it's own, per say. Compared to the Apple TV or Roku (I use all three) the Chrome cast is a fun $35 toy to play with and hope it comes to something someday) but for day to day usage, I always go to one of the other two. The Chrome-cast is just not in the same league.
One awesome feature of Chromecast is the ability to display ANY imbedded video from Chrome on your TV. For example, my church broadcasts the Sunday morning services live. It's nice to watch on the TV if one of my kids is sick or something. There are other times where that feature is helpful, and I'm not aware of other devices that can do that.
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Interesting to know. I love my AppleTV but $35! At that price it seems silly not to buy one. Lol
Any video that will play on iOS can be sent via Airplay and without the lag associated with mirroring.
Any recent Mac has had Airplay Mirroring which does essentially the same thing as Chrome tab mirroring, except from any program on the computer.
You can also directly AirPlay any MPEG-4 video from Safari, without mirroring.
It's not exactly the stream handover Chrome does to Chromecast, but works perfectly, also from tab not in foreground.
I sold my AppleTV 2 in October and missed it a bit. Out of nowhere I was given a Chromecast for Christmas and I love it. There is rarely, if ever, a time I am not near my iPhone or iPad while watching TV on my couch. It is quite simple to launch Netflix or Hulu and just cast it on my TV. While the Apple TV is nice because I don't have to worry about launching the app again on my iDevice to pause, change "stations" etc, for $35 this is a neat little device. I certainly can't see myself wanting to replace it with an AppleTV anytime soon.
I love watching things on YouTube such as music videos and even full length concerts. I am also learning something new so putting it on my big screen from YouTube is great.
I would say if your needs are simple and you don't mind that you will need some other device to control it, then go for the Chromecast. For less than the price of an AppleTV, I can equip all TVs that I use in the house with one of these without issue. It was an unexpected gift that I really do enjoy.
I love watching things on YouTube such as music videos and even full length concerts. I am also learning something new so putting it on my big screen from YouTube is great.
I would say if your needs are simple and you don't mind that you will need some other device to control it, then go for the Chromecast. For less than the price of an AppleTV, I can equip all TVs that I use in the house with one of these without issue. It was an unexpected gift that I really do enjoy.
FWIW, I have ATV2 and decided to try out the chromecast. Gave it a good 4 days as I really wanted it to work, but the casting isn't ready for primetime. Frequent changes in video quality, the video would sputter and stop at times, losing connection...gave up and returned it. If they fix that process chromecast is a great deal, especially if you're involved in the googleworld at all, but it was too frustrating for me to deal with at present.
My neighbor has a chromecast and one negative thing I've noticed is the wide variety of volume levels in the audio. No normalization here. Every video is different that we try to watch, and sometimes within a movie it gets wonky. He has to constantly ride the volume button to make sure it's not too loud or quiet.
My other personal gripe, which others mentioned, is the fact that you have to use another device to control it, and switch apps within that device if you've gone to some other app since playback started. Not a huge problem, more like a minor annoyance.
My other personal gripe, which others mentioned, is the fact that you have to use another device to control it, and switch apps within that device if you've gone to some other app since playback started. Not a huge problem, more like a minor annoyance.
Maybe it's your receiver but when I'm switching between channels on my AppleTV I'm adjusting volume.
I live in a condo as my primary residence so I'm pretty anal about volume as to no disturb neighbors.
Now maybe Chromecast is worse (I don't know) but AppleTV isn't exactly perfect either.
I haven't messed with Airplay since it was first available. I will have to check that out.
plex works great with airplay as well. in fact, it's how i watch 100% of my content on my bedroom TV.
You mean unless the provider blocks it, right? Or are you talking about Jailbreaking. I know of a number of Apps that do not allow Airplay or Mirroring on my iPad.
In that particular context I was referring to videos played from within a browser. Particular apps may choose whether or not to allow Airplay, whether to allow Airplay Streaming or Mirroring, and whether or not to allow the app to be put in the background.
If your in the Apple ecosystem then its apple tv. Even if you never touched the apple ecosystem it would be apple tv if you want a good device.
Winner - AppleTV!!
I'm sure somebody else has said this, but the ChromeCast relies on another device for it to work ( for example: sending content from your iPad thru the ChromeCast unit, onto your TV ). With the AppleTV, you just turn on your AppleTV and the built in apps are already right there on your TV screen. Meaning you can be watching content using your AppleTV, while freeing up your iPad or ( other tablet ) to surf the web, or do whatever else you are wanting to do with it.
So, yes, if you have an Apple ecosystem, get the AppleTV.
I'm sure somebody else has said this, but the ChromeCast relies on another device for it to work ( for example: sending content from your iPad thru the ChromeCast unit, onto your TV ). With the AppleTV, you just turn on your AppleTV and the built in apps are already right there on your TV screen. Meaning you can be watching content using your AppleTV, while freeing up your iPad or ( other tablet ) to surf the web, or do whatever else you are wanting to do with it.
So, yes, if you have an Apple ecosystem, get the AppleTV.
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I just picked up a used Apple TV for $45 today from someone on Craigslist. The last time I had one PlexConnect didn't exist. I forgot how much I missed my Apple TV, and I really missed having a jailbroken ATV2 with Plex. I have tons of content on Plex, I have content on iTunes (mostly music), and I have our photos on iPhoto and Photostream. PlexConnect really makes it work for me. The whole reason I had gotten rid of the Apple TV 3 was the lack of Plex. Now that obstacle is out of the way.
I have 3 atv in which 2 have XBMC on them. My chromecast never gets used. I bought it hoping XBMC would get intergrated. Hasn't happen as with my ATV 3. I'm not an airplay user of much. I never understood using an Idevice to stream to a tv with the device having limited storage. For me it's completely backwards. One should be using the ATV to stream to the device.
I have a large library (music and video) on a NAS all wired. Adding content to itunes has a lag due to the library size and location. With all these boxes, some service has to run on a computer which wastes resources. I cannot understand why theses large corporations with countless resources cannot develop a box under $100 with the characteristics of XBMC.
Long answer short. Buy a raspberry Pi, it's superior to both at a comparable price.
I have a large library (music and video) on a NAS all wired. Adding content to itunes has a lag due to the library size and location. With all these boxes, some service has to run on a computer which wastes resources. I cannot understand why theses large corporations with countless resources cannot develop a box under $100 with the characteristics of XBMC.
Long answer short. Buy a raspberry Pi, it's superior to both at a comparable price.