SimpleAssist Software Spot-lite - Streaming made easy: no wires to TV, and Netflix without breaking a sweat... ... Chromecast is hard to match

Google Chromecast:  The Best $35.00 Stocking Stuffer 

...Ever

When I received one of these, tech junkie as I am I thought "ehh, I have a Jail-broken Apple TV - I can stream anything."  Not thinking, "even though.. I had to literally jailbreak it (yes that is legal) to get past the restrictions of displaying my media.  

Conversely, Google (and Chromecast by extension) work on most computers and mobile devices, the Chromecast is simply an HDMI plug, USB plug for power which wireless streams and mirrors content from almost any phone, tablet, or PC right to your Television.
However, it was finding out the price that had me looking for a catch and I gave it a whole year before recommending it.  For my business, I'm actually carrying these around with me now for the holidays for when I run into people who have great TVs and all the devices and either pay too much money or use a wire. 

The guide below is a hodgepodge tutorial of questions which I hear from my customers, and hopefully it can help this holiday says.

Please email me at dshocklee@simpleassistme.com if you require additional info of assistance. 

Merry Holidays.

Derek Shocklee
Founder
The guide below was a tutorial that i put together for a customer who needed a SimpleAssist.  There's a lot more to Chromecast than you may know! 

Chromecast Tip Guide

Below are some quick tips I wrote up for thing like reconnecting or for your future reference.  

I like it because it's solid, and I'll do everything I can to help and replace / return if necessary.  

I like the Chromecast as opposed to other "dongles"  as it just "works".

• The Chromecast device only needs to be configured once to connect to the network (see setup below) so it can be seen on the WiFi network (when you take it with you somewhere, you'll run it through the setup using the Chromecast app - see here for some neat tips and tricks)
• If you ran setup once it was already set, it could have connected directly to the Chromecast device directly (not through router) and disconnected it from the network.  In that case you could simply unplug it from the TV and Power (soft reset) and try reconnecting via setup in any Chromecast (Mobile or PC) app.  
• If all else fails (although these things are built well, so it usually doesn) is a Factory Reset which will either fix If that doesn't work, you could connect and factor reset the device (hard reset), but that's not usually necessary

Setup

• Chromecast PC setup: https://cast.google.com/chromecast/setup/  Mobile: Chromecast App from App Store Note: Setup is a one time thing that connects your device initially directly to the Chromecast one time to connect your chrome-cast to your WiFi network

Tips

• Chrome is a web-broswer on PC and Chrome for Mobile is a web broswer for mobile devices (tablets) and smartphones

• if you want to unplug the Chromecast from HDMI and connect to another TV in the same house, you don't need to reset up (you only have to run setup again if it loses connection to the network
• If you want to travel with it, the best thing would be to use your 4g mobile data router -  as long as they can find it each other wirelessly initially (direct connection) and then via a shared network, you should be not have an issue.
•  Some cool basic tips  + Casting Ready Vs. Casting a Tab
• Once setup, the Chromecast app is not absolutely needed on any particular device (except Chrome on PC) which you can get by itself on the Chrome Web store (by itself =without running setup), since many apps for these devices are Chromecast Ready on apps and web. 
• Mirroring (Duplicating Audio/Video via casting) of a device work presently on PC and Android -  iOS let's you cast from the Chrome app so that gives much more access. 
• Once the Chromecast is setup, the only requirement is that the device is connected to the same network and to use it, you are using either Chromecast ready apps (iOS or Android) or Chrome on that device (this is not well known but if you can cast from the app like you do on your PC.  See here "Google adds casting to Chrome for Mobile App" 

That said, it's good to have the Chromecast app on the devices which is why I advised to download (so you can use it when traveling etc).  Here is a link to the Chromecast basic setup on general setup etc - http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromecast/

What's great is that the Chromecast is pretty solid in that way -  if it does have an issue it will usually soft reset (power down / power up) and you can always factory reset (clears configuration) from the that would return it to out  of box mode.   These options can be initiated via the Chromecast app on mobile/PC.  (that would be step 2 if there was an issue).  

Again, once we set it up again the key is that is doesn't have to be setup again on the other devices - they just have to have either Chromecast ready apps or Chrome (as of this summer you can cast from Chrome Mobile on iOS and they will have mirroring soon) That means if someone is at your house and  the want to show you a video, they can simply connect to your network - open up YouTube or Hulu and hit the chromecast button) - Chromecast works with pretty much any device, it's just having the apps (most of the popular ones) or Chrome browser installed (which most people do)

This is just the first of several tips about all the amazing things you can do with your holiday gadgets for home and business this year.

Follow our online presence by visiting the links at the top, or check out our all in one social portal at http://www.simpleassistme.com/#!social/cst7  about..

-Derek

Derek Shocklee
Founder
SimpleAssist - www.simpleassistme.com

SimpleAssist LifeSync Quick Tip - Consolidate (Automatically) Videos, Pictures, and Files between All Devices - Download Incentive

SimpleAssist LifeSync Tech-Tip

Dropbox® Cloud Storage - Overview and Ideas on Consolidating Pics Videos - Files on your Devices Together

Why Dropbox®?

When it comes to cloud storage, accept no substitute. When comparing all the cloud storage solutions, Dropbox® seems to be the clear leader of the pack when factoring functionality, pricing, platforms, etc.

 Recently, I had done a quick facebook post on OneDrive™ which has been gaining fast on Dropbox® and Google’s Drive™ in my opinion, especially in terms of the ability to earn free storage by doing a few simple things (setting your phone to backup up, etc.) which is double the amount of most if all free storage is gained correctly.

In fairness I am also an avid user of Google's® Drive and Microsoft's® One Drive/SkyDrive – I’ve sort of broken it up so I use Google Drive to go paperless at home, SkyDrive for my PC computer backup, Apple's® iCloud for everything except pix and videos, and DropBox for my business. However, Dropbox® has managed to stay on top for me due to the elegant yet robust interface and the platform functionality consistency across all versions of the app; MOBILE DEVICES, PC/MAC, WEB INTERFACE.

I have an iPhone and an Android Based Galaxy® Tablet. Here are two bonus tips with regard to cloud storage and consolidating your pictures and videos especially

IPhone Users: Bonus Tip: Not having removal storage on iPhone is a pain, and let’s be honest – you’re going to pay for iCloud! By using Dropbox® or some other cloud storage that has an iPhone App, backing up and centralizing your photos AND video (with Dropbox) on your phone easy for iPhone users who can't simply pop out a SIM Card, if you take advantage of the data incentives (See below) you could turn off PICTURES in iCloud if your backup ever fills up.


Android Users: Bonus Tip! When I first hooked up my Galaxy® Tab 3, I noticed that they had some sort of arrangement with Dropbox® if you set it up as your default Cloud Storage Backup. You receive a HUGE amount (at least with Samsung) of free space!   Email for more info...

PC Users: Bonus Tip! If you’ve install Dropbox® to your PC, not only do you get extra storage space for using it - anytime you plug in a new device (like an SD card or something with pictures on it) Dropbox will prompt you to add it. Also, selecting which folders are actually stored on the local hard-drive seems much more elegent vs. Google Drive and OneDrive. Since this is a quick tip, I wanted to include an unbiased review so I have included a charge and links to a few articles for more depth.

Comparison Chart and Article

See Complete Article Here - http://www.pcworld.com/article/254411/google_drive_vs_the_rest.html

Easy to Get Going / Easy to Keep Going

If you are looking for a hassle free way to enter the world of cloud storage, and easily sync files between all your devices, Dropbox® is easy, secure, and unmatched in certain areas of functionality.

You see, on my PC Dropbox® will ask if you want to backup pictures and videos from THERE (and give you additional storage space to do so) - so if you are like me and have your entire picture and video library everywhere, this and the additional space really put it over the top for me. Many folks may not know, but they also have a great web-portal developer options to customize and build cloud databases for your apps that is very user friendly. Dropbox® for Android - A must have - Android backs up your documents and data, and they give you a ton of space just for using it.

Without using the referral program indicated on the chart above was able to get over 50 Gigs by using an Android, an iPhone, and a Computer and setting it to automatically backup and consolidate my pictures (Win-Win). They also have a pretty decent referral program (earn up to 16GB by recommending to other user). As a user of iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive - my second largest storage provider would be Google Drive at 30GB (which is much less than my free Dropbox® account). Dropbox® Pro or Dropbox® for business (paid subscriptions) START at 100GB for bucks a month or 100 bucks per year. It is this in particular (cloud space bang for buck) and the unique features and general ubiquity that makes Dropbox® a SimpleAssist "Top Pick" vs. its competition.

Referral Incentives - Download Links

I'd like to take a moment to explain my philosophy as relates to my recommendation of a technical product or service. Simply put, I only recommend products and services I have used extensively and believe in, and that the incentive must benefit the reader / whomever I am referring. Therefore i have included links to simply download or review from the Dropbox® Site or you (and I) can earn free space by clicking the link below: Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/
SimpleAssist Referral Incentive Download Link: https://db.tt/VUdYETx3   

 

Checkout PC Mag's "Best Cloud Storage" Article - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413556,00.asp 

I welcome comments and emails on getting the most "free storage". I will be sure to update this accordingly! 

SimpleAssist's Awesome Apps: Check out ESCORT Live™ and Travel Safe This Memorial Day Weekend

SimpleAssist App Awesomeness: ESCORT Live™,

 

The SimpleAssist philosophy is based on people discovering and using technology that enhances or improves our day to day lives, and we are always impressed by those application providers who "get it"; recognizing that good software is about true symbiosis between the user and the product in order to maximize it's use.  In fact, it's not what this app does that makes it awesome... rather is the way that it does it that makes it special.  

Last night, I was reminded of such an app after after seeing a post on facebook by a relative who was notifying fellow travelers that there were vehicles vehicles on the highway being pulled over - a day before the 3 day Memorial Day weekend.

Escort, the manufacturers of the popular PASSPORT brand of radar detectors, and the mobile ESCORT Live™ application offers drivers a uniquely accurate method to avoid or adjust their route for speed traps, road hazards, traffic cameras, live "real-time" alerts, and overall " duckin of the fuzz" functionality J

Although providing live and historical safety and traffic notifications in real-time with technology is not a new concept, nor is finding ways of getting such notification from our peers, which is akin to the old school flashing of the high beams, or informing fellow CB radio enthusiasts of a "Smoky in the bushes".  Over the past several years however, some widely popular app such as Trapster (which I used for many years - See Picture Below), that have been based on the same philosophy, and predicated on desire of those good citizens like my brother in law who wish to "see something, say something", providing smart phone users a an simple, effective tool which primarily leverages that social compact to do just that.

Trapster(R) example

Furthermore, these apps typically work by combining GPS and navigation data such as speed, location, route and relational data and internet connectivity to pull the map info and user reported alert information, in order to plot the route, show location based warning history (e.g. existing speed traps). Collecting the report and report type of the user which gets pushed to the cloud and displayed on the map anonymously (usually, unless setup otherwise) data to take your report, push it to the cloud and then distribute to app users through the internet. 

ESCORT Live™  uses a combination of real-time data collection from their bluetooth connected hardware AND social input from users.  Hardware is NOT required to use the application for iOS or Android

However, it is here where Escort separates itself from the pack, and finding the PERFECT way to offset the inconstancies in the live alert system by pulling from their area of expertise, Escort uses the "real-time" data based on the data collection of their radar detectors which are connected via Bluetooth which uses the mobile device's internet connectivity to send back to the servers..


Personally, whether it was intended or not, using the radar-based data to supplement, rather than replace or minimize the social based platform, the  synergy which resulted from taking the best from both worlds is what truly makes this App Awesome.  They developed a "best of breed" application based on existing idea by offering their users the option of connecting one of their detector hardware via bluetooth, in addition to the option of paying a subscription for enhanced details, maximizing the user experience and accuracy of the system functionality.  By empowering the users to report from the road in the ESCORT Live™ app, rather than controlling them by requiring hardware in a closed system and using the app to sell MORE hardware, or using the hardware to drive app to subscriptions - which they could have easily done I believe, as many have done before -they created a win-win-win scenario, which (in my opinion) will be paying dividends for a long time to come... and I bet they will sell more detectors than if they forced users to do so!

As with all technology, in my humble opinion, it seems that people are much more keen on buying upgrades to enhance what they already have, rather than out of pure necessity or because they being forced to do so. Further, by offering optional subscriptions ($4.99 / Month, ) or yearly subscription options, they offer users to select what will scale to their needs, allowing users such as myself to use the subscription or not, use the hardware or not, and generally allow me to make the decision to get what I need from the app. 

Check it out for yourself (No hardware or subscription required): 

Download ESCORT Live™ for iOS

Download Escort Live for Android

 At SimpleAssist, we dig that way of doing things, and it's for this reason ESCORT Live™ get a "SimpleAssist: Awesome App" stamp of approval!

have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day holiday.

Derek Shocklee
Founder of SimpleAssist - SimpleAssistme.com