Google’s updated Chromecast app is live in the Play Store
Google’s completely revamped Chromecast app is already live in the Play Store just hours after announcement. The app works with the newer iteration of Chromecast and the Chromecast Audio device that the company announced today, and it’s got a few extra features worth taking advantage of.
The biggest change you’ll see is the redesigned interface that goes hand in hand with Google’s newer vision of mobile operating systems. It’s clean and takes many of its cues from the Material Design guidelines that Google introduced with Android 5.0. There’s also a new section for browsing Chromecast-enabled apps which works significantly better than what was previously available, and cards with detailed information about devices, rooms, and content are everywhere.
The new app also has its own set of media control buttons, so you won’t need to jump into the Netflix or Play Music app to stop or skip episodes or songs. Pretty nifty. It also supports Facebook photos for Chromecast’s backdrop feature, so you’ll see your own photos instead of just the pre-supplied nature shots and the like.
Hit the link below to grab the update.
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New Chromecast products
Today was a big day for Google, as it announced new Nexus devices, a new tablet, and new Chromecast devices (yes, that’s plural!). There are two Chromecast devices now, one meant for TV, and one meant for speakers, dubbed Chromecast Audio. Let’s take a look at each!
Chromecast
First up is the refresh device to the ever popular Chromecast. The original sold over 20 million units worldwide. However, some of the technology in the original Chromecast was outdated, so this new one has some new specs to keep you stream-happy for awhile. So, to help current Chromecast owners make a decision, we’re going to break down the specs of each.
| Chromecast (New) | Chromecast (1st gen) | |
| Dimensions | 51.9 x 51.9 x 13.49 mm | 72 x 35 x 12 mm |
| Weight | 39.1 g | 34 g |
| Color | Black, Coral, Lemonade | Black |
| Resolution output | 1080p | 1080p |
| Wireless Standards | 802.11c Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz) | 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only) |
| Price | $35 | $35 |
The new Chromecast comes with a refreshed, modern design, making it look more like a small hockey puck rather than a dongle. However, there are also two new colors with the new Chromecast: Coral, and Lemonade (both available exclusively through the Google Store). Probably the biggest differences lie in the wireless standards and the software (below). The new Chromecast will now work with 5Ghz connections, whereas the 1st gen only worked with 2.4GHz. This will help buffer things more quickly, resulting in less lag overall.
Updated Software
The new Chromecast will have a slew of software enhancements that will make the Chromecast experience quicker, smoother, and easier to navigate. How much of this will carry over to the 1st gen is unclear, however it seems its mostly enabled through the Chromecast app, so keep an eye out for an update (I had one when I checked).
There are already 200,000 TV shows and movies available for streaming on the Chromecast. However, Showtime is bringing all of their content in the coming weeks, and Spotify will soon be available as well. Sling TV will also be available on the new Chromecast. There will be other new services coming, along with major sports leagues such as the NBA and NHL. So stay tuned for updates on those.
Content discovery in the new app shows things based on the apps you have installed. This brings a simple view of cast enabled apps you already have. This will also help you search across all Cast-enabled apps for specific content, so searching for “House of Cards” will bring up the TV show, and the apps that its available for viewing in (in this case, Netflix). The new app will allow for easier discovery of Chromecast-ready apps as well.
Fast Play will be available for content developers, so that when you select to play content, it will do so much more quickly. This will be available to all content developers.
Backdrop now has support for 500px, Facebook, Flickr, and Getty Images, allowing for even more pictures to be displayed on your TV when you’re not casting.
Along with the above improvements comes a new Chromecast capability – the ability to play complex multiplayer games. Multiplayer games was available in limited scope before but now will allow for content to display on the TV as well as on your phone. Your phone will act as the controller and will sometimes even show whats on the screen on your phone, sort of like a Wii U controller, but for multiple people. Access to each person’s accelerometer, compass, and more will allow for dynamic gameplay. Google seems keen that this will change the face of gaming.
Chromecast Audio
Along with the updated Chromecast came the announcement of the Chromecast Audio. The Chromecast Audio is much like the regular Chromecast, except for your speakers. It aims to turn the speakers you already own into cast-ready devices. So instead of connecting your phone with a cable, you can instead connect the Chromecast Audio, and stream music from a slew of cast-ready apps from your phone.
The Chromecast Audio works with 3.5mm auxiliary cables, RCA, and even Optical connections. So, this will allow you to turn your “dumb” speaker into a “smart” speaker.
Also like the regular Chromecast, the Chromecast Audio will allow you to perform regular functions on your phone without interrupting the stream of music. So, answering phone calls, surfing the web, and more is no problem while using the Chromecast Audio.
Probably the only thing remiss from the Chromecast Audio is rechargeable battery. It seems it must be plugged in to a power supply for it to work.
Other than that, the Chromecast Audio is available for $35, along with the new Chromecast, starting today from the Google Store and other outlets.
Source: Chromecast – Google
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Source: ChromeWatching
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Google Photos just got smarter
Google Photos, without a doubt, has made every Android owner’s life simpler. Whether you lose your smartphone or run out of device storage, Google’s cloud-based photo storing app makes sure that you never lose an important memory. By the end of this year, the free app will have more sharing and storing features.
Speaking at the Nexus launch event, Google Photos Lead Product Manager Anil Sabharwal revealed a new app feature, Shared Albums. It means that an entire group of friends or family that attended an event together can add pictures or videos to a shared album and tag people. They can even send invites to their friends to join the album and view it, so that no one feels left out. Invited guests will get alerts if a new picture is uploaded to the shared album.
The new update will let Google Photos organize the images in various categories using artificial intelligence. For example, the app will group pictures taken at a particular event and roll the album accordingly. Also, you can attach names or nicknames to people in your album as per your wish, which makes searching for images even easier.
Google assures that new sorting and sharing features won’t compromise users’ privacy at the cost of ease, and the experience will continue to be “100% private.” There is also going to be a Chromecast integration feature for Google Photos that will not just mirror the app on your TV or monitor, it will also come with a host of options for your images, videos and gifs.
Come comment on this article: Google Photos just got smarter
The After Math: Google Nexus 2015 press event
Google held a press conference in San Francisco this morning to announce a slew of new and updated devices. We saw two powerful new mobile phones, the Nexus 5x and 6P, as well as a new iteration of the Chromecast (and its new audio-only cousin). Google also unveiled its take on the Microsoft Surface with its Pixel C convertablet. Here’s how all these new products stack up, by the numbers.
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The new Chromecast vs. the competition: Which will you watch?
The original Chromecast stood out for how it offered a cheap, easy way to get content on your TV in a super small form factor. Its successor adds even more features like Fast Play, an integrated HDMI cable and even a redesigned app. However, the digital set-top player arena has gotten a lot more crowded since 2013, with heavyweights like Roku and Amazon offering their own streaming sticks to compete. With so much shared content and affordable prices across the board, we took a look at what each player has to offer in terms of specs and features to see if it’s more than just the Chromecast’s new shape that makes it stand out.
| Chromecast (2015) | Roku Streaming Stick (2014) | Fire TV Stick (2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $35 | $50 | $40 |
| Dimensions | 2.04 x 2.04 x 0.53 inches (51.9 x 51.9 x 13.49mm) | 3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches (88.9 x 88.9 x 25.4mm) | 3.3 x 1.0 x 1.5 inches (84.5 x 25 x 11.5mm) |
| Weight | 1.38 ounces (39.1g) | 5 ounces (141.75g) | 0.9 ounces (25.1g) |
| Output resolution | 1080p | 720p, 1080p | 720p, 1080p |
| RAM | NA | 512MB | 1GB |
| Internal storage | NA | 256MB | 8GB |
| WiFi | Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n | Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | NA | None | v3.0 |
| Ports | HDMI, Micro-USB | HDMI | HDMI 1.4 |
| Remote | No | Yes | Yes (voice control option available) |
| Video codecs | casts from device; limited by what your phone or browser supports | H.264 1080p, H.264 720 x 480, MPEG-4 | H.264 |
| Audio codecs | casts from device | AAC-LC (CBR), AC3 (passthrough) |
AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/WAV, Vorbis |
| Photo formats | casts from device | JPEG, PNG | JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP |
| Available content | Google Play, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora and more | Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Pandora, HBO Go, Hulu, ESPN, NFL Now, CBS, Showtime, Sling TV and more | Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Pandora, HBO Go, HBO Now, Hulu, ESPN, NFL Now, MLB, Sling TV and more |
Get all the news from today’s Google event right here.
Chromecast Audio competes with Sonos for a tenth of the price
The Chromecast Audio is pretty smart. Here’s the elevator pitch: You plug the little hockey puck in the image above into a power outlet, and then connect it to your speakers using the provided 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable, or a third-party 3.5mm-to-optical cable or the equivalent RCA converter. Then, Google says, you’ve got a smart speaker. I checked that claim out for myself at the company’s event, and it does what it says, but I still don’t know if it does it well.
You can cast music from a number of sources including Google Play Music and — at last — Spotify. The former also acts as a good casting option for those that like to keep their music files local rather than streaming. While the regular Chromecast got a new discovery app today, the new Audio version behaves more like the Chromecast of old, which is a lot like an open version of Apple’s AirPlay. It’ll support your phone, tablet or laptop — essentially anything that runs Chrome or Android — and over the coming months multi-room support will roll out.
So… Sound quality. “Okay” tells you everything I know at this point. Problem is, I listened to all three of the setups, but I listened to them in the middle of a vast hall filled with people who weren’t about to be quiet and let me work out how good the audio quality was. So, instead of an actual opinion, I can tell you that I’ve heard Tove Styrke’s “Borderline” seven times and there wasn’t a stutter, glitch or streaming issue at all. Also I am still somehow not tired of that song.
Using WiFi streaming is a much better option than Bluetooth, both in quality and range, but the parts inside the Chromecast Audio are going to make all the difference. I asked a Google spokesperson if they could give me any more details on sound quality, and they told me the Chromecast has a “world-class DAC” (Digital to Analog Converter), but refused to disclose what company makes the part. That makes me nervous. Video processing in the original Chromecast is pretty ropey. It won’t be long until someone pulls this apart and tells us how good the DAC is, but without that information, and without even a basic subjective listening test, we’ll have to wait for a verdict on the audio quality for now.
Sonos, which is probably the leading name in home audio streaming, sells almost the exact same product as the Chromecast Audio. It’s called the Sonos Connect, and it basically turns your regular speakers into Sonos speakers. It costs $350. The Chromecast Audio costs $35, and it lets you use the apps you want to use to control your music. If Google’s got the audio quality even at an adequate level, then it’s difficult to see this not catching on.
Get all the news from today’s Google event right here.
New Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices launched by Google
As expected during the live event today, Google launched the second generation Chromecast device and added the new Chromecast Audio device to the line. Google says the new Chromecast device will bring some significant improvements to the casting experience to match the growth they are seeing in the number of apps that supporting casting. These include content providers like the NBA, NHL, Showtime, and Google’s own Photos product.
The new, round Chromecast dongle comes with a new antenna system and support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wifi along with 802.11ac. Google says the device’s software will automatically adjust to the best available signal in order to provide better throughput with less buffering. Another change, besides the switch to a round form factor, is the flexible plug for the HDMI as Google recognizes the ports on TVs are getting filled up and they wanted to help consumers make it easy to hook up a new Chromecast.
The Chromecast Audio dongle is meant to mirror what Google did for hooking up TVs in the world of speakers. The Chromecast Audio is capable of being connected to any speaker via a 3.5mm audio jack, RCA jacks or optical input. Once hooked up, users will go through a similar setup process to get connected to their WiFi network. On the smartphone end, users will find it is just as easy to connect to a Chromecast Audio device as it is to cast to a regular Chromecast – just pick the name from a pop up list when you are ready to cast from a media app.
To go with the new hardware, Google has updated the Chromecast app. A big focus is on helping users with content discovery. The new What’s On tab will display a Play Store-esque listing of what they can watch by only pulling titles from apps a user has installed on their device. Although there will be some difference in search results, it is probably worth noting that when combined with Google’s voice search capabilities, the new search-enabled Chromecast app comes close to matching Gary Busey’s favorite feature found on Amazon’s Fire TV devices. Users will also find the Chromecast app itself has control buttons like pause and play, meaning it can function as a remote without a user having to tap into the source app for whatever is displaying.
Helping improve the user experience, Google is also adding technology to speed up the display of cast content. When users launch an app, like Netflix, the Chromecast will go ahead and preload that app rather than waiting for a user to hit the cast button. In similar manner, it will look ahead and what you are likely to watch, like recent titles, and start loading up the next episode. Google says this results in content starting up about 80% faster than with the first generation Chromecast.
Google indicates they are adding additional Backdrop feeds to Chromecast, including support for Facebook photos. They also announced support for Spotify is coming to the new version of the Chromecast and the Chromecast Audio and will eventually rollout to the first generation.
The new Chromecast devices are available in the Play Store starting today for $35 in 17 countries. The Chromecast is available in black, yellow or coral while the Chromecast Audio is available only in black, but with a grooved design reminiscent of a vinyl record.
You can check out Google’s new promotional video for their Chromecast below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: New Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices launched by Google
Google Store now selling the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Chromecast (2015), and Chromecast Audio
Today, Google showed us a lot of new hardware. The company launched the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel C and two new Chromecast models. Most of those are actually available right now through the Google Store.
The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P have varying prices depending upon the storage size selected, both come with a 90-day subscription to Google Play Music and a $50 credit to be used in the Play Store. The new, more powerful Chromecast is priced at $35 just like its predecessor and the unique Chromecast Audio has the same price attached. The Pixel C, though, is currently without a listing in the Google Store.
Need any accessories to go along with your purchase? The Google Store has plenty of new cases and cables for you to add to your cart.
[Nexus 5X – Google Store] [Nexus 6P – Google Store] [Chromecast – Google Store] [Chromecast Audio – Google Store]
Come comment on this article: Google Store now selling the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Chromecast (2015), and Chromecast Audio
Chromecast support is finally making its way to Spotify
During the big Nexus event today, Google announced that Chromecast is finally getting updated to support Spotify. Spotify support is rolling out to the newly-announced Chromecast and Chromecast Audio starting today, while support will come to older Chromecast devices over the next few weeks.
Moreover, Spotify will be able to immediately detect what other devices are currently playing on the Chromecast network and synchronize at the same spot in the playlist, making the music experience much easier to use with multiple devices. For example, if your friend’s device is connected to your Chromecast network at home and you’d like to start controlling their playlist from your phone, you can. Simply open the Spotify application, make sure your home network is selected, and your device will be able to control the playlist that’s currently playing. Pretty cool, right?
Google took the wraps off its second-generation Chromecast and new Chromecast Audio hardware earlier today, and you can find all of that information by following the links below.
Chromecast adds video from Showtime, Sling TV, NBA and more
Besides rolling out two brand new devices and a redesigned app, Google is bringing a slew of new video services (and Spotify) to the now 20 million strong Chromecast ecosystem. Announced onstage during today’s Nexus event, it appears the new Showtime standalone app is now available on Chromecast, while Sling TV is coming in the next few weeks. The NBA and MLS are also adding Cast support, while DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket (which already supported Chromecast) is adding a new feature allowing users to scrub through stats and other info on their phone while games are streaming on the TV.
Get all the news from today’s Google event right here.
Source: Sling TV
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