In 2013, Google launched a small HDMI dongle called Chromecast. This device allowed streaming audio and video from smartphones, tablets, or computers to televisions. Chromecast was an affordable way to stream TV when smart TVs were rare, gaining popularity as an alternative to dedicated streaming media devices like Roku and Apple TV.
The Chromecast hardware started as a small HDMI dongle that you plug into your TV. Once connected to power and your Wi-Fi network, it allowed you to cast video content from your computer, smartphone, or tablet to your TV. This device quickly became popular due to its low price and ease of use, leading to the release of variants like the Chromecast Audio.
Google allowed other companies to integrate Chromecast functionality into their TVs, soundbars, projectors, and speakers. This transition led Chromecast from being just a small dongle attached to a TV to becoming a technology that could be integrated into almost any device. This development caused some confusion regarding Google's technology and terminology.
Although Google's Chromecast devices proved popular, the lack of screen interface and remote control became an issue. As Roku and Amazon's devices became cheaper, Chromecast devices started to lose their appeal. Google had already developed a competitive platform known as Android TV, but it hadn't created its own Android TV product. This changed with the introduction of Google Chromecast with Google TV in 2020, a complete streaming media device based on Android TV.
Google Cast is the technology that enables content streaming. Google Cast uses different techniques depending on the content you want to watch or listen to. If the content you're casting comes from a streaming service like YouTube or Spotify, you're actually sending instructions from one device to another. When casting a YouTube video from your phone to a Google Cast-enabled device, your phone says, "Here's a YouTube video I want you to play," and the Cast-enabled device accesses YouTube directly with its own internet connection to stream the video.
Google Cast and Apple AirPlay work similarly, but there are a few key differences. Google Cast is supported by all PCs, Android, and iOS devices, whereas AirPlay only accepts streaming content from Apple products. Google Cast also supports higher resolution audio.
One advantage of having a product with Google Cast is that it can be managed from the Google Home app on both iOS and Android. Once added to Google Home, you can control things like playback and volume for each device, assign them to different rooms, and create speaker groups. You can also use Google Assistant to control these devices with your voice and add them to your smart home routines.
In conclusion, Google Chromecast and Google Cast technology enable the streaming of media from various devices to televisions and speakers. Google aimed to resolve terminology confusion by rebranding the built-in Chromecast label to Google Cast.
