Chromecast
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Big UK retailer lists Chromecast ahead of an official launch
Google's Sundar Pichai said that Chromecast would be available in many more countries this month, and it now appears that this worldwide launch could be close at hand. Engadget reader Martin has noticed that big UK retail chain Currys is already listing the TV media stick, with nary an official announcement in sight. The company says it's out of stock, but there's a plausible £30 ($50) price tag in place. While the entry doesn't give any clues as to when the Chromecast would reach the country, Google has less than two weeks to make good on its word -- we'd reckon that the device arrives sooner rather than later. [Thanks, Martin]
Chromecast Android app prepped for upcoming international rollout (update: iOS too)
Google's Chromecast has been very well received so far -- and thanks to the SDK, becoming more useful with better support from music, video and photo apps -- but without international availability, it's tricky to get a hold of if you don't live in the US. Previous indications pointed to a UK launch this month, and things are lining up to make that happen. First, Google's Sundar Pichai mentioned the HDMI dongle would come to "many more countries" in coming weeks during his SXSW Interactive appearance. Next, the Chromecast control app on Android received an update making it available in 50 new languages. Android Police dug into the updated file itself, finding references for "TV offers" and possible 5GHz WiFi support. Finally, Liliputing points out a tweet by an employee of UK retailer Curry's, with a pic claiming to show a stack of Chromecasts that have just arrived, albeit without an exact release date or associated retail info. Update (3/15): The Chromecast setup app for iOS has added "over 20" new languages of its own, and similar settings tweaks.
Plex adds free Chromecast support for all, media shuffling and camera uploads to iOS
If paying for beta access to new features isn't your bag, the folks at Plex have some good news for you. The media outfit's announced that not only is beaming your content to Google's HDMI dongle free now (if you've purchased the app), but iOS fans can join the music and photo party too. But wait, there's more: the update also lets web users and iDevice owners shuffle, reorder, remove and add content to a media queue with some pretty neat filtering options. There isn't an ETA for availability on other platforms, however. Plex Pass subscribers have a new toy too: iOS camera uploads. The feature is pretty self-explanatory (photos are background-uploaded from your device to the Plex servers), but, if you don't have an Apple TV, it's likely one of the easier ways to put your pictures on the living room flat-screen. Can you hear that? It's the sound of the Chromecast-app floodgates creaking open -- on Apple's mobile OS, even.
You can now mirror your Android screen on Chromecast, if you have a Nexus 5
Cyanogen's Koushik Dutta has been teasing the prospect of mirroring your Android screen on Chromecast for a few weeks, and today you can finally try the feature -- if you have the right smartphone, that is. An updated version of the Mirror for Android beta includes early support for mirroring to either a Chrome browser or Chromecast, but only if you have a Nexus 5. Google's phone is the sole device with the hardware video decoder needed for this mirroring technique, Dutta says. You also have to get root-level access to the operating system with the current release, although that won't be necessary in the future. Provided you meet the app's exacting requirements, you can give mirroring a spin at the source link.
Roku takes on Apple TV, Chromecast with new Streaming Stick, and other news for March 5, 2014
Roku has released a new Streaming Stick that aims to take on Google's Chromecast and, to a lesser extent, the Apple TV. The new iOS-compatible Roku Streaming Stick features a design that's similar to Google's Chromecast and, like the Chromecast and Apple TV, allows the user to stream content from an iOS or Android device right to their television. The Roku goes a bit further in the content department, however, as it offers over 1000 channels of entertainment including movies, TV shows, news, sports, and more. While the Streaming Stick looks relatively sleek with its HDMI plug-and-play connection, the design is a bit deceptive. It also requires the user to plug the Streaming Stick into their TV's USB port as well, making connectivity to the TV a bit cumbersome. However, the Streaming Stick does offer an advantage over Chromecast by coming with a physical remote control. As for how it stacks up against the Apple TV, the Streaming Stick is US$50 cheaper, but it does not, as of this time, offer Apple TV's additional benefits, like being able to AirPlay your Mac desktop to your TV. In other news: ABC says RadioShack is closing over 1000 stores due to slowing sales. Facebook has updated Paper to allow sharing of article via Facebook Messenger. Logitech has unveiled the Harmony Smart Keyboard for Macs and connected smart TVs.
Vudu will soon let you send movies to your Chromecast
There isn't exactly an abundance of major movie services that will send video to a Chromecast; for the most part, Google Play Movies and Netflix still rule the roost. It's a good thing, then, that Vudu has announced plans to support the TV media adapter through both updated mobile apps and Chrome on the desktop. The provider won't say just when Chromecast support is coming other than "soon," but early adopters can register for a beta test. Either way, it's clear that Vudu still wants its video platform on every living room device you own. [Thanks, Mark]
Chrome beta for Android lets you send web videos to your Chromecast
Want to stream any web video from your smartphone to your Chromecast? Grab the beta release of Chrome 34 for Android. The browser includes experimental support for sending embedded clips to Google's media stick, saving you from launching a native app just to watch something on a TV. As you'd expect, there are some compatibility hiccups at this early stage. YouTube works well (surprise!), but other sites are hit and miss -- you're best off sticking to videos from major, HTML5-friendly hosts like Vimeo. If you're willing to live with some inconsistencies, though, you can try the streaming feature today. [Image credit: WhyYouPaul, Reddit]
Plex's new Chromecast features let you watch more content, better than ever before
Plex launched support for Chromecast a few months ago, and now its offering is getting even better. Starting today, Android users (sorry, iPhones!) can not only cast any music, videos or photos from their Plex library onto their TVs using Chromecast, they can also play content in file formats previously unsupported by the dongle. With the feature, Plex transcodes the content into a new format, allowing it to be played just as if it was natively supported. The app also now supports content mirroring. A first for the Chromecast, with mirroring you can cast a movie synopsis to the big screen while you're browsing your library to help the group make a movie night decision. If you pick a high-bitrate 1080p flick from your library, Plex tweaked how content is cast to eliminate "expensive transcoding" and make the process more reliable and efficient than ever before. The updated version of the Plex app is available now for Android, and an iPhone version is on the way. If you're thinking of giving the app a try, be forewarned: for now use of the Chromecast feature currently requires you pony up for a PlexPass subscription -- which start at $3.99 a month. The company says the feature will be free for everyone after its (undefined) preview period ends.
Google opens official Chromecast support forum
Trying to figure out how to get your Chromecast TV widget to play nice with your Android thingymabob, or how to hook it into your own app? The usual AV or developer forums might help, but there's nothing like a dedicated support channel, right? Well if you saunter over to Google's product forums (or click on the source link below) then you'll find Chromecast now has a little corner to call its own. Our first question? Any chance of confirming its long overdue arrival in the UK?
AllCast creator demos Android screen mirroring through Chromecast
AllCast developer Koushik Dutta has hinted that he could do more with Chromecast than just queue up media, and he now has a demo video to prove it. The clip (below) shows Dutta using Google's peripheral to mirror an Android phone's screen on a TV, much like you might with Miracast (or an Apple TV, for that matter). There's some noticeable lag, but the frame rate is smooth enough to reproduce a couple of rounds of Flappy Bird. Dutta hasn't said just when he expects to release the new code. However, he hopes to build the feature into AllCast; you'll likely get Chromecast screen mirroring on Android at some point, even if Google never officially supports more than Chrome tab casting.
Windows Phone, Chromecast and YouTube get together thanks to Tube Cast
The past few weeks have seen a ton of activity on the Chromecast front, and now some of that excitement is extending to Windows Phone. With the Tube Cast app, you can link your Redmond handset to Google's HDMI dongle and search, select and play YouTube clips to your flat-screen. As WMPoweruser notes, it's pretty simple (much like Chromecast features on Android and iOS) but it can't pause or stop playback. While the general idea is great, hopefully the next set of apps gives just a touch more functionality. After all, not being able to pause a goat screaming like a man can be awkward if the wrong person walks in the room.
Daily Roundup: House of Cards season 2, hands-on with Fujifilm's X-T1 and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Google deems Android ready for more Chromecast apps, lets the floodgates open
With Google's latest update to Play Services, it shouldn't be long before the Chromecast section of its app store gets a little more lively. Now that the Android SDK has support for the HDMI dongle baked in, developers can add the functionality to virtually any app they want, at-will. Google opened access to the streaming stick's inner workings earlier this month, but, as Phandroid tells it, the search giant asked devs to hold onto their releases until the public's phones and tablets had the framework, too. Now that it's out, swaths of cast-capable apps could start hitting the Play store relatively quickly. It may have taken longer than some expected, but Google's plan to embed the casting tech across an array of devices has finally come to fruition -- and the users stand to reap the rewards.
Chromecast's Fireplace Visualizer hopes to set hearts aflame on Valentine's Day
Hey, loverboy/gal, Don Juan called to let you know that listening to Sinatra during a steak dinner isn't enough to set the mood for Valentine's Day. You need a roaring fire to induce some serious cuddling time, and that's where Chromecast's seasonal fireplace mode (that's just been redesigned for V-day) comes in. Thanks to the media player, you don't need to chop firewood to woo the person of your dreams: simply enable Fireplace Visualizer on the Google Play Music page and watch the faux flames flicker on your TV while music plays in the background. Sure, you can't roast marshmallows in it, but it still might heat up your lovelife -- assuming your date doesn't find fake fireplaces as tacky as gas station greeting cards, that is. PS: It's not just the Chromecast team that's going all out for V-day at Google's HQ. Google+ is also celebrating the event by taking user images with people kissing in them and turning them into (shudder-inducing) GIFs replete with animated hearts.
You can now play most embedded YouTube videos on your Chromecast
You no longer have to jump through hoops to stream embedded YouTube videos through your Chromecast. Google has quietly rolled out support for sending most web clips to its media stick, regardless of the site they're on; you just need to choose the device as your playback target. About the only clips that won't work on the Chromecast are live streams, private footage and desktop-only videos. If you're looking for an excuse to test the new feature, you can check out a highly relevant sample video below.
Weekly Roundup: Satya Nadella named Microsoft CEO, Sony sells its PC business, and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Google's Chromecast expected to come to the UK in March
A representative from UK electronics retailer Currys has just revealed to TNW that it'll start selling Google's Chromecast dongle beginning March 1st, though it cautioned that the date is only provisional for now. Currently for sale in the US only, the tiny media streamer supports a handful of apps like Netflix and Hulu, on top of tab streaming from Chrome. However, Google just opened the SDK to all developers, which prompted streaming outfits like Rdio and Beats to announce new apps that'll arrive soon. That said, there's no word yet on which services you'll see in the UK at launch or how much Chromecast will set you back. That's assuming you don't already have one, of course -- it's been available awhile on the gray market and even through legit channels in Europe. Update: TNW has now said that Google did not confirm the arrival of Chromecast in the UK; instead, it was Currys who stated that the March 1st arrival date was provisional. The post has been updated to reflect that.
Rdio support for Google Chromecast is in the works
Now that Google has finally opened up the Chromecast SDK to developers, we can expect a whole lot of different applications to start being friendly with the $35 dongle. With this in mind, Rdio, via the RdioHelp Twitter account, let it be known that its dev team is already working to offer native support for Google's Chromecast. As it stands, Rdio subscribers do have the ability to stream music by casting a Chrome tab on the web, though this would indicate that a solution compatible with the service's mobile apps is on the way. The tweet doesn't mention any details about when Rdio for Chromecast could be available -- but, hey, at least we know it's coming.
AllCast Android media streamer and Chromecast are friends again now that the SDK is here (updated)
Google's Chromecast has teased seemingly limitless potential since its release last year, but until the Cast SDK came out yesterday most developers couldn't take advantage of it. That includes Koushik Dutta, creator of the AllCast app that we've already seen featuring screen mirroring or streaming music, video and pictures from Android devices to the dongle, but that's all changed. He reports that adding Chromecast support to his existing app (previously limited to streaming with Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, Playstation and other DLNA/AirPlay ready devices) took about 20 minutes in a "trivial" procedure requiring almost no extra code. A video demo of the feature is embedded after the break, and while it loads a little slower than other devices, pushing media from phone to TV is now just a button press away. That bodes well for other apps we'd like to see supporting Chromecast, and hopefully means that tiny button will pop up everywhere soon. As for AllCast, an update with Chromecast support is coming "soon," interested users can grab a free version that works for one minute to try it out, or upgrade to the unlimited premium edition for $4.99. Update: A new version of AllCast, complete with Chromecast support, is now available to download on Google Play.
Daily Roundup: Google's Chromecast SDK, Facebook Paper hands-on and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
