Google Chromecast launches in the UK

chris

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The way we look at Television is changing, and it has been for the past few years. However, the On-demand services are now changing attitudes and old habits as we now have Television that fits into our lives. These On-demand services are beginning to gain some momentum and for those people who own laptops and tablets, they are fast learning that it is possible to catch up on the TV that they like whenever they want. In some cases the viewing figures are an incredible bit of evidence where it has been proven that the total audience of one show was made up of 10% of those who watched it live with the other 90% coming from the On-demand service.

Now Google have entered the market with the launch of the Google Chromecast and what this little piece of technology offers is the streaming of video from any device along with several On-demand services. Netflix and the BBC iPlayer have both adapted their software so that it can be streamed, but the other option for users is to use the chrome browser on their PC and then stream a video site straight the their TV. The possibilities are endless and Google Chromecast now opens doors that were once firmly shut, but the internet TV streaming support forum shows the popularity of this kind of technology.

Chromecast is not all that new and it has been on sale in America for quite some time. Similar to the offerings from Apple Tv and Roku this is here to impress, but the big difference is the price. Coming in at only £30, this is cheap enough for all to enjoy and the sales predictions are impressive. This isn’t the first time Google have attempted to enter the Television market, as they launched the Google TV platform, but this failed to take off, but they feel that the Chromecast is going to be a success.

The Chromecast is seen to be a very interesting idea and the price is seen to be even more intriguing but it is not being treated as the one piece of TV technology that is going to change the world. What consumers want is something that does everything. Something that covers all bases so multiple remote controls are not required as well as multiple devices.

Having said all of this, the Google Chromecast is cheap and cheerful that gives consumers choice and that is always a good thing. The only issue with it is that it does not do anything all that different to other technologies that may be out there that consumers already have and this is why it may not be as successful as they hope. A quick look at this internet TV streaming support forum will soon show what is available and with the On-demand market becoming ever more demanding and competitive, it is clear to see what is needed to stand out from the rest.
 

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sonic1

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Got mine at the weekend, for the money it's a good gadget especially for instant viewing of youtube and iplayer on your TV.
Hopefully more apps will follow soon.
 

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I was looking at them this morning, ive just bought the wife a tablet, I will get her one it will come in handy for her/stop her using my tv :).
 

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Darn, I saw the price of these and it's reasonable, and the fact that any 'droid can share whatever's on it's screen with it is quite appealing, all the while, google gets it's nose into people's home networks to have a snoop around to find out who's storing what on their computers......
 

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I am going to pick one up later today 2cv along with some wireless headphones for my wife, its a bit of a wired set up in my home with his/hers tv in the living room,
 

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The way we look at Television is changing, and it has been for the past few years. However, the On-demand services are now changing attitudes and old habits as we now have Television that fits into our lives. These On-demand services are beginning to gain some momentum and for those people who own laptops and tablets, they are fast learning that it is possible to catch up on the TV that they like whenever they want. In some cases the viewing figures are an incredible bit of evidence where it has been proven that the total audience of one show was made up of 10% of those who watched it live with the other 90% coming from the On-demand service.

Not a million miles away from owning (and using) a video recorder.
 

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Darn, I saw the price of these and it's reasonable, and the fact that any 'droid can share whatever's on it's screen with it is quite appealing, all the while, google gets it's nose into people's home networks to have a snoop around to find out who's storing what on their computers......
It wont work on my wife's archos 97 coblet 2cv, I can't install the google chrome extension for this tablet, I will have to take a look for some kind of fix.
 

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Archos? Isn't that the brand cavemen used? :-rofl2

On a serious note though, some modern apps are being a pain with supposedly compatible hardware, but google play doesn't want to play claiming hardware incompatibility, one example for me is the GTA5 "iFruit" app which allows some offline customising of in-game features, my Galaxy S3 runs it fine, but my Galaxy Tab (GT-P7500) won't, even though it can, but google sez no... :confused
 

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Archos? Isn't that the brand cavemen used? :-rofl2

On a serious note though, some modern apps are being a pain with supposedly compatible hardware, but google play doesn't want to play claiming hardware incompatibility, one example for me is the GTA5 "iFruit" app which allows some offline customising of in-game features, my Galaxy S3 runs it fine, but my Galaxy Tab (GT-P7500) won't, even though it can, but google sez no... :confused

I hope not 2cv I only bought it last week cost me £130

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/comput...s-97-cobalt-9-7-tablet-8-gb-21780543-pdt.html

I did read that a JB should allow more apps etc to work, I will have to look more into it before I go ahead and flash it.
 

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2cvbloke

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I did read that a JB should allow more apps etc to work, I will have to look more into it before I go ahead and flash it.

If you mean JB as in Jailbreak, that's an apple thing, you don't need to break a 'droid out of Apple's prison... :-rofl2

There is Rooting, which gives you more access to the OS and it's features, but that's more for advanced users who know linux, I did it a few times but never saw an advantage for me, as the only things that required it were OS-modifying apps that I didn't need... :)

I just think that google has a problem with allowing certain apps on certain devices, as someone complains that it crashed their device, and all of a sudden it's pulled from a whole series of similarly specced devices, looking at your tablet's specs, it's got the same Cortex A9 processor as my Galaxy Tab (bearing in mind that the Tab was new with this hardware in 2011), so I think it's a case of "well there's ya problem!"...:-rofl2
 

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Thank you 2cv, it was rooting that I read about not a jail break, it might have to develop a problem then if that's the case and go back;) thanks again:).
 

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Does the Archos take a SIM card? If not, does it have access to the full Google Play Store?

I ask because way back when, I went out and got SWMBO an el-cheapo Android tablet and it didn't take a SIM or come with the proper Google Store.

It came pre-installed with an alternate app store if I remember rightly.

I contacted Google who told me to contact the manufacturer and they seemed to think that Google won't allow their app store on any device that doesn't have a SIM card.

Things might have changed in recent times though as I got her that tab nearly 3 years ago now
 

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Thanks smoggy, I have not had a good look at it tbh, but I don't think it has a sim card, it appears to have the full play store but some apps are not compatible, the wife wont let go of it lol, I will have a better look when she goes back to work Friday/take it back and get her something better.
 

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The mother's got herself a Galaxy Tab 3, no SIM card required, but has the full Google Play store, so I think that el-cheapo tablet company was emitting bovine excretia... :confused
 

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It was a really cheap jobbie (slate or slate 2 I think it was, its kicking about somewhere with a broken charging port)
TBH these new tabs would be useless without a full app store.

Sent from my GT-S6810P using Tapatalk
 

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I wanted android and a biggish screen for her, I had a quick look and went out and got her that one, I guess I should have looked more into it, I have used android phones for a fair few years now, and I can recall getting upgrades from 4.1 (Jelly Bean),

I just presumed I would be able to upgrade it, I will have a good read round, and if I cant do anything I will take it back, we only got it last Thursday so hopefully it wont be a problem to take it back.
 

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I'm sure some enterprising people on XDA Developers have found a way to make an archos thingumy work a bit more reasonably... :)
 

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I think the problem I had was with android being so young on tablets back then.
With big names like Arcos and Samsung most apps should be ok, as long as the tablet has enough processing power and memory (something my quite new Samsung Galaxy Fame appears to be lacking in)

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Just looking at its spec and its a quite powerful machine and it has full access to the play store smoggy.

With its Android OS, the Archos 97 Cobalt allows you full access to the Google Play store to download Android apps, books, magazines, music, TV shows and movies. More than 600,000 apps and games, millions of sounds, thousands of films and shows and a plethora of written publications await – there's something for everyone.

Leading Google apps include Gmail, Google Talk and Google+, as well as the highly practical Google Maps, Google Currents and more. Android 4.1 makes multitasking easier and better, allowing you to open and alternate apps with the flick of a finger – or close them with a simple swipe.

Dual processing power

The Archos 97 Cobalt 9.7" Tablet is powered by an impressive 1.6 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex™ A9 processor that allows you to be more productive and stay seamlessly entertained.

Its quad-core MALI-400 graphics processor lets you watch films, view photos and browse the Internet in stunningly clear and colourful style, plus it's got enough muscle to run those exciting 3D games in their full glory.

Two integrated stereo speakers provide quality audio that can be appreciated out loud or over headphones to perfectly complement all your media.
 
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