A Google Chromecast timeline in 6 {hardware} releases

The Chromecast wasn’t Google’s first stab at creating software program for the lounge, however it’s by far it is hottest. Whereas the unique (and now discontinued) Google TV platform tried to awkwardly marry Google’s searching and search experiences with extra conventional tv, the Chromecast did one factor and did it effectively. Its accessibility each by way of worth (almost all of the Chromecast dongles Google launched had been underneath $50) and options (streaming audio and video from nearly anyplace) made it the right consultant of what Google does greatest: cleverly leveraging web-based expertise to resolve a sophisticated drawback.

Whereas Apple was early to the concept of streaming content material to your TV from a cellphone or laptop computer with AirPlay, Google tried to decrease the barrier to entry as a lot as potential. The Chromecast was the most cost effective potential strategy to provide a wise TV-like expertise on an older show, and to get music or movies into your front room agnostic of the apps you used or the units you owned. When it launched in 2013, even when it was lacking some options, the Chromecast was fairly revelatory in a world the place good TV software program typically sucked, if you happen to needed to take care of it in any respect.

Sadly, with the discharge of the Google TV Streamer, Google’s leaving the Chromecast identify behind. Listed below are all of the Chromecast units that walked in order that the corporate’s new set-top field might run.

1 Google Chromecast

A devoted gadget for casting video

The unique Chromecast was launched in 2013, the identical yr as Google’s first Pixel telephones. Radically easy compared to the unique Google TV, it added ChromeOS to an HDMI dongle that charged over Micro-USB (Google allow you to energy the unique Chromecast from a USB port in your TV) to make streaming a bit extra like visiting a web site.

By casting content material from a streaming app like Netflix or instantly from a Chrome browser, you had been basically sending a brief URL to the Chromecast that it then displayed on no matter it was related to.

The Chromecast solely price $35 when it initially launched, and will solely handle 1080p video at 30fps or 720p video at 60fps, however for many TVs that was greater than sufficient. Particularly with the added comfort of with the ability to management all the pieces out of your cellphone or show no matter you can dig up with an online search.

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2 Google Chromecast (2nd era)

A brand new design and higher Wi-Fi assist

The second era Google Chromecast got here out two years later in 2015 for a similar $35 worth, instantly changing the primary era mannequin. Whereas the fundamentals of how the brand new Chromecast streamed content material did not change or the standard it might stream it at (nonetheless 1080p / 30fps or 720p / 60fps) Google did replace the design of the dongle. Plugging instantly into an HDMI port made the unique gadget less complicated to setup, however restricted the place a TV with a Chromecast jutting out of the again could possibly be positioned.

With the 2nd era mannequin, Google opted for a colourful, round puck with an HDMI connector on the finish of a brief magnetic cable, that opened up new potentialities for the place a Chromecast-connected TV could possibly be positioned or mounted. Google additionally improved the dongle’s Wi-Fi efficiency (through assist of 802.11 ac and the 5GHz band) and the flexibility to intelligently swap between antennas to seek out the quickest connection and decrease the buffering time between casting content material and the Chromecast really taking part in it in your display.

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3 Google Chromecast Audio

An audio-only dongle for updating older sound programs

Alongside the 2nd era Chromecast, Google additionally launched the $35 Chromecast Audio particularly for audio setups. Relatively than utilizing an HDMI connector, the Chromecast Audio was formed like a tiny vinyl file and related to older audio system and stereos over a 3.5mm audio jack. Like the traditional Chromecast, you can forged music out of your favourite streaming app to audio system for playback, even audio system with out built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

With a software program replace, Google added assist for prime decision audio (24bit / 96 kHz) and multiroom playback. Google in the end supported the dongle till 2019, however contemplating how costly constructing a Sonos speaker system to do the identical factor was, the corporate was providing an analogous expertise for a less expensive worth for whereas.

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4 Google Chromecast Extremely

A brand new design and assist for 4K video

It took Google a yr, however the firm lastly added assist for 4K video and HDR (through HDR10 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient) with the $69 Chromecast Extremely. The brand new dongle featured a barely extra streamlined design, with a flat high, small Google “G,” and extra demanding energy necessities. The Chromecast Extremely needs to be plugged into an outlet reasonably than receiving energy from the TV instantly and the wall adapter Google used additionally included an Ethernet port for even sooner web speeds.

Apart from the plain high quality enhancements, the Chromecast Extremely was additionally Google’s first gadget that supported its failed Stadia recreation streaming service. Google even bundled the Chromecast Extremely with its Stadia controller for a whole streaming expertise. And on high of all of that, the Chromecast Extremely is quicker than Google’s earlier dongles.

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5 Google Chromecast (third era)

One other redesign and sooner speeds

In 2018, Google launched a 3rd iteration of its mainline Chromecast, updating the design but once more. The third era Chromecast carries over the identical quick HDMI cable of the earlier model, however with out the magnet, and connected to a fair rounder, gentle plastic puck. Once more, the fundamental performance of the dongle did not actually change, however the gadget was able to streaming increased high quality HD video (1080p at 60fps reasonably than 30fps) and was noticeably sooner than the earlier model, as much as 15% sooner when in comparison with the 2nd era mannequin.

The issue, if you happen to might name it one, was Google’s consistency. By the point the third era Chromecast got here round, the panorama of streaming units had fairly radically modified. Apple had launched tvOS and was treating the Apple TV as a definite platform with its personal App Retailer. Amazon had a number of variations of its Fireplace TV units underneath its belt, and Roku’s working system appeared just like the de facto low cost good TV software program. The Chromecast was nonetheless one of many higher offers in streaming, simply not almost the identical premium expertise that different firms had been providing.

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6 Google Chromecast with Google TV

A distant, a brand new design, and Google TV

The (confusingly named) $49.99 Chromecast with Google TV, launched in 2020, was Google’s reply to the premium experiences supplied by Apple, Amazon and others earlier than the Google TV Streamer. The gadget was nonetheless a puck that dangled out of your HDMI port and plugged right into a wall outlet, nevertheless it was longer, got here in a number of colours, had a voice distant, and ran Android TV reasonably than a modified model of ChromeOS.

Complicating issues additional, the model of Android TV that this new Chromecast runs is named Google TV. It is obtained the apps, stay channels, and algorithmic viewing options of different streaming units, simply with that additional Google taste. Android TV was conceived because the successor to the unique Google TV, which makes the entire naming conference a bit roundabout, but when something, Google opted to make use of the identify “Google TV” once more as a result of that is the platform it ought to have shipped all alongside.

Google launched the $29.99 Chromecast with Google TV (HD) as a less expensive different in 2022, making the earlier model the Chromecast with Google TV (4K), retroactively. The cheaper mannequin solely got here in a single coloration, however in any other case supplied an analogous expertise to Google’s flagship streaming gadget. One which, save for some lagging menu navigation compared to the competitors, was as soon as once more the most effective deal in streaming.

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The core concept of the Chromecast lives on

Based on Google, even when the Google TV Streamer is the corporate’s new streaming star, present Chromecasts will nonetheless be supported with safety updates and the Chromecast with Google TVs will probably be bought whereas provides final. Trendy streaming calls for may need advanced previous the easy resolution Google’s unique Chromecast supplied, however the dongle is survived by the protocol it popularized: Google Forged. At this level, each main streaming app helps Forged, and Google Forged is built-in to most main TV manufacturers. That would not have occurred if the Chromecast wasn’t extensively standard when Google first launched it.

After all, Google TV is not the one taste of streaming stick, dongle, or box value attempting. And if you happen to’re attempting to keep away from additional add-ons solely, there are plenty of smart TVs with built-in software program value contemplating, too. Good or unhealthy, it is by no means been simpler to stream issues.

FAQ

Q: Why is Google discontinuing the Chromecast?

The corporate hasn’t answered the query instantly, but has suggested that the calls for for a streaming gadget have modified as dramatically as the broader panorama for streaming has improved. The Chromecast was launched when there have been few good streaming units and even fewer good streaming apps. Now the fundamental high quality degree is way increased, and a streaming gadget ought to act as a wise dwelling hub as a lot because it does an leisure gadget. The Google TV Streamer is simply a lot better at filling that function, whereas maintaining with the efficiency of a tool just like the Apple TV 4K.