Google announced a new device that plugs into televisions, allowing users to stream media from their smartphones, tablets, and computers to a larger display.
The Chromecast is Google's latest move in conquering the living room and it comes for quite a low price: just $35.00. The company has been trying to widen its reach through its Google TV, which different manufacturers use in set-top boxes and TVs to allow users to access online entertainment, use their favorite Android apps on an HD TV, and more.
The new gadget, announced at Google's San Francisco press event, works in a similar manner and allows you to you to easily enjoy your favorite online entertainment on your HDTV. It currently includes Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, and Pandora, and Google said that it would announce more partners soon. The company also promised to release a Google Cast SDK to developers so they could bring their apps to the large screen.
The setup is simple and easy - just plug Chromecast into any HDTV, connect it to Wi-Fi, then send videos and more from your smartphone, tablet or laptop to your TV with the press of a button. Chromecast is also cross-platform, meaning it works on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS devices. There's no remote control, which means that users control it with the device they are using. Android users get an extra feature that will allow their devices to be used as a remote control for TVs that have a Chromecast attached. Users will be able to turn the TV on and off, send or queue videos, and adjust the volume from a phone or tablet.
The Chromecast is also priced much lower than similar competing devices. Google announced that the Chromecast would be available for purchase from the Google Play Store, Amazon and Best Buy for $35.00. The company is taking orders for the Chromecast and says that it will ship the device by Aug. 7. Google is also including three months of Netflix for free with the purchase of a Chromecast.
