Google finally struck gold in its quest to take over the living room with its Chromecast streaming stick, selling 20 million of them in two years. So it makes sense the company is bringing out a new and improved version of the device.
Google’s new Chromecast dumps the stick design in favor of a small new circular device that mimics the design of a vinyl record, with an HDMI plug attached via a short cable. The new design should make it easier to plug the device into hard-to-reach ports on TVs. The device will also have improved Wi-Fi performance thanks to three internal antennae designed to better pick up home wireless networks.
The new Chromecast also boasts a number of software improvements. The Chromecast app will feature a new “What’s On” menu that shows the Chromecast-compatible apps a user has on their phone and shows they can watch from those services. Developers will also be able to make use of a new feature called “Fast Play” that allows them to pre-download content when a Chromecast is plugged in, to reduce or eliminate buffering. Netflix might pre-load part of the next episode of Breaking Bad if it knows you’ve been on a binge of the AMC show, for example.
Google also showed off a separate device called Chromecast Audio, which can provide Internet connectivity to home speakers. The device interacts with speakers in much the same way the old Chromecast works with TVs. Users plug the device into a speaker’s audio input, then can use their smartphones to control Chromecast-compatible apps such as Spotify or Google Play Music. Chromecast Audio will also let users mirror audio from a web browser to their speakers so they can play audio not available in regular streaming apps.
Both the new Chromecast and Chromecast Audio go on sale Tuesday for $35 each.
The 10 Most Ambitious Google Projects
Google Driverless Car
The Google Self-Driving Car has been in the works since 2005 after a team of engineers won a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to design an autonomous car. The project, which aims to reduce traffic accidents, has made headway in recent years as states passed laws permitting self-driving cars. Google plans a commercial release between 2017 and 2020.David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty ImagesGoogle has been testing balloons which sail into the stratosphere and beam Internet down to Earth. Jon Shenk—APGoogle's smart contact lenses.Google/APGoogle Lively
Google Lively was a web-based virtual community space where users could design avatars, chat with one another and personalize their online hangout space. The project was discontinued after a six-month stint in 2008 after limited success.Google/APGoogle Earth
Google's virtual map of the Earth allows users to tour the earth with 3-D satellite images. The project, which dates back to 2004, has already found significant applications in disaster relief.Google/APProject Ara
Google's build-your-own-smartphone project allows users to customize their handsets to their own preferences, with the possibility of eliminating electronic waste by encouraging users to add hardware updates on their own terms. The team is working towards a limited market pilot in 2015.Bryan Bedder—Getty Images for Engadget ExpandDisease Detecting Pill
Google unveiled its plans to disease-detecting ingestible pill in October, a project that'll let patients access their real-time health data to encourage preventative care. The pill will contain nanoparticles that can bind to certain cells and chemicals, with the possibility of detecting diseases like cancer in early stages.Getty ImagesFlying Wind Turbines
The flying windmill is the project of Makani Power, a wind turbine developer acquired by Google in 2013. The tethered airborne turbines will harness wind energy for the goal of producing low-cost, renewable energyAndrea Dunlap—Makani Power/APGoogle+
Google's social networking platform launched in 2011, the most successful service after several flops at designing a Facebook competitor, like the now-retired Google Buzz. Today, Google+ boasts over half a billion monthly active users.Stephen Lam—ReutersGoogle Books
Google Books dates back to 2004, when Google partnered with libraries and universities to plan to digitize millions of volumes over the next several years. The project aims to make searching books as easy as searching the web.Getty Images
