Chromecast
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Google will fix Home and Chromecast bug that reveals your location
Don't look now, but your Google Home speaker or Chromecast could give away your whereabouts... for a little while, that is. Google has promised a fix for an authentication vulnerability that lets attackers obtain your location using the company's devices as a conduit. While the necessary Home app on your phone normally performs most tasks through Google's cloud services, others (such as setting a device name and WiFi connection) are sent directly to the Home or Chromecast without authentication. If you use domain name system rebinding software, you can exploit this to obtain nearby wireless networks and use Google's location lookup services to obtain a position to an accuracy of a few feet.
Chromecast users can now skip show intros on Netflix
If you're a fan of binge-watching shows on Netflix, you're probably aware of the feature that allows people streaming on certain devices to skip the introduction to TV shows. Now, users on Chromecast can take advantage of that feature as well.
Sling TV expands Cloud DVR to Chromecast, Xbox One and smart TVs
Sling is expanding its Cloud DVR service to more devices. Now, you can use the DVR with the Chrome browser, Chromecast, Xbox One, LG Smart TVs and 2016 and 2017 models of Samsung Smart TVs. The company has been rolling out the service to more devices since last year. With the $5 per month service, you can record up to 50 hours of TV shows and movies, record multiple programs at once and protect certain recordings from being deleted. There are some limitations to the service. You can't, for example, record live content on Disney and ESPN channels -- you can see the list of channels that can't be recorded here.
Panasonic SC-GA10 review: A smart speaker that fails to stand out
Alexa and Google Assistant have been taking over homes for a few years now, so it's probably easier to name the companies that haven't made a smart speaker. The options are seemingly endless. Audio gear that harnesses a virtual assistant comes in all shapes and sizes, with some making big claims about the quality of sound they get out of such small devices. Panasonic is doing just that with its $250 SC-GA10; however, the company's promise of "premium hi-fi sound" failed to make a lasting impression.
Chrome feature makes it easier to cast videos from your desktop
To cast a video from your computer to a TV, you only need to open a file on Chrome, click the Cast icon and choose your device. Or, you can install a third-party app or extension like Videostream, which can play almost any video format. Not that hard, right? Google's Chrome team is making it much easier to beam videos from your PC, though. Chromium Evangelist François Beaufort has revealed that the team has rolled out a new feature to the beta channel that adds a "Cast file" option below "Cast tab" and "Cast desktop."
VLC update adds Chromecast and HDR support
If you're any kind of media nerd you know about VLC, the software video player that can handle just about any format or codec you throw at it. It's also on a ton of platforms, like macOS, Windows, Linux and even Xbox One. Now the ubiquitous app has a brand new version that supports hardware decoding for 4K and 8K playback, more 360-degree video and 3D audio, HDR and HDR tone-mapping, streaming to Chromecast and more.
Sony LF-S50G smart speaker review: A solid Google Home alternative
The options for Alexa- and Google Assistant–powered speakers have exploded, as evidenced by companies adding voice control to any and every device at the last two CESes. As is typically the case when pretty much everyone hops on a bandwagon, there's some good and a lot of bad. The concept of voice control is still new to a lot of people, so when they do splurge for that first device, it had better work right. Sony's LF-S50G harnesses the smarts of Google Assistant to do just that, but it's far from perfect.
Google releases fix for Chromecast WiFi bug
Google has started rolling out a patch that will prevent Cast-enabled devices from killing your WiFi connection. Multiple complaints reported over the past few weeks revealed that Android devices' Cast feature suffers from a WiFi bug. Apparently, they sometimes beam too much data at a very high speed in a very short amount of time, slowing down and even disrupting WiFi connections when you try to Cast to Chromecast, Google Home and Android TVs. Routers from various manufacturers are susceptible to the issue, including those from TP-Link, ASUS, Linksys, Netgear and Synology.
Google says fix for WiFi bug on Cast devices is coming tomorrow
After weeks of reports from users losing WiFi connections due to Google devices with the "Cast" feature, the company has responded. According to an entry on Google's support page, the company has identified the issue and will release a fix to roll out as a Google Play service update tomorrow January 18th.
Google Chromecast devices are messing with WiFi connections
If you've been having some issues with your WiFi connection, the culprit could be your Chromecast devices. There have now been multiple reports of users losing WiFi connections when Google devices with the "Cast" feature, like Chromecast and Google Home devices, are added to a user's network. Initially, reports suggested that TP-Link Archer C7 routers were the only ones affected by the issue, but subsequent reports have noted that ASUS, Linksys, Netgear and Synology routers may also be impacted.
Fire TV users lose access to the YouTube app earlier than expected
Amidst the ongoing disagreements between Google and Amazon, the version of YouTube currently accessible on Amazon Fire TVs was scheduled to be disabled starting January 1st. But TechCrunch reports that at least for some users, that appears to have happened a little earlier than expected. Quite a few Fire TV owners are reporting on Twitter and Reddit that launching the YouTube app now redirects you to a web browser.
Amazon will start selling Apple TV and Chromecast again
Amazon pulled Apple TV and Chromecast from its retail lineup back in 2015, ostensibly because neither device offered easy access to Prime Video. Now that Amazon Prime Video is finally an app on Apple TV, it appears as if Amazon is bringing Apple TV and Chromecast devices back to its web site again (after a false start a couple of months ago).
Google's high-quality Home Max speaker goes on sale for $399
Google launched its high-quality Home Max speaker with Google Assistant in October, and the last we heard (via a Best Buy leak), it was set to arrive on December 11th. That date was spot on, it turns out, as the Home Max has indeed gone on sale at both Best Buy and Verizon. It's also live on Google's own online store.
The best Chromecast speaker
By Brent Butterworth This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After a blind listening test and more than 40 hours of casual use with a variety of speakers, we think the JBL Playlist is the best Chromecast speaker for most people. It sounds good and looks great, and is priced low enough that you can buy several for the price of one high-end Chromecast or competing Wi-Fi speaker.
Master & Dynamic’s concrete speaker is equal parts sound and spectacle
If you're a fan of well-designed headphones that have a unique aesthetic, Master & Dynamic should be at the top of your list. The company has been pairing colored leather and metal accents for years now, creating some of the best looking audio accessories available. Earlier this year, the company ventured into another product category: wireless speakers. In true M&D fashion, it didn't cut corners on design, materials or sound and even opted to make its first model out of concrete. Sure, it's been done before, but concrete speakers are still a novelty. It looks great and, as I discovered after spending several weeks with one, the MA770 is more than capable when it comes to audio quality. But, it's not for everyone.
Google Home app features improved interface and search
Google Home is becoming all sorts of useful. You can already use the family of smart speakers along with Chromecast to control your Spotify and Netflix accounts, watch CBS All Access and CW television shows, and manage YouTube's live TV service. Now, Google is updating the Google Home app with a new, more useful layout, recommended streaming content, a better search system, redesigned controller interfaces and even movie trailers.
Google Home can cast HBO Now to your TV of choice
The Google Home platform keeps getting more capable with each passing week. Now the smart speaker can cast HBO Now to the TV of your choice. According to the Google blog post, you don't need to open the app and pick something to watch first, either. Simply say something like "Okay Google, watch The Deuce" and Assistant will start playing the '70s New York period piece on the TV of your choosing.
Control YouTube's live TV service with Google Home
You can already use a Google Home speaker to control regular YouTube videos if you have a Chromecast device, but what about YouTube TV? You're set from now on. Google has enabled voice control over its cord-cutting television service from Home speakers, making it possible to change channels without touching your remote. You can ask Google Assistant to play a specific channel or show, and it's smart enough to recognize fuzzier requests. Tell it to "play the MLB game" and it'll switch to baseball without needing a specific channel or team, for instance.
Google Assistant can finally control Chromecast from your phone
Google's Assistant app is capable of lots of things, but before today, controlling a cast session by voice wasn't really possible. Android Police reports that now the mobile app can do so, and you can even specify which Chromecast in your house is the target. Adjusting the volume, skipping or repeating tracks and tasking Assistant to play Urfaust's latest on your Chromecast Audio while you beam a Minecraft video to the kids' room all can be done with a simple voice command now -- and all without a Google Home. On our iPhone with the Assistant app it worked as you'd expect, but Android Police says its devices weren't working just yet; the publication received tips from readers about the functionality prior. Are you having any luck? Let us know in the comments.
The CW's free Seed app is now streaming on Amazon Fire TV devices
The CW has just launched its CW Seed app for Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Edition television. The app doesn't require a subscription, there are no added fees and you don't need a cable service provider in order to access its shows. However, you will have to sit through ads and the app doesn't have any currently running series.
