For $35 I Give You This Stick

Finally. A bit of off time. The holidays just seemed to fly by this past year. Probably because I didn't really take a break. Duty calls, right? Lots of cool projects and the chance to use some new technology. Ok, so I got so distracted I didn't take any vacation. It's ok. Doing it now. What better time to get caught up on a post or two.

Find the most talented person in the room, and if it's not you, go stand next to him and try to be helpful  - Harold Ramis

I'd be remissed if I didn't offer up a bit of a personal note on Harold Ramis. Harold's movies pulled more laughs outta my generation than anyone else. Animal House, Caddyshack, Stripes, Vacation, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day…wow what a run. Too many classic one-liners to try and even remember. Thanks for the eternal gift of laughter. We'll miss you man.

Oh, almost forgot, music. A week or so ago would have been the 56th birthday of a fella named Brad Delp.  Not a rock  name you probably know. But I am sure you know his voice. He was the front man for the band Boston. In the Summer of 1976, this completely unknown band released their debut album. In a sea of music that was entirely dominated by disco, Boston brought a wonderfully different and distinctive sound to the airwaves. And thanks to Brad's vocals, and the writing and recording prowess of MIT-grad-turned-music legend Tom Sholtz, the first Boston album became, and still remains the best-selling debut album in U.S. history.  High quality that is sure to please. Sit back, click here and enjoy. 

  

More Than A Feeling

So, lately I've reached the end of the line with my Apple TV. Believe me, I've gotten my money's worth out of it. A few years back I grabbed one of these lil black boxes to fill a need. See, I wanted to have my music and movies on the big screen, however, I had never found a PC that I felt would be nice enough or quiet enough to have on display in my den. After doing some reading, I realized the Apple TV may have a shot at fulfilling this need since it was easily hacked (called jailbreaking in the Apple universe). And why you ask would I wish to do this? Simple. Apple only wants you to play "iStufff." You know what I'm talking about; all the stuff you can only buy through iTunes. So if you have old CDs or DVDs that you have meticulously ripped, yea, you are out of luck. Bitter…party of one.  However, a clever group of people figured out a way to load their own software on this device which, by all current definitions is a mini computer in a tiny package. So I hit the Net and followed the instructions. In a few minutes, my Apple TV began to play non-Apple stuff right there on my big screen. Life seemed pretty good. It was even wife friendly. But, it still was painful to use. Apple's idea of a simple world sometimes is...well...too simple. Put another way, it means you have to click-click-click your way through different menu icons and moving titles until you get to the one you want to watch. I know you've done it. We all do it. I just did it and I don't want to do it again. Apple TV carries what I call a high PITA factor. PITA is short for Pain In The Ass (sorry for going PG-13 on you). Not a big deal if you have say ten movies and an equal number of songs. That would be my daughter. If you are a grown up, with a big collection, well, you are now in PITA hell. Got a movie that is large in size (say a BluRay DVD you ripped)? Yea, get ready. The Apple TV is gonna crap itself and move to the corner, whimpering in shame. Hey, what do you expect? It just doesn't have enough horsepower to chomp through the 8GB file size. And it happens at the worse time. Just ask my seven year old as Bee Movie or Toy Story restarts for the…I don't know…third time. No explaining the "why" part here. All she knows is that daddy's fancy movie player is broken. Sigh. I needed something different; something stable. So, I began to hunt for its successor. The market is now full of quite a few choices: Roku, Matrix, Xbox 360 and a rather interesting new player called Chromecast. I was intrigued by the latter. It was a new Google product and it cost $35.00. What? $35.00? How good could it really be? Let's find out.

Something About You

So, Chromecast is this little device (and I do mean little) that plugs directly into one of the HDMI ports on your TV. This new category of devices are being called streaming sticks. It is about as long as your index finger and it is controlled 100% by pretty much any smartphone, tablet, laptop, or PC. Shall we begin? start with your smartphone or tablet. You can send photos, music, or even movies, through the air right to your TV. Google calls it "casting." For example, say your toddler wants to watch Elmo. That red little critter is all over YouTube. Ok, so you grab your Galaxy S4 phone, open up the YouTube app and find Elmo. No big deal there. I press the "Cast" button in the YouTube app and quicker than you can say Mr. Noodle, Elmo is on the big screen. That's it. Just like your smartphone or tablet, Chromecast is driven by apps. Pandora, HBO Go, Netflix, Google Play and more. New ones come each and every day.  You naysayers out there will likely say, "ha, this is sooooo four years ago. Apple has been doing this with AirPlay." I understand your reluctance to accept innovation from a company other than Apple. Really, I do. Know that this is a common and rather inaccurate comparison. And here's why: With Chromecast, I can walk away with my phone, make a call, check email or even surf the web…and Elmo keeps on playing. What? That's right. See, when you use Apple AirPlay, you have to lay down your device and walk away. That's because Airplay works by "mirroring" what is on the display of an iPhone or iPad…and killing your battery in the process. Not true when you cast with Chromecast. Google has done something quite clever here. Once you begin to cast, the Chromecast device actually takes over and creates a direct connection to the Internet source (in this case YouTube) outside of your device. At that point, the device merely becomes a wireless remote control. Just got interesting didn't it? Now the fun begins.

Peace Of Mind

I am pretty sure the next thing you want to know is the engineering degree that is required get this contraption working. The answer is none. As long as you have WiFi, it takes about 5 minutes to get this puppy rolling. Really, it does. Google has made it super easy. And once you start using it, you will discover (and certainly be thrilled) with what I believe is the most important feature; one that they are not making a lot of noise about yet. I'm talking about using your phone or tablet as a remote control. No, I'm not talking about that time-honored tradition of flipping channels. A tablet is overkill for that. Nope, I am talking about finding what you want to watch. Try this. You missed the season finale of the HBO series "True Detectives." You pick up that old school DirectTV or Comcast remote and start clicking around the On Demand menu to try and find it. You may luck out since it is a new show; it will have a big banner and finding the show will take a mere few minutes. But imagine you want to find say you wanted to watch "Stripes" or "Groundhog Day." Hmmm. Now you have to open up the search box and enter the title, letter by letter, using the keypad on your remote. Let's see, S-T-R-I-P-E-S. God forbid you make a mistake and have to go backwards. Ugh. High PITA factor here. So much so that most people dread using it. Worst of all, no one can watch TV while you are knuckle-dragging with your crappy remote.

Now, let's do the same walk with a tablet. Launch the DirecTV or HBO Go app. Stop for a second and take in the moment. You are about to go looking for something to watch without bumping one of your family members off the TV. That alone is totally worth it. Quickly find the program you want to watch. It's much easier since you have things like…uh…a keyboard and a screen, right? A few swipes of your finger and you find the program you want to watch. Press the cast button and start watching. Yup, it is that easy. And how well does it work? How does high definition video and Dolby Digital sound strike you? All through the air! Do it a few times and you will ask yourself why in the world do I still use this other old-school remote control? You just said OMG didn't you? Makes so much sense, right? All this time it was hiding in plain sight. It's ok to thank your Uncle Ricky right about now. Now you know why I was saying this is the most important feature. And, at the same time I just gave you another reason to have a tablet, perhaps even a second one. Personally, I think this is a better argument than say the cost-per-wear one I get from my wife all the time. You be the judge. For the record, and for your own safety, don't try to make that comparison with your significant other. By the numbers you will clearly be right…but you will still be wrong.

Longtime

The true tipping point was reached when I showed my seven year old how to play a movie using Chromecast. Mind you she was pretty well versed with using our old Harmony universal remote and the Apple TV. However, as I explained previously, that process was still wrought with issues. Not the Chromecast. I showed her one time and she got it. And, since it was on her tablet, it was fun and magnificently easy. She ran to my wife and said "I can control the TV with my iPAD." She actually taught my wife who, in short order said to me in a accusing yet loving way, "why have you been making me do this the hard way for so long." I digress.

Until now, I've only really rapped about the Chromecast apps that I've used thus far. HBO Go, Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, and Plex. But there is more…much more. Be warned, that slight drop out of the corner of your mouth is about to turn into a long drool. Let's say you are smart enough to use the Chrome browser on your PC or laptop (in addition to your mobile devices). And because you do, you already know that all of your Internet favorites and other browser preferences are always in sync across all your devices. Chrome has its own little apps that run inside of it called Extensions. Of course, they are free. There are lots of useful ones out there for preventing pop-ups, texting direct to your cellphone, checking email…even playing Angry Birds. As you probably just guessed, there is a Chromecast extension for Chrome. Now get your cast on with your laptop or PC. Hit your favorite site on the Net, and send it right up to your TV. Surfing has never been more fun, especially with children. And, many media-driven sites (think YouTube, Spotify, Google Play, HBO Go, Hulu, CNN etc) are getting the Google treatment with something called Optimized Playback. If you go to cast one of these sites…whoa mama…you get full high def audio and video…through your browser! And get this, just like your tablet or smartphone, once the casting starts, you can use your laptop for other things. Go ahead, close the lid and power it down while you continue watching Francis Underwood do the D.C. two-step on your fireplace mounted flat panel. No tablet required.  All this from a $35 gadget. 

Hitch A Ride

Now for my last Chromecast trick. Well, at least for this blog. Remember how small I said the Chromecast device is? It's not much bigger than the key fob for your car. Just for a moment, let's take a vacation. Pack your clothes, cram your laptop and tablet into your messenger bag, and get ready to head to that beach condo or mountain chalet. These days, they pretty much all have WiFi  and flat screens, right? Hmmmm. You pause for a moment, caught in a daydream. Perhaps this trip will be the end of those lousy resort prices for on-demand. After all, vacations are the perfect time to catch up on "Breaking Bad" or "House of Cards." No problem. You have your iPad and NetFlix. You just need to bring along a half-dozen cables and adapters in hopes that you will have the right combination to jack into the TV. Then, hopefully your battery is charged enough to make it through a two hour movie because, as you know, there is never a plug that is close enough to the TV. And if there is one, you can't use it because the power cord will drape in front of the television. It is at that moment, as you give the television the reach around, you realize you are one lousy cord or adapter short. Ugh. Damn you Apple. Why couldn't you have a standard HDMI or USB plug like everyone else? Ok, plan B. You can quietly go over to a corner chair, slip on your headphones and watch Walter White on your own. It's your iPAD right? Who says you are supposed to be the chairman of entertainment anyway! Nice try. That pain you feel is the reality bus slamming into your face as you try and crowd four adults around your little tablet screen. This is a very interesting lesson in tolerance as the perimeter of your personal space is breached. And how do we make this experience even better? Well now, let's say you all just returned from the all-you-can-eat Indian buffet.

Yes, there is a better way. Give this a whirl. Same scenario except this time, right before you hit the road, you grab your Chromecast and leave that gym bag of cables behind. You sachet over to the TV, poking your head ever so slightly behind it. In an instant you see that familiar trapezoid-shaped input stamped with your favorite initials: HDMI. You reach into your front pocket and whip out your Chromecast adapter as if to perform a crowd-pleasing illusion (which you pretty much are, as far as your lay traveling companions are concerns). It plugs neatly into the TV…and you are done. Now, to demonstrate your mad casting skills. Grab your smartphone. Yes, your smartphone. I know you have a tablet but we're going for dramatic impressions here. Open the Chromecast app and tell it to jump on the rental home's WiFi network. Easily done by punching in the password, right? Ok, next, fire up the NetFlix app and, just for fun, pull up the movie "Minority Report." As it begins to play, gather your house guests together in front of the television. Raise your index finger to your lips (the intergalactic symbol for shut your yappers). Then, like the conductor of an orchestra, close your eyes as if to be emotionally invested in the moment, extend your arms, phone in one hand, and press the cast icon on the touchscreen. Now…open your eyes and absorb the jaw-dropping admiration that flows from your awe-struck friends as they realize you have just done. Go ahead and take the moment. It's ok. And, just to ensure that your fans are overwhelmingly convinced of your great powers, take your phone and place a call…while the movie is playing. In the words of that great 20th century philosopher Bill Murray, "It's in the hole." Total time start to finish…about five minutes.

Let Me Take You Home Tonight

I am particularly jazzed about Chromecast. It is always fun to play with new technology. But boy it's great when something comes along and solves a high PITA factor problem and makes it easy enough for mere mortals to use. In a way, Google has taken a page right from the Apple playbook. Actually, they tore it right out and rewrote it. Chromecast is already a runaway hit. $35.00 screams "add to my shopping cart." without hesitation. Put another way, for the price of a pizza dinner for four, you get something that just a few short years ago wasn't really possible without cables that cost five times as much, had a higher than 50% failure rate, an extraordinarily high PITA factor. Imagine trying to run an obstacle course in total darkness, with a broken leg, and a hangover. Yea, that bad. What else do I know? Well, I know there are at least four other streaming sticks being rushed to market right now to compete against it. Roku, Netgear, Motorola and soon more. And while Google will no doubt pull away from the pack due to its established app store and media services, remember the real magic here isn't the stick or the screen; it's what goes in your hand. Google didn't stop with the Chromecast device; no, they knew that ease of use comes from a better way to remotely control it; something familiar, widely deployed, and intuitive: like any smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC. They also knew you didn't want to leave your device on the coffee table, tethered to their TV, burning down the battery. You've got calls to make and texts to send. So they made Chromecast intelligent enough to receive its marching orders from your device yet continue to work autonomously without tying it up. That my friends is just plain cool.

So now you are faced with a bit of a dilemma aren't you? $35.00 buys you what these days? Well, let's see. It can buy you some pretty good wine that isn't in a box. How about some good Chinese food for two, perhaps with a tip? $35.00 can get a family of four to the movies albeit without popcorn or Raisinets. What do all of these things have in common? They are all easy, attainable things that break the cycle of everyday life...at least for just a little while. Low stress, relaxing, and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the fun does come to an end, usually in an hour or two. Now then, let's take the same cash and drop it on a Chromecast. What do we have now? You have everything you had with the others except the Chromecast loves you back...for a long, long time.  Of course, we can't lose sight of the fact that it brings sanity back into your e-life, lightens your luggage and, most of all, elevates you to sorcerer's status. So, spare yourself the parking hassles, forgo the noise of people talking in the theater and avoid the ticket lines. Grab a bottle of wine, pick up some Chinese, invite the gang over, and take that movie money and plunk it down on a Chromecast. As you hunker down on your couch, pay attention to that warm wonderful feeling of happiness that permeates your relaxed body; an all-too-rare feeling that has alluded you for so long it actually takes you by surprise. You're welcome! Besides, and trust me when I say this, when you stand up in the theater and ask them to pause the movie while you go to the bathroom, people think you are...well...a bit weird. Just saying.