[Google Chromecast] mathorv:
EZCast is a competing technology, in some cases it's packaging is just a clone

Dongle acts as ap/wireless router in order to use it.

Client app connects to EZCast wifi and EZCast dongle is connected to home/office wifi network.

EZCast dongle examples:

EZCast M2 III

Measy A2W

Tronsmart T1000

Vsmart v5II

and dozen of others, some even with external antennas.

These dongles are often advertised as Miracast dongles.

Click HERE to view list of XDA threads tagged Miracast

Specification

OS: EZCast ROM(Linux OS) updated mothly

Source code for dongle or apps have never been released.

Majority of EZCast dongles use the same operating system!(regardless of manufacturer)

RAM: DDR3 128MB (or 256MB)

Storage: Single-level cell (SLC) NAND Flash memory: 128 MB

Chipset: Actions-Micro AM8251 600 MHz (or 1GHz)

Networking: Realtek RTL8188 Wifi Module 2.4Ghz. 802.11 B/G/N(150Mb) - WEP/WPA/WPA2, unfortunately WPS is enabled.

Video Outputs: 480p (HDMI), 720p (HDMI), 1080p (HDMI)

Support Video-formats: avi, divx, mkv, ts, dat, vob, mpg, mpeg, mov, mp4, rm, rmvb, wmv, etc.

Support Subtitles: ..smi , *.srt, *.cdg on Android and iOS, on PC Windows platform it's not supported yet.

Support Audio-formats: MP1, MP2, MP3， WMA, OGG, ADPCM-WAV, PCM-WAV, AAC etc

Support Picture-formats: JPEG, BMP, PNG etc.

Support File-formats: Adobe PDF, MS Word, Ms Excel, Ms Powerpoint, etc.

Standards: Ezcast, Miracast(its not possible to use it directly with Intel WiDi/Windows 8 built features, it requires EZCast windows app), DLNA, Airplay

Power Input: 5.0V- 0,3A to 1.0A depends on dongle, usually 0,5A

power adapter: USB powered

System Requirements: Requires a laptop, smartphone, or tablet support Miracast wireless display; HDTV with available HDMI input

software inside:

BIND 9.9.2-P1 (Jan 22 2013)

thttpd/2.25b 29dec2003

hostapd v0.6.9 20009-03-23

udhcpd

Unboxing and review VIDEOs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGFFJJxMaWI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loDi34vbqeE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9768N0-Ilg

Chromecast vs EZCast(tronsmart t1000) review

http://liliputing.com/2013/12/tronsmart-t1000-miracast-wireless-display-adapter-giveaway.html

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Security - In terms of security both products are flawed:

*Chromecast acts as open AP if is not connected to, in case of rooted it allows to steal your ESSID and PASSPHRASE

*EZCast(Measy A2W in my case but it's just EZCast standard)

EZCast is by default protected by WPA2 and 8 digit passphrase which is fair.

Dongle acts as ap/wireless router in order to use it. Client app connects to EZCast wifi and EZCast dongle is connected to main wifi network.

1. EZCast Dongle has for some unknown reason WPS enabled.

WPS is broken/hackable via WASH/REAVER since December 2011. Fixed in firmware 13886 (Aug 2015)

2. EZCast has always the same ESSID(should be an option to change it), also 32 characters limitation.(fixed in 2015)

3. It's not possible to hide ESSID broadcasting.

4. Passphrase to it's network is always limited to 8 ASCII characters, which is too short, should beup to 63ascii/64hex characters.

5. AP that EZCast can connect to has to be about ESSID 16 character long/16 characters long, should be ESSID 32 chanracter long and passphrase 63 ascii or if 64 hex character long.

6. After dongle factory reset initial WPA2 passphrase is always the same(returns to stock value), should be randomized.

7. I find it strange that iezvu .com collects unique ESSID, email, IP, while default WPA2 password is the same after each dongle reset.

Probably there is a correlation between ESSID, MAC and passphrase - guys from RouterKeygen are good at finding this....

https://code.google.com/p/android-thomson-key-solver/

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For mirroring desktop/expanding desktop EZCast is superior to Chromecast Stream can be about 30 - 35Mbps.

You may stream up to 4 desktops at once to one screen1/ split 2/split 4, I have tried only 2 at time.

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If it comes to playing movies (nearly all formats supported) with EZCast Windows it runs fluid in Video Mode, but without subtitles.

It's also possible to watch movie with subtitles with screen mirroring but it's not so enjoyable - slightly tearing.

You may also stream audio files.

It's supposed to be better from Android phone but i just have tried audio/video/camera live stream

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Video cloud storage playback is available in android and it is fully enjoyable. YT, Vimeo, around 50 sites supported. It works in similar way as chromecast.

Even more sites supported for Chinese consumers.

For cloud video streaming for this moment Chromecast may be a winner, but EZCast is in active development - monthly cycle. Chromecast development is still slow.

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Price of EZCast dongle is about $30-$35 so it's very similar to Chromecast price.

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Links:

Main EZCast technology site:

http://www.iezvu.com/index.php?l=en

EZCast on Google+:

https://plus.google.com/100070160405847243669/posts

https://plus.google.com/communities/112623351806986703053

EZCast on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/iezcast

Latest FW changelog:

http://www.iezvu.com/upgrade/ezcast/appupgrade/update.php?&al=US

ROM is definitely moddable.

Main link of ezCast OS 11283:

http://www.iezvu.com/upgrade/ezcast/ezcast.bin

Client EZCast Apps:

http://www.iezvu.com/index.php?m=download&a=index&id=29&l=en

Android EZCast app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actionsmicro.ezcast

EZCast forum:

http://www.iezvu.com/bbs-en/

Manuals:

http://www.iezvu.com/bbs-en/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=f8f72e91923e869d137e256a638fb1c6

http://www.ezcast-wifidisplay.com/manual/EZCast-quick-installation-guide.pdf

Why to post is in Chromecast subforum? The product fills the gap that CC fails to fill yet.

PS: I am not affiliated with iezvu.com in any way.