Google's Chromecast, which was announced last July, entered a scene full of devices that allow you to watch web content on your TV. From Roku to Smart TV, there are plenty of ways to get online video on your TV screen. The really cool thing about Chromecast is that it goes way beyond letting you watch online video on your TV.
Google Chromecast becomes more than just a way to watch online video on your TV – it becomes an incredibly productive and exciting tool. We have created 8 unique uses for Google's Chromecast. Read on to learn how you can make even more use of your Chromecast.
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One of the most obvious uses for Google Chromecast, aside from using it to watch videos on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, and more, is using it for photo slideshows. If you upload your photos to a photo-sharing site like Flickr, a social network like Facebook, or just back them up to a service like Dropbox, you can simply find the photos in your Chrome browser and send that tab to your tv. . Instead of crowding around a small computer screen, bring your photos to life on a big screen.
A great trick with Chromecast is the ability to cast more than just a tab to your TV screen - it can cast your entire desktop. Simply click the Chromecast button in your browser, click the little arrow button, and select "Show full screen."
As you will see in the menu, it is an experimental feature and still a bit buggy. That said, it's a great way to share PowerPoint presentations, conduct customer demos, and more. You can take your presentations and demos anywhere there's a TV and a wireless connection. Of course, when doing something like this, it's best to have a wireless mouse handy to make it less confusing.
Even if you don't want to share a presentation or demo with others, you may want a big computer screen, but don't intend to look for another gadget, why not use the Chromecast? If you have a laptop or desktop, all you need is a $35 Chromecast, a wireless mouse, and a wireless keyboard (if you're using your desktop), and you're good to go.
Again, like when you use Chromecast to give a presentation, you can cast your entire desktop, not just a tab.
If you're video conferencing with friends and family, instead of having a bunch of people trying to huddle around a computer so they can see the people you're talking to, put the desktop on your TV. If you're using your laptop, put it in front of the TV so whoever's doing a conference call can see everyone, too. Better yet, if you have a portable webcam, place it above the TV. Next, you have a giant screen to see who your video conference is with on a giant screen.
The Chromecast is already compatible with several services, including Hulu, Netflix, HBOGo, Google Play, and more. While the list may be growing, there's no reason you can't check out even more browser-only content while you wait. Amazon Video can be launched through your Chrome tab. Hulu's web-only content can be viewed on your TV. As long as you can play it in your browser, you can watch it on your TV.
When Google first released the Chromecast, streaming unsupported content was pixelated and almost unwatchable, but thankfully, that's now been resolved.
If you have many downloaded videos saved on your computer, you can also watch them on your TV. All you have to do is drag the video file to a Google Chrome tab and it will play directly from your browser. Just put that tab on your TV and you can watch the full video on your TV instead of your computer.
When it comes to entertainment, you don't have to limit yourself to just video content. Why not play music too? Any type of music that can be played through your Chrome browser can be heard through your TV speakers. Whether you prefer GrooveShark, the web-based version A First Look at Spotify's Web Player A First Look at Spotify's Web Player Spotify has changed the way many of us consume music, myself included. I used to buy albums on a regular basis, but once the time came when I removed the CD from my computer's hard drive... Read more about Spotify, or even a YouTube playlist, you can boost the music on instead of relying on computer speakers.
If you tend to play computer games online, why not bring them to life on a computer screen? Any game you play in your browser can be viewed on a much larger screen on your TV, but as with some of the options above, if it's a game that requires a mouse or keyboard, opt for some wireless devices. to really enhance the experience.
Google is clearly on to something by bringing games to the Chromecast, even if they've barely started. iOS and Android users can play Tic Tac Toe using two separate devices. All you have to do is download the iOS or Android version of the game [no longer available] and cast the game to your TV. It may be a basic start, but it's a start nonetheless.
Can you think of some creative uses of Google Chromecast to add to the list? Share them with us in the comments.
