Meta Removes TV Casting Capability from Quest
Meta has decided to remove the TV casting feature from their Quest headsets, leaving users without a convenient way to share their VR experiences.
The Removal of TV Casting
One of the useful features of Quest headsets was the ability to cast the wearer's view to devices supporting the Google Cast protocol. This included Google TV sticks, Chromecast sticks, Chromecast-enabled TVs, and Android TV boxes. Many users found it helpful for demonstrating VR, engaging in social pass-and-play sessions, or simply keeping others in the room informed about their activities.
However, some Quest owners recently noticed that Google Cast devices were no longer showing up in their headset's casting list. This led to speculation that the feature was being gradually removed. In a post, Meta's VP of VR Mark Rabkin confirmed these speculations, stating that the previous implementation was never officially supported by Google.
Rabkin further explained that Meta is working on a new implementation of TV casting that meets Google's official support. While the current removal may be temporary, there is no specific timeline provided for its reinstatement.
Issues with the Previous Implementation
Many users experienced various bugs with the previous TV casting feature on Quest headsets. Connection failures were common, and sometimes the casting would freeze on a single frame until the headset was restarted. These issues were frustrating for users, and it is hoped that the upcoming implementation will resolve these problems.
In the meantime, users can still cast their VR experience to the Meta Quest app on their mobile devices or a web browser. Casting to the Meta Quest Developer Hub software is also possible if developer mode is enabled. While there are alternative methods to cast to a TV, such as screen mirroring via AirPlay, Google Cast, Miracast, or using an HDMI cable, these options add additional complexity and inconvenience.
Overall, the removal of TV casting capability is disappointing for Quest owners, as it takes away one of the headset's most useful built-in features. Users will have to wait for the official Google-supported implementation or rely on indirect methods for casting their VR experiences to a TV.
