BYOD - Projection Issues (Chromecast specifically)

Okay, so, if you are lucky enough to be able to provide a device to each student in the class then you don't have the technical issues of projection to a large screen.... once you get it figured out for that style device(iPad,tablet, chromebook, iphone etc) then you are good to go.  We are trying to trouble-shoot the best way to provide possible projection to a large screen (smartboard, epson projector, stand-alone projector) for any individual's device.... since we are trying to accommodate classrooms with BYOD.

First of all, why might one want to project from a student's device?  These are some reasons:
- to free up the teacher computer who might be accessing marks/attendance etc at the same time
- frees up the teacher as students can initiate playing on the projector themselves (since you likely don't want them going on to your computer to access their content they would like to view)
- allows a small group of students to watch the same video... saves download time as our internet does not handle a lot of student's loading videos simultaneously.... and provides an opportunity for students to collaborate/discuss/ask questions amongst themselves during the video
- to easily display student made presentations/solutions to questions to compare/contrast without having to save/send a file to the teacher

We basically just wanted to be able to bypass the teacher having to go to the computer to project.

Thus far I have been testing out the "chrome cast".
Pros-
->Allows you to project wirelessly from your laptop to mirror a tab or window with a google extension
->Plays netflix, youtube, just dance now(good activity break for students... they can use their phones as "wii -motes") and a few other apps while still using your computer for other things
-> will "cast" from android or iOS hand-held devices
-> cheaper than apple TV ($40 at Future Shop)

Cons-
-> I haven't figured out how to mirror a screen from android... some forums I've looked into say it won't mirror the screen from a hand-held... others say it will... but I haven't figured out how to get that to work yet.  I found this below... but it says it needs to be on the same network as the chromecast... which could be difficult if your chromecast is on the staff network and student's devices on the student network.... [which could be why I'm having no luck... wish I'd read that before I wasted a few hours trying]

• Casting your Android screen is currently in beta and available on devices running Android 4.4.2 or higher.     

Now... with Google Apps for Education... (we aren't immersed in these yet)... I'm not sure if any of them are going to be chrome-cast friendly....?

VERDICT - Chromecast works well with a laptop/desktop/chromebook where you can get the google extension for it, but very limited to what it will project from a hand-held device.  Do not get chrome-cast if you are looking for an easy way to mirror a hand-held device.... it doesn't have those capabilities (not easily anyways)

OTHER OPTIONS I HAVEN'T TRIED BUT AM GOING TO:
In chatting with other teachers, many like "air server" to put on their computer... it projects through your computer but mirrors both android and iOS.  My sister really likes "Reflector" ($12) and only needed to put on the teacher's computer... easily projects via "air play" on iOS devices... and can display MULTIPLE DEVICES at a time!  [cool for comparing different solutions]  DOES NOT MIRROR ANDROID.  Splashtop and Teamviewer are two other options as well.

Apple TV - very easy to mirror when dealing with iOS via air play (but more expensive.... over the next while I will test how easily an apple TV works with android via extra apps to allow this)  I'll post again once I have the results!

For even more ideas, check out 10 Ways to Show Your iPad on a Projector Screen from Learninginhand.com.