Google’s $35 Chromecast dongle has scarcely been out of the headlines since its release, and although it is rather limited in what it can currently offer, this hasn’t prevented developers and general Android enthusiasts from pushing the boundaries in trying to improve the service. Dev Leon Nicholls is one such individual, and his new Fling app allows Chromecast owners to stream a variety of video formats from their PC or Mac straight to the device.
Although the combination of Netflix, YouTube and Google Play content doesn’t make for particularly riveting variety, the mere fact that Chromecast is based on an adapted amalgam of the Chrome OS and, more importantly, Android, means that it is always, to some degree, going to be hackable.
Fling is the kind of app many a Chromecast owner would have been yearning for until now. The ability to stream straight from a desktop to an HDTV, à la Apple TV, will appeal to quite a few of you I should imagine, and since Fling covers a plethora of video extensions – including the oft-problematic .mkv – it should be able to handle just about anything you care to throw at it.
As we’ve seen just recently, those without a Chromecast device can also enjoy a similar experience using any Android device thanks to the CheapCast for Android app, which was featured here at Redmond Pie just last week. Unfortunately, however, Fling will only work for those with a legit Chromecast, so if you were perhaps on the fence about coughing up that $35 for the compact streaming device, maybe the sway of Fling will have you spending your money.
Since Fling is also open source, anybody with a little coding nous can dive in themselves, and all in all, this is one of the best bits of news for the Chromecast so far in its short lifespan.
Obviously, the root access gained in those early stages was the most exciting revelation, but since a relatively swift OTA update killed all hope of gaining root for the time being, Fling is just another tool in the ongoing effort to get the very most out of this tiny little gadget.
You can download Fling from here.
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