The chromecast I’ve got is about 10 years old and a few things don’t cast on it no more. I’m guessing I need a new one, but is there another option?

    • just_another_person@lemmy.world
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      16 days ago

      Transcoding is taking a file, and converting it on the fly to a different format that the client requests. For example: your Chromecast can only handle 1080p, but you have a 4k video you want to play on it, so you’ll have to load up something like VLC, open that file, and tell VLC to transcode it to 1080p before casting it to your Chromecast.

      It’s like shaving down a square peg to fit in a circular hole, essentially.

      • Lady Butterfly @lazysoci.alOP
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        16 days ago

        Thanks that’s easy to understand! I think I’m just gonna get a new casting device any ideas what the best one is?

        • just_another_person@lemmy.world
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          16 days ago

          I think the Nvidia Shield TV is probably the top of the line in this arena, but it’s expensive. I’m not sure there’s still a non-ad-laden alternative anymore. The newer Google TV things are $80, Apple TV is $200, but I think the cheapest Shield is $150, so it’s right in the middle, and much more open as an ecosystem than either of those. The Roku just has ads all over the place from what I remember.

          • Lady Butterfly @lazysoci.alOP
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            16 days ago

            OK will scratch roku off the list, thanks cos i looked at that earlier. I literally just need it to stream tv from my phone, what’s the best for me? I won’t use it for anything else

            • just_another_person@lemmy.world
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              16 days ago

              Well any of the other options just have you install apps on them and stream from there. It’s essentially a little media center. So you connect it, and load up whatever your streaming apps are, and you run them directly from the device itself. No more need to cast to it. They all even have web browsers so you can load those “other” sites that way as well.

              Does that answer your question?

          • thermal_shock@lemmy.world
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            16 days ago

            It’s not “expensive” if you use it regularly. I use mine several hours per day, on movies and tv shows between my, kids, fiance. It was worth the $180. Works very well to stream games to it, can pair headsets and controllers.

            Only thing I hate is the Netflix button. Fuck Netflix.