How would I make my own ChromeCast-like device? I've tried looking around, and could only find things related to Cheap-Cast (which is now unsupported), and nothing else? The closest other thing i've found that is anything close to a chromecast is streaming Youtube videos from Android to PC (link for the curious: https://dottech.org/159764/stream-youtube-videos-from-android-to-pc-guide/ ) but it's still not good enough.
Is there any other way to make an actual ChromeCast-Like device (or like a Nvidia Shield, how I can stream media to that), or am I SOL?
you can just use a home server or raspberry pi and run KODI. there are lots of videos on it. if you are looking to screen cast I'm not sure. i haven't looked into that
I thought about running KODI or even plain old Android, but I wanted to stream everything from my phone, to the Chromecast-Like device, to avoid having one more remote, and plus, it would be simpler that way.
like shoring said, its $35 and its open source. i suggest you just buy a chromecast vs a pi. you can develop for android and the chromecast. if you dont care for java, visual studio allows you to use .net/c/c++ to develop for android. im not sure about the chromecast however. if you can handle c++ you can handle java.
in short the chromecast is the cheaper and better route.
I live in Canada so it's closer to $50 after tax, and why would I buy one when I could make one and learn about it? If I just buy one from the store, I learn nothing.
I see now. That makes sense. If it doesn't work out with the Pi or WiDi, you might also try Plex. If you have a Shield or another Android device that will output video, you can hook it up to your television and use Plex, which is very slick and easy to use. The only tricky part might be controlling that device with your smartphone from across the room. Apps such as Tablet Remote will let you control one Android device from another, but you'd have to experiment to find the best solution, and none of them will likely be quite as easy as a Chromecast. Good luck, and please do post the option you decide works best for you!
As to your question,
[W]hy would I buy one when I could make one and learn about it? If I just buy one from the store, I learn nothing.
I of course can't answer for you personally, and I agree that going the DIY route is a lot more fun and educational, but as to why someone would buy one when she could make one and learn about it, I think that your answer is right there in the question: it's the not having to learn anything that is the reason. Google looked at HTPCs, streaming boxes, smart TVs, and other options, and asked themselves the very question: how can we make this as easy and as cheap as possible? The "not learning" part is the raison d'être of the Chromecast. You plug it in, you add it to your network, and boom: done.
It's kind of like asking why anyone would want a McDonald's hamburger when they could make a McDonald's-hamburger-like burger at home. Yes, you could make one at home for yourself, it would be an infinitely more enriching experience to do so, and you could even make a far superior (if not cheaper) burger at home. Heck, I would personally choose to make my own burger over eating a McDonald's burger every single time. But to do so is to miss the entire point of the existence of the McDonald's hamburger: not having to cook for yourself.
I actually do have a shield in my house, but sadly I bought it for my parents, and they use it often :( Whenever I get a chance, I do use it and stream stuff from my phone to it.
I'm in the final stages of making my NAS server, and was planning on having Plex on the server, as well as the Chrome-Cast like device, to watch my media.
I will sadly probably end up buying a chromecast, because it doesn't seem like I can make my own Chrome-Cast like device, or at the people on this forum don't know how :/