Where To Buy Chromecast Dongle
Google also offered the Chromecast Audio in the past. Unlike the other Chromecast models, it doens't support video, instead Audio lets you wirelessly "cast" to speakers and connects via 3.5mm, although this version isn't widely available - mostly because audio casting is now widely supported by smart speakers directly, without the need for a dongle.
where to buy chromecast dongle
Chromecast is a line of digital media players developed by Google. The devices, designed as small dongles, can play Internet-streamed audio-visual content on a high-definition television or home audio system. The user can control playback with a mobile device or personal computer through mobile and web apps that support the Google Cast protocol, or by issuing commands via Google Assistant; later models introduced an interactive user interface and remote control. Content can be mirrored to video models from the Google Chrome web browser on a personal computer or from the screen of some Android devices.
Chromecast devices are dongles that are powered by connecting the device to an external power adapter or USB port using a USB cable. Video-capable Chromecasts plug into the HDMI port of a high-definition television or monitor, while the audio-only model outputs sound through its integrated 3.5 millimeter audio jack/mini-TOSLINK socket. By default, Chromecasts connect to the Internet through a Wi-Fi connection to the user's local network. A standalone USB power supply with an Ethernet port allows for a wired Internet connection; the power adapter for early Chromecast models was first introduced in July 2015 for US$15,[10] while the adapter for Chromecast with Google TV was released in October 2020 for US$20.[11]
The third-generation Chromecast added 60 frames-per-second playback support at a resolution of 1080p, compared to the second-generation Chromecast's maximum of 720p at the same frame rate. Google said the third-generation Chromecast offered a 15 percent increase in speed over the second-generation model. The magnetic attachment between the dongle body and HDMI plug that was present on prior models was dropped for the third-generation device.[34]
In July 2014, to commemorate the first anniversary of the device's launch, Google announced it would offer their music streaming service, Google Play Music All Access, at no cost for 90 days to Chromecast owners who had not previously used All Access; the service normally costs US$9.99 per month.[87] On December 10, 2014, Chromecast was launched in India through e-commerce marketplace Snapdeal in partnership with Bharti Airtel.[88] That same month, Google offered a promotion whereby anyone purchasing a Chromecast from a participating retailer before December 21 would receive a US$20 credit for the Google Play Store.[89] Google offered a US$6 credit to the Store for all Chromecast owners beginning on February 6, 2015.[90]
On September 30, 2020, Google announced the Chromecast with Google TV during its "Launch Night In" event,[93] though the product was already sold early at some retailers such as Walmart and the Home Depot during the week prior to its announcement.[94][95] Google offered a promotion whereby anyone who signed up for YouTube TV and paid for one month of the service (a US$65 cost) would receive a Chromecast with Google TV at no cost; the offer was available only in the US to first-time YouTube TV subscribers.[96] Additionally, in December 2020, Google made an offer available to YouTube TV users who had been continuous subscribers since June 2018 that allowed them to redeem a Chromecast with Google TV at no cost.[97]
As with most streaming devices, the Chromecast with Google TV 4K is a dongle that plugs into an HDMI port on your TV, and it's accompanied by a small remote control. Wondering how it compares to the remote-free Chromecast? Check out our Chromecast with Google TV vs Chromecast face-off.
Google sent me the Sky color: the dongle is a grayish blue, while the remote is gray, with a light green Google Assistant button. The Snow model has both a white dongle and remote (with a black Assistant button), while Sunrise has a pink dongle and remote. It really comes down to the remote color you want, as the dongle will most likely be hidden out of sight.
Chromecast is a line of media devices made by Google. The first-generation Chromecast was launched by Google in 2013 as a small dongle that could be plugged into the back of a TV screen using its USB cable.
With an RRP of 30, the Chromecast is Google's original streaming device. This round, black dongle plugs into the TV's HDMI port and allows you to send your favourite shows from your smartphone, tablet or laptop to your TV. It doesn't come with a remote. Instead, you control it via the device you're casting from.
But when you factor in sale prices, the calculation gets trickier. Google often cuts the price of its superior 4K Chromecast to $40, and both Amazon and Roku frequently sell their own 4K streaming dongles for even less. And while Google has come up with an innovative menu system for streaming, its rivals have been catching up on ways to make sense of your TV options.
Jared Newman has been helping folks make sense of technology for over a decade, writing for PCWorld, TechHive, and elsewhere. He also publishes two newsletters, Advisorator for straightforward tech advice and Cord Cutter Weekly for saving money on TV service.
The Chromecast with Google TV takes a lot of design cues from recent Chromecast models, just with more of an oval shape. The dongle plugs into your TV via HDMI, with power provided by an included USB-C cable and wall adapter (more on that later).
While the Chromecast comes in three colors -- "snow" white, "sunrise" pink and "sky" blue -- I'd recommend going with either the white or pink models than the blue I used. The pink, and especially the white, have more identifiable Google Assistant buttons. The dongle itself tucks away behind your television, so its color doesn't matter.
While Google's Chromecast dongles are always great value for money, buying one in early 2022 may not be the best option. That's because recent reports suggest Google is working on a new streaming device with Google TV. It will reportedly ship with a remote control and will support 1080p streaming. According to Protocol, the upcoming device has the codename 'Boreal' and could be marketed as 'Chromecast with Google TV.' The company already sells a 'Chromecast with Google TV,' and it supports 4K streaming, which the upcoming device might not do. However, the current device doesn't offer AV1 hardware decoding, something that the forthcoming dongle will reportedly support. Either way, if the two are named identically, it will be interesting to see how the upcoming model will be differentiated from the existing one.
According to the report, the next-gen Chromecast with Google TV will be an affordably-priced entry-level model powered by an Amlogic S805X2 processor with a Mali-G31 GPU. In addition, the dongle will have up to 2GB of RAM with support for 1080p streaming at 60fps. Reports about the upcoming 'Boreal' device surfaced last week, but this is the first time its supposed specs have been leaked online.
The next-gen Chromecast dongle will compete with a myriad of similar products from Amazon and Roku, among others. However, most of these devices sell for around $50 or lower, suggesting that Google will also have to price its new device similarly to compete on even terms. Meanwhile, according to the report, the new Chromecast device will be first available in North America, but it might make its way to other markets at a later date. While there is no ETA for the launch yet, the report speculates that it might make an appearance at this year's Google I/O, which typically happens in May every year.
Despite the best efforts of Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, LG and others, most of the televisions in people's homes these days are not of the smart variety. However, there are hundreds of millions of regular televisions packing HDMI ports, and Google's new Chromecast device offers a way to put some brains into those dumb TVs by giving them access to web-based content. Having a Chromecast dongle connected to your TV means you can stream videos straight from a Google Play, Netflix or YouTube app, or mirror the content in any open tab in Google's Chrome browser using a tab casting feature.
Inside the Chromecast's packaging, you'll find a dongle, an HDMI extender, micro-USB cable and an electrical plug adapter. The dongle itself measures 70mm long and 12mm thick, and is 35mm wide at its most bulbous point. Beveled matte black plastic panels on the top and bottom sides are joined by a band of glossy polycarbonate ringing the edge. Inside that plastic exterior lies a Marvell SoC, a combination Bluetooth/FM/802.11 b/g/n WiFi radio, 2GB of storage and 512MB of SDRAM. Up top, there's silver Chrome branding and a single LED power indicator. If you're curious, the requisite model numbers and FCC info can be found on the bottom. Not much to it, folks.
Speaking of which, you can use Chromecast on both the iOS and Android apps for YouTube and Netflix, and the service generally worked well whether we were using a Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7 or fifth-generation iPod touch. Videos played with just a little bit of artifacting as the dongle buffered the content, but the streaming quality was otherwise excellent. Because Chromecast is a feature within existing apps, calling up content works as it always has within those respective applications. Also worth noting: the YouTube app allows you to add videos to a playlist and have them (mostly) stream in seamless succession. The only hiccup we found with the "add to TV queue" feature made itself known when we added a video to the playlist from a new device. This caused the then-playing video to stop and switch to the video chosen on the new device. However, after that device's initial cast, adding videos to the list from any device can be done without interruption.%Gallery-194847% 041b061a72