How can I cast an HTML page with the Google Cast Chrome extension?

Question

I'm building a simple web application that I want to be able to display on a TV screen using the Google Cast SDK, the Chrome browser and a Chromecast. I know with the Chromecast extension for Chrome Browser, I can cast a tab to a Chromecast device, which, from my laptop works perfectly. However, I want this exact same functionality, but available from iOS devices (iPads and iPhones) running the Chrome Browser.

It seems since Chrome v36 the Cast ability is baked into the iOS versions of Chrome. I have pulled in the Google Cast SDK per these instructions: https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/chrome_sender. I am able to get my iPad to connect to the Chromecast, but when I try to pass in a URL to a web page...

var mediaInfo = new chrome.cast.media.MediaInfo('http://google.com');
var request = new chrome.cast.media.LoadRequest(mediaInfo);
session.loadMedia(request, onMediaDiscovered.bind(this, 'loadMedia'), onMediaError);

I get an error...

invalid_parameter

I have found other, somewhat dated examples, saying I can build a custom Cast Receiver that holds an iFrame and renders the page in there, but I do not want to build a custom Cast Receiver.

Can I accomplish this with just a Cast Sender?

Answer 1

You always need a receiver on the chromecast; that is what gets loaded there. In general, you can either use a default/styled receiver or a custom one. The Default or Styled receivers can only handle media so you are left with the Custom option and having an iframe is the way to go.