Technology DLNA Servers

[Casey]

So, AllCast for Android now supports pushing content from a local DLNA server to Chromecast.

What's the best Windows application to drop all my video content into and make it available as a DLNA server?

 

[Casey]

I'm testing out Plex.

 

[ARon]

I was just going to say Plex, don't see why you would use anything else

 

[Pittsey]

Plex is the only one worth using.

I still use XBMC, but it won't work with the Chromecast. You could already stream from plex to your chromecast, if you were a premium user.

If you are going to use a plex server though, you may as well use NOW TV boxes as your receiver. They are a tenner each. Which is 1/3 of the price of the chromecast. I know a lot of people that use plex to share all their media to their friends. They just buy a NOWTV box for a tenner and have instant access to 1000s of films and TV shows.

 

[Casey]

I don't need a Now TV box. I just wanted a simple way to get the shows I already have on my laptop, onto my Chromecast. AllCast + Plex server seems to do the job!

 

[Pittsey]

I don't need a Now TV box. I just wanted a simple way to get the shows I already have on my laptop, onto my Chromecast. AllCast + Plex server seems to do the job!

I get that. I was just offering a cheaper alternative to the chromecast for anyone who happened upon this thread.

 

[THEV1LL4N]

So, let me get this right:

AllCast and Plex are similar in that they both allow the user to cast their local content that they store on their devices to the TV?

 

[Pittsey]

So, let me get this right:

AllCast and Plex are similar in that they both allow the user to cast their local content that they store on their devices to the TV?

Plex can be sent from several different devices. It's a bit like XBMC, but it's great for streaming from your server to your phone.

 

[Casey]

So, let me get this right:

AllCast and Plex are similar in that they both allow the user to cast their local content that they store on their devices to the TV?

Plex is a media server that you install on your computer. The Plex app costs money, but you can use the AllCast app (which is free) to access the videos on your Plex Server, so you don't need to purchase the Plex app.

 

[Pittsey]

Plex is a media server that you install on your computer. The Plex app costs money, but you can use the AllCast app (which is free) to access the videos on your Plex Server, so you don't need to purchase the Plex app.

It may have changed... But... The plex app is free. The premium app requires a subscription. You can't chromecast unless you have the premium app.

I will try out the allcast app with my plex server. I have been recommending chromecasts to my lesser technological friends. They are very easy to setup.

 

[Pittsey]

Setup seemed straightforward, but takes ages to find my media. Still hasn't found it. But I have a few thousand HD films and a few hundred HD shows. ]

Casey - Do you have the pro app? I read that the free version has a limit of 1 minute media.

 

[Casey]

Setup seemed straightforward, but takes ages to find my media. Still hasn't found it. But I have a few thousand HD films and a few hundred HD shows. ]

Casey - Do you have the pro app? I read that the free version has a limit of 1 minute media.

Yeah, I bought the premium version of AllCast. The first few things I played, played in full. But then one TV show I was watching cut off after 5 minutes and it said trial expired. It was only £3, so I figured it made sense. The PlexPass one is a few dollars every month.

 

[Pittsey]

Yeah, I bought the premium version of AllCast. The first few things I played, played in full. But then one TV show I was watching cut off after 5 minutes and it said trial expired. It was only £3, so I figured it made sense. The PlexPass one is a few dollars every month.

Yeah. The Plex premium is a subscription based one. The Allcast one is better value. I couldn't get it to detect my server though. Probably because of my poor network. I will try again when I connect up the cat6 setup I have wired around the house.

 

[Pittsey]

Plex with Chromecast is now available for free, for all...!

 

[THEV1LL4N]

Plex with Chromecast is now available for free, for all...!

Now I just need a Chromecast.

 

[Casey]

Now I just need a Chromecast.

You're in luck, because Curry's and PC World just got sent their stock from Google. UK release is any day now. I'm wondering what the price will be. Thanks to a good exchange rate, mine was only £35 including shipping from the US. I suspect the official UK retail price will be £30 or so.

http://www.techradar.com/news/telev...mecast-will-hit-the-uk-very-very-soon-1233836

 

[Pittsey]

The only problem with Plex is the transcoding canes my CPU. I only have a little CPU on my server. Thinking about running it on my i5 media centre and just storing the content on my server.

 

[Pittsey]

UK release date for Chromecast is 19th March, so I am told.

 

[THEV1LL4N]

Does anyone believe we will be seeing a 2nd Gen Chromecast this year?

 

[Casey]

Does anyone believe we will be seeing a 2nd Gen Chromecast this year?

Nope. There is literally no point in a hardware refresh at this point, given that the current range of Chromecast apps don't even come close to pushing the limits of the hardware.