That’s fantastic for you, but a quick Google search will bring up plenty of articles and reddit threads of people bitching about this and other ways the Chromecast has been broken over the years.

When they released Android TV they implemented the full apps into Chromecast so it went from just a video playing client to an extremely underpowered streaming stick, without a Google TV remote a lot of the players were broken and because it’s an out of production out of support device you are stuck with whatever crippled functionality they leave us. I tried to set one up for my wife a couple of weeks ago and she couldn’t cast certain YouTube videos to it because it was prompting her to sign-in but the sign-in functionality has been broken for two years now. If your device has somehow avoided any updates you have a gem; that thing would fetch a handsome sum on eBay.

Is it still a cheap dongle that people can use to quickly share media to the screen? Yes, that’s why I have five. I’d like them to support and keep making them. I’d like them to work as seamlessly as they did 2012-2015ish.

I’ll check it out, thanks!

I have five from multiple generations, so I’m very aware. They changed this functionality on all of them. I never said they didn’t still work, and I gave a clear example of how the functionality is being nerfed.

Yes but they discontinued them in favor of Google TV, and they also heavily nerfed the capabilities by putting Google TV apps on there. For instance I now often have to pull out the virtual remote in the YouTube app to make a pop-up go away so I can watch the YouTube video I cast.

If I wanted a streaming box I’d buy or build a streaming box. If I wanted anyone with my remote control to be able to access my YouTube viewing history and all my streaming accounts I’d make it happen. What I want is a cheap dongle that my family and guests can use to quickly share media to the big screen!

Hear me out…

The Descent but it’s on the moon.

I think the real question is what is the value we are getting out of the resources used? Do we need AI forced into every platform? Personally, I don’t think so. But just to be sure I asked Chat GPT and here is its answer:

“Rather than integrating Al into every possible application, a more measured approach might be beneficial. Assessing the actual need and impact of Al in specific use cases can help avoid unnecessary energy consumption. Al should be implemented where it provides significant benefits and improvements, rather than as a default addition to every platform.”

So even the AI itself knows it is used frivolously.

Yep yep, same. Old droves get destroyed. My word that I’ll wipe the drive is apparently not enough.

I also work in a data center, I can’t take anything :(

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal 2.

Excellent. I cannot wait to hotswap batteries again. It is so much easier to carry around an extra battery than a battery pack and cable.

Not just YouTube. Now I have to say I’m not a robot when searching from my phone because I dare use a VPN that’s not theirs.

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/14/1126523766/water-batteries-could-store-solar-and-wind-power-for-when-its-needed

They may still for enterprise customers.

Lol what?

So you haven’t bought a phone in the last decade?