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PiCAST turns your $35 Raspberry Pi in to a Chromecast like Device.

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PiCAST (beta)

Turn a $35 Raspberry Pi in to a Chromecast like Device, for FREE.


Why Make the PiCAST?

I wanted to buy a Google Chromecast but it was sold out, thanks to people like Leo from TWiT who got 5 (kidding)! So, I thought what do I have that I could use w/HDMI [licensing] and wouldn't be terribly hard to do? My Arduino? Nope BUT my Raspberry Pi can do it all, literally and same price as the Chromecast.

THIS ISN'T CHROMECAST! YOU LIE!!!

As many seem unable to read or understand where the project CURRENTLY is and where it WILL go, I felt I need to dumb it down even more. This project doesn't have over 20-100+ paid-staffers, millions of dollars backed to ensure it succeeds, a dedicated team, and MONTHS & MONTHS of work where the PiCAST HAS NONE OF THE ABOVE-- so, calm down!

I made it very clear, this is "LIKE" a chromecast project, already as it can be sent commands REMOTELY just like the Chromecast, so project is over... Kidding! I am working on the BEST possible method(s) to continue forward, like taking away "Streaming" via HTML5 & using pre-existing tools to "hack" YouTube Code and Download files locally to then easily launch the video with less lag BUT music is coming too...

So before you go nuts that the project isn't what YOU think, think twice. I do have a full-time job BUT I am so upset with Google, I want an OPEN, FREE, US/NON-US PERMITTED USERBASE, and if you're against it? Don't download it, go make your own and share it or don't. I live in the US, I can now get a Chromecast, I don't NEED the project BUT I want it as I feel so strongly that what Google is doing is beyond unfair-- agree? JOIN ME! STOP YOUR COMPLAINT, DO SOMETHING!

Why Open Source?

I'm not happy how the Chromecast isn't very open... So, with the easy to use API-like calling, you can just call the URL and yes the project is far from complete-- it's just a fun learning exercise & hope kids will see how you can go and try to mimmic what you can't get it (even if you have the cash).

This is far from complete. Lot of new features to come and of course fix the code up. But, at least we have something to start playing with...

USE AT OWN RISK. UPDATES ARE CONSTANT. METHODS WILL CHANGE OFTEN! UNLESS SOMETHING SAYS STABLE, ASSUME A BETA.

Donate with BitCoin!

A friend of mine has already bugged me, to charge for the code... I can't or won't. I will however as always offer my BitCoin address for anyone who'd like to donate, donations will go to Opportunity Village(http://www.opportunityvillage.org).

BitCoin Address: 16b3QAFmjrh4yzHjLw7jAKG5AnV8WVXdCK

No BitCoin? PayPal: [email protected]

*** YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DONATE. THIS IS OF COURSE COMPLETELY OPTIONAL, THIS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN FREE! ***

LICENSE

PLEASE READ THE LICENSE FILE BEFORE READING ANY CODE, DOWNLOADING CODE, STORING CODE, SHARING CODE, AND USING THE CODE.

WILLS LAW: OBEY OS LANG!

GPL LOGO

Watch it in Action!

YouTube Video/Music Downloading

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntKK08phZLI

Website Casting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUgbCoORkYM

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HUgbCoORkYM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Get Started!

**** SETUP NEEDED (BETA) ****

Simply download installer.sh, open a Terminal and type:

chmod +x installer.sh

sh installer.sh

-- MySQL MUST READ --

You will be asked to insert a MySQL Password, this is important. Please type "thePICAST" & confirm when asked.

*** ADVANCED USERS USE BELOW METHODS ***

0). Update the Database!

sudo apt-get update

1). Install Apache2

sudo apt-get install apache2 apache2-utils

2). Install PHP5

sudo apt-get install libapache2-mod-php5 php5 php-pear php5-xcache

3). Install MySQL

sudo apt-get install php5-mysql

sudo apt-get install mysql-server mysql-client

Enter a root Password (DO NOT FORGET; CASE-SENSITIVE)

4). Install Gnash (Flash Support for Midori) - For Flash, WebM Support (OPTIONAL)

sudo apt-get gnash

sudo apt-get install browser-plugin-gnash

Want to know more about Gnash + Flash? I have a video on YouTube.com/TechMeShow

5). Remote Control of Pi (OPTIONAL)

sudo apt-get install xdm

** WINDOWS: Visit http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming

1). Install successfully & run.

2). In PuTTY Configure to connect to the PiCAST Server.

2a). Select Session: Connection Type SSH & Type Hostname/IP

2b). Select Connection>X11>Enable X11 Forwarding.

2c). Select Connection>X11>display location: localhost:0

2d). Select Connection>X11>XDM-Authorization

2e). Click on the 'Open' Button

3). After you login, type anything you wish to load for control (e.g. Midori).

** OSX: Open Terminal, type: xhost + PiCAST_ServerName (Only first time!!!) & connect, type:

ssh -X user-name@PiCAST_ServerName


**** TEST HTTPD + PHP ****

1). Open Midori, type:

http://localhost & press [Enter].

** If you get a page that says "It works!" Move on to Step 2. Otherwise, check your settings or ensure you're not blocking Port 80 or ensure that's the correct port.

2). Open Terminal (any) and type:

sudo pico test.php & press [Enter].

2.1). Type

& press Ctrl + X, press Y, press [Enter].

2.2). Type:

sudo cp test.php /var/www/PiCAST/test.php & press [Enter].

3). In Midori, type:

http://localhost/PiCAST/test.php

** If it shows PHP install details, it was successful.

**** SETUP DATABASE ****

1). Create new MySQL User + Password

CREATE USER 'picast'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'piCAST1337';

2). Create new Database (e.g. picast)

CREATE DATABASE picast;

3). Add User to new Database w/FULL Privledges

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON picast . Items TO 'picast'@'localhost';

FLUSH PRIVLEGES;

**** PHPMYADMIN ****

1). Login to the Script

2). Find your Database, Select it (click it from the Left)

3). Click 'Create new Table' Button.

3.1). Name: Items, Columns: 5, then press Go (to the right)

3.2). Type as seen below in to Structure:

Name Type Length/Values Default Coallation Attributes Null A_I

ID INT 30 None N/A N/A N/A X

website LONGTEXT N/A None N/A N/A N/A N/A

image LONGTEXT N/A None N/A N/A N/A N/A

map LONGTEXT N/A None N/A N/A N/A N/A

youtube TEXT N/A None N/A N/A N/A N/A

3.3). Click Save to create Database

**** GET PiCAST READY ****

1). Move goCAST.php & grabCAST.php to /var/www/PiCAST as we did in HTTPD Test (above). I recommend making a directory.

2). CHMOD grabber.sh (Keep in Personal Home Directory)

sudo chmod +x grabber.sh & press [Enter]

3). When you want to run PiCAST, simply type:

watch -n 10 ./grabber.sh

*** Want to make it faster/slower? Change 10 to any number desired (each digit is a second)

API USEAGE

Website Launcher

http://localhost/PiCAST/goCAST.php?website=google.com

YouTube Video Launcher (Added 08/02/13)

http://localhost/PiCAST/goCAST.php?youtube=video_id

*** Soon we will parse the URL in the goCAST.php.

*** MORE COMMANDS TO COME... HOLD ON! ***

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