Showing posts with label chromecast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chromecast. Show all posts

24 Dec 2016

Watch an Online Movie: (Wget -c || Deluge) && Chrome > Chromecast

For all those who are in an odd situation where:


  • They have a paid account to a Movie site (like Netflix etc.)
  • Are unable to watch movies online, just because the video-streaming is just too slow
    • Either because your convenient times are 'peak' times for the server
    • Or, you are behind a painfully bad ISP
  • And are able to download the movie, as an option.

To such customers, downloading the movie overnight (using for e.g. wget) would be a big help!

I regularly use this, to download the movie, and watch with non-tech people (my kids) who can't be explained why the movie keeps 'Buffering'!

c:\bin\wget \
  -O KD1242.mp4 \ # Output filename
  -t 0 \ # Retrying indefinitely
  -c -T 10 \ # Reconnect + Timeouts are 10 seconds
  -w 10 \ # wait 10 seconds before retrying a disconnection
"https://www.yourfavouritechannel.com/abcd/KD1242.mp4?g=1f3410635&sha1=JGgJm02BOvqgsdvC32BcUg"

Windows binaries for GPL'ed GNU software (such as Wget) are heaven sent here:



And if you need a Big-TV experience (for e.g. if you have a Chromecast), you could stitch things together by using the Google Cast extension for your Chrome Browser, and open up "c:\" on the browser to play the movie directly in the browser (since VLC stream is still in Beta):


If by chance you're downloading videos via torrents (For e.g. NASA videos), here are my GPL recommendations for Windows:

  • Deluge: If you haven't seen this, you should really replace your uTorrent etc. clients with this one
  • Use the Streaming Extension (Github Link)
  • Copy the URL that the Extension provides + Paste to Chrome
  • Cast your tab to your Chromecast + Enjoy!


Have Fun!

17 Dec 2015

MusicBox + Pi1B + Ancient 4.1 Speakers => Chromecast for Audio

Since Chromecast-for-Audio hasn't yet been launched in India, eBay sellers are using near monopoly extra for such a device here. Frustrated with being blackmailed like this, I resorted to conjuring up a combo that finally gave some shape to my 2 year old Pi and a ten year old 4.1 music system a life, and gave a good groove to my (otherwise boring) drawing room :) !
to charge a painful 150%

Parts:
  • Any Raspberry Pi
    • Except PiZero
      • Too low powered, would not work
    • To clarify, either of the following combos would work
      • The old PiA+ / PiB+
        • with SD Card
          • 2GB or more
      • The newer Pi2
        • with MicroSD Card
          • 2GB or more
  • MusicBox
  • Win32DiskImager
  • Client Operating Sytem
    • (Desktop) Windows
      • Bonjour
        • Optional
          • Makes the URL easier
        • I had Apple iTunes that install Bonjour support by default
    • (Smartphone) Android
      • Doesn't support Bonjour out of the box
      • Alternative,
        • Get the Pi to come with constant IP address
        • Bookmark the URL instead
  • Volume Control
    • The Web Interface allows changing volume
    • From the command line you could try this
      • amixer cset numid=1 -- 80%
Happy Listening :) !

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