Stream any media to Chromecast with CyanogenMod
Chromecast is a nifty little gadget. Cheap and easy to setup, it makes its pseudo-internet TV capabilities accessible to the masses. One problem: for the media dongle to achieve its full functionality, we’ll be waiting for companies to individually green-light their apps as compatible. This means, at first, that Chromecast users are quite limited in content options.
The CyanogenMod team has addressed the issue by building in functionality to their Android ROM that allows any media app, audio or video, to stream to your television via Chromecast. And it couldn’t be more simple. Just load content and an option will appear in the notification tray.
So why couldn’t Google introduce something like this out of the gates? Admittedly, the answer isn’t so simple. Just look at Google TV. Plenty of networks that offer free streaming content on their websites blocked said content on Google TV because the fact that the video comes through a TV is somehow different than streaming over the internet. So, considering licensing and everything that goes with it, we’re sure companies like Hulu and HBO wouldn’t appreciate Google giving users the ability to stream from their apps to a TV without official support. Thems the breaks.
But still, it’s surprising how easily the task was accomplished, which highlights Chromecasts one true weakness. It has all the tools to success, from price to function, but without the content, it could just be another flop in a long run of Google products for TV.