Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
In August 2024 , Google debuted a new twist calledGoogle TV Streamer — its first set - top box media waft . At the same fourth dimension , the company herald that it wouldno longer sell the Streamer ’s predecessor(Google Chromecast With Google TV ) . Chromecast , as a brand and as a product , was officially discontinued .
However , Chromecast ( the technology ) is still animated and well ; it live on under a new ( though also sure-enough ) name : Google Cast .
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
put off ? We do n’t charge you . Google ’s branding and technology has always been a little capricious and irregular . But do n’t vex , we ’re pass away to clear up it all . Here ’s the missing road map to the humankind of Chromecast ( and Google Cast ) , with everything you involve to have it off .
Chromecast hardware
In 2013 , Google debuted a belittled convenience calledChromecast . The gadget let you well out audio and television from your smartphone , pill , or computer to your TV . At the time , when chic TVs were still a oddment , it was a far more affordable agency to do boob tube cyclosis than dedicatedstreaming spiritualist deviceslike Roku and Apple TV .
That machine testify very pop thanks to its low price and chasteness of operation , and was quickly follow by theChromecast Audio(for transmitting just audio to a set of powered speaker or any gimmick with an audio input ) . Google eventually introduced two more Chromecasts , include the 4K / HDR - capableChromecast Ultra .
All of these devices divvy up a common philosophy . They count on a source equipment to “ sick ” depicted object to them — usually a smartphone or pill , but once in a while a internet browser on a estimator . These initial Chromecast devices did n’t have remote command . Every aspect of their cognitive process ( choosing content , play / suspension , mass , etc . ) was done from the source equipment . There was no on - filmdom user interface and no built - in apps or office .
The engineering that let you send content from your phone to a Chromecast was known as Google Cast . Chromecast buyers were promote to expect for smartphone apps that were Google Cast - enabled .
In 2016 , when Google wanted to make it clear that you could also cast to select third - party devices , it created the label “ Chromecast built - in . ” At the meter , this made sense . If your smart tv set had Chromecast built - in , it meant it could do the same things as a Chromecast Ultra ( if it was a 4K / HDR TV ) and if your soundbar has Chromecast built - in , it meant it could the same things as a Chromecast Audio .
At around the same metre , Google stopped referring to Google Cast - enabled apps . or else , these became known as Chromecast - enabled apps .
Enter Google TV
While Google ’s portfolio of Chromecast devices proved popular , there was no acquiring around the fact that the lack of an on - blind port and remote control was becoming a problem . As devices from Roku and Amazon became cheaper and punk , Chromecast devices began to lose their prayer .
oddly , Google had already make a competitive weapons platform known as Android television , which several TV and set - top box maker were using to produce plenteous , app - drive streaming medium experiences . But Google had never created its own Android television receiver product .
That changed in 2020 with the release ofGoogle Chromecast with Google TV , a completestreaming media devicebased on Android goggle box , but enhanced with a special content discovery interface know as Google TV . Shortly after the egress of this raw gimmick , Google give up all of its older Chromecast product .
Google Chromecast with Google TV proved to be a very compelling ware that kept all of the wander capability of the erstwhile Chromecast devices , but could also be used independently as a standalone cyclosis political program . Google create two versions : one that handle 4K / HDR , and a less expensive model that was limited to 1080p / HDR .
Unfortunately , this created a disconnect in the idea of buyers . If you buy a soundbar with “ Chromecast build - in , ” does that signify it does the same things as a Google Chromecast with Google TV ? What about a wireless speaker ? Or an Android TV set - top boxful ?
Google realize at this point that the recording label “ Chromecast build - in ” no longer convey the proper information to emptor . These third - party equipment , from soundbars andprojectors , to smart TVs and Wi - Fi - connected speakers from brands like LG , JBL , Bang & Olufsen , Vizio , Denon , and many more — they all share the same fundamental feature of speech : the ability to receive Google Cast academic term from compatible products , but they do not reproduce the full circle of features of Google ’s current Chromecast with Google TV pennant .
It took a while to get things sorted , but in May 2024 , Google changed Chromecast built - in back to Google Cast .
Ultimately , however , Chromecast build - in and Google Cast entail the same matter : a product bearing one of these label can receive ramble sound and/or video , depending on whether it has a screen or just a speaker unit .
Bye-bye Chromecast
A few months later , Google put the final nail in the Chromecast casket when it released the Google TV Streamer , a $ 100 set - top box . It offers some nice extra , like on - screen Google Home control , establish - in Ethernet , more storage , and a fast C.P.U. , but is ( in every other common sense ) the same as the Google Chromecast with Google TV that it replaced .
For the remainder of 2024 , and possibly into 2025 , you will still see products that say they have Chromecast establish - in , but this ( and all other Chromecast reference work ) are now a affair of the past .
In today ’s childlike world , there is only the Google TV Streamer , third - political party Android TV devices that use the Google TV interface ( e.g. , Walmart ’s Onn 4 K Pro , Nvidia Shield TV ) , and third - party twist that are Google Cast - enabled ( voguish boob tube , wireless speakers , soundbars , etc . )
How does Google Cast work?
Casting uses different techniques depending on the message you need to look out or take heed to . If the message you ’re casting comes from a streaming service , such as YouTube or Spotify , you ’re actually sending an pedagogy from one machine to another . When casting a YouTube video from your phone to a Google Cast - enabled twist , your phone is saying , “ Here ’s a YouTube television I want you to play . ” The hurl - enable machine then dutifully react by access YouTube instantly using its own internet connexion so it can stream that television for you .
In this scenario , your headphone is plainly acting as a outside control , and that includes the power to play , suspension , or tight - forward / rewind .
The only limit is that your chosen streaming app must abide casting . Not all of them do , and some are picky about which equipment are used to do the casting . Amazon Prime Video , for instance , will let you cast from an Android or iOS gimmick , but not from a calculator .
If you require to cast music hive away on your computer or phone or mirror the integral content of your phone ’s screen or perhaps a lozenge in the Chrome web browser , that content must be physically pour over your home connection ( or over a hotel ’s Wi - Fi electronic connection ) from one machine to another .
Isn’t that what Apple AirPlay does?
Pretty much . Google Cast andAirPlaywork very similarly , but with a few key differences .
With Google Cast - enabled video apps , you must cast both video and audio frequency to the same gimmick . AirPlay - enabled video apps give you a choice : send just the audio to an AirPlay utterer , or send videoandaudio to an AirPlay receiver like an Apple television or a smart television set .
Google Cast also supports high - resolution audio frequency : you could stream up to 24 - bit/96kHzhi - res lossless audiousing Google Cast , but AirPlay is restricted to a maximum of 16 - bit/44.1kHz cadmium - caliber lossless audio ( though in many cases , you ’re more likely to terminate up with lossy , 16 - bit audio ) . In the fall of 2024 , Apple expects toadd spatial sound cyclosis to its AirPlay protocol , something Google Cast does n’t yet tender .
Google Cast and Google Home
One of the advantages of owning a Google Cast - enabled product is that it can be managed from within theGoogle Homeapp on iOS and Android . Once added to Google Home , you ’ll be capable to control thing like playback and bulk for each twist , ascribe them to different suite , and , if they ’re speaker system , create talker grouping that will work the same casted audio simultaneously . You ’ll also be able to use Google Assistant to control these equipment with your articulation and add them to smart menage routines .
How to cast
In your favourite mobile app , look for a rectangular picture with three concentric ring in the corner . On some apps , this can be found on the master screen , like the Android Netflix app seen above . On other apps , it may only be accessible from the playback screen .
solicit that picture , and you ’ll be confront with a list of the Google Cast - compatible devices on your electronic connection . Keep in mind , if you ’re casting television subject , the listing will only show you television - capable devices like smart TVs or teem spiritualist devices . When casting audio , you will likely see both audio- and TV - capable Google Cast machine .
but peck your trust gadget from the list to set about a molding session . bet on whether you tapdance the cast icon from a playback screen or not , your chosen content may commence represent on your select twist right forth , or you may need to start playback from the casting gimmick .
Once the casting session has part , the shape icon will change from an empty rectangle to a satisfy - in rectangle . you could control playback or terminate the casting session at any fourth dimension by tap on theCasticon again .
