Google Blocks Local Video Playback with Chromecast Software Update

Google has not made it clear whether or not they will eventually allow users to stream local videos through Chromecast. Right now we do know that they do not want third party app developers to add this functionality. This is most likely do to legal reasons and the negative effect it could have with potential future content partnerships.

Google Chromecast

Chromecast developer Koushik Dutta released his AllCast APK. The app allowed users to stream local video and audio content directly to Chromecast from their device’s gallery, Dropbox or Google Drive. Well now Dutta is saying that Google’s new software update has broken the functionality that he had created.

“Heads up. Google’s latest Chromecast update intentionally breaks AllCast. They disabled ‘video_playback’ support from the ChromeCast application.” Dutta wrote in a post on his Google+ page.

He goes on to say this is the second time that Google has tried to stop the ability to play media from other sources through Chromecast. He also notes that this confirms his suspicions that the Chromecast won’t be as “open” as he would like. Many people would really like the functionality of AllCast, but Google seems to think that tab casting is good enough for most people. It allows users to view anything through Chromecast that you can pull up in a Chrome browser Window.

The AllCast APK is still available on Koushik Dutta’s Google+ Page, but he says it “probably won’t work” anymore.

Source: Google+ | News Archive

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