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B&O's Beoplay M5 wireless speaker has a lot of competition
Bang and Olufsen revealed its pricey Beoplay A6 wireless speaker back in 2015. Here at CES, the company has a new model that also handles multiroom audio. The Beoplay M5 projects that trademark B&O sound 360 degrees from a device that's designed to be a showpiece rather than extra clutter. Just like the A6, wool speaker covers are interchangeable so you will have options for what looks best in your home.
Sony's Chromecast soundbar and sub blast the bass under your sofa
A number of companies have added Google Cast, er, "Chromecast built in," to speakers and soundbars in the last year and Sony has a new model that includes the handy tech for CES. The HT-MT500 is a compact soundbar that pairs with a wireless subwoofer you can slide under your sofa or stand upright near your TV. There's a specific setting for each of those two locations so the sound adjusts accordingly. Spotify Connect is also available on the HT-MT500 and there's a HT-MT300 model for people who don't need to employ that Google tech. It still includes Blueooth and NFC pairing, but you won't get the added benefits of Chromecast.
Altec Lansing's SmartStream speakers are another Sonos alternative
While Sonos remains the go-to option for multi-room audio, a number of companies have debuted similar devices over the last couple of years. 2016 saw the likes of Sony, Vizio and others introduce WiFi-connected speakers that allow you to control music all over your house with a mobile app. At CES, Altec Lansing is pulling the wraps of a trio of speakers that offer the same functionality starting at $99.
Science creates a cast that lets you scratch those itches
If you made a list of things that sucked about breaking your arm, the fiberglass cast to heal you would be close to the top. You can't shower with it, you can't get at your skin and you wind up an itchy, sweaty mess for months on end. Three college students out of Illinois believe that they can alleviate some of those bugbears with Cast21, a pretzel-esque sleeve that would replace traditional fiberglass castings.
Vizio's SmartCast soundbars don't work well with Spotify for now
Vizio's line of SmartCast soundbars and speakers tout Google Cast for wireless audio streaming from a variety of apps. One of those apps is Spotify, a massively popular music streaming service. Unfortunately, the Cast functionality with that particular library of tunes isn't working like it should. There are a number of posts in both Spotify and Google's forums from users who say Vizio's latest soundbars don't show up as an option for Casting in the streaming app. Spotify's software isn't recognizing the speakers as available gadgets for playing music. Reports of the issue go back as far as late July, over a month after the SmartCast soundbars went on sale.
Now Google Cast is built into every Chrome browser
Like Gmail prior, it honestly seems like Google Cast has been in beta forever. Well, it's actually only been two years according to Google, and that test period ends now. Cast is directly built into Chrome as of today and anyone can use it without having to install or configure additional add-ons or extensions. Now everyone can throw individual browser tabs to your Chromecast -- or even your desktop -- in addition to services like Netflix or Google Play Music.
ICYMI: AI earbuds, 3D-printed casts and more
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: A Kickstarter project to give you artificial intelligence in earbud form is out in the world and we couldn't help but make just a little bit of fun. A startup wants to create 3D-printed casts for the broken-boned masses, since previous versions have been too expensive for all but the most elite professional football players. And a new drone would have you up your selfie game in a way you didn't even know you wanted. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Google bakes Cast capabilities into its Fiber boxes
If you're a Google Fiber subscriber, you no longer need to use a Chromecast to stream content from your mobile device to your tv. Google announced today that it has integrated Cast technology (what makes your Chromecast work) directly into their Fiber set-top boxes. It cuts out the Chromecast middle man, is what I'm saying. You can just chuck that dongle since it's now superfluous. The casting process is exactly the same, it just runs straight through the set-top box now.
Google Cast and Android TV are coming to even more screens
During today's I/O keynote Google just barely squeezed in some notes about Android TV. On stage, while the Cast feature/ecosystem took a starring a role in the new Home device while also expanding from Vizio's TVs to work on screens from Magnavox, Philips, Polaroid, Toshiba, Westinghouse "and more." Picture-in-picture, new APIs for recording live TV and support for 4K / HDR video will all be a part of the Android N upgrade on Android TV, although there's no mention yet of a new Nexus Player with support for things like Ultra HD, or USB 3.0 hookups for external storage.
B&O Play speakers add Google Cast for wireless audio
Google Cast for audio is a standard feature on most new wireless speakers these days, and Bang & Olufsen is making sure its B&O Play customers can use that tool as well. The company announced an update for the BeoPlay A6 and the larger (and much pricier) second-gen A9 that will add Google's wireless connectivity. If you'll recall, the option works like a Chromecast for TV: it pulls content directly from the service you're using rather than using your phone or tablet's connection. Back at CES, Google revealed that Cast would arrive on more speakers this year, and B&O is helping it keep that promise.
Sony's Google Cast speakers are ready to put music in any room
Back at CES, Sony announced new multi-room audio gear with a soundbar and two speakers to put music all over your house. Now, a few months after their debut, those devices are available to actually buy. As a refresher, the HT-NT5 soundbar features six speakers that are angled upward to better project sound and Sony's so-called Super Tweeter tech to lend a hand with high-res audio. It's also Google Cast friendly, which means streaming music, podcasts, etc. from the likes of Play Music and Spotify is a few taps away.
Chromecast app expansion prompts a name change to Google Cast
Google's trying to redefine the TV and audio experience with its Casting technology, and it is getting the help it needs from manufacturers to do just that. One of them being Vizio, which today revealed a new set of 4K, HDR TVs that rely solely on Google Cast to get streaming content from third-party apps. As part of this, Google is now changing the name of the Chromecast app to Google Cast, in what's supposed to represent the broadness of the platform, according to the company.
Google is reportedly working with Vizio on Cast-ready TVs
Google has tried reworking Google TV into Android TV, but we're still not seeing the platform embedded in many more new TVs that were announced at launch. Now, according to a report from Variety, the company could try convincing manufacturers to build Chromecast-like receiving directly into TV sets. The first rumored partner is Vizio, which could be looking for a new edge in smart TVs with Yahoo shutting down its platform, and the possibility of an Android tablet remote. Vizio tried building its own Android tablet before, but packing one in with each new TV would be a step further.
Google is working on extension-free tab Casting in Chrome
Mirroring a basic Chrome tab on your Chromecast-connected TV could soon be a little easier from a laptop or PC. As company evangelist François Beaufort explains, the Chromium team is currently working on a feature that would effectively replace the Google Cast extension. So instead of diving into the Chrome Web Store, you would be able to right-click on the page and select 'Cast' instead. The functionality is already live in the beta version of Chrome -- you can check it out now by typing "chrome://flags/#media-router" into the address box and enabling the "Media Router" flag. (Just know that there might be some bugs.)
Google Cast is coming to more speakers this year
At last year's CES, Google announced that the Cast tech that allows you to beam video with a Chromecast would be available to audio as well. This meant that companies were free to put the feature in new devices alongside AirPlay and Bluetooth connectivity. While a few options arrived in 2015, Cast isn't yet a common feature on new speakers, soundbars and other audio gear. That stands to change in 2016, and today, a number of audio companies announced plans to take advantage this year.
Sony expands its multi-room audio line with two new speakers
Sony already has a stable of speakers to handle multi-room audio, and at CES 2016, the company is adding two more. With the SRS-ZR7 and SRS-ZR5, the company offers a pair of options that feature HDMI connections to improve the sound coming from your TV. Both the four-speaker SRS-ZR7 and the smaller SRS-ZR5 can be arranged in wireless stereo mode with either two of the same model or one of each. As was the case with the SRS-X77 we tested a while back, all of the multi-room setup and other controls are tweaked through Sony's SongPal app.
SoundCloud adds Google Cast to its Android app
You can add SoundCloud the list of services that employ Google's Cast tech to beam tunes to speakers and other devices. With the latest update, the music library not only lets you wirelessly send tracks to your audio gear, but it'll also play them via Chromecast, Android TV and other Cast-friendly gear. In terms of speakers, options are available from LG and Sony with streaming services and audio apps like Rdio, TuneIn, Deezer, Pandora and Google Play are ready to serve up that Yacht Rock playlist.
Sony's Cast-friendly speakers offer high-res and multi-room audio
Are you a fan of using Google's Cast tech, AirPlay or Spotify Connect to handle your wireless speaker duties? Well, Sony announced a trio of audio gadgets that play nice with all three. Continuing its affinity for alphanumeric product names, the company's SRS-X77, SRS-X88 and SRS-X99 speakers also feature a Sonos-like multi-room experience thanks to the Song Pal app. The pricier two of the lot, the SRS-X88 and SRS-X99, add in support for high-resolution audio via USB and a thumb drive or direct connection to your computer. If you prefer to go that route, you can expect compatibility with AAC, FLAC, WAV and other file formats that offer better sound quality over a regular ol' MP3. The SRS-X88 and SRS-X99 also pack in a S-Master HX digital amplifier and LDAC tech that's said to keep Bluetooth streams sounding top notch (from compatible devices, natch). The difference main between the two? Power. The SRS-X88 has five speakers at 90 watts and the SRS-X99 houses seven with 154 watts. I guess it really just depends on how loud you want to blast "Hells Bells."
Quantum Break motion-captures Iceman, Meriadoc
Xbox One exclusive Quantum Break features a hobbit and an ice-man in the form of Lord of the Rings and Lost's Dominic Monaghan and X-Men's Shawn Ashmore. As Digital Trends reports, developer Remedy confirmed the news after Monaghan inadvertently revealed he was filming for the project with Ashmore. It's unknown which role either actor plays, but given the nature of the game's intertwined connection with its TV show accompaniment, we may see the stars both in live-action and in-game form. Remedy's time-manipulative shooter launches on Xbox One next year, along with a TV companion series that comes with the game. As Creative Director Sam Lake told us back at Gamescom in his wonderful accent, how you play the game impacts the TV show, including alternate scenes based on the way you react to in-game events.
Dell's new stick lets you share your tablet's screen with bigger displays
If you happen to own one of Dell's Venue tablets, you now have an easy way to put its content on a bigger screen. Dell has just launched the Cast, a simple stick that lets you link your slate to any HDMI-equipped display. You can either mirror your screen directly (much like Chromecast) or use the larger panel as a makeshift desktop, including multiple web browser windows. Shades of Motorola's Webtop, anyone? The add-on is available now for $80, although you may need to be patient depending on your choice of platform. Only Android-based Venue tablets can use the Cast right away. You'll have to wait until later this year to pair it with Windows-based models like the Venue 8 Pro.