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==Release and reception==
==Release and reception==
Chromecast was made available for purchase online on July 24, 2013. To entice consumers to purchase the device, Google initially offered buyers free access to the Netflix service for a three-month period. Chromecast quickly sold out on [[Amazon.com]], [[BestBuy.com]], and the [[Google Play]] Store, and within 24 hours, the Netflix promotion was ended due to high demand for the device.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google’s Chromecast No Longer Comes With Free Netflix Because Demand Got Too Nuts|url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/25/chromecast-no-longer-comes-with-free-netflix-because-demand-got-too-nuts/|work=[[TechCrunch]]|publisher=[[AOL Inc.]]|accessdate=28 July 2013|first=Greg|last=Kamparak|date=25 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57595722-1/going-going..-chromecast-sold-out-online-but-not-everywhere/|title=Going, going... Chromecast sold out online, but not everywhere|work=[[CNET]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|first=Eric|last=Mack|date=2013-07-26|accessdate=2013-07-31}}</ref>
Chromecast was made available in the USA for purchase online on July 24, 2013. To entice consumers to purchase the device, Google initially offered buyers free access to the Netflix service for a three-month period. Chromecast quickly sold out on [[Amazon.com]], [[BestBuy.com]], and the [[Google Play]] Store, and within 24 hours, the Netflix promotion was ended due to high demand for the device.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google’s Chromecast No Longer Comes With Free Netflix Because Demand Got Too Nuts|url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/25/chromecast-no-longer-comes-with-free-netflix-because-demand-got-too-nuts/|work=[[TechCrunch]]|publisher=[[AOL Inc.]]|accessdate=28 July 2013|first=Greg|last=Kamparak|date=25 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57595722-1/going-going..-chromecast-sold-out-online-but-not-everywhere/|title=Going, going... Chromecast sold out online, but not everywhere|work=[[CNET]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|first=Eric|last=Mack|date=2013-07-26|accessdate=2013-07-31}}</ref>


Nilay Patel of [[The Verge]] gave the Chromecast an 8.5/10 score in his review, saying, "The Chromecast is basically an impulse purchase that just happens to be the simplest, cheapest, and best solution for getting a browser window on your TV." Speaking of the adapter's potential, he said,
Nilay Patel of [[The Verge]] gave the Chromecast an 8.5/10 score in his review, saying, "The Chromecast is basically an impulse purchase that just happens to be the simplest, cheapest, and best solution for getting a browser window on your TV." Speaking of the adapter's potential, he said,

Revision as of 11:07, 29 September 2013

Chromecast
Chromecast dongle
DeveloperGoogle
TypeDigital media streaming adapter
Release dateJuly 24, 2013 (2013-07-24)
Introductory priceUS $35[1]
System on a chipMarvell DE3005-A1[2]
InputWi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4 GHz)
ConnectivityHDMI
PowerMicro-USB port
Online services
Dimensions72 mm × 35 mm × 12 mm
Mass34 g
PredecessorNexus Q
WebsiteChromecast

Chromecast is a digital media streaming adapter developed by Google. The device, a 2.83-inch (72 mm) dongle, plays audio/video content on a high-definition television by streaming it via Wi-Fi from the Internet or local network. Users select the media to play on their television from the Google Chrome web browser on a personal computer or from a supported app on their mobile device.

The device was announced on July 24, 2013 and was made available for purchase on the same day for US$35, along with a Netflix promotion that provided free access for three months.[3] As of July 28, 2013, Chromecast is available only in the United States but will be released in other countries as well.[4]

Features and operation

Measuring 2.83 inches (72 mm), Chromecast plugs into a television's HDMI port, while the power is supplied by connecting the device's micro-USB port to an external power supply or a USB port.

The device works in two ways, both of which stream content to a television. The first employs mobile apps and Web apps. The second, called "tab casting", can "cast" almost any content displayed by a Google Chrome browser running on a computer.

  • The primary use of the device is through Chromecast-enabled mobile apps and Web apps, which control program selection, playback and volume. The content itself is streamed directly to the television by Chromecast. This scheme enables the device to do other tasks, such as answering a call, without disrupting programming. Both Android and iOS mobile apps are supported, as are Web apps running on computers using the Google Chrome browser—on Windows, OS X and Chrome OS—through an extension.[5]
  • Tab casting "casts" to a television the content of a Chrome browser tab. The quality of the image depends on the processing power of the computer, and minimum system requirements apply to video streaming. Content that uses plug-ins, such as Silverlight and QuickTime, is not fully supported: the stream may lack sound or image.[6][7] Google lists the feature as beta.[8]

Chrome and mobile apps

At Chromecast's release, YouTube, Netflix, Google Play Music, and Google Play Movies & TV were available both as Android apps and Chrome Web apps.[9][10] The first two were also iOS apps and were similarly enabled. Additional apps will become available when Google releases the production version of the Chromecast software development kit.[11]

Chromecast-compatible apps
Name Chrome Android iOS Vendor
Netflix[12] Yes Yes Yes Netflix, Inc
Play Movies & TV[13] Yes Yes N/A Google
Play Music[14] Yes Yes N/A Google
YouTube[15] Yes Yes Yes Google
In development
Name Vendor
AOL On[16] AOL Inc.
HBO Go[17] Home Box Office Inc
Hulu Plus[18] Hulu
Pandora Radio[19] Pandora Media, Inc
Plex[20] Plex, Inc
Pocket Casts[21] Shifty Jelly
PostTV[22] The Washington Post Company
Redbox Instant[23] Redbox
Revision3[24] Revision3
Twitch.tv[25] Twitch.tv
VEVO[26] VEVO, LLC
Vimeo[23] Vimeo

Chromecast does not currently support apps that stream video or audio stored locally on a mobile device. An update of Chromecast's internal software "broke" support for AllCast, an Android application that provided this function. Responding to a reporter inquiry from The Verge, Google said it "would like to support all types of apps, including those for local content" pending the production release of the device's software development kit.[27]

Hardware

Chromecast contains the Marvell 88DE3005 system on a chip. This integrated circuit includes hardware decoding of VP8 and H.264 codecs. Radio communication is handled by AzureWave NH–387 Wi-Fi which supports 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz). The device has 512 MB of Micron DDR3L RAM and 2 GB of flash storage.

Software

Software development kit

Google released a beta "Google Cast SDK" to allow developers to make their applications compatible with Chromecast. Developers must create a "sender" app for Google Chrome, Android, or iOS to send the media, along with a "receiver" page that appears on the Chromecast device to play the content.[28][29] As of August 22, 2013, Google has released preview version 1.0.1, which will only be supported short term and is intended only for app development and testing.[30] The company strongly recommended that vendors not publicly distribute apps until the official SDK is released.[11]

DIAL protocol

Chromecast uses the DIAL (DIscovery And Launch) protocol, co-developed by Netflix and YouTube,[31] to search for available devices on a Wi-Fi network. Once a device is discovered, the protocol synchronizes information on how to connect to the device.[32]

Operating system

At the introductory press conference, Hugo Barra, Google's then vice president of Android product management, said that Chromecast is "running a simplified version of Chrome OS."[33] Subsequently, a team of hackers reported that the device is "more Android than ChromeOS" and appears to be adapted from software embedded in Google TV.[34][35]

Google lists Chromecast operating system updates on the Chrome Releases blog. As with Chrome OS devices, Chromecast operating system updates are downloaded automatically without notification.[36] As of 18 September 2013, the current build is 13300.

Release and reception

Chromecast was made available in the USA for purchase online on July 24, 2013. To entice consumers to purchase the device, Google initially offered buyers free access to the Netflix service for a three-month period. Chromecast quickly sold out on Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, and the Google Play Store, and within 24 hours, the Netflix promotion was ended due to high demand for the device.[37][38]

Nilay Patel of The Verge gave the Chromecast an 8.5/10 score in his review, saying, "The Chromecast is basically an impulse purchase that just happens to be the simplest, cheapest, and best solution for getting a browser window on your TV." Speaking of the adapter's potential, he said, "it seems like the Chromecast might actually deliver on all that potential, but Google still has a lot of work to do." In particular, Patel pointed to Apple's AirPlay protocol as an example of an established competitor with many more features.[39] TechCrunch's review of the device said, "Even with a bug or two rearing its head, the Chromecast is easily worth its $35 pricetag."[40] Gizmodo gave the device a positive review, highlighting the ease of setup and sharing video. In comparing the device to competitors, the review said, "Chromecast isn't Google's version of Apple TV, and it's not trying to be... But Chromecast also costs a third of what those devices do, and has plenty of potential given that its SDK is just a few days old."[41] David Pogue of The New York Times praised the device for its $35 retail price, saying, "It's already a fine price for what this gadget does, and it will seem better and better the more video apps are made to work with it." Pogue noted the limitations of the device's screen mirroring feature and said using only mobile devices as a remote control was not "especially graceful", but he called Chromecast the "smallest, cheapest, simplest way yet to add Internet to your TV".[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Watson, Todd (July 26, 2013). "Introducing Google Chromecast". Inside Investor. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  2. ^ "Google Unveils $35 Chromecast HDMI TV Stick". Cnx-software.com. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  3. ^ Evangelho, Jason (July 24, 2013). "Google's Chromecast A Brilliant Play For The Living Room -- Especially With $35 Price Tag". Forbes. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  4. ^ Tiffany Kaiser (July 24, 2013). "Google Offers $35 Media Streaming Stick "Chromecast"". DailyTech. DailyTech LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  5. ^ "GTV Hacker » Blog Archive » Chromecast: Exploiting the Newest Device By Google". Blog.gtvhacker.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  6. ^ "Casting a Tab". Chromecast help page. Google. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  7. ^ "Cast from Chrome to your TV: Minimum System Requirements". Google. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Pogue, David (July 31, 2013). "Chromecast, Simply and Cheaply, Flings Web Video to TVs". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  9. ^ "This Week in Tech 416". Twit.Tv. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  10. ^ Pressman, Aaron (August 1, 2013). "Chromecast vs. Roku vs. Apple TV: What's the Best Streaming Device? | Daily Ticker - Yahoo! Finance". Finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "1.0". Google Cast Release Notes. Google. July 24, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  12. ^ "Netflix app and Netflix.com - Chromecast Help". Google. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  13. ^ "Google Play Movies & TV - Chromecast Help". Google. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  14. ^ "Google Play Music - Chromecast Help". Google. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  15. ^ "YouTube app and YouTube.com - Chromecast Help". Google. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "AOL On Videos Coming Soon to a TV Near You via Chromecast". AOL. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  17. ^ "HBO Go Is Coming to Google Chromecast". Variety. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  18. ^ "Hulu Plans to Hook Subscription Service Into Google Chromecast". Variety. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  19. ^ "Cast from Apps to your TV - Chromecast Help". Google.
  20. ^ "Wow, lots of interest in Chromecast and Plex. Yes, we've ordered a few of them :-)". Plex, Inc.
  21. ^ "Pocket Casts will be getting Chromecast support in the future". AndroidCenteral. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  22. ^ "Google reveals Chromecast: video streaming to your TV from any device for $35". The Verge. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  23. ^ a b "Vimeo and Redbox Instant are coming to Chromecast. Next up: Plex and HBO Go?". GigaOM. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  24. ^ "WATCH REVISION3 SHOWS ON YOUR TV VIA GOOGLE CHROMECAST". Revision3. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  25. ^ "Up Next for Chromecast: More Apps — and Maybe Games, Too". TIME. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  26. ^ "Chromecast Fever: Google Dongle Attracts Flurry of Interest From HBO, Hulu, Others". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  27. ^ Welch, Chris (August 25, 2013). "Google blocks Chromecast app that let you stream your own videos (update)". Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  28. ^ Steve Dent (July 24, 2013). "Google letting developers in on the Chromecast action with Google Cast SDK". Engadget. AOL Inc. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  29. ^ "Casting Your Content to the Big Screen". Google Developers. Google, Inc. July 24, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  30. ^ "Chrome Releases: Chromecast and Google Cast SDK Update". Googlechromereleases.blogspot.com. August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  31. ^ Lee, Nicole (January 24, 2013). "Netflix and YouTube's DIAL promises to be open alternative to AirPlay". Engadget. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  32. ^ admin74 (July 28, 2013). "How Chromecast Works, Chromecast Protocol Described". Computer Solution. Computer Solution. Retrieved August 13, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ "Nexus 7 and Chromecast Press Event - 7/24/13". press conference archived webcast. YouTube. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  34. ^ "Chromecast: Exploiting the Newest Device By Google". GTV Hacker. July 28. Retrieved 31 July 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ Brian, Matt (July 28, 2013). "Google's Chromecast has its roots in Android, not Chrome OS". The Verge. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  36. ^ "Chrome Releases: Chromecast Update". Googlechromereleases.blogspot.com.es. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  37. ^ Kamparak, Greg (July 25, 2013). "Google's Chromecast No Longer Comes With Free Netflix Because Demand Got Too Nuts". TechCrunch. AOL Inc. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  38. ^ Mack, Eric (July 26, 2013). "Going, going... Chromecast sold out online, but not everywhere". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  39. ^ Patel, Nilay (July 29, 2013). "Google Chromecast review". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  40. ^ Kumparak, Greg (July 28, 2013). "Review: Google Chromecast". TechCrunch. AOL Inc. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  41. ^ Tarantola, Andrew (July 31, 2013). "Google Chromecast Review: A Little Dongle With Big Potential". Gizmodo Australia. Gawker Media. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
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