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On the same day that Google announced Android 4.3 and the 2013 Nexus 7, they also announced a little accessory called the Chromecast. For $35, it’s essentially a tiny HDMI enabled computer that’s WiFi enabled and uses your phone as a remote control. In other words, instead of “beaming” content that’s on your phone to your television, like an Apple TV, your phone sends the Chromecast a command to play X video from YouTube, Y film from Netflix, or Z song from Google Music.
But what if you want to view photos and videos that are on your phone?
An enthusiastic developer by the name of Koushik Dutta has written an Android app that basically turns your phone or tablet into a server, which the Chromecast can then access to playback local media. This is not only brilliant, but Google could probably replicate this functionality in a weekend. Just a few weeks ago I wrote an editorial about how to put files on your Android phone, with one of the techniques being to turn your smartphone into an FTP server.
Bravo, Dutta, and here’s hoping Google rolls this out via an update.
Oh and in case you’re wondering, no, you can’t install this app yourself, because Google’s terms of service for the Chromecast specifically forbid developers from distributing apps.
[Via: Engadget]
