G+_George Kozi Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Full disclosure: I'm getting one of them things and sticking it in the TV the moment I can put my little hands on one... Originally shared by George Kozi Well, this did it for me. I now know not to listen to this author, no matter what he said. I don't care how funny he may be as a guest. It is blindingly obvious to me that this is all about being contrarian... but hey, that may be his stick. I don't have to like it. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2422306,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03079TX1K0000584&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ziffdavis/pcmag/dvorak+(PCMag.com:+the+Official+John+C.+Dvorak+RSS+Feed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Joe Morrison Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Oh, yeah, I read about half of the first paragraph and then looked at the by line. He does have a point, that if you already have a significant digital life it doesn't do much that you don't already have 3-4 devices that can do the job. He misses how simple the setup and interface is though. Mine is already shipped, not because I expect it to do anything for me, but because I think the simple interface will be good for my wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jeremy Baugh Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Funny it was from PC Mag too... All I ever see in that magazine now is stuff about how great Apple products are and extensive coverage of Apple products. I thought it was PC Magazine, not Mac Magazine. Sounds like they're a little bias. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Chris Sneed Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I love Dvorak but I disagree with him here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Charlie Shay Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I stopped listening to twit cuz I got really tired of his contrarian arguments. So in the article he said he'd like to see one perform before passing judgement, only to preface that by claiming the device has gotten it all wrong and follow up by stating it will end up in Google's trash heap. This is like the Fox News in tech. Chromecast is limited in feature at this time. But the built-in chrome browser opens up a lot of possibilities. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Yvon Decelles Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Dvorak's comment are often inspired to give shock, to provoke reflexions. He often plays Devil's advocate. You can't take everything he says seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_George Kozi Posted July 26, 2013 Author Share Posted July 26, 2013 Jason Teske for me, this isn't about this thing in particular (although this thing in particular I happen to like). It is about everything being declared "bullcrap". And that happens almost constantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jason Honingford Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Why are people so excited about devices that do very little compared to something like XBMC that can play anything? Edit: I feel like I did when I owned an Amiga and listening to Apple and IBM users bitch about how they wish they could do what the Amiga does but still use their Apple/IBM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mal Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 It's so easy to get carried away with the hype that sounds technology, especially when you watch shows and read articles that analyse announcements to an excessive level. Think of Dvorak as a bit of grounding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_George Kozi Posted July 26, 2013 Author Share Posted July 26, 2013 oh, I perfectly understand the role he plays... it just gets to be a bit too one sided sometimes. I like an ice cold shower every now and again, but not every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Charlie Shay Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 What George Kozi said. I don't mind voices and opinions from different sides of the fence. But he's like the Debbie Downer for everything tech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_George Kozi Posted July 26, 2013 Author Share Posted July 26, 2013 About the Chrome dongle.... I like it because it brings me a significant step closer to cutting the cord, at a perfect price... and people haven't even hacked it yet... haven't even explored its potential yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Andrew Wilson Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I can see a lot of other applications for a full computer in an HDMI stick controlled with any android ios etc device, with an open protocol controlling it. I think this is a game changer. The twist is that it won't always be a Google product. Like glass, the bulk of the innovation will be in the ecosystem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Josh Frye Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I knida agree with Dvorak though, much of what the Chromecast has going for it is.. cost. Heck even the Boxee box had other things besides Netflix so does the PS4 and Xbox. Also how much processing power does the dongle have on it? I have no doubt it will be good streaming player for nonHD content but isn't just about everything now in HD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Chris Sumner Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I ordered one too as soon as I could but the article does have a good point in that Google has fallen short on it's last 2 attempts to break into the tv market. I like these types of articles because they'll change their opinion as soon as it becomes popular to do so and that ultimately damages their credibility. Chad Johnson demoed the chromecast last night and it worked out of the box as advertised. I have an x-box and Wii and neither one of them work as quickly as the Chromecast did. I just hope more applications come along quickly and Google stands behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jason McCampbell Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I'm actually surprised that Dvorak doesn't like it. Yes, other boxes can do similar, though often with an awful remote, but this is relatively open, would have thought he would find that appealing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Damian Mongru Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 JCD makes a couple of valid points. Chromecast probably should have come out of the box with a few more apps. Netflix shouldn't be a draw in itself, every box under my TV has a Netflix app - I don't even have a Netflix account. I have never bought anything from Google Play, so this connectivity doesn't help either. Google did try to justify their decision by saying that almost 50% of streaming is via Netflix and Youtube, but a few more apps out of the box couldn't hurt. He also asks why we should buy an extra set-top box that does things you can already do with your current equipment? Between this article and Jeff Jarvis' post on how Chromecast will disrupt TV networks, cable providers, Internet Streaming companies, etc. the full spectrum of opinion is covered. Which makes me wonder why I should read them in the first place. The counter to a lot of the cons of this device is the obvious advantage that is the $35 price tag. I guess the most important one is that it could be more mainstream, which will encourage developers and allow it to fulfill it's potential. For me, the main advantage is that Google has found a way to play nice with all the Internet streaming services, and get them all onboard. The Chromecast is using your credentials, and downloading it itself. If the SDK is easy enough to use, and they can easily add the APIs to apps and websites, then I can't see why these companies would try to block it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Josh Frye Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Damian Mongru Yeah the cost is the driving feature for the Chromecast. People forget or do not know about the fact there is already someone out there showing everyone how to take a Roku box and make a channel for just about any web video that is put out in a RSS feed. The Nowhereman blog (http://thenowhereman.com/roku/) not only has a ton of private channels for local new stations websites but also one big channel that has a ton of sub channels in it. And with the new interface a Roku is dead simple and you can use your Andriod phone as a remote. And with Twonky and other apps/channels you can do youtube and other sites. Heck Viemo, Crunchy Roll, Crackle all have offical Roku channels. And I am sure Boxee and the others have similar features as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Joe Morrison Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Yes there are a lot of devices that already do what chromecast does. However the are all more expensive and most of them are harder to use. This isn't really a device for geeks like us, it is a device for our parents and wives. Cheap almost no setup required and usable by anyone on the same Wifi network. Seems like a winner to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Damian Mongru Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 For those in the UK, this seems interesting: http://www.whathifi.com/blog/hands-on-now-tv-box-review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Damian Mongru Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Joe Morrison I don't know if I made it sound like I don't want this device - that is not true at all. Living in England, I want this device, and the fact that I can't buy it makes me want the Chromecast even more! Eng. Jorge Santana posted a video with Chad setting up the device, and it looks ridiculously easy - and controlling everything via a tablet is fantastic. The only thing it's missing for me is an Ethernet port, Wifi can get a bit flaky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Josh Frye Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Damian Mongru With the wi fi soup around my apartment your not kidding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kevin Bitler Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I would love if the networks came out with apps for the Roku or Xbox 360 and allowed you to view a whole season of shows. Some networks are only allowing to view the last 5 episodes or having to enter your cable/satellite info to stream online. My wife and I don't watch live TV any more thanks to DVR. We could then lower our channels with Directv but will need to keep them to watch Hockey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Todd Hansnicki Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 Jason Teske the reason Jeff Jarvis is so pro google is most likely the fact he is a stock holder of google. Personally I don't take advice from people who have stock in the company they are gushing over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Chris Boren (Bo) Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 Is it bad that I knew it was Dvorak just from the title? Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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