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The Morning After: Thursday, November 17, 2016
We put the 4K-ready Chromecast to the test, saw increasingly less snow around the US, and gawp at the first hybrid Mini -- as well as a whole bunch of new cars coming out of the LA Auto Show. There's also the discovery of a "Watch Dogs 2" character that has fully rendered sex organs for no apparent reason whatsoever. Not just another Thursday.
Chromecast Ultra review: Better video quality comes at a cost
Google's first Chromecast was an ugly little stick that nonetheless served an important purpose: At $35, it was about the cheapest way to make a plain old TV "smart," letting people get Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and movies from Google Play on their televisions with zero fuss. But things have changed since the first Chromecast arrived in mid 2013. 4K TVs are becoming more and more commonplace while companies like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and, yes, Google are battling to bring video to your living room. Also, if nothing else, just about every TV these days has built-in Netflix and YouTube apps. Into this crowded market comes the Chromecast Ultra, an update to the 2015 version that adds support for 4K high dynamic range (HDR) streaming. The thing is, that extra feature doubles the price: The Chromecast Ultra comes in at $69. It's no longer in impulse-buy territory for most people, so the question is: Does this improved video quality warrant a purchase?
NextUp is Netflix for UK stand-up comedy
With huge catalogs of movies and TV shows, of which an increasing share are now original, Netflix and Amazon do a good job of catering for most subscribers' tastes. However, their broad focus means that some customers quickly consume the content that is most interesting to them and are left wanting more. This opens the door for streaming providers that focus on a niche or a specific genre, like comedy, which is exactly what UK company NextUp intends to do.
The 12 best tech gifts for sports fanatics
Chances are there's at least one die-hard sports fan in your life. And look, even if your idea of game-time small talk is "Hey, how about that local sportsball team" you can still get them the perfect gift. Whether they're big NBA addicts, avid runners or trying to perfect that spiral and become an NFL quarterback, we've got you covered. And you don't even have to betray your tech-geek roots to do it. There's plenty of ways to get your game on while simultaneously getting your geek on. High-end TVs deliver football in 4K glory while wearables like the TomTom Adventurer let you turn that epic hike into epic reams of data. Check out the gallery below to see our 12 techie gift recommendations for sports fans and athletes. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
Facebook Video now plays nice with Chromecast and Apple TV
If you've been dying to get Chewbacca Mom on your television, the latest update to Facebook's video product is directed at you. Starting today, you can now send Facebook videos to your nearby Apple TV or Google Chromecast from any web browser or iOS device.
Google's play for the living room starts with Home
Today marked Google's biggest hardware launch yet. Not only did it announce two Pixel phones and a Daydream VR headset -- it also unveiled a slew of products for the living room. We already heard about Google Home, its voice-powered assistant-and-Bluetooth speaker combo at the company's I/O developer conference this year. New today, though, was a mesh networking router and an updated Chromecast. We took a closer look at all three immediately after the event and came away with a dream of a Google-powered home.
UK pricing for Google's Pixel phones, Daydream VR headset and more
A wealth of leaks might've taken some of the sting out of Google's big event today, but there was quite a lot to take in nonetheless. Google spent a lot of time talking up its AI Assistant -- the same one that debuted in its Allo messaging app -- but who are we kidding? New hardware was the highlight tonight, and there's a lot of it, from a pair of Pixel smartphones to a new VR headset, 4K Chromecast and more. And now it's time to lay out how much all that new gear is gonna cost you.
Chromecast Ultra brings 4K and HDR to Google's streaming pucks
With the last-generation Chromecast, Google managed to turn its inexpensive streaming device into something that was fast and genuinely useful. Now, as the rumors foretold, there's a 4K/HDR upgrade: the Chromecast Ultra. It's still a svelte puck like the earlier models, but it has a bit of a stealth bomber aesthetic. And at $69, it's far more expensive than the current $35 Chromecast. Still, it comes in $10 less than Roku's cheapest 4K player, and will be useful for anyone who wants to quickly stream high-res video to their new 4K TV.
We're live from the #MadeByGoogle launch event!
Not-so-cryptic teasers, seemingly ironclad leaks and a truly surprising advertising push have all led to this. Buckle up, folks: today might be a turning point for Google as an honest-to-goodness hardware company, and we're bringing you all the news live from the company launch event in San Francisco.
What to expect from Google's October 4th event
It's that time of the year when tech companies trot out their newest wares hoping to cash in on the holiday season buying spree and Google is no different. On October 4th the search giant is holding an event to show off, well something, but most likely some new phones. The company is mum on the details but of course that hasn't stopped the rumor and leak machines from spinning up and pumping out what we can expect from the Android maker's celebration of consumerism.
Google's 4K Chromecast emerges in an image leak
Those rumors of a 4K-capable Chromecast dongle just got more substantial. Evan Blass (who has a knack for accurate leaks) has posted an image of what he says is the Chromecast Ultra. The device itself isn't remarkable -- surprise, it's a puck with an HDMI cable attached. However, it might just say a lot about Google's plans. To start, its very existence corroborates talk that Google's October 4th event is about much more than new phones. And notice how it replaces the Chrome logo from earlier Chromecast models with Google's increasingly ubiquitous "G?" That lines up with the logo seen on the back of the company's leaked Pixel phones, as well as test versions of Chromecast firmware. Clearly, Google is aiming for more harmonious hardware branding.
Google Home is rumored to cost $130
Google Home, the latest entrant in the voice-activated-assistant race, will cost $130 and include the colorful base options shown off at the company's I/O conference in May, according to Android Police. Home is Google's answer to the Amazon Echo, though the reported price means it's $50 cheaper than Amazon's flagship device. Earlier this year Amazon unveiled the Echo Dot, a smaller version of the assistant, and the second generation of this little gadget costs $50.
Fox Sports Go is streaming on Chromecast and Roku too
Just in case you need another way to watch college football, Fox Sports Go has launched apps on a few more platforms. There's now an app available for Roku, as well as the ability to stream on Chromecast (at least on Android and from the web, I didn't see an option to do it from iOS yet). Neither platform mentioned support for the 60fps or Multiview Display support that's in its just-released app for the new Apple TV, but if all you want to do is stream a game quickly, they should get the job done.
Google rumors point to 'Pixel' phones, 4K Chromecast
The answer to the question of what Google will call its upcoming Nexus phones may turn out to be not Nexus at all. Android Central first reported a name change last week, while tonight Android Police notes sources saying there will be two devices, one 5-inch phone called the Pixel and a 5.5-inch phone called the Pixel XL. More importantly, it also has a date (seconding a previous report by Droid-Life) for their debut: October 4th.
Now Google Cast is built into every Chrome browser
Like Gmail prior, it honestly seems like Google Cast has been in beta forever. Well, it's actually only been two years according to Google, and that test period ends now. Cast is directly built into Chrome as of today and anyone can use it without having to install or configure additional add-ons or extensions. Now everyone can throw individual browser tabs to your Chromecast -- or even your desktop -- in addition to services like Netflix or Google Play Music.
The best multiroom wireless speaker system
By Chris Heinonen This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. We've spent hundreds of hours over several months using six multiroom wireless speaker systems in every possible room and even outside, and determined that Sonos is the best. It has a class-leading music ecosystem, excellent sound quality, and unparalleled ease of use. Because Sonos has a variety of great-sounding speakers at different prices, just about anyone can get into a Sonos system with room to grow.
Tidal adds Chromecast support for its iOS and Android apps
Next time Bey drops a surprise album -- and with Lemonade's success, we wouldn't be surprised -- you can beam it straight to a Chromecast-enabled TV or speakers. Tidal's latest app refresh adds Chromecast support for iPhones, iPads and Android devices, so you can watch Queen B and Riri slay in their music videos on a bigger screen. The update's out right now and rolls out with some playlist queue improvements and bug fixes. We only hope the feature's here to stay even if Apple ends up buying Jay-z's streaming service.
Google adds built-in Cast option to Chrome for desktop
Google has begun rolling out a built-in Cast option for Chrome 51. You simply have to right click a tab or click the hamburger button on the right-hand part of the desktop browser to find a line in the menu that says "Cast..." Doesn't mean the old extension is completely useless now, though -- you don't need it to beam anything to your Chromecast anymore, but you could still use it as a shortcut. Besides, it looks like the feature isn't available for everyone just yet, even for those with up-to-date Chrome browsers. If you still don't have access to it, you may want to hold off on uninstalling the extension and checking your menus every now and then.
Tribeca Shortlist now streams movies on Android devices
Last year, Tribeca Shortlist arrived on the video-streaming scene touting quality over quantity. At launch, the service was only available for iPad and the web, but it has since expanded to iPhone, Roku, Fire TV and, most recently, Apple TV. Now, Tribeca Shortlist is announcing support for Android devices, giving Google's mobile users access to over 150 movies on demand. In addition to that content, you can also watch exclusive interviews with actors, directors and other members of the film industry.
Google bakes Cast capabilities into its Fiber boxes
If you're a Google Fiber subscriber, you no longer need to use a Chromecast to stream content from your mobile device to your tv. Google announced today that it has integrated Cast technology (what makes your Chromecast work) directly into their Fiber set-top boxes. It cuts out the Chromecast middle man, is what I'm saying. You can just chuck that dongle since it's now superfluous. The casting process is exactly the same, it just runs straight through the set-top box now.
