Chromecast

Pros

• the photo frame thing we just use a chromecast slideshow - grabs pics automatically from our shared google photos album. way simpler than anything these companies are trying to sell us.
• I have a flagship Samsung TV from 2023 and it's never been connected to the internet - I use a Chromecast for streaming services
• Use a legitimate device like a Chromecast, Onn, Apple tv, fire stick, etc.
• I just use a chromecast though on my TV's, despite my hatred for their little remotes.
• I have a Chromecast puck to hang on the TV. In the settings for the Chromecast I can specify a number of albums for the screensaver to cycle through. I change the albums from time to time and the Chromecast does that on it's own sometimes.

Cons

• No this is not a lucky coincidence. This is a bug or unwanted feature. I've seen plenty of devices or test equipment defaulting to 11:22:33:44:55:66. Not sure why the Chromecast would use that.
• I have 3 Chromecast from various generations, they start with different prefixes : F4-F5-D8, 54-60-09, B0-2A-43, all are assigned to Google inc.
• My Chromecast does not have private Mac addresses. Kind of silly for a streaming device.
• this is what I liked about the old Chromecasts. They just fit nicely behind the tv. The new one is huge.
• my Chromecast are the same and I'm a bit fed up with how unreliable they've become.