Hasta La Gadget!

Glowing Chromecast reviews have come in from all angles, but what if you didn’t get an order in and missed out on the sold-out dongles? If you have an Android 2.2 (or higher) device you can give its features a whirl using an app called Cheapcast. Designed to mimic Google’s $35 dongle, it instantly gives a phone or tablet the ability to stream from Chromecast-enabled apps to other devices on the same WiFi network. If the device acting as a receiver has a small screen, you can also connect it to a TV with no WiFi via an HDMI cable. Cheapcast’s Google Play page warns that since it’s at the early stages, it can’t display Chrome tabs, and some of its other functions might still be on the fritz. It’s free to download, though, so there’s nothing keeping you from trying it out — it might even quench your desire to get a Chromecast, if only for a while.

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Via: AndroidCommunity

Source: Cheapcast (Google Play)

Yes, you can unplug the Kinect sensor without your Xbox One turning into a useless brick. In an update to an ask-me-anything style Q and A hosted by IGN, Xbox One Chief Platform Architect Marc Whitten was asked if the console would still work if the previously mandatory Kinect sensor were to fall onto a hardwood floor and break. Whitten responded that “like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in, although you won’t be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly used the sensor.”

Whitten also detailed that you can turn the sensor completely off in the One’s system settings. “When in this mode, the sensor is not collecting any information,” Whitten said, adding that it’s still in use for IR blasting in this configuration. He added that “entering into a required Kinect experience” with the sensor off will prompt you to enable it before proceeding. Like earlier announcements concerning daily DRM check-ins, indie self-publishing and headset inclusion, Microsoft is backpedaling on unpopular news from the Xbox One’s launch.

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft

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Via: Kotaku

Source: IGN

Yes, it’s basically a trojan horse, convincing you to buy stuff from Amazon’s online store, but at least it’s beautiful. HD display, stereo sound and decent hardware propelled the Kindle Fire HD to second place when it first came out, right behind the original Nexus 7. Still, this is “How Would You Change,” where we ask you to pretend that Jeff Bezos is listening to your ideas and show the world your innovative ideas on where the company can improve matters for generation three.

Filed under: Tablets, Amazon

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While we enjoyed our time with the TiVo Mini multiroom DVR extender when we reviewed it, we noted several drawbacks including missing apps for Netflix and Amazon Instant Video (Hulu Plus has been present since launch). Both have been supported on standalone TiVos for a long time, but according to user reports Mini owners may finally have access to them. Zatz Not Funny posted the picture above and points out a TiVo Community post where users report icons for both are suddenly appearing on their Minis, although currently only Netflix is working. Forum poster and Engadget reader sbiller reports 1080p streams currently cause the Mini to reboot, so even that app may not be quite ready for prime time. Whatever the case, it should be active so if that’s been stopping you from adding a Mini to your setup it may be time to reconsider, or re-reconsider.

Filed under: HD

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Source: TiVo Community, Zatz Not Funny

Microsoft just detailed how the Xbox One’s “Home Gold” will spread the Xbox Live Gold love across multiple users of a particular system, but what about those with the current generation’s Xbox Live Family Plan? The folks in Redmond stopped accepting new subscribers to the $99 / year package back in March, and now users are receiving an email (included after the break) with details about what happens next. First, the good news: As of August 27th, if you have the family plan then each one of your activated subaccounts get full Xbox Live Gold status for the duration of your remaining subscription, plus three extra months. Prior to the conversion, you can still add sub accounts to the maximum total of four, and if you’re set to auto-renew prior to conversion then that will still happen. The conversion may not happen exactly on that date, but subscribers can expect another email a week before it actually occurs.

Now the downsides: Activity reports and Microsoft Points allowances are going away, with reports disappearing at the time of conversion and the latter with the next system update. Another issue will apply to those who used it to game on multiple consoles in or across multiple households, since they’ll need multiple individual XBL Gold subscriptions to do so — one of the big problems the Family Pack resolved when it launched back in 2010. That could make sticking with the Xbox 360 or upgrading to an Xbox One more expensive going forward, check out the FAQ for all the details and run the numbers for yourself.

[Thanks, Corey]

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft

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Source: Xbox Live Family Plan conversion FAQ, Microsoft