The Chromecast is a media streaming device from Google, allowing you to play your favorite content from Netflix, Spotify, Google Play Music, Pandora, and countless other services on your television. The device is a small HDMI dongle, and retails for $35.
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
Google’s Chromecast dongle for pushing digital content from ones phone, tablet, or laptop to a TV screen isn’t exactly a high-end device – the full retail price is $35, and it’s on sale constantly – but its unexpected to many been a huge success for the company. Over 17 million of the dongles have been sold, the Cast button has been pushed over 1.5 billion times, and Google says Chromecast users consume 66% more content per day than when the device launch in 2013. To push the network of Cast buttons and supported content even further, Google has released some new APIs for developers to build richer experiences.
Lenovo has today shown off a couple of product prototypes that fall somewhere on the scale with ‘interesting tech’ at one end and ‘batsh*t crazy’ at the other… Buck Rogers style.
The first is Magic View, a smartwatch with a second display – a really tiny one – embedded in the strap. The idea appears to be that when the main display alerts you to new content, you hold the tiny screen up very, very close to your eye to view that content on the second display. I’m just waiting for someone wearing Google Glass and someone with their smartwatch in front of their nose to walk into each other …
Expand
Expanding
Close
The companion app to Google’s $35 Chromecast dongle received an update today with a handful of improvements and changes. Bumping the app to version 1.11.4116, the update brings several interface tweaks. First off, the devices view of the app has been redesigned with a card-like interface. The devices screen also now lists what backdrop is currently being displayed along with casting status.
Google’s Chromecast is picking up a lot of new content today with both FOX and FX adding support to their mobile apps. The updates come on the same day that CBS has added Chromecast support for its All Access service.
Expand
Expanding
Close
CBS is updating its mobile apps today to allow users to stream directly to a TV connected to Google’s $30 Chromecast HDMI streaming device.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google Malaysia has today announced on Google+ that Chromecast, the Mountain View company’s famed $30 HDMI streaming stick, is now making its way to the Southeast Asian country.
Chromecast comes to Malaysia!
From today, Chromecast will be available for MYR170…
From today you will be able to pick up a Chromecast from select Maxis stores, and it will be available from Maxis stores nationally from May 5th. (http://goo.gl/GdtkPF)
The device is already available today in “select” Maxis stores, and will be coming to all stores nationally as of May 5th. You can also find the device to purchase from the Maxis website starting today.
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
If you haven’t yet treated your TV to a Chromecast stick to stream content from your Android devices, Google would really like you to do so. The company has been playing with its mix of freebies again, with $80 worth on offer if you buy between today and 19th April.
Current offers include three-month trial subscriptions to Google Play Music, DramaFever and Sesame Street GO, as well as one month of Qelio Concerts and a free Play Movies rental thrown in – and you can even save a few bucks on Amazon at the moment …
Expand
Expanding
Close
According to several users on the Chromecast Subreddit, and corroborated by TechCrunch, you can now play and pause video content on the Chromecast with your TV remote. This feature makes it significantly easier to control your content without having to use your smartphone for everything.
Google rolled out an update to the Drive Android app earlier this week, and as usual, what it touted in the change log wasn’t all that changed. Android Police has dug deeper into the APK update file and noticed some changes that hint at major new features coming to the app. First off, it appears that Google Drive will take over the task of backing up photos and videos for users, a responsibility that has been held by Google+ since its inception.
The popular VLC media player will be upgraded to version 3.0 soon, introducing a whole host of features to the software, including support for Google’s Chromecast streaming device. The change was mentioned in a VLC change log on the VideoLan website.
Chromecast support in VLC will allow users to stream their stored media to their TVs from supported devices, including Android handsets and tablets. iOS devices, and computers running OS X and Windows are also expected to get the upgrade.
VideoLan, the development company behind VLC, hasn’t announced the availability date for version 3.0 yet. You can grab the current version of the Android app from the Google Play Store.
For Valentine’s Day, Google is offering some Chromecast owners a $6 credit good towards any movie on Google Play. Don’t have a Chromecast yet? You can find a refurbished one at Groupon for $25. We’ve found the offer on our Chromecast players and heard similar reports from several readers, but there’s a chance that Google didn’t extend the promo to everyone. Fire up your Chromecast to see if you’re eligible.
If you’ve never redeemed offers from the Chromecast site before: First, make sure your Chromecast is plugged in and discoverable, then select it from the pull down menu and the offers listed below should appear on screen.
So once you’ve redeemed your free credit offer, take a look at the list of top movies and pick out something for you and your Valentine!
Legal:
Unless otherwise explicitly stated, offers are provided by third parties, and are not provided by Google. Offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions. Google is not responsible for the availability or the provision of any third-party offer or for conducting any third-party offer program. For questions about a specific offer, please contact the offering entity.
The 57th annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place this weekend on Sunday, February 8th, and CBS just sent over details on the only official live stream of the event accessible through your Android smartphone, tablet or Chromecast connected TV.
Head below for all the details on how to watch official streams for the event on your computer and all of your mobile devices.
CBS has broadcasting of the event locked down this year, and so for mobile users the only official live stream available of the actual awards show will be the CBS app (US only).
It will require a CBS All Access subscription, however, and is also only available in 14 major markets, including: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Miami, Denver, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. It’s clear CBS is trying to push its All Access service, which offers next day access to TV shows, live TV in some markets, and on-demand content, but you can watch using a free trial and cancel before it expires…
Normally $6 month, you can take advantage of a free week trial of CBS All Access to watch the show.
The live stream kicks off at 8p.m. – 11:30p.m. live ET/ delayed PT.
The official GRAMMYs and CBS apps will have a live stream of the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony and red carpet festivities starting at noon PT/3 p.m. ET, and the app will offer a second screen experience of sorts for those viewing the awards on TV at home.
Stream the 2015 GRAMMYs LIVE with CBS All Access on February 8th at 8/7c! Get ready to tune in to the GRAMMYs live stream now by starting your free CBS All Access trial.
Again, CBS will be the only source of a live stream online through its CBS All Access service. The good news is you can grab a free week trial of CBS All Access, which will give you access on mobile devices as well. This will probably also be your best bet for streaming to the big screen via the Chromecast extension.
Like on mobile devices, GRAMMY.com and CBS will have a live stream of the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony and red carpet festivities starting at noon PT/3 p.m. ET online, and also offer a second screen experience of sorts for those viewing the awards on TV at home. The main event takes place 8 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. live ET/ delayed PT.
Super Bowl XLIX with the Seahawks vs. the Patriots kicks off this weekend on February 1st and we’re already getting prepared with a handy list of links for watching on all your Android and Chrome devices.
Head below for details on how to watch the game from your Android smartphone, tablet, or in your browser on the desktop:
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google’s Chief Business Officer Omid Kordenstani gave several updates on the status of the company’s $35 Chromecast streaming device during the this evening’s Q4 2014 earnings call. Kordenstani first stated that users have “casted” content to their television more than one billion times. The company says that this is a huge milestone for the streaming stick and the implementation of the Cast functionality in a variety of different apps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q0yZomXuSw
Google today announced Google Cast for audio, which the company says takes advantage of Chromecast tech to send audio to third-party hardware like speakers, A/V receivers, and sound bars. The feature will allow users to tap a “cast” button from within music and radio apps on Android, iOS and the web to stream audio to Google Cast enabled speakers.
Expand
Expanding
Close
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwwvma8jLXM&feature=youtu.be]
Microsoft updated its Xim photo sharing application today with support for viewing photos wirelessly on Google’s Chromecast streaming device. The instructions for setting up Chromecast streaming (demonstrated in the video above) are relatively simple: just tap the display mode icon and select your Chromecast from the list. After that, you’ll see your slideshows on your TV in real time.
Xim allows users to create shared photo slideshows that stay in sync across multiple devices. Whenever a user changes the slideshow by zooming in, switching photos, or changing something else, all users currently viewing that slideshow will see the change in real time.
The Xim app is free for all users on the Google Play Store.
We told you back in June that ultrasonic pairing would be coming to Chromecast, and today the technology has officially arrived. Without any WiFi connections involved at all, Google has now given the green light for guests to be able to connect to your Chromecast and cast what they please.
Google has slowly but surely been updating its apps to fit its own design guidelines, and even as late as yesterday updated the Hangouts application (and that one’s still not quite there). Today, both the Android Wear and Chromecast apps have been updated to sport the Material look and, while not many other drastic changes have come to either app, it’s nice to have a bit of consistency between Google’s first-party offerings.
The Android Wear app companion app was suitably updated today amidst the release of Android Wear 5.0.1 Lollipop, providing support for the new version of the operating system. But the new version, thankfully, packs a redesign that brings it more in line with Material. The Chromecast app also got an update today, and on top of the fact you can now use the screen casting feature on any Android phone running 4.2.2 or higher, it now sports Material as well.
Google Wallet was also updated today, with its main new feature mentioned on Google+ as being the fact you can now manage your gift cards and loyalty programs from just one section of the app. As you can see above, under the “Loyalty and gift cards” section, you now have three sub-sections: Active, Expired, and Featured. The app also got a slightly tweaked appearance, bringing the app closer in line with the Material Design guidelines.
You can get the latest versions of Android Wear, Google Wallet, and Chromecast on the Play Store soon.
Image via @<a href="https://twitter.com/rajananandan/status/542213782395555840" target="_blank">RajanAnandan</a>
Google announced during its Great Online Shopping Festival 2014 tonight that it will officially launch the Chromecast streaming device in India. The HDMI dongle will be available through online retailer SnapDeal for Rs 2,999 later tonight—a bit higher than the $35 price in the States.
From 9to5Toys.com:
Update (12/8 1:00pm): Target has Chromecast for $22.99. Redeem Google’s latest promo (below) to drop its effective price down to $2.99.
Google has just launched a new offer that extends a free $20 Google Play credit to anyone who purchases a Chromecast by December 21. According to the offer details, only Chromecasts purchased between December 7 and December 21 will be eligible for the free credit, but we were able to take advantage of it on our previously purchased Chromecasts.
You can check if you’re eligible for this promo by pointing your Chrome browser to chromecast.com/offers. The credit expires on January 31, 2016 and can be used on movies, music, apps, and other media. However, it can’t be used towards the purchase of any hardware. Only open to US residents.
Google Play, Amazon, and Best Buy are all promoting this offer for new Chromecast buyers.
At this point Google is pretty much paying you to own a Chromecast. Just recently, we’ve seen Google hand out free movies, Hulu Plus and Play subscriptions.
Google’s diminutive and cheap Chromecast is making strong headway against its competitors according to a report today by Parks Associates. Priced at $35 but now going for just over $20, the dongle, which is controlled by Apps on iOS and Android devices rather than a traditional remote has passed the almost forgotten Apple TV and is closing in on the king of streamers, the Roku. Roku and AppleTV represented two thirds of the market last year but with entrants like Chromecast and Amazon’s Fire TV/Stick, the two dropped to around half the market.
The research finds Roku is still the leading brand with 29% of sales, but Google Chromecast (20%) has supplanted Apple TV (17%) in second place. New entrant Amazon Fire TV is in fourth place with 10%. Consumer content choices are also increasing, with Showtime and Sony planning to launch their own OTT video services to compete with Netflix and HBO.
“Nearly 50% of video content that U.S. consumers watch on a TV set is non-linear, up from 38% in 2010, and it is already the majority for people 18-44,” said Barbara Kraus, Director, Research, Parks Associates. “The market is changing rapidly to account for these new digital media habits. Roku now offers a streaming stick, and Amazon’s Fire TV streaming stick leaves Apple as the only top player without a stick product in the streaming media device category.”
Sticks are where it is at it would seem. Conversely, Google’s Nexus Player, introduced in October, has yet to make a blip but it might also show up in results next year.
