Google updates the Chromecast to Play and Pause content via your TV Remote

It’s great being able to stream the latest episode of House of Cards on your TV via your Chromecast isn’t it? Although it can be really frustrating having to grab your smartphone when you want to pause the program in a hurry, sometimes it’s just quicker pressing a physical button on the TV remote. Thankfully, Google has updated the Chromecast to allow you to pause and unpause videos with the infra-red remote that came with your TV.

How does it work? Well, it’s all down to Chromecast using HDMI-CEC, which allows your TV to communicate with attached devices such as your Blu-Ray Player. If your Chromecast is running the latest firmware (27946) and you have a compatible TV, you should be able to play and pause content from a variety of sources ranging from YouTube, WatchESPN, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, Google Play Music, TuneIn Radio, AllCast and Chrome web videos.

It should be noted that not all TV’s will be compatible with this function, for example, my LG set doesn’t offer HDMI-CEC compatibility, so your mileage may vary depending on which television set you own. You may also find that some television manufacturers may have given the HDMI-CEC function a different name, Sony calls it BRAVIA Link, LG call it SimpLink while Samsung has named it Anynet+. Confusing I know. If you aren’t sure, the easiest way to find out if your TV set is compatible is to just give it a whirl.

Source: Janko Roettgers

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