Better Than Bluetooth

Having found a workaround to make audio casting work between my Android phone and A/V receiver, I kept thinking about where it worked as it should — connecting to the Chromecast video adapter on the porch TV.

What about Google’s Chromecast Audio device? It was discontinued three years ago, but an outfit has some from Japan available on eBay for $50, including shipping. A reasonable price over the original $35. They’re supposed to be new in original boxes, so I ordered one.

Yep, new and sealed in its original Japanese language box. Chromecast Audio is now playing on the living room stereo, replacing a 6-year-old Bluetooth dongle, and working directly within the SiriusXM app, as it should.

Will Drew Carey have to take a break from his Friday Night Freak-Out on SiriusXM to go on the coast-to-coast tour for his day job?

Broadcast News

Streaming services that are clobbering cable TV are carried by the cable TV companies providing Internet service.

A GIF. Stephen Wilhite, creator of the GIF, 3/3/48 – 3/14/22

There may be some hope for broadcast TV with ATSC 3.0, aka NextGenTV.

Besides 4K resolution and Internet integration options, the new standard offers significantly better over-the-air reception. New TV tuners are needed, however, and because ATSC 1.0 isn’t being retired NextGenTV could be dead on arrival.

Boston has no NextGenTV stations yet. Boston’s ABC network affiliate, WCVB, just added an ATSC 1.0 standard definition sub-channel at 5-3. For now it’s just a test pattern, but on March 28 it will feature MeTV’s new Story Network.

Stop-Motion War

Puppetoons having been mentioned several posts ago, I went looking for George Pal’s “Tulips Shall Grow” from 1942. This copy is better quality than the one posted a few years ago.

As war continues to rage as a result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, here’s another animated WWII curiosity. Note the Communist Russia flag flying proudly next to America’s stars and stripes at the end.