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 shopping and search experiences with extra conventional tv, the Chromecast did one factor and did it nicely. Its accessibility each when it comes to worth (practically all of the Chromecast dongles Google launched had been below $50) and options (streaming audio and video from nearly wherever) made it the proper consultant of what Google does greatest: cleverly leveraging web-based know-how to unravel a sophisticated drawback.

Whereas Apple was early to the thought 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 attainable. The Chromecast was the most cost effective attainable option to supply a sensible 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, for those who needed to cope with it in any respect.

Sadly, with the discharge of the Google TV Streamer, Google’s leaving the Chromecast title 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 12 months 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 primarily sending a brief URL to the Chromecast that it then displayed on no matter it was linked 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 having the ability to management the whole lot out of your cellphone or show no matter you could possibly dig up with an internet 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 may very well 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 prospects for the place a Chromecast-connected TV may very well be positioned or mounted. Google additionally improved the dongle’s Wi-Fi efficiency (by way of assist of 802.11 ac and the 5GHz band) and the flexibility to intelligently swap between antennas to search out the quickest connection and decrease the buffering time between casting content material and the Chromecast truly taking part in it in your display screen.

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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. Quite than utilizing an HDMI connector, the Chromecast Audio was formed like a tiny vinyl document and linked to older audio system and stereos over a 3.5mm audio jack. Like the traditional Chromecast, you could possibly solid 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 top 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 the same 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 12 months, however the firm lastly added assist for 4K video and HDR (by way of 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 quite than receiving energy from the TV instantly and the wall adapter Google used additionally included an Ethernet port for even sooner web speeds.

Moreover the apparent 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 an entire 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 brief HDMI cable of the earlier model, however with out the magnet, and hooked up to a good rounder, comfortable plastic puck. Once more, the fundamental performance of the dongle did not actually change, however the gadget was able to streaming greater high quality HD video (1080p at 60fps quite 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, for those who 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 Hearth TV units below 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 practically the identical premium expertise that different corporations 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, however it was longer, got here in a number of colours, had a voice distant, and ran Android TV quite than a modified model of ChromeOS.

Complicating issues additional, the model of Android TV that this new Chromecast runs is known as Google TV. It is bought the apps, reside channels, and algorithmic viewing solutions of different streaming units, simply with that further 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 title “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 various in 2022, making the earlier model the Chromecast with Google TV (4K), retroactively. The cheaper mannequin solely got here in a single colour, however in any other case supplied the same 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 one of the best 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, current Chromecasts will nonetheless be supported with safety updates and the Chromecast with Google TVs will probably be offered whereas provides final. Fashionable streaming calls for might need advanced previous the easy answer Google’s authentic Chromecast offered, 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 broadly well-liked when Google first launched it.

After all, Google TV is not the one taste of streaming stick, dongle, or box price attempting. And for those who’re attempting to keep away from further add-ons fully, there are plenty of smart TVs with built-in software program price contemplating, too. Good or dangerous, 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 stage is way greater, and a streaming gadget ought to act as a sensible residence hub as a lot because it does an leisure gadget. The Google TV Streamer is simply significantly better at filling that function, whereas maintaining with the efficiency of a tool just like the Apple TV 4K.