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Marshall's updated speaker line packs Chromecast and multiroom audio
Marshall has been lending its signature guitar amp aesthetics to headphones and speakers for quite some time. However, there was one notable omission in the company's feature set: multiroom audio. Today, Marshall is announcing an update to its wireless speaker line that gives its existing Acton, Stanmore and Woburn models some current features.
Deezer now streams high-quality audio to more than just Sonos
Deezer Elite brought high-quality music streaming to Sonos speakers back in 2014, but until now, the service wasn't available on audio gear from other companies. Starting today, you can access the renamed Deezer HiFi tier from Chromecast Audio or any speaker that has Chromecast built-in. That opens up the options to devices from the likes of Sony, Samsung, Bang & Olufsen, Onkyo and Pioneer -- just to name a few.
Vizio adds the streaming apps its new TVs were missing
One of the more unique features of Vizio's smart TV lineup is that some models use an Android tablet to cast streaming services to the displays. That's rather than having apps baked directly into the TVs themselves. The TV manufacturer is rolling out an update for its 2017 models that adds apps directly to the displays themselves -- no casting necessary.
More hotels will let you watch your own Netflix
StayCast, a Google Chromecast-powered service for hotels, could fulfill your dream of being able to watch whatever you want to as a guest -- especially now that it's become much easier to get. AT&T has just announced that hotels can get DirectTV HD systems pre-loaded with StayCast, so make sure to look around or ask if you can stream your own stuff if the property offers the carrier's satellite TV service. All you have to do is download the service's Hotel Cast app for iOS and Android and connect to the hotel's WiFi to start streaming your own Netflix, Hulu and other Cast-enabled apps.
Gear VR streams to your TV thanks to Google Cast
For as much fun as you can have donning a VR rig and slipping into a virtual environment these days, it's still pretty awkward to watch as an outside observer. Now that Google has partially solved the VR spectator problem by building Cast into the next version of Daydream, Oculus and Gear VR are joining the party and adding their own support for Google's streaming solution.
Cartoon Network beams 'Powerpuff Girls' to your TV with Chromecast
Cartoon Network is about to make some people very happy. The TV channel has updated its Android and iOS apps with support for Chromecast streaming, which it says was a highly requested feature by fans. In case you're not familiar with how Google's $35 dongle works, Cartoon Network's apps will now let users push episode streams from their mobile device to a nearby Chromecast-connected TV, all with a simple tap of the "Cast" button.
TBS, TNT launch new streaming apps and redesign old ones
Just a few years ago, Turner was newly entering live streaming game, promising TBS and TNT apps that would allow subscribers to watch across multiple platforms and screens. Now in 2017, it's ready to "reimagine" the streaming experience with redesigned websites as well as apps for iOS, Apple TV, Android and Amazon Fire. New apps are extending to other platforms including Chromecast, Roku and Vizio's Smartcast. Of course, you'll still need to be a subscriber to some TV package in order to get full access, but the apps will stream immediately to let viewers get a taste before they log in. Once viewers are all set, they'll be able to easily pause and resume across different devices, and the networks say apps are on the way for game consoles and other connected TVs later this year. Finally, there's also integration for something called Vizbee that is said to allow casting from a mobile device to connected screens without a special app or plug-in, although it's not clear which platforms that will work on.
Pioneer and Onkyo slip Chromecast support into more audio devices
Owners of some recent audio products from Onkyo and Pioneer don't need a dongle for Chromecast support anymore. At CES in 2016 Google announced a push for Chromecast support in more audio products, but it's taken until now for updates adding the feature in many of last year's receivers, Hi-Fi systems and other devices. Once they're updated, all it takes is being on the same WiFi network with your smartphone, laptop or Google Home and they're ready for all kinds of casting or multiroom audio -- check below for a full list of supported model numbers.
Chrome casting tweak streams all videos directly to your TV
As a general rule, you send an entire Chrome browser tab to your Chromecast (or other Cast-ready devices) as a last resort. The quality is lousy enough that you only really want to use it when a service doesn't have native casting support, like Amazon Prime Video. Google may soon give you a good reason to use this option more often, though. The latest developer version of Chrome includes rough support for a feature that preserves the quality and performance of video when you cast a tab. If you choose to take a video full screen while casting, the software now sends the video's raw bitstream to your TV. You shouldn't get muddy, stuttering video as your PC struggles to deliver content you don't need to see.
Master and Dynamic developed its own concrete for its first speaker
When a company moves into a new product category, it's important to make a statement with that first device. Master & Dynamic has been designing some of the best-looking headphones you can buy for just under three years; today it's introducing its first speaker, the MA770. This isn't just any wireless speaker, though. Rather than using wood, plastic or metal for the primary material on the MA770, Master & Dynamic chose concrete. That decision led the company to develop its own composite and collaborate with world-renowned architect Sir David Adjaye on the design.
SoundCloud brings Chromecast streaming to iOS
With a new subscription tier and a fresh bank loan, SoundCloud is moving right ahead with business as usual. Today's update brings a sorely missed compatibility so you can now play your SoundCloud mixes through a Google Chromecast from an iOS device.
Urbanears built AirPlay and Chromecast into its WiFi speakers
The last time we covered Urbanears, the company was hawking headphones with quilted padding. Now, some six years later it's getting into the crowded wireless speaker game. Long story short, the Connected Speakers are colorful noise boxes that you can network together for multi-room sound; you can set them to play the same track in sync, or separate ones. Each unit has Airplay, Chromecast and Spotify Connect capabilities built in too, so blasting Papa Roach's "Last Resort" from every room while you're trying to argue for an unpopular rule-change at your house should be pretty easy. If you want to kick it old-school beyond your song selection, there's Bluetooth connectivity and an aux port too.
Finding the perfect soundtrack with Google Home is a bit easier
Paralysis of choice is a real problem, and to help mitigate it, Google has updated the app formerly known as Chromecast. Next time you open Google Home, you'll see a new "Listen" tab at top of your device's screen. A post on The Keyword blog says that the idea is to pull in curated playlists from apps like Google Play Music and Spotify into one place so you always have the perfect soundtrack to beam to your connected speakers. Fewer choices, more freedom. Pandora and the semi-redundant YouTube Music apps are pulled into the fray as well. All told, it's a minor update, but it shows Google's ambitions for the app: becoming a hub for all your digital media needs.
Google Home support coming to LG's Music Flow speakers
LG's Music Flow speakers are based on Google Cast (now "Chromecast built-in") and on its site, LG specifically shows a home with a multi-room setup. Yet, while both Sonos and B&O products work with Google Home and Google Chromecast Multiroom, so far, LG's Google-specific models do not. However, it looks like that's changing soon: An LG representative said on the company's product forums that both Google Multiroom and Home support are coming "before the end of February.
ESPN brings Apple's handy single sign-on tool to its iOS apps
When it comes to streaming apps that are tied to a cable subscription, having to sign in repeatedly can become a bit of a chore. ESPN has updated its main app and WatchESPN with Apple's single sign-on feature so you only have to enter your cable log-in once and it gets populated across the sport network's software for any device connected to iCloud. While WatchESPN has had the ability to beam the action to your TV with Chromecast for a while now, that main ESPN app also gains the functionality with this new version.
Vizio gives its SmartCast phone app a more useful home screen
Rather than using proprietary apps and tuners, Vizio's E-, P- and M-series smart 4K TVs rely on "Chromecast built-in" (formerly Google Cast). That means you're essentially running your TV from a smartphone (or included 6-inch tablet), which makes it easy for Vizio to do quick improvements. As such, the company just updated its SmartCast app by adding a streamlined new home page with larger buttons and simplified navigation. You can also access more TV shows and movies straight from main screen, rather than needing to dive into menus.
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.
Google Home now plays nice with Sony speakers and Android TVs
Google Home already allows you to control any connected Chromecast devices with simple voice commands, but if the device is really going to compete with Amazon's Echo line, it's going to need a bigger ecosystem to play in. Starting today, however, users with Sony speakers or Android TV sets can start taking advantage of Google Home's voice commands to control music and video streaming without the need for a complicated smart home setup.
LG targets media pros and gamers with 4K HDR display
With an onslaught of products coming at CES 2017 in January, LG has decided to pre-announce its latest 4K HDR monitor. Its 32-inch, IPS panel-equipped 32UD99 supports the HDR10 standard that delivers pro-level 10-bit (over a billion) colors and a wide color gamut covering 95 percent of the DCI-P3 standard. The monitor should be ideal for new MacBook Pro owners, since Apple isn't making its own displays anymore. It supports 4K HDR with a single USB-C cable that can simultaneously charge your laptop and can also act as a USB hub. The company is also targeting color-sensitive gamers, saying it'll play well with new consoles that support HDR and or 4K, including the Playstation 4 Pro and the Xbox One S.
Google drops 'Cast' branding in favor of 'Chromecast built-in' (updated)
Has that seemingly ubiquitous Google Cast branding on media devices felt uninspiring, or even a bit confusing? Google might just agree with you. The company has been phasing out the Google Cast name over the course of recent weeks, both for its own products as well as supporting hardware from third parties like Toshiba and Vizio. Instead, it's increasingly referring to embedded streaming technology as "Chromecast built-in." To top things off, Google just renamed its @googlecast Twitter account to @chromecast.
