Chromecast
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Chromecast config file hints at HBO Go app testing, prodding reveals DIAL details
Google's Chromecast dongle has already blown through its supply of Netflix discount codes and now that they're in the wild all sorts of people are taking a look at how the devices work. For example, CJ Heres of GTV Hacker points out a configuration file that appears to list testing apps for Chromecast. While most of the services named in the file are those already announced (Netflix, Revision3, Google Play Music, Pandora etc.) and other devs working on support for AOL On and Songza, there's also an entry for HBO Go. Google told Wired yesterday streaming from the website should work out of the box, however other sites they mentioned will work, like Hulu and Rdio, are not listed in the file, so we may see official app support sooner rather than later. DIYers may have other reasons to be interested however, as Leon Nicholls posted on Google+ about his findings on how the device works as a DIAL server. His tests suggested there is potential for controlling it from outside of Chrome based on how it responds to some commands. Hit the source links for more info, and let us know if you've found any other services that already work.
Are you an iOS developer eyeing the Chromecast? You better ask permission first
Yesterday's announcement of Google's new Chromecast accessory could mean big things for iOS developers who want to throw their content on to the big screen without worrying about wires, but tucked away in Google's developer portal is a rather interesting note regarding the Google Cast API required to make an app compatible with the new device: You may not publicly distribute or ship your Google Cast application without written permission from Google, per the terms of service described below. This opaque requirement for Chromecast-enabled apps stands in stark contrast to Google's much more lax approach to open app development, and it's not particularly clear what type of content Google is hoping to filter out. If you happen to be working on making your own iOS app play nice with Chromecast, you'll want to get in touch with Google at chromecast-updates@google.com. Note: Google has since updated the Google Cast Downloads page to include notes regarding the Google Cask SDK, stating that the current version available for download is strictly for developmental purposes only. This may or may not explain the requirement that developers clear all apps with Google before moving forward. We've reached out to Google for clarification and will update if/when we hear back.
Google drops free Netflix Chromecast promotion a day after launch
Three free months of Netflix with the purchase of Google's $35 Chromecast dongle sure sounded too good to be true. Turns out it was -- or at least too good to last longer than a day. Google's pulling the plug on the promotion, telling The Los Angeles Times that it couldn't keep things going, "due to overwhelming demand." So good on those folks who got in early, and while the streaming plug-in still has a pretty sweet price point, it's not quite the $11 post-subscription deal it was yesterday.
Google TV getting Chromecast support in a future update
In the wake of the Chromecast announcement yesterday, some Google TV owners began to worry that Mountain View was taking a different approach to its smart TV business. But those fears were evidently unfounded, as the company's own Warren Rehman confirmed on his Google+ page that not only is Google TV alive and well, but it'll soon support Google's new HDMI streaming dongle. While we don't have an exact date on when Google TV will get the upgrade that introduces Chromecast functionality, we'll keep you posted as we learn more.
Google Chromecast H2G2-42 FCC documents show off what's inside the $35 dongle
Even though Google only announced its new Chromecast HDMI dongle earlier today, we got our first peek at it in May. That's when the mysterious H2G2-42 leaked in FCC documents, with few details other than the name referencing Douglas Adams' book. As Anandtech's Brian Klug points out, the documents have been updated, and now include a few pictures of the Chromecast with its external casing removed. Inside there's a Marvell DE3005 chip, plus Azurewave hardware to handle its (2Ghz only) WiFi duties. Hit the link below to take a look, although at the $35 sticker price you can probably afford to do an iSuppli-style teardown of your own.
The Daily Roundup for 07.24.2013
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.
Hands-on with Chromecast, Google's wireless HDMI streaming dongle (update: video)
We should've known this was coming after Google and Netflix informed us back at CES they were working on their AirPlay competitor, the DIAL wireless streaming protocol. Today, with the revelation of the new Chromecast HDMI dongle to leverage DIAL and expand upon it, you'll be able to stream more content more easily to your home's biggest screen -- all for just 35 bucks. We got to check out the Chromecast at today's Google event, so join us, won't you, for our full impressions.%Gallery-194579%
Google letting developers in on the Chromecast action with Google Cast SDK
Now that Google has let its $35 Chromecast HDMI dongle out of the bag at its breakfast press event, it's gonna need developers to chip in some apps for it. To help boost that effort, the company is releasing the Google Cast SDK to help those folks bring content from mobile and the web to TVs. By using the kit, developers won't need to build new applications for the big screen from scratch; they'll just need to make a few tweaks to their existing mobile apps. Mountain View expects Google Cast tech to be embedded in future hardware from its partners, with Chromecast being "the first instantiation" of such an ecosystem. You can now grab a preview (at the source) for iOS, Android and Chrome -- which is good news, since the wee dongle already appears to be sold out on Play.
Google introduces Chromecast, a $35 HDMI streaming solution for televisions (video)
Google's Chromecast is Mountain View's next foray into the television market. In brief, it's a $35 HDMI dongle that mirrors content being played nearby on a tablet, smartphone or computer. (Hrm, that sounds familiar.) Importantly though, the mirrored content isn't beamed from your local device, but is streamed from the cloud direct to the dongle when you activate mirroring on a Chromecast-compatible service like YouTube or Netflix. At that point, your PC or mobile is freed up for multi-tasking, and for working as a WiFi-based remote control for the content on the bigger display. Check out our hands-on to see the Chromecast in action, or read on for more detail.%Gallery-194566%
Google lists Chromecast as a device in support docs, quickly removes it (updated)
We're on the eve of a Google event with Sundar Pichai, and while we have some idea of what we'll see, the folks in Mountain View might've just shown us some of their other cards. Droid Life spotted "Chromecast" listed as a device on Google Play's support docs, but the entry has since been removed. The outlet speculates -- with the help of an anonymous tipster, of course -- that Chromecast is related to a TV dongle dubbed Chromekey, which streams content from mobile devices to television sets. What's more, a Droid Life reader chatted with a Google Play support representative who mentioned that "Chromecast is a TV service that's provided in some areas." The whole picture is fairly murky at this point, but we're hoping things will become clearer tomorrow. Update: Version 5.1 of Google Play Music just started to trickle out, and an APK teardown has revealed even more mentions of Chromecast. By the sounds of an error message buried within the app's code, Chromecast devices will stream songs over the internet rather than from local hardware.
