Google Cast Explained

Developer:Google
Industry:Streaming media

Google Cast is a proprietary protocol developed by Google for playing locally stored or Internet-streamed audiovisual content on a compatible consumer device. The protocol is used to initiate and control playback of content on digital media players, high-definition televisions, and home audio systems using a mobile device, personal computer, or smart speaker. The protocol was first launched on July 24, 2013, to support Google's first-generation Chromecast player.[1]

The Google Cast SDK was released on February 3, 2014, allowing third parties to modify their software to support the protocol.[2] According to Google, over 20,000 Google Cast-ready apps were available as of May 2015. Support for Google Cast has since been integrated into subsequent devices, such as the Nexus Player and other Android TV devices (such as televisions), as well as soundbars, speakers, and later models of the Chromecast. Consumer devices that natively support the protocol were marketed as Chromecast built-in from 2016[3] to 2024, after which the branding reverted back to the Google Cast name.[4]

Operation

Google Cast receivers can stream content via two methods: the first employs mobile and web apps that support the Google Cast technology; the second allows mirroring of content from the web browser Google Chrome running on a personal computer, as well as content displayed on some Android devices.[6] In both cases, playback is initiated through the "cast" button on the sender device.[7]

Sender devices previously needed to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as a Google Cast receiver device to cast content,[15] [16] until the addition of a "guest mode" feature on December 10, 2014.[17] When enabled, the feature allows sender devices to discover a nearby player by detecting ultrasonic audio emitted by the television or speaker system to which the player is connected;[18] [19] alternatively, the sender device can be paired with the receiver device using a four-digit PIN code.[19] [20] Guest mode is only available for Chromecasts; the Nexus Player and Android TV devices do not support the feature.[21]

SDK and compatible apps

Release and distribution

When the first-generation Chromecast was released, four Google Cast-compatible apps were available: YouTube and Netflix were supported as Android, iOS, and Chrome web apps; Google Play Music and Google Play Movies & TV were also supported, but originally only as Android apps.[22] [23] Additional apps supporting casting would require access to the Google Cast software development kit (SDK). The SDK was first released as a preview version on July 24, 2013. Google advised interested developers to use the SDK to create and test apps, but not distribute them.[24] While that admonition remained in force, Google Cast-enabled applications for Hulu Plus and Pandora Radio were released in October 2013, and HBO GO in November.[25] [26] Google invited developers to a two-day hackathon on December 7 at Googleplex, its Mountain View headquarters, offering the opportunity to test drive the SDK's "upcoming release".[27] The session attracted 40 developers from 30 companies and was followed by 10 additional apps, including Plex, Avia, and Realplayer Cloud.[28]

Google opened the SDK to all developers on February 3, 2014.[29] In its introductory documentation and video presentation, Google said the SDK worked with both Chromecast devices and other unnamed "cast receiver devices". Chromecast product manager Rish Chandra said that Google used the intervening time to improve the SDK's reliability and accommodate those developers who sought a quick and easy way to cast a photo to a television without a lot of coding. Google also made the SDK a part of the Google Play Services framework, thereby giving users access to new apps without having to update Android itself.[30] [31] Over time, many more applications have been updated to support Google Cast. At Google I/O 2014, the company announced that 6,000 registered developers were working on 10,000 Google Cast–ready apps;[32] by the following year's conference, the number of compatible apps had doubled.[33] Google has published case studies documenting Google Cast integration by Comedy Central, Just Dance Now, Haystack News and Fitnet.[34]

Framework

The development framework has two components: a sender app and a receiver app, both of which make use of APIs provided by the SDK.

Supported media

Chromecast supports the image formats BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, and WEBP, with a display size limitation of 720p (1280 × 720 pixels). Supported audio codecs are HE-AAC, LC-AAC, MP3, Vorbis, WAV (LPCM), FLAC (up to 96 kHz/24-bit) and Opus;[35] AC-3 (Dolby Digital) and E-AC-3 (EC-3, Dolby Digital Plus) are available for audio pass-through.

Different video codecs are supported across Google's portfolio of devices:[35]

Additional functionality and APIs

At International CES 2015, Google announced an expansion to Google Cast called "Google Cast for audio", which allows apps that support the Google Cast SDK to play audio through compatible Wi-Fi–connected speakers, soundbars, and receivers.[36] Manufacturers supporting Google Cast as a built-in function in their speakers include LG and Sony.[37]

In May 2015, Google introduced new sets of APIs to Google Cast. The Cast Remote Display APIs allow developers to create second-screen experiences for apps such as games without needing to mirror displays. The Game Manager APIs offer developers more options for creating multiplayer games.[38] Lastly, additional APIs were provided to control autoplaying and queuing of content.[39]

In September 2015, Google announced "Fast Play" and accompanying developer tools, which are aimed at reducing the delays between loading content. In a typical scenario, if a user viewed the first three episodes of a television series, the fourth episode might load in the background.[40] The feature's release has since been delayed.[41]

Compatible devices

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Google Launches the $35 Chromecast Streaming Device to Bring Chrome to the Living Room . October 21, 2020 . TechCrunch . October 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201025140000/https://techcrunch.com/2013/07/24/google-chromecast/ . live .
  2. Web site: Protalinski . Emil . February 3, 2014 . Google Opens Up Chromecast to Developers, Releases Cast SDK . October 21, 2020 . The Next Web .
  3. Google Quietly Phases Out 'Google Cast' Branding for TVs, Speakers . Roettgers . Janko . November 23, 2016 . . November 23, 2016 .
  4. Web site: Google has sold 55 million Chromecasts around the world . Android Central . Mobile Nations . Harish . Jonnalagadda . October 4, 2017 . October 4, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171005101127/https://www.androidcentral.com/google-has-sold-55-million-chromecasts-around-world . October 5, 2017 .
  5. Web site: 'Google Cast' is replacing the 'Chromecast built-in'. 9to5Google. Abner. Li. May 26, 2024. August 15, 2024. over 55 million Google Cast-enabled devices have been sold.[4]
  6. News: Turner. Adam. Hands on: Chromecast Android screen mirroring. The Sydney Morning Herald. July 14, 2014.
  7. News: Should I buy Google Chromecast? . . . Rick . Maybury . April 5, 2014 . July 3, 2014 .
  8. Web site: Wow! Google's Chromecast Is Amazingly Hackable . Co.Labs . . Gabe . Stein . July 24, 2013 . January 9, 2014 .
  9. Web site: Get Started with Chromecast: What's under the Hood? . Chromecast Help . Google Inc. . August 7, 2014 .
  10. Web site: Google Reveals Chromecast: Video Streaming to Your TV from Any Device for $35 . . . Adi . Robertson . July 24, 2013 . September 19, 2013 .
  11. Web site: Google Photos for Android Now Works with Chromecast . . . Chris . Welch . October 1, 2015 . October 8, 2015 .
  12. Web site: Google Updates Photos and Wallet Apps for iOS with New Features . AppAdvice . Aldrin . Calimlim . December 11, 2015 . January 1, 2016 .
  13. Web site: Cast from Chrome to your TV: Casting a Tab. support.google.com. Google Inc. . September 24, 2013.
  14. Web site: Cast from Chrome to your TV: Minimum System Requirements. support.google.com. Google Inc. . August 30, 2013.
  15. Web site: Chromecast to allow casting without being on same WiFi network. Android Central. Richard. Devine. June 25, 2014. June 25, 2014.
  16. Web site: Chromecast Is Getting a Slew of Awesome New Features. Gizmodo. Gawker Media. Andrew. Tarantola. June 25, 2014. June 25, 2014.
  17. Web site: Chromecast Update Brings Guest Mode, Beta Mirroring, Fresh Material UI. Droid Life. Kellex. December 11, 2014. December 12, 2014.
  18. Web site: Google's Chromecast will use ultrasonic sounds to connect with nearby devices. The Verge. Vox Media. Chris. Welch. June 26, 2014. June 27, 2014.
  19. Web site: Set up guest mode for Chromecast Audio. support.google.com. Google Inc. . December 18, 2015.
  20. Web site: Chromecast will use ultrasonic sounds to pair your TV with your friend's phones . . Janko . Roettgers . June 26, 2014 . June 27, 2014 . June 26, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140626183356/http://gigaom.com/2014/06/26/chromecast-will-use-ultrasonic-sounds-to-pair-your-tv-with-your-friends-phones/ . dead .
  21. Web site: Guest Mode . . Google Inc. . July 26, 2016 . November 18, 2016 .
  22. Web site: This Week in Tech 416 . TWiT.tv. July 31, 2013.
  23. Web site: Chromecast vs. Roku vs. Apple TV: What's the Best Streaming Device? | Daily Ticker . . Yahoo . Aaron . Pressman . August 1, 2013 . August 27, 2013 .
  24. Web site: Google Cast Release Notes: 1.0. Google Developers. Google Inc. . July 24, 2013. June 27, 2014.
  25. Web site: Nischol . Karan . Cast Away: Hulu Plus on Chromecast . Blog . Hulu . October 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225550/http://blog.hulu.com/2013/10/02/cast-away-hulu-plus-on-chromecast/ . October 4, 2013 .
  26. Web site: Chromecast adds Pandora to short list of apps so far. CNET. CBS Interactive. Joan E.. Solesman. October 31, 2013. June 27, 2014.
  27. Web site: Google invites devs over for a Chromecast hackathon plus SDK show-and-tell, updates official app. Engadget. AOL . Lawler. Richer. November 21, 2013. June 27, 2014 .
  28. Web site: Chromecast in 2014: an open SDK, big international plans and maybe even new devices. GigaOM. Janko. Roettgers. December 13, 2013. June 27, 2014. June 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140626191726/http://gigaom.com/2013/12/13/chromecast-in-2014-an-open-sdk-big-international-plans-and-maybe-even-new-devices/. dead.
  29. Web site: Google takes Chromecast SDK out of preview. ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Chris. Duckett. February 4, 2014. June 27, 2014.
  30. Web site: Affaki. John. Ready to cast: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK. Google Developers Blog. February 3, 2014.
  31. News: Roettgers. Janko. Get ready for tons of new Chromecast apps: Google releases Cast SDK. Gigaom. February 3, 2014. November 17, 2016. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203192513/http://gigaom.com/2014/02/03/chromecast-apps-sdk-google-cast/. dead.
  32. News: Live: Google unveils Android experiences for home, car . . . Brett . Molina . June 25, 2014 . June 27, 2014 .
  33. Web site: 17M Chromecasts Sold to Date – 20,000 Apps Available . TechnoBuffalo . Todd . Haselton . May 28, 2015 . May 28, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150528223514/http://www.technobuffalo.com/2015/05/28/17m-chromecasts-sold-to-date-20000-apps-available/ . May 28, 2015 .
  34. Web site: Cast: Case Studies. Google Developers. Google Inc. . April 13, 2016.
  35. Web site: Supported Media for Google Cast. March 13, 2023. Google Developers. Google Inc.. August 9, 2024.
  36. Web site: Google takes on AirPlay with Google Cast for audio. The Verge. Vox Media. Micah. Singleton. January 5, 2015. January 11, 2015.
  37. Web site: Google Cast for audio. Google Cast. February 4, 2016.
  38. Web site: Google Launches 'Cast Remote Display' APIs, 'Game Manager' APIs. Droid Life. Tim-o-tato. May 29, 2015. November 18, 2016.
  39. Web site: Google Cast Gets New APIs, Allowing For Second-Screen Functionality, Autoplay, Queuing, And More. Android Police. David. Ruddock. May 29, 2015. November 18, 2016.
  40. Web site: Google Announces Chromecast 2 And Chromecast Audio To Bring Intelligence To Your Living Room. TechCrunch. AOL. Drew. Olanoff. September 29, 2015. September 30, 2015.
  41. Web site: Chromecast's Fast Play Content Prediction feature has been delayed, still being worked on. Android Police. David. Ruddock. July 27, 2016. November 21, 2016.
  42. Web site: Chromecast built-in - Audio . July 27, 2017.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Google Cast".

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