Chromecast

As most will say, Plex is a great solution in regards to pushing local media to the device. As Plex does it's transcoding on the fly, regardless of the file type, it will stream anything to the Chromecast. The Plex app is a paid app but well worth every single penny IMO.
You'll still need a computer to be streaming from (Plex Media Server), I'm not sure how Plex works with your NAS.
 
I have the same plex setup although my plex is running in an Arch Linux VM. Seems to be working fine. As said you just need to buy the android app.
You can cast from YouTube and Netflix websites on any PC. IPlayer will be able to do this in their new version soon.
If you have a ps3 and Netflix you can see what casting is like. Just open Netflix on the ps3 then open it on your phone and tap the cast icon. I guess this should work from the Netflix website too on a PC.
 
There are two apps for Plex. One is free but needs Plex pass which you have. The other is a paid app that doesnt need Plex pass. It's a one off purchase so if you ditch your pass then you need to pay for the other app. After then it's free to use.

In regards to iPlayer I was talking about pushing programmes from your PC's web browser iPlayer rather than the iPlayer app found in iOS and Android.

Plex just updated the Android app.

https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/topic/60585-plex-for-android/?p=610469

NEW
Support for "Mirroring", both as a player and as a controller
FIXES
[Chromecast] Better handling of discovery, improves battery consumption when application is backgrounded
[Chormecast] Pass audioBoost parameter when playing media
[Chromecast] Resolve issue when connecting to an in-progress session, started from iOS
Resolve issues syncing to SD cards on Android KitKat devices
Resolve issue where playing Queue / Recommended content without having an accessible server would stop working after a first video was played.
Don't run reachability tests if application is backgrounded, improves battery consumption
Don't play theme music if playing content remotely (Chromecast or Plex Player)
Resolve issue when determing "mark as watched" and "mark as unwatched" for Shows and Seasons
Allow attempting to Direct Play 4K content, if the quality setting is set to Maximum
Update player/server discovery via plex.tv
Add support for custom channel messages
Click to expand...
 
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Your phone is the remote control and tells the chromecast to pull down the stream from the Internet. Like any remote you can then pull the batteries out and the programme will still play on the TV.
 
The hole used to root these devices were closed a long time ago. I've not heard of any work arounds although I don't really activly look at XDA site any more.
 
There are apps to stream from the phone but they are pretty crap imo. Like I said treat the chromecast as a TV and your phone as a remote control. You don't stream media from your remote to your TV. You use it to only manage what your TV plays.
 
Does the Sky box drop power on the USB port when it's in standby? I do the same with a PVR but it looses power when in standby.
 
Muliple devices can control it. I mistakenly turned off Plex in the bedroom that my missus was watching when I was meant to control Netflix on my PS3.

BTW if you want to see what happens and have a PS3 you can control Netflix and YouTube from their smartphone apps.
 
I've a few things from Google Play. All the same quality you would expect from Netflix. The only thing that really winds me up is when attempting to resume a film via Chromecast it goes back to the start. I mean come on Google, BBC fixed this days after they added Chromecast support!
 
I download stuff from android police rather than any link.

On my nexus 4 and 7 2013 you can pull down the shortcut menu and tab cast screen from there without needing the Chromecast app.
 
The Chromecast is a dongle that plugs into the HDMI port. You then open apps that support it and it will search your wifi network for Chromecasts. I'll use YouTube as an example. You then press the Chromecast icon that pops up and connect it to the Chromecast. Choose the video you want to play and it will play. You can then power off your phone/tablet and the stream continues as the Chromecast connects to YouTube rather than your phone/tablet sending the video to the Chromecast.

tl;dr it's no different to how your TV remote works now.

BTW you can still grab one for £18.99. Infact there is a good How Does It Work video on that page!
 
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