Google Debuts New Chromecast TV Streaming Devices
When it comes to TV streaming devices, Google’s Chromecast is easily one of the best values. It’s $35; it lets you stream shows from your smartphone, laptop, or tablet to your TV; and it’s so easy to use that your technology averse Uncle Joe could figure it out. Just plug it into an HDMI slot in your HDTV and connect it to an app on your device.
But at more than 2 years old, the original Chromecast is now lagging behind Apple’s new Apple TV and Amazon’s new Fire TV. That’s why Google is giving the Chromecast a much-needed upgrade, which might just make this little streaming stick the best on the market.
The new Chromecast gets a new disc-shaped design that Google says helps the device’s three built-in antennas capture the best available Wi-Fi signal in your home.
In fact, Google says the new design and antenna configuration makes the new Chromecast better at picking up weak Wi-Fi signals, which is great if you’re tired of seeing an endless loading screen on Netflix.
The new Chromecast also gets a built-in, flexible HDMI cable, rather than the separate clunky cable that came with the first Chromecast.
A smarter app
Chromecast uses your phone to let you find videos to watch and then stream them to your TV. But the original app left much to be desired.
To that end, Google has also updated the Chromecast’s app. The new What’s On feature tells you, well, what’s on at the moment. So now, rather than trying to hunt through each of your apps to find something to watch, Chromecast will let you know by displaying a list of shows from all of your compatible Chromecast apps.
There’s also a new Search feature that lets you look for shows, movies, or actors, and then displays your viewing options, so you can pick the one that’s cheapest.
The updated Chromecast also gets a new Fast Play feature that can see what video app you’re looking at on your phone, and automatically begin launching Chromecast, so you no longer have to wait as long for your videos to play.
For instance, if you’re looking at Netflix on your phone, Fast Play will recognize that you’ve recently watched an episode of “Narcos” and begin downloading the next one, so you can begin watching it instantly.
Chromecast Audio
In addition to the new video-oriented Chromecast, Google has also unveiled its new Chromecast Audio — an odd hockey-puck-shaped device that lets you stream audio across multiple audio devices over Wi-Fi.
Chromecast Audio plugs into any speaker that uses 3.5 mm audio jacks, as well as those that use RCA and optical audio inputs.
Connect your Chromecast Audio to your home’s Wi-Fi network, and you’ll be able to instantly start streaming music and podcasts from your smartphone or other device directly to the speaker.
According to Google, streaming audio via Wi-Fi is better than streaming over Bluetooth, because Bluetooth compresses audio files and Wi-Fi doesn’t. Bottom line: Your music will sound crisper and clearer, and you won’t drain your phone’s battery quite so quickly.
Chromecast will also support multiple speaker synchronization, which means you can play the same song on all your speakers at the same time — provided they’re all connected to a Chromecast Audio device.
Stay tuned for our hands-on take on both of these new streaming sticks.
Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at@DanielHowley or on Google+.