Correct. That SDK requires proprietary Google Play Services to be present on a device to allow Chromecast to work.
As the same Prime Video app has to work on Kindle devices, LineageOS/CopperheadOS/other third party ROMs, and on Google Play Android devices, it can’t require Google Play Services.
Regarding Roku:
Roku can not receive Chromecast streams, instead Roku, Twitch and several other companies have cooperated to work on a protocol competing with Chromecast, and Roku can receive those (as can a few of Amazon’s devices, and Amazon’s apps can send those streams as well).
> I'm sorry - is amazon prime available on my chromecast now and I've missed it?
It used to be (well, Amazon Prime itself not, but they were working on it, and the Netflix app on Kindles did support it), until Google started constantly changing the (proprietary) protocol to prevent anyone else from implementing it.
Currently, the only way to stream to Chromecast is with Google’s proprietary library, which they only license under the Android OEM terms (meaning you have to ship ALL Google apps, set them as defaults, and can’t run your own App Store).
This has also completely killed all open source projects that tried to support the Chromecast protocol.
> The situation on Android might be different; at one point I certainly could cast from Netflix to Chromecast on my Kindle Fire (even though no Google Play Services existed) although from looking around on Google a bit that appears to no longer be the case.
Correct. Google removed that ability, and Amazon won’t support Chromecast until Google adds it back.
> I'm both a subscriber of HBO and of Prime, and I'll actually be using this. You see, I have a Roku...
I'm in a similar situation, but I use a Chromecast instead of a Roku. Why oh why Amazon doesn't implement Chromecast support baffles me so much. I would spend a good amount of money on their streaming content that way. Instead, my money goes into the Google Play store.
> As the same Prime Video app has to work on Kindle devices, LineageOS/CopperheadOS/other third party ROMs, and on Google Play Android devices, it can’t require Google Play Services.
It can have additional functionality that only works when Google Play Services is available. Plenty of media apps run on Kindle devices as well as branded Android, and support Chromecast on Android but not Kindle.
Now, Amazon probably doesn't want to make an app that has features that work on branded Android but not Kindle, but that is a choice.
> How come Amazon video isn't available on Apple TV or Chromecast?
In the case of Chromecast, because Amazon hasn't built an app that uses the Chromecast API, because -- the same as the move here -- Amazon wants to use its position to promote and sell its own hardware that competes with Chromecast.
Its not like Google prevents Amazon from using the Chromecast SDK the same as anyone else.
I don't understand. karavelov said that Amazon Prime Video doesn't work with Chromecast. Are you saying that https://developers.google.com/cast/ is insufficient to allow Prime Video to work with Chromecast?
karavelov was not asking about FireTV receiving Chromecast. Does Roku receive Chromecast streams? If so, what's stopping FireTV, if not then it's not really relevant to this "targeted discrimination" discussion.
You can only if the device has Google Play Services installed.
Amazon doesn’t want to have separate versions of their apps for regular Android (as used on LineageOS, Amazon Kindle Android, MIUI, Replicant, CopperheadOS) and for Google’s version with proprietary Play Services.
Because of this, Amazon cannot distribute Google Play Services on their own Android devices and therefor cannot use their own Android devices to cast to a Chromecast. They could enable Prime Video on other Android devices but not their own. They feel this will cause confusion and therefor have decided not to write a Prime Video app for Chromecast. Saying "oh, Amazon just doesn't want to write a Prime Video app for Chromecast", while true, doesn't truly explain the complexities of the situation.
The business decision to remove Chromecasts from the network steps from the above desire to prevent confusion. I personally don't agree with it but I understand it.
> Surely Amazon could just drop the Cast library into their iPhone and Android apps and they’d be all set?
The cast library doesn’t contain any of the code required to cast – all that code is in the Google Play Services in the system app, not in the library.
And you can obviously understand how Amazon can’t just reuse that.
> However from the article, this is in response to seemingly anti-competitive practices by both Apple and Google's strategies regarding Amazon Prime on their TV devices.
The article doesn't say that at all. The Amazon statement quoted in the article says that the items don't "work well" with Prime Video, but doesn't blame that on "anti-competitive practices" by Apple or Google -- which is good, because the reason it doesn't work on Chromecast, at least, is simply that Amazon has chosen not to implement Chromecast support -- and it doesn't work on Android TV devices, except Sony Smart TVs, because Amazon has actively blocked those devices.
Apple does have generally stronger controls, and it may be that there is an Apple policy issue affecting Prime on Apple TV, but I suspect that that's not the case, and that, as for Chromecast, Apple TV doesn't "work well" with Prime because Amazon has made a decision not to have it work well with Prime.
> My guess is Amazons desired outcome is Apple and Google support Amazon Prime video Apple TV and Chromecast.
If Amazon wants Chromecast to support Amazon Prime, all they have to do is build support for the Chromecast API into Amazon Prime mobile and/or Web apps.
> Now, we wanted to Chromecast it, and Amazon (to the best of my knowledge) does not allow you to do that, presumably because they want you to buy their Fire TV instead.
It works on a phone or tablet if you cast the whole screen. Might work on a laptop the same way.
Correct. That SDK requires proprietary Google Play Services to be present on a device to allow Chromecast to work.
As the same Prime Video app has to work on Kindle devices, LineageOS/CopperheadOS/other third party ROMs, and on Google Play Android devices, it can’t require Google Play Services.
Regarding Roku:
Roku can not receive Chromecast streams, instead Roku, Twitch and several other companies have cooperated to work on a protocol competing with Chromecast, and Roku can receive those (as can a few of Amazon’s devices, and Amazon’s apps can send those streams as well).
You can learn more here: https://www.howtogeek.com/214943/how-to-use-your-roku-like-a...
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