AirParrot 2 is an application that will allow you to mirror or extend your Mac desktop to your Chromecast. It will also let you use Airplay directly through your Chromecast. You can give AirParrot 2 a test run for seven days for free. After that, if you decide to purchase the app, it’s only $12.99.

The, Google’s streaming HDMI dongle came out last summer. It is compatible with any Android device running 2.3 or later, iOS device with iOS 6 or 7, and any Mac or PC. Initially, users were able to stream Netflix or Youtube from an iOS device and Android device, Google Play Movies and Music only on Android, or cast websites using the Chrome browser on a computer. The Chromecast works differently from Airplay in that you can multitask and do other tasks on the device or you can let it go to sleep while streaming. Very quickly after its release, Chromecast has received support for Hulu +, Pandora, and HBO GO. Last month a added ten new apps including Plex, Vevo, Songza, Red Bull TV, Post TV from the Washington Post, Viki, RealPlayer Cloud, Avia, Revision3 Internet Television and BeyondPod. The the Chromecast received allowed users to stream Google Play Movies and Music directly from the Chrome browser on a computer.

In this How-to, we’ll discuss how to setup the Chromecast, use it with a Mac and iOS device and explore its gaming potential. Setup the Chromecast The Chromecast does need an actual power source, so you can either plug it into a USB port on your television, or use the micro USB to USB power adapter that comes with it. As I’ve never had a reason to use the USB port on my, and it is easy to locate right underneath the HDMI port, I used that to connect my Chromecast.

To get the Chromecast to turn on, all you have to do is plug it into the HDMI port and the USB port on your TV. When it first boots up, you see the traditional Google Chrome logo followed by a slideshow of pretty scenery pictures while it waits for you to set it up.

You can either set it up on an iOS device by downloading the, or on a PC or Mac by using Google Chrome as your web browser and visiting. If you choose to setup your Chromecast from your computer, Google’s setup page will direct you to download either a browser extension for Chrome or a standalone app. In this how-to, we’ll select the standalone app. When you start run it for the first time, the Chromecast app searches for a Chromecast on your local network. There will also be a prompt to download the extension we didn’t install earlier. If you plan on streaming from the Chrome browser to your TV, you’ll need to install this extension. If you miss this step, you can always download the Chromecast extension for the Google Chrome web browser.

Once installed, the Cast Extension is located in the upper right hand corner on the Chrome toolbar. The Cast icon is shaped like a square with the lower left hand corner being replaced by the ubiquitous “Wi-Fi bars” icon. To continue, click the blue “Set Up” button. Once all of that has been done, the Chromecast has been set up successfully and you are ready to start using it. The Chromecast does not come with a traditional remote control, so you do have to use your tablet, phone, or computer to control it. Using with a Mac When using the Chromecast with the Mac, you have to use the Chrome browser.

Some websites are optimized and designed for casting. Those sites include,,. Websites that are optimized for casting have the Cast icon built into the site itself as opposed to just on Chrome’s tool bar. For example, is optimized for casting. If you try to use the Cast icon in Chrome’s tool bar, it alerts you to use the Cast icon on the website instead. On the video controls the Cast icon appears with a prompt to Play on Your TV. When you click the Cast icon, you get to choose which device you want the video to play on: the computer or the Chromecast.

If you have multiple Chromecasts in the house on the same Wi-Fi network, this is where you would choose which one you want to connect to. While the computer connects to the Chromecast, the TV shows what will be playing shortly. This image will appear on the computer once the video starts playing on the TV. The Cast icon turns blue while connected to the Chromecast. While the video is playing, you can browse the web using Chrome (or whatever internet browser you prefer), read your email or put your computer to sleep. Casting support for sites that are not optimized for Casting is still in beta.