Chromecast's Biggest Competitor Is A Free App: CheapCast

was onto something big when it created Chromecast, a $35 memory stick-sized device that plugs into any TV with an HDMI port.

The device

at launch, leading to a

on

. After working with the device, at least one developer found Chromecast to be

to

.

With so much to offer, some would say that the only way to improve Chromecast would be to make it free. Sebastian Mauer seems to agree. He's the developer behind CheapCast, a free Android app that is capable of emulating many of Chromecast's coolest features. In short, CheapCast allows its users to stream content from one Android device to another. The nominal benefit is content sharing. In the video below, the demonstrator sends a clip of

from his smartphone to his

tablet. The more significant benefit comes from users who plug their smartphone or tablet into a television using an HDMI cable. It will then be possible to wirelessly send media -- YouTube clips,

videos, Google Music, etc. -- to the big screen. According to

, tabbed casting has not yet been implemented. Samsung and other smartphone makers have made it possible to send content to a television, but only with TVs that are capable of picking up a wireless Internet connection. Those without a Wi-Fi option may appreciate what CheapCast has to offer. The only downside is that users must power two separate devices in order to use CheapCast's best feature. This could prevent some individuals from using the app.

Perhaps that is the price consumers must pay for using a free app instead of a $35 device. Disclosure: