Enhancement: Chromecast to respond to HDMI CEC Deck Control events

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Requesting that additional HDMI CEC features be enabled to permit use of Deck 
Control buttons (play, pause, stop, rewind, forward) within Chromecast playback 
on HDMI CEC enabled systems (SimpLink, etc.).    

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?

  FW 13300 with Android 4.2.2

Please provide any additional information below.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by cgoodwin...@gmail.com on 4 Nov 2013 at 7:44

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Original comment by l...@google.com on 3 Feb 2014 at 11:42

• Changed state: Accepted

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Any news on this developments? It seems a natural upgrade, It took me a while 
to find this request, but it seems like it was approved some time ago, where 
can we see the updates? Thanks! This would make the ChromeCast perfect!.

Original comment by juanviz...@gmail.com on 7 Apr 2014 at 2:55

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I would also like it to turn off my TV when done playing. Maybe it could be a 
settable value for the delay? 

Original comment by tery...@gmail.com on 8 Apr 2014 at 12:34

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Full Chromecast HDMI-CEC support is a huge DO WANT in our household.

Original comment by garrick....@gmail.com on 10 Jun 2014 at 11:25

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i would love it. it saves energy, because i do not need to have the tablet's 
screen switch on. i just can use my tv's remote.

Original comment by daniel.p...@gmail.com on 25 Jul 2014 at 9:45

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Would be nice. It's impossible to pause the TV when a phone call comes in. Any 
ETA on this feature?

Original comment by mazu...@gmail.com on 28 Jul 2014 at 2:48

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Another vote here. Having to use two input devices (Android device plus remote) 
to handle basic functionality is exactly what CEC is supposed to prevent.

Also, I'd really love to be able to browse content on the TV (again ideally 
controlled via CEC), not just on the Android device. Movie selection is often a 
social process, and a phone/tablet doesn't work as well as a TV.

Original comment by priv.tom...@gmail.com on 30 Jul 2014 at 11:39

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Would begging help?

Original comment by maynar...@gmail.com on 30 Aug 2014 at 10:29

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Where can we see the advances on this items? It has been accepted for a long 
time, which with a medium priority, but we don't know what that means, does it 
mean maybe will work on it? Maybe this year? It really damages the casting 
experience to have to use one remote for the volume, another for the pause and 
rewind... Specially since it the phone or tablet is not really a good 
substitute, for a quick control. Turn on,  unlock, select.

Original comment by juanviz...@gmail.com on 31 Aug 2014 at 1:07

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This feature would require some sort of communication from the receiver (the 
chromecast stick) back to the sender (the smartphone app / the user's computer).

But yes, please, Google, let us have this.

Original comment by zulla.ha...@gmail.com on 25 Sep 2014 at 1:37

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i would love too

thanks Google

Original comment by yilmazgu...@gmail.com on 25 Sep 2014 at 1:42

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People here 
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chromecast/qaFgvlzTjU8 suggest 
that one should use the feedback form within the Chromecast app to request this 
feature. Don't know if that helps better than this thread, though.

Original comment by zulla.ha...@gmail.com on 25 Sep 2014 at 1:51

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Right now, the chromecast is "only" a media sink that will play a stream sent 
to it.

However, as a developer, I'd love to use the buttons of the TV - not just 
play/pause, but also directions, OK, colour buttons, subtitle, audio - to 
control my sender app on the smartphone.

If HDMI CEC is done properly and with a custom receiver, it should be possible 
to build a user interface fully controlled through the TV remote.

Please, Google, add HDMI CEC messages.

Original comment by zulla.ha...@gmail.com on 25 Sep 2014 at 2:04

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Plesse integrate CEC support. Nowadays it is a industrial standard to support 
CEC.

AS well community driven Pi-Projects support it out oft the box and it should 
not be a problem to integrate it as an kernel driver to Android's Kernel so 
that ANY Android device in HDMI (as well New TV Products) is CEC enabled in New 
API releases.

Even when i speak with my colleagues vor family members about the funtionality 
they are wonderung why this MediaStick (made by Google doesnt support it). They 
need simple controls not two Android devices to use it.

kr
martin

Original comment by derdie...@googlemail.com on 27 Sep 2014 at 9:17

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Please add this feature, it would greatly improve chromecasts.

Original comment by ret...@gmail.com on 1 Oct 2014 at 11:54

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Another request from this from me. It would really make the device so much more 
user friendly

Original comment by justi...@gmail.com on 2 Oct 2014 at 9:01

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Somehow I think it will be a while before we get this. I mean, the status tag 
has been on Accepted since early this year, and it hasn't changed to Started, 
so clearly not a priority for Google. And there is also the fact that the Nexus 
Player just came out, which has Google Cast functionality built-in and it comes 
with a remote which probably allows it to perform playback controls on content 
that has been casted. Would it really be that surprising if what Google really 
wants is for us all to upgrade and dive right into their Android TV platform?

Original comment by risinge...@gmail.com on 31 Oct 2014 at 12:14

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This feature would be great! Please implement it. Thanks. 

Original comment by rene.hut...@gmail.com on 4 Nov 2014 at 10:00

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This would be a great added value to Chromecast. What are you waiting for?

Original comment by Javier.R...@gmail.com on 4 Nov 2014 at 10:41

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Rofl this thread is like when people were requesting that Google add an 'open' 
option for downloads to the chrome browser. If it makes sense 5 years later it 
still won't be added.

Original comment by tkholley...@gmail.com on 8 Nov 2014 at 1:02

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This feature is definitely possible.  I also have a Raspberry Pi, and when you 
run Raspmc on it, I AM able to control XBMC using nothing but the TV remote by 
enabling the HDMI-CEC feature in XBMC.  It allows commands such as play/pause, 
up/down, left/right no problem right through my TV remote, which it sends back 
up the HDMI cable to the Raspberri Pi.  HDMI-CEC can definately do more than 
simply turn the TV on/off and change inputs, much more.  The Pi itself has no 
built-in IR receiver but it's not needed this way.  

The chromecast should simply be able to use the same HDMI-CEC commands to allow 
users to pause video, seek forward/back within the stream, and stop the stream. 
 If there can also be some kind of setting to "time out" the Chromecast so that 
it autoswitches the TV back to the original input after no new casts are sent 
for awhile, that would be useful too.

Original comment by pst...@24-7intouch.com on 17 Nov 2014 at 3:14

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i would love cec support in my chromecast !!!

Original comment by danisan...@gmail.com on 25 Nov 2014 at 8:41

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I own my chromecast only a few days. It's perfect except this feature. To use a 
tablet or phone as the remote is not a good solution. And HDMI CEC seems to be 
the nearest solution. 

Original comment by okieselh...@googlemail.com on 26 Nov 2014 at 8:52

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I don't know if it's possible to integrate CEC from a hardware/firmware 
perspective, but if it is, it would certainly be greatly appreciated by many 
users.

Original comment by deyrin...@gmail.com on 28 Nov 2014 at 11:21

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Need it absolutely

Original comment by yilmazgu...@gmail.com on 29 Nov 2014 at 12:14

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do not understand, why it is not implemented

Original comment by tho.ecka...@gmail.com on 30 Nov 2014 at 1:56

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I can select Chromecast as the controlled CEC device on my Samsung TV but none 
of the commands work. Works fine on Raspberry Pi / XBMC.

Original comment by janne.ka...@gmail.com on 30 Nov 2014 at 4:16

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Please add this feature or explain, why it is not supported.

Original comment by dgbe...@gmail.com on 30 Nov 2014 at 6:34

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status accepted ? really ? 

Original comment by yilmazgu...@gmail.com on 30 Nov 2014 at 7:15

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**** Important notice ****

Please stop these "me too" comments that add no value. If you add a comment, 
all the 150+ people who've starred this issue get an email. There've been 5 in 
the last 24 hours.

Please also refrain from adding additional comments below this saying "I 
agree"; as that will (obviously) cause additional unnecessary emails.

Thanks. I'll just un-star the issue if I see much more unnecessary traffic on 
this thread.

**** End of Important notice ****

Original comment by d...@daveboden.com on 1 Dec 2014 at 10:47

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i would at least like to see pause/play implemented to help when watching 
movies and theres a call.  It's silly that I have to unlock my mobile device 
and re-open the app i was using to control the playback when clearly chromecast 
uses HDMI-CEC to turn the TV on already.  

Original comment by cavema...@gmail.com on 12 Dec 2014 at 7:15

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At least it should support pause/play/stop via the cec-remote. When you are 
watching  for a while your tablet of smartphone is  already locked and it is 
quite uncomfortable to handle at least this pause and play functionality.

Original comment by stm42st...@gmail.com on 11 Jan 2015 at 12:04

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It would be easier to contol it with remote control. it is uncomfortable to 
restart your smartphone/pc to control it after you have started it.

Original comment by Bjoern.S...@gmxpro.de on 14 Jan 2015 at 11:06

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Workaround:

I got tired of waiting for this and made a setup with an Raspbery Pi and an IR 
receiver. It captures the STOP, PAUSE and PLAY IR events of my remote and 
executes an python script based on https://github.com/balloob/pychromecast to 
send the play and pause commands to the chromecast.

Script is attached. Note that it's ugly and slow, but it works! :) You need to 
change the IP in the script (because detecting the device would be even 
slower). Also, the sleeps are based on my hardware, it might be possible that 
you need to increase them in case it doesn't worK.

It works with Google-based players (Youtube, Google Play) and Plex.

Original comment by michael....@gmail.com on 14 Jan 2015 at 1:32

Attachments:

• media.py

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I will unfortunately be returning my Chromecast due to lack of this exact 
feature. I wanted to set this up for my parents and it's just waaaay too 
painful without a separate remote function tie-in. May reconsider if 
implemented in the short term, otherwise likely going another route. :(

Kudos to the guy with the work around solution! They should hire you and get it 
done. ;)

Original comment by Sea.J...@gmail.com on 15 Jan 2015 at 12:50

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Why is this still not implemented?

Since quite some time it seems google stoped listening to its customers.

Original comment by felix.zi...@gmail.com on 26 Feb 2015 at 9:30

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Please adjust the current chromecast platform to a standard funtionality level 
of other Android-TV-Sticks.

Unnecessarily forcing another "intelligent" device to be paired as remote is 
just plain annoying.

Original comment by Kolomadi...@googlemail.com on 3 Mar 2015 at 3:53

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If you can't do all commands at once at least implement the pause/play command

Original comment by pedro.ma...@gmail.com on 4 Mar 2015 at 2:00

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This appears to be what most open source projects are using:

http://libcec.pulse-eight.com

(GPLv2 license)

Original comment by the.stel...@gmail.com on 4 Mar 2015 at 10:15

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It appears this bug is at least partially fixed. I've been able to play/pause 
content with my television's remote control - implying the Chromecast responded 
to CEC. Fast forward/rewind and stop still did nothing.

For the record: the Chromecast has Firmware version 27946. The casting app was 
NOW TV, on an iPad running iOS 8.2.

Original comment by a...@moreati.org.uk on 15 Mar 2015 at 9:14

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Can confirm. Play/Pause works for YouTube and Google Play Music using android 
5.0.1 and firmware 27946.

Didn't work Netflix.

Original comment by cgoh...@gmail.com on 15 Mar 2015 at 9:46

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play pause work great ! thank you so much

Original comment by yilmazgu...@gmail.com on 15 Mar 2015 at 10:23

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Working:
Play, Plex, TuneIn Radio.

Not working:
NetFlix, Pandora.

I'm not surprised at NetFlix, they like to do things their own way and we can 
hope they'll update their app (or firmware receiver) soon. Pandora is a little 
more surprising, but hopefully they're in the same boat.

Original comment by jdbower...@gmail.com on 16 Mar 2015 at 11:12

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Working with UPnP/dlna.
Tested with bubbleupnp client for android. 

Add to restart after firmware update.

Original comment by pedro.ma...@gmail.com on 16 Mar 2015 at 12:04

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what about BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport?

Original comment by pst...@24-7intouch.com on 16 Mar 2015 at 12:30

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Play/pause working on BBC iPlayer on android 5.0.1 and chromecast 27946

Original comment by delt...@gmail.com on 17 Mar 2015 at 9:33

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Yes I've tested it too, seems to work great.  Now that the Play/Pause
buttons work, any chance of getting the Stop and FF/REW buttons working to
allow easy skimming through a video and to stop it?

Original comment by pst...@24-7intouch.com on 17 Mar 2015 at 12:06

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Does we have any API for this or this is directly controlling the playback and 
notifying senders with status updates? Can we also do channel up/down?

Original comment by LibertyG...@gmail.com on 17 Mar 2015 at 2:24