Got an old Chromecast sitting in a drawer unused? It doesn't matter if you no longer need it for streaming, there are plenty of other ways to make use of it.So connect it to your TV, update the software, and try one of these ideas to repurpose your old Chromecast.Turn your TV into a digital photo frame Or even a virtual fireplace! One of the simplest uses of an old Chromecast is to turn your TV into a digital photo frame.
You wouldn't necessarily want to use it all the time, but it's perfect for parties and family get-togethers.To do it, simply load up Google Photos on your phone, open an album or folder, and then tap the Chromecast icon at the top of the screen to connect.Now, tap the three-dot menu button and select "Slideshow," and it'll cycle through all the images in the album.
Close When you aren't projecting photos, there are other ways you can make use of your TV, like using it as a virtual fireplace.Load up the YouTube app and search for "fireplace," then cast it.You'll get a beautiful high definition fireplace scene, crackling sounds and all.
It's perfect to warm up the room on a cold winter's day.Just try to find a video that won't interrupt you with ads! Use your TV as a big screen monitor for your phone Local casting still works Although many Android 16 phones have some desktop functionality built in, if you don't have it, you can get a version of it using your phone and your Chromecast.Most phones have a Cast option in the Quick Settings panel.
Tap this, connect to the Chromecast, and then select "Cast entire screen." Close Your whole screen will now be mirrored on the TV, and you can use it like a little PC.Switch to landscape mode, open a writing app, connect a keyboard, and you've got a tiny portable word processor.Or open the web browser for a full-screen browsing experience.
Lag means that it's better for static content rather than gaming; otherwise, your options are almost unlimited. Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge Name the Iconic HBO legacy TV showsTrivia challenge From mob bosses to fantasy kingdoms — can you name these legendary HBO series from their clues? DramaCharactersCreatorsPremieresSettings Begin 01 / 8 Characters Which HBO show features a New Jersey mob boss who sees a psychiatrist to deal with panic attacks and family stress? ABoardwalk EmpireBOzCThe SopranosDThe Wire Correct! The Sopranos follows Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini, as he balances running a crime family with his personal anxieties.The show ran from 1999 to 2007 and is widely considered one of the greatest TV dramas ever made. Not quite — the answer is The Sopranos.
Tony Soprano's therapy sessions with Dr.Melfi became one of the show's most iconic elements, blending dark comedy with raw drama across six acclaimed seasons. Continue 02 / 8 Settings Which HBO series is set primarily in the fictional city of Baltimore and explores the drug trade, politics, and law enforcement? ATremeBThe WireCHomicide: Life on the StreetDOz Correct! The Wire, created by David Simon, used Baltimore as a canvas to dissect American institutions across five seasons.Each season focused on a different facet of the city, from the docks to the school system. Not quite — the answer is The Wire.
David Simon drew on his experience as a Baltimore journalist to craft one of the most realistic and socially conscious dramas in television history. Continue 03 / 8 Drama Which HBO show was the first major prestige drama to depict life inside a maximum security prison from the inmates' perspective? AThe WireBDeadwoodCOzDSix Feet Under Correct! Oz premiered in 1997, making it HBO's first one-hour dramatic series.Set in the fictional Oswald State Correctional Facility, it was groundbreaking for its unflinching depiction of prison violence, race, and redemption. Not quite — the answer is Oz.Premiering in 1997, Oz broke new ground for cable television and paved the way for the prestige drama era that followed with shows like The Sopranos and The Wire. Continue 04 / 8 Creators Which legendary HBO fantasy series was based on George R.R.
Martin's book series 'A Song of Ice and Fire'? ACarnivàleBRomeCDeadwoodDGame of Thrones Correct! Game of Thrones adapted Martin's sprawling fantasy novels beginning in 2011, running for eight seasons.The show became a global cultural phenomenon, though its final season proved divisive among fans. Not quite — the answer is Game of Thrones.Showrunners David Benioff and D.B.
Weiss adapted George R.R.Martin's books into one of the most-watched TV series of all time before the story outpaced the source novels. Continue 05 / 8 Premieres Which HBO dramedy, premiering in 1998, follows the lives of four female friends navigating love and relationships in New York City? AGirlsBEnlightenedCSex and the CityDBig Little Lies Correct! Sex and the City, based on Candace Bushnell's columns and book, starred Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw.It ran for six seasons and became a defining pop culture touchstone of the late 1990s and 2000s. Not quite — the answer is Sex and the City.
The show launched in 1998 and revolutionized how women's stories were told on television, spawning two theatrical films and a later revival series called And Just Like That. Continue 06 / 8 Characters In which HBO series does a funeral home family, the Fishers, confront mortality both professionally and in their personal lives? ABig LoveBSix Feet UnderCTrue BloodDCarnivàle Correct! Six Feet Under, created by Alan Ball, ran from 2001 to 2005 and opened each episode with a death that set the tone for that week's story.It is remembered for one of the most acclaimed series finales in television history. Not quite — the answer is Six Feet Under.Creator Alan Ball previously wrote American Beauty, and he brought the same meditative examination of death and family dysfunction to this acclaimed HBO drama. Continue 07 / 8 Settings Which HBO Western series is set in a lawless South Dakota gold rush town and stars Timothy Olyphant as a newly appointed sheriff? ADeadwoodBCarnivàleCRomeDLuck Correct! Deadwood, created by David Milch, aired from 2004 to 2006 and is famed for its rich language, complex characters, and historical authenticity.
A wrap-up film, Deadwood: The Movie, was released in 2019. Not quite — the answer is Deadwood.Set in the real historical town of Deadwood in the Dakota Territory, the show blended fact and fiction to portray the raw, brutal birth of civilization on the American frontier. Continue 08 / 8 Drama Which HBO series, set in ancient Rome, follows two soldiers — Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo — amid the fall of the Republic? ASpartacusBEmpireCRomeDGladiator Chronicles Correct! Rome, a co-production between HBO and the BBC, aired from 2005 to 2007.Its massive production budget and lavish recreation of ancient Roman life made it one of the most expensive television series ever made at the time. Not quite — the answer is Rome.
The show was a joint venture between HBO and the BBC, and its enormous production costs led to its cancellation after just two seasons despite critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase. See My Score Challenge Complete Your Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again Turn your soundbar into a music player This only works with soundbars that offer HDMI input Many of us have soundbars under our TVs that produce great quality audio while watching movies and shows.But the soundbar doesn't have to be redundant when your TV is switched off.If yours has an HDMI port, you can connect your Chromecast to it and turn your soundbar into a powerful music and podcast player.
A lot of music apps like Spotify support Chromecast, so you can send your audio to your TV sound system really easily.As do many podcast apps, including my favorite, Pocket Casts.It's a great way to get more use out of your soundbar rather than simply keeping it as a TV accessory.
Use it for presentations Back when the Chromecast was at its peak, it found a place in offices as a presentation device.You can still use it like that.Keep it in your bag, and when you're in the office, you can connect it to any screen with an HDMI port, and you're good to go.
The Google Slides mobile app has a Chromecast icon on both Android and iPhone that makes it a cinch to get started.If you're working on a laptop, Chrome has the "Cast" option under the View menu.Other Chromium-based browsers like Brave and Edge have casting built in, too.
Create a retro gaming console The best way to repurpose old tech One of my favorite uses of an old Chromecast is to turn it into a classic retro gaming machine.You can't do this with every device; it needs to be a fourth-generation model with Google TV support.If you've got one of those, you can sideload the emulator RetroArch and then set up countless legendary consoles and access their huge libraries of games.
According to the XDA guide, you'll get the best results with older consoles that have simpler graphics.It might struggle with things like the N64 or PSP.Related 5 essential Google TV apps that have nothing to do with streaming Apps that turn your TV into something way more useful Posts By Cory Gunther Turn your TV into a live dashboard Get smart Another way to make your TV useful when you aren't actually watching it is to turn it into a live dashboard.
DAKboard is a great service that can handle this.Sign up for free using your Google account, and you can build a dashboard containing widgets that show weather, news via an RSS feed, your calendar, your to-do list, and more.All you need to do then is cast the display either directly from your browser or by using the handy castDeck tool.
Use it for home security Depends on your Chromecast model Finally, you can integrate your Chromecast into your home security system.Google's Nest doorbells and cameras work with some later Chromecasts, and you can stream the live video footage to a TV anywhere in your home.Some other smart doorbells and security cameras can also work with Google Home, which means they may also work with your Chromecast.
However, not all offer the live video stream.Keep your old tech alive! Chromecasts might not be so useful as streaming devices anymore, but they're still a great way to get other devices to display stuff on your TV.So rather than let its capabilities go to waste, make use of those spare HDMI and USB ports on your TV and give your Chromecast another lease of life.
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