Chromecast
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Google finally opens Chromecast SDK, invites developers to get hackin'
The Chromecast is already a pretty easy sell: It's $35 and brings most of the biggest names in streaming media to your TV with minimal hassle. So, now that Google has opened the SDK to developers, it's pretty much a no-brainer. While there are no specific apps to announce at the moment, it's safe to assume the Play store will be flooded with updates soon enough. The SDK will allow coders to add a cast button to their app or site, be it on Android, iOS or in Chrome. The obvious use is for video apps, but there are plenty of other potential options here as well. If a developer decides to create a "custom receiver application" (rather than use the pre-built one provided by Google), they can put any standard web technologies on the big screen. So expect at least a few games and productivity apps to make the jump to Chromecast as well. Imagine firing up a presentation from Google Drive, displaying it on your 4K TV and controlling it with your phone. Or maybe Sony will build a version of Jeopardy where the board and clues are shown on the TV and your handset acts as the buzzer. Obviously, we're just speculating right now, but if we see those ideas come to fruition, we'll be expecting a nice royalty check. If you're more technically inclined, check out the video overview of the Chromecast SDK after the break.
Chromecast, Google Play, Nexus 5 and Google Wallet had a very good 2013
The numbers are out, confirming that, yet again Google's rolling in the dough. And on its Q4 investors call, Google informed us that, while ads still butter its bread, other sources of income are growing in importance -- non-advertising revenue essentially doubled in 2013, with $1.65 billion coming in the last three months, not counting Motorola, of course. That increase is due partly to a strong holiday season this year, powered by sales of Nexus devices (particularly the 5) and Chromecasts, and the Play Store continuing to move more apps and games. Nikesh Arora, Google's senior VP and chief business officer, said that consumers' general shift toward mobile platforms has helped drive the Play Store's economics upward, and that in turn is driving many more folks to opt into Google Wallet. When asked how many Wallet users and credit cards Google's got, Arora played coy. "It's a number that we're happy with," but if you "take a look at the number of Android users out there," you can get a sense of the scale of the opportunity. Needless to say, it seems that Arora is feeling bullish about the prospects of both Wallet and the Play Store in 2014. Oh, and before you go thinking that Nest will aid in the Nexus hardware lineup's upward trajectory, don't. Google CFO Patrick Pichette said that the goal of the acquisition is to help Nest scale up its market reach worldwide and that Mountain View will bring its vast resources to bear to make it happen. So, don't expect to see any Nest-ified slates or phones anytime soon.
Google Shopping Express starts selling gadgets, continues same-day delivery until December 24th
Hey, Bay Area residents: Mountain View's hoping you'll bring its online shop your business instead of braving the crowds for some last-minute holiday shopping. Google's Shopping Express will continue doing same-day deliveries until 5PM Pacific on December 24th, so long as you place an order before noon. Even better, the portal now sells gadgets straight from Google Play. The selection's pretty slim at the moment, but if you have a relative dying for a Nexus 7/10 or a Chromecast, then you've got it made. Sadly, the service has yet to expand to other locations, so everyone else will have to find an alternative, or, you know, grab a Red Bull on the way to the mall.
On The Gadget Table: the products that defined 2013
The snow is falling, the trees are all lit up and servers everywhere are beginning to groan under the strain of last-minute shopping sprees. It's beginning to look a lot like Gadget Table time. To celebrate the season -- and put one last ribbon on the year that was -- we're bringing back an old Engadget Show favorite. We've dusted off the table and filled it full of some of the best and most memorable gadgets of 2013. Tablets, smartphones, video game consoles, tablets, wearables and even the occasional dongle -- all are fair game. Join Brian and Dana after the break, as they take you through the year in gadgets.
As Google slowly preps the Chromecast ecosystem, waves of new apps are on the way
HBO Go, Songza and Pandora are about to get more company on Chromecast, according to a Gigaom interview with Google's VP of product management Mario Queiroz where he stated additional waves of apps are coming soon. A public release for the Chromecast SDK -- which should allow developers to build and release their own apps at will -- won't happen until next year, but this week the team gave over 40 developers access to a preview version just to get their feedback. To ensure its elegantly simple user experience remains intact across all applications, the company also recently released a 14-page design guide that details the basic expectations for the development community. An impending international release next year is also encouraging publishers to make compatible apps -- moves that should benefit everyone, regardless of where they call home. Quieroz's "broader" goal is to establish Cast tech as a standard embedded into other hardware, but until that happens there's still time to gift-wrap a few of Google's HDMI dongles and look like a hero all year as their capabilities continue to expand.
Google optimizes web versions of Play Movies and Music for Chromecast
The Chromecast is the tiny dongle that just keeps on giving. A mere couple of days after announcing support for a number of new applications, Google has let it be known that its $35 streamer is now compatible with Play Movies and Music on the desktop in a more native way. What this means is you will no longer have to rely on casting a Chrome tab to watch videos or listen to tunes ; instead, a Cast icon shows up within the Google Play web player and allows content to seamlessly be pushed to the device. Of course, there's still a requirement to have the Google Cast extension installed on your Chrome browser -- but this is a small price to pay in exchange for such useful functionality.
Daily Roundup: Samsung's EMC lab, interview with Qualcomm's Raj Talluri, new Chromecast apps 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.
Aereo could be next on Google's Chromecast support list
Every time Chromecast adds another officially supported app, traditional TV viewing dies yet another death. And so it goes that Google's low-cost dongle's about to beef up beyond its already stellar, and increasingly robust, line-up of streaming services with Aereo -- at some point. According to CNET, Aereo head Chet Kanojia, speaking at an investor conference, stated that eventual Chromecast compatibility for the local broadcast slinging app is not only on the way, it's actually part and parcel of the company's broader support goal for Android. In fact, Aereo's currently testing the updated app now, but Kanojia didn't specify exactly when users would see it roll out. When it does eventually release, it'll be one more reason for cord-cutters to kiss cable and those draconian monthly fees a fond farewell. We're looking at you, Time Warner Cable.
Google Chromecast adds 10 new apps to its streaming arsenal
For users of Google's $35 Chromecast dongle, the inclusion of HBO Go was pretty much the final piece of the holy streaming trifecta (the others being Netflix and Hulu Plus). Now, however, Google's opting for quantity over quality and adding 10 new apps to its Chromecast-friendly suite. So what's in that grab bag of apps? Well, beyond just supporting its own Chrome browser, Google's now made media casting easier by supporting Plex, RealPlayer Cloud and Avia. But there's also a host of music and video content hubs, like Revision3, VEVO, Red Bull.TV, Viki, Songza, PostTV and BeyondPod, that can now cast straight to your HDTV. Don't fret if you're not seeing the apps update just yet -- Google's said the roll out should take place over the "next few days."
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Home Theater
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. For many of us, "home entertainment" systems can be tucked in backpacks or propped up on an airline tray table. For diehard media fanatics, however, such lightweight solutions won't do. If you or someone you love knows their LCD from their plasma -- and you have the money to spend -- the TVs below are sure to please. The days of 4K may still be early, but, hey, nothing makes watching Planet Earth more social than a giant, brilliant set. Even if your wallet isn't fat, you can upgrade a living room with our favorite set-top boxes and TVs.
Android 4.4.1 shows signs that mirroring to Chromecast is coming soon
So far, the ability to wirelessly stream the display of an Android phone or tablet to your TV has been limited to solutions like Miracast, but information spotted by Cyanogen Inc. cofounder Koushik Dutta suggests that will change soon. Dutta, who has been working on a similar feature (embedded after the break) for CyanogenMod 11 with AirPlay support, posted notes from the Android 4.4.1 patches showing APIs related to the capture of video output from the device. Currently mirroring from a Chrome browser tab on a PC to Google's HDMI dongle works, but so far on mobile devices it's been locked down to just supported apps. Unfortunately, what he's seeing also indicates this API will keep things locked down to approved devices, so setting up receivers for other hardware like an Apple TV or Roku might not work. Between this feature, the Cast SDK that we hope will open up access to more developers and services, Chromecast support for the platform formerly known as Google TV and rumors of a Nexus TV set-top box, our list of most-anticipated TV announcements from Google is starting to get full.
Google improves its Santa tracking with a Chromecast-ready Android app (video)
Microsoft may have NORAD's blessing for its Santa Claus monitoring, but Google has a few tricks of its own this year. The search giant's latest Santa Tracker centers on an updated Android app (launching mid-December) with Chromecast TV streaming support -- you'll soon get to follow St. Nick from the comfort of your living room. If you'd prefer to keep tabs on him from the web, the company is promising both daily game and scene updates as well as a refreshed Chrome extension. Head to the source links if you'd like to explore Google's take on the Christmas spirit.
Google Play Store now highlights Chromecast-friendly Android apps
Google has lately taken to highlighting tablet-native Android apps; it only makes sense that the company would devote the same kind of love to Chromecast owners. Accordingly, the search firm has recently posted a Chromecast section in Google Play for those browsing from their Android devices. The selection is thin at the moment -- you'll find only Google's media apps, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Netflix and Pandora. Still, the section should be a handy one-stop shop for anyone eager to stream video on their TV -- and might have a few more entries soon.
Chromecast stand-in CheapCast now beams browser tabs to your display
CheapCast is a great way to get some of Chromecast's functionality for free, sure, but it's been lacking a few of the Google dongle's features since the app launched. If you've been hankering to beam browser tabs to your TV (via an HDMI-or-WiFi-connected mobile device, of course), CheapCast's latest update enables just that. Android Police notes that this seemingly only works with tabs and not fullscreen casting, while DRM'd services like Netflix and Google Play Movies "actually might never work." However, this should make it easier to play Vimeo or other Flash-based video content on your flatscreen -- right where it belongs.
Google invites devs over for a Chromecast hackathon plus SDK show-and-tell, updates official app
Google has slowly trickled out more authorized commercial apps that can stream to its Chromecast dongle since launch (Hulu, Pandora, and most recently HBO Go) but what about homebrew? So far developers have been able to work with a preview Cast SDK (creating a few impressive demonstrations) but restrictions have prevented these apps from being released for widespread use. That will probably change next month, as Google has invited several developers including CyanogenMod / AirCast dev Koushik Dutta and Thomas Kjeldsen to a hackathon on December 7th and 8th in Mountain View. An opportunity to test drive the "upcoming release" of the Cast SDK is promised, plus an opportunity to talk with Google engineers about what it can do. While we wait to find out what devs will be officially allowed to create for the $35 dongle, the official Android Chromecast control app got an update tonight. The new version brings a lightly refreshed design with the side-tray style seen in many Google apps lately, and adjusted the display of time zone settings and the Chromecast MAC address to ease troubleshooting.
HBO Go comes to Chromecast on both Android and iOS
See, when the Chromecast first launched, it was intriguing primarily because of its exceptionally low price point. People who ran out and bought one (which included more than a few Engadget editors) were investing in promised future functionality, not its current feature set. Well, it's safe to say that money was not wasted. With today's announcement that HBO Go will now support Chromecast, Google has brought most of the major non-sports streaming properties to its tiny dongle, including Netflix and Hulu. It's particularly impressive given how notoriously slow HBO has been to bring its streaming service to "new" platforms. Now Google-loving nerds across the US will be able to get their "Game of Thrones" fix on demand on their TV simply by tapping an icon on their Android or iOS tablet. Of course, that is if you're an HBO subscriber. The update is already hitting both the iTunes App Store and Google Play, so go download it now.
Hands-on with Tablo, a DVR that streams over-the-air TV nearly anywhere
Many streaming-savvy DVRs either lean heavily on cloud services or are linked to traditional TV -- neither of which is ideal for cord cutters trying to lower their long-term costs. Nuvyyo is promising what could be a more affordable option with its upcoming Tablo DVR. The upcoming, partly crowdfunded set-top box streams both live and locally recorded over-the-air broadcasts to seemingly any internet-capable platform, including Android, iOS, Roku players and web browsers. In theory, it's as cheap and convenient as internet-only video while delivering the wider content selection of traditional TV. We've had hands-on time with a Tablo prototype that suggests the company has at least latched on to a good (if imperfect) idea -- read on to see what we mean.
Pandora for Android adds Chromecast streaming (update: iPhone too)
When Google's Chromecast streaming device launched, the company mentioned it would stream stream music from Pandora eventually and now that day has arrived. At least on Android, a new version 5 of the app is available in the Play Store that's flashing a UI ready for tablets, plus that familiar broadcast icon. Not everyone that has downloaded the app has been able to use the feature yet and it's not mentioned in a blog announce post or the changelog, but we got it streaming after using our Chromecast app to remotely force a reboot on the dongle. Everything worked smoothly for us, and the new tablet-optimized UI looks good on the Nexus 7 (2013). We're sure Google has some surprises on the way soon, and hopefully it's not done expanding the features (and availability) of this popular $35 accessory. Update: A Google+ post by the Chrome team reveals Chromecast streaming works from iPhones as well, with iPad support promised "soon."
Hulu Plus for iOS updated with Chromecast streaming for iPhone
At the beginning of the month, Google announced that Hulu Plus for iOS had been updated to support Chromecast streaming from the iPad. At the time, the update was met with some jeers as many use Hulu Plus on their iPhone. However, those users have to fret no more as the Hulu Plus app has been updated today to feature Chromecast streaming from the iPhone as well: What's New in Version 3.3.1 Start casting your favorite TV shows and Movies on Chromecast from Hulu Plus, now from your iPhone (iOS6 and above) Users of a Chromecast now simply only have to press the Cast button, which will now appear in the iPhone app right next to the AirPlay button to send their Hulu video to their TV via Chromecast. Hulu Plus is a free download. Google's Chromecast costs US$35.
Hulu Plus app for iPhone now supports Chromecast streaming
Chromecast owners got Hulu Plus app streaming on their Android devices and iPads at the start of the month. Today, it's the iPhone's turn: a newly updated Hulu Plus app lets those with smaller-screened iOS devices control TV shows playing through Google's media adapter. There aren't any new features beyond Chromecast support, but it's enough to excuse a trip to the App Store for an upgrade.
