Chromecast vs Fire stick

Vakas

Vakas

Vakas

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Chromecast is more or a mirroring device that casts from phones and laptop apps, does the fire stick come pre installed with all the apps?

Which is better from the 2? Mainly going to use it for steaming video from my PC to smart TV.
 
if you have a smart tv and a pc why not use built in DLNA of the tv?

you do not require either a chromecast or firestick.

I stream direct from my phone to smart tv using DLNA over wi-fi
 
I want to stream from my PC or laptop mostly and you can't do from the smart TV in case I'm missing something.

Want to use Plex mainly.
 
I did try that but it would not play MP4's and MKW files I will give it another shot but I'm it was all fine as everything else played.
 
Vakas said:
I want to stream from my PC or laptop mostly and you can't do from the smart TV in case I'm missing something.

Want to use Plex mainly.
Click to expand...

does your TV support DLNA?

if so you don't need anything to be able to do this.

like i said i can stream directly from my phone to my tv using nothing else. i can also stream from my pc but my pc is connected to the tv using HDMI so i play directly.

you don't need anything if your tv supports dlna, i suggest you do some research into DLNA and it's uses
 
The TV supports it but my PC is using a hard wired connection and it is too far to connect to my TV.
 
What tv do you have? If it's a Samsung, there is a native plex app which I use all the time and is near perfect
 
Install PLEX Media Server on your PC before you do anything - it is free after all.

PLEX will let you stream content from your PC and will transcode it for whatever device you try to play it with.

If you have a SMART TV then you might have a built in PLEX app already and it's possible that DLNA will work better via PLEX's built in DLNA streaming server rather than whatever you're using at the moment.

If you find that you're not happy with how PLEX is performing with your TV's built in capabilities then both the Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV are great choices.

However, I prefer the Amazon Fire TV because:

1) I subscribe to amazon prime (£89 a year) which gives me free next day delivery but also a host of free TV shows and Films (like Netflix) that work great with the Amazon Fire TV.

2) It can be controlled with a remote. The remote it comes with is great but I don't use it because I've paired the Amazon Fire TV with my Harmony Smart Control - something I can't do with the Chromecast

3) I don't have to use my mobile phone to control it. Like the same point above that it "comes with a remote" but in practices this makes it much easier for other people to control it (i.e. my girlfriend).

4) Built in apps for YouTube, BBC iPlayer etc all work without any other device required. Don't have to have a PC on. No need for my phone to have its battery charged. All just work independently of any other device.
 
dl8860 said:
What tv do you have? If it's a Samsung, there is a native plex app which I use all the time and is near perfect
Click to expand...

I have a Toshiba TV it does have a native Plex app but to use it you need Plex pus which is a shame. Well that's what it said when I tried to use it and would not let me get into the App.

I purchased the chromecast but I think I should return it and get the fire stick instead as it has a remote and works independently. I think Plex Pass it like £3.99 a month which I don't really want to pay.

I have just check the Fire stick is on for £25 so saving £10 should I go for it instead?
 
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RoyMi6 said:
Install PLEX Media Server on your PC before you do anything - it is free after all.

PLEX will let you stream content from your PC and will transcode it for whatever device you try to play it with.

If you have a SMART TV then you might have a built in PLEX app already and it's possible that DLNA will work better via PLEX's built in DLNA streaming server rather than whatever you're using at the moment.

If you find that you're not happy with how PLEX is performing with your TV's built in capabilities then both the Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV are great choices.

However, I prefer the Amazon Fire TV because:

1) I subscribe to amazon prime (£89 a year) which gives me free next day delivery but also a host of free TV shows and Films (like Netflix) that work great with the Amazon Fire TV.

2) It can be controlled with a remote. The remote it comes with is great but I don't use it because I've paired the Amazon Fire TV with my Harmony Smart Control - something I can't do with the Chromecast

3) I don't have to use my mobile phone to control it. Like the same point above that it "comes with a remote" but in practices this makes it much easier for other people to control it (i.e. my girlfriend).

4) Built in apps for YouTube, BBC iPlayer etc all work without any other device required. Don't have to have a PC on. No need for my phone to have its battery charged. All just work independently of any other device.
Click to expand...

I have a harmony one+ this won't control the fire stick will it?
 
Also yeah, you missed out on deal on lifetime Plex Pass subscription for £75 before they doubled it.

Start putting £10 in a savings account each month and buy it at the end of the year.

Also, nothing stopping you buying just one month of Plex Pass to try it on various devices to see how it performs. Also note though that features that are just for Plex Pass subscribers dribble down as free features eventually.
 
RoyMi6 said:
Install PLEX Media Server on your PC before you do anything - it is free after all.

PLEX will let you stream content from your PC and will transcode it for whatever device you try to play it with.

If you have a SMART TV then you might have a built in PLEX app already and it's possible that DLNA will work better via PLEX's built in DLNA streaming server rather than whatever you're using at the moment.

If you find that you're not happy with how PLEX is performing with your TV's built in capabilities then both the Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV are great choices.

However, I prefer the Amazon Fire TV because:

1) I subscribe to amazon prime (£89 a year) which gives me free next day delivery but also a host of free TV shows and Films (like Netflix) that work great with the Amazon Fire TV.

2) It can be controlled with a remote. The remote it comes with is great but I don't use it because I've paired the Amazon Fire TV with my Harmony Smart Control - something I can't do with the Chromecast

3) I don't have to use my mobile phone to control it. Like the same point above that it "comes with a remote" but in practices this makes it much easier for other people to control it (i.e. my girlfriend).

4) Built in apps for YouTube, BBC iPlayer etc all work without any other device required. Don't have to have a PC on. No need for my phone to have its battery charged. All just work independently of any other device.
Click to expand...

To use Plex on the Fire TV you still need to keep your PC on right?

I have just got mine today, I did activate plex via the play store once before so does this mean I have to active it again for the fire stick as it did not pick it up when I signed into my account?
 
Vakas said:
To use Plex on the Fire TV you still need to keep your PC on right?

I have just got mine today, I did activate plex via the play store once before so does this mean I have to active it again for the fire stick as it did not pick it up when I signed into my account?
Click to expand...

Just had a look on the Plex website, apparently you need to active each platform separately regardless if it is the same account,
 
Yes, your PC needs to be on as all your media is streamed from your PC/server.

And yeah, the Amazon Fire TV (as far as I understand it) uses it's own store which is separate from the regular Google Play Store.

Once you buy it once you can use it on as many Amazon Fire TV's as you want though.
 
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