- Smart House
It was 2013 when Google released a small device called Chromecast that caught the imagination of consumers. Chromecast? What is Chromecast? This gadget had been created to act as a wireless link between a television and other devices, such as cell phones, tablets and computers.
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Since then it was a versatile and incredibly affordable platform compared to streaming media devices at the time like Roku and Apple TV. It also brought a new meaning to an existing word: Casting no longer just refers to the process of casting actors or casting a lure into the water; now also describes the act of sending audio or video wirelessly to a Chromecast device.
But, Google's Chromecast technology is now rolling out across a wide variety of devices, from TVs to soundbars to smart speakers, which means we should all be familiar with what it is, what it does, how to use it, and how it compares. with similar wireless technologies.
Is Chromecast hardware or software?
So Chromecast is it a physical device, a software on your cell phone or something else? The short answer is, yes, it is all of these things. But since that is not very useful, let's analyze.
Google Cast/Chromecast: the wireless transmission technology
All Chromecast devices, which we'll get to shortly, use a proprietary Google technology that was initially called Google Cast, but is now called Chromecast built-in. This is where we get the term casting from.
Streaming uses two different techniques depending on what you want to see or hear. If the content you're streaming is from a streaming service, like YouTube or Spotify, you're actually sending an instruction from one device to another.
When you stream a YouTube video from your phone to a Google Chromecast connected to your TV, your phone says, "Hey Chromecast, here's a YouTube video I want you to play."
The Chromecast device then responds appropriately by accessing YouTube directly over Wi-Fi so it can cast that video for you. It's a bit like the way a classic remote doesn't send the NBC signal to your TV, it just tells your TV to tune to NBC (or whatever channel you've chosen).
The only limitation is that your chosen streaming app must support streaming. Not all do, and some are picky about the devices used to do the casting. Amazon Prime Video, for example, will let you stream from an Android or iOS device, but not from a computer.
If you want to stream music stored on your computer or phone or mirror the entire content of your phone screen or perhaps a tab in the Chrome browser, that content needs to be physically streamed from one device to another.
Isn't that what Apple AirPlay does?
Much very similar. Chromecast and AirPlay work very similarly, but with a few key differences. Android, iOS, and Windows devices can stream to compatible Chromecast devices, while AirPlay only works when casting from a Mac or iOS device.
Chromecast also supports higher-resolution audio: You can stream high-res lossless audio up to 24-bit 96kHz with Chromecast, but AirPlay is restricted to 16-bit CD-quality lossless audio at 44.1kHz.
Google Chromecast Devices
As we mentioned earlier, the original Google-made Chromecast device was a small HDMI dongle that you plugged into your TV. Once connected to power and your Wi-Fi network, it allows you to stream video content from your computer, phone or tablet to your TV.
That device proved hugely popular thanks to its low price and ease of operation, and was quickly followed by Chromecast Audio (for streaming audio only to a set of powered speakers or any device with an audio input). Google eventually released two more Chromecasts, including the 4K/HDR-capable Chromecast Ultra.
All these devices share a common philosophy. They rely on a source device to "send" content to them. They have no remote control: everything from choosing what's being streamed to controlling playback is done from the source device. There is no on-screen interface and no built-in apps or features.
Not everyone is comfortable with this arrangement, which is why fully standalone devices like Roku and Apple TV remain popular. That's why, in 2020, Google launched Chromecast with Google TV, which we'll discuss in a bit.
Google discontinued Chromecast Audio and Chromecast Ultra. It currently sells two Chromecast devices: the $30 Chromecast (without remote) and the $50 Chromecast with Google TV (with remote).
Third-party Chromecast devices
You'll find Chromecast built into a wide variety of devices, from sound bars to smart TVs. It's a standard feature on TVs using Google's Android TV software and is available on Wi-Fi enabled speakers from brands like LG, JBL, Bang & Olufsen, Vizio, Denon and many more.
It's also a built-in feature of streaming media devices that use Android TV, such as Nvidia Shield TV and recently released streaming devices from Walmart.
Once set up according to the manufacturer's instructions, you can stream audio and/or video (depending on the device) to these products the same way you would Google's Chromecast devices.
Chromecast with Google TV
The $50 Chromecast with Google TV may sound like a regular Chromecast device; after all, it bears its name and plugs into your TV's HDMI input just like Google's other Chromecasts, but it's really a full-featured Android TV streaming device.
It's essentially identical to other Android TV streamers like Nvidia Shield TV or TiVo Stream 4K, in that it uses Android TV software and comes with a dedicated remote. The biggest difference is that Google has added a new highly customized interface called Google TV, which replaces the standard Android TV home screen.
You can use Chromecast with Google TV as a standalone device thanks to its remote, or cast from your other devices.
Chromecast and Google Home
One of the benefits of having a product with Chromecast built-in is that it can be managed from the Google Home app on iOS and Android. Once added, you'll be able to control features like playback and volume for each device and assign them to different rooms.
In case of speakers, you can create groups that will play the same transmitted audio simultaneously. You'll also be able to use the Google Assistant to control these devices with your voice and add them to your smart home routines.
How to issue
In your favorite mobile app, look for a rectangular icon with three concentric rings in the corner. In some apps, this can be found on the home screen, like the Netflix for Android screen above. In other apps, it may only be accessible from the playback screen.
Tap that icon and you'll be presented with a list of Cast-enabled devices on your network. Please note that if you are streaming video content, it will only show you video-capable devices, such as smart TVs or streaming media devices. When streaming audio, you'll likely see Chromecast built-in devices with audio and video capability.
Simply choose the device you want from the list to start a streaming session. Depending on whether or not you've tapped the cast icon on a playback screen, your chosen content may begin playing on the selected device immediately, or you may need to start playback from the casting device.
Once the casting session has started, the broadcast icon will change from an empty rectangle to a filled rectangle. You can control playback or end the streaming session at any time by tapping the Stream icon again.