Sure it is. Chromecast offers an API everybody can just use, without asking Google for permission.

Nope.

Chromecast only offers an API if you already have a license to the Google Play Services, which does require Google’s permission.

And this license only allows sending Chromecast streams – it does not allow the FireTV to receive any.

I don't understand. karavelov said that Amazon Prime Video doesn't work with Chromecast. Are you saying that https://developers.google.com/cast/ is insufficient to allow Prime Video to work with Chromecast?

karavelov was not asking about FireTV receiving Chromecast. Does Roku receive Chromecast streams? If so, what's stopping FireTV, if not then it's not really relevant to this "targeted discrimination" discussion.

> Are you saying that https://developers.google.com/cast/ is insufficient to allow Prime Video to work with Chromecast?

Correct. That SDK requires proprietary Google Play Services to be present on a device to allow Chromecast to work.

As the same Prime Video app has to work on Kindle devices, LineageOS/CopperheadOS/other third party ROMs, and on Google Play Android devices, it can’t require Google Play Services.

Regarding Roku:

Roku can not receive Chromecast streams, instead Roku, Twitch and several other companies have cooperated to work on a protocol competing with Chromecast, and Roku can receive those (as can a few of Amazon’s devices, and Amazon’s apps can send those streams as well).

You can learn more here: https://www.howtogeek.com/214943/how-to-use-your-roku-like-a...

> As the same Prime Video app has to work on Kindle devices, LineageOS/CopperheadOS/other third party ROMs, and on Google Play Android devices, it can’t require Google Play Services.

It can have additional functionality that only works when Google Play Services is available. Plenty of media apps run on Kindle devices as well as branded Android, and support Chromecast on Android but not Kindle.

Now, Amazon probably doesn't want to make an app that has features that work on branded Android but not Kindle, but that is a choice.

That's correct, but looking at how much money Amazon has spent trying to replicate Google's closed APIs on their Android version, I don't think it's unreasonable for them to expect an open protocol at least this time.

Amazon spent billions trying to work around Google's anticompetitive bullshit (something the open source community had to do as well with microG), and I think at least at some point Google should be held responsible for their proprietary bullshit.

Had Google actually open sourced Chromecast, on all sides, you'd have seen much higher adoption.

Regarding the other protocol - support by Amazon + twitch is still just one company :) Will read up on rest, thanks.

Chromecast support is available for a few non Google iOS apps. But I guess the blame is on Google for not opening up the protocol for nonstandard Android derived Os's.