14 DAY TRIAL // VLC Player is getting Chromecast support, eliminating the hassle of having to fire up Chrome or finding the right hub to get your video fix any time of the day. The update will bless iOS customers first, then the rest of the supported platforms.
“In addition to the iOS variant, we are also working on a Windows / Linux / Mac implementation, which will take a bit longer because it’s harder,” said lead OS X and iOS developer Felix Paul Kühne on the VideoLAN forums.
A thumb-sized media streaming device that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, Chromecast can be set up with a specialized mobile app, after which you can send your favorite online shows, movies, and music to your TV using your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Using Chrome to beam a video to your TV set is a hassle, something that VideoLAN wants to fix with the addition of Chromecast support for the VLC Player iOS installment.
In theory, you’ll be able to browse your entire collection of stored videos and movies inside the app on your iPhone or iPad, then hit “cast” (or whatever they plan on naming that button) and you’ll see the content played back on your TV set instantly.
“With Chromecast, you can easily enjoy your favorite online entertainment on your HDTV—movies, TV shows, music, and more from Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Google Play Movies and Music, and Chrome. No more huddling around small screens and tiny speakers. Chromecast automatically updates to work with a growing number of apps,” Google says.
The feature mimics and (at the same time) will rival Apple’s own mirroring feature that takes advantage of AirPlay functionality. With an Apple TV set-top box connected to their HDTV, customers can display everything that appears on their iDevice onto the big screen. That includes apps and games too, in addition to video.
Essentially, the feature planned for Chromecast is already available on Apple TV. Right now you need a Wi-Fi network in the house to achieve that with Apple TV, and Chromecast will work in much the same way. However, iOS 8 will deliver peer-to-peer AirPlay discovery and playback. In short, no need for Wi-Fi.
“With iOS 8, you can wirelessly connect iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to Apple TV without first connecting to the organization’s network. Which means you can present or share your work even if you’re offline or the organization has a complex network,” Apple says.
The feature is marketed as an Enterprise perk, but customers will undoubtedly find many other uses for this, while Apple itself will probably open it up even more for an enhanced seamless experience. iOS 8 will be released this fall.