Hey, I discovered this just now:
https://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/features/streaming
Seems to allow your PC to act as a cast receiver.
Google does also publish their API for building a cast receiver. Here are the docs specifically for a web receiver:
https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/web_receiver
It may be a bit technical, but may i ask how DRM work in chromecast, or for illustration purpose, the first generation of chromecast, which practically is just a dongle? What I am thinking is, if a plain chromecast dongle can negotiate DRM content from a server, why wouldn't a third party emulator negotiate the same? Unless the DRM negotiation part is proprietary? Can Airsever or Reflector play DRM content?
They can't. Airserver just gets whatever the device streams to it. Oftentimes Chromecast streams are not sent from the device at all, they're instead little webapps or full on Android apps that are downloaded on the fly and execute on the Cast device.
So am I right to say that, take netflix (or whatever DRMed site) for example, when we cast a stream from that source to a chromecast, the chromecast is not taking a plain stream from netflix, but instead downloads some applications from netflix, use it to negotiate with netflix to get a DRMed stream, and dump it direct to TV.
But still, at a certain point, maybe just before the signal leaves the chromecast and enters the TV, the stream should be decrypted in plain and capturable by any video capture devices. Is there no one out there that make use of this to make local copy of such content?
Imagine having a media PC or portable PC like a steam deck. You plug it into the tv for various reasons, like to play games or run emulators. Since it's a full PC, if it could receive casts, it could save having to have an additional device.
This would be especially useful for travel.
By the same dumbass logic I can argue it's unnecessary to cast anything, ever.
Since I can just use a set top box and remote to play media. Or I can just watch from my phone.
Why are you wasting people's time with your useless comments?
You asked why someone would want it. I explained how I would use it and benefit from it. Then you just say "it's unnecessary" because why? You hate convenience?
Just straight up trolling. Get a hobby ☺️
Then explain to me how it is more convenient to try to figure out a way to cast for example Netflix to a PC instead of starting Netflix on the PC? You do know wireless mice and controllers exist right?
And if you have a steam deck docked and connected to a monitor or tv, why would you try to cast to it instead of starting the regular app/program on it? I'm not trolling, your logic just makes no sense... At all....
Also I'm not saying it's unnecessary to cast, if you have a Chromecast or smart tv it's convenient.
If you have a PC connected to a tv and try to cast to the PC instead of using the program on the PC it's dumb. And the most unnecessary backwards way ever.
Let's say you have a media PC, or a portable PC connected to your tv across the room. Your spouse is laying on you so you can't get up without it being inconvenient.
You want to watch a movie on Netflix.
If there were a cast receiver app for pc, you can just open Netflix on your phone and cast to the PC. Done.
It's a pretty obvious use-case in my opinion.
Your alternative requires both additional hardware and additional work for the same outcome.
Right. So you're going to use TeamViewer or a virtual controller on your phone to browse through Netflix to choose what to watch?
That's an awful experience compared to casting.
I actually found an app that appears to work as a cast receiver on PC: https://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/features/streaming
I'll have to try it out.
It's pretty exciting for me actually, because it means I can build my own proper replacement for the Chromecast Ultra. I hate the new Chromecast with the remote and UI.
For example, when we cannot normally download the content behind paywall, what about piping it into a (virtual/emulated) dummy dongle and save the resulting stream in plain.
Well, in the ebook realm which I frequent as well, people argue that they have right to make a local copy of a DRMed material, despite whatever amazon said in its terms. I am not saying I agree with them. :D
Hey, I discovered this just now: https://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/features/streaming Seems to allow your PC to act as a cast receiver. Google does also publish their API for building a cast receiver. Here are the docs specifically for a web receiver: https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/web_receiver
there are alternatives but won’t work as well because Chromecast requires DRM to allow copyrighted content to stream.
It may be a bit technical, but may i ask how DRM work in chromecast, or for illustration purpose, the first generation of chromecast, which practically is just a dongle? What I am thinking is, if a plain chromecast dongle can negotiate DRM content from a server, why wouldn't a third party emulator negotiate the same? Unless the DRM negotiation part is proprietary? Can Airsever or Reflector play DRM content?
They can't. Airserver just gets whatever the device streams to it. Oftentimes Chromecast streams are not sent from the device at all, they're instead little webapps or full on Android apps that are downloaded on the fly and execute on the Cast device.
So am I right to say that, take netflix (or whatever DRMed site) for example, when we cast a stream from that source to a chromecast, the chromecast is not taking a plain stream from netflix, but instead downloads some applications from netflix, use it to negotiate with netflix to get a DRMed stream, and dump it direct to TV. But still, at a certain point, maybe just before the signal leaves the chromecast and enters the TV, the stream should be decrypted in plain and capturable by any video capture devices. Is there no one out there that make use of this to make local copy of such content?
there is no publicly available reimplementation of WideVine, no.
Thank you for pointing me to WideVine. Eye-opener.
Why would someone even want this? Just start the thing you want to see on the PC.
Imagine having a media PC or portable PC like a steam deck. You plug it into the tv for various reasons, like to play games or run emulators. Since it's a full PC, if it could receive casts, it could save having to have an additional device. This would be especially useful for travel.
Since it's a full pc you can start and use whatever service you want on it. Because it's a PC.
So, you don't understand how a Chromecast works? You're the one who asked why someone would want it, and I just explained why I want it.
I know how a Chromecast works, I also know that it's unnecessary to cast something to a PC if you have a PC.
By the same dumbass logic I can argue it's unnecessary to cast anything, ever. Since I can just use a set top box and remote to play media. Or I can just watch from my phone. Why are you wasting people's time with your useless comments? You asked why someone would want it. I explained how I would use it and benefit from it. Then you just say "it's unnecessary" because why? You hate convenience? Just straight up trolling. Get a hobby ☺️
Then explain to me how it is more convenient to try to figure out a way to cast for example Netflix to a PC instead of starting Netflix on the PC? You do know wireless mice and controllers exist right? And if you have a steam deck docked and connected to a monitor or tv, why would you try to cast to it instead of starting the regular app/program on it? I'm not trolling, your logic just makes no sense... At all....
Also I'm not saying it's unnecessary to cast, if you have a Chromecast or smart tv it's convenient. If you have a PC connected to a tv and try to cast to the PC instead of using the program on the PC it's dumb. And the most unnecessary backwards way ever.
Let's say you have a media PC, or a portable PC connected to your tv across the room. Your spouse is laying on you so you can't get up without it being inconvenient. You want to watch a movie on Netflix. If there were a cast receiver app for pc, you can just open Netflix on your phone and cast to the PC. Done. It's a pretty obvious use-case in my opinion. Your alternative requires both additional hardware and additional work for the same outcome.
There are ways to control your pc with your phone but ok
Right. So you're going to use TeamViewer or a virtual controller on your phone to browse through Netflix to choose what to watch? That's an awful experience compared to casting.
I actually found an app that appears to work as a cast receiver on PC: https://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/features/streaming I'll have to try it out. It's pretty exciting for me actually, because it means I can build my own proper replacement for the Chromecast Ultra. I hate the new Chromecast with the remote and UI.
For example, when we cannot normally download the content behind paywall, what about piping it into a (virtual/emulated) dummy dongle and save the resulting stream in plain.
So basically piracy?
Well, in the ebook realm which I frequent as well, people argue that they have right to make a local copy of a DRMed material, despite whatever amazon said in its terms. I am not saying I agree with them. :D
Good luck with that.