Chromecast is a new USB like device by Google which plugs into the HDMI port of of your conventional TV. It is a powered device and needs power connection to run. It runs on new “Cast” protocol by Google and communicates with many devices which run on the same Wi-Fi home network. The devices need to be compatible with released Apps (currently available on IOS and Android). It is this Apps that diverts the media (music or video) to you TV.

Chromecast is of 35 USD, running on Chrome OS and is having 256 KB of memory (looking small, isn’t it?). Despite having a small memory it can stream standard resolution video of 1080p. So, what exactly Chromecast does?

• Streams music and video to your TV wirelessly
• Mirrors the screen of your IOS and Android devices ( there is possibility of heavy battery drain of your device)
• Plays YouTube and Netflix video directly from devices to your TV. The Apps on the devices are asked if these media is to played on the device itself or on the TV
• Though this device is currently not meant for Internet browsing on TV, it still does that with some glitches

List of Pre-requisites of this Chromecast device is not small. You need the following:

• A smartphone with Apps installed
• HDMI port on TV
• A power connection for the device
• And finally, a common Wi-Fi connection

Going by my Google TV experience it can safely be said that you need a strong Wi-Fi presence and a router of modern generation. By all probability the older router will not be detected by Chromecast.

Google TV (around 125 USD), which runs on Android is the big brother of Chromecast. It converts your ordinary TV to Smart TV in comparatively inexpensive way. You have got special Google Apps store with numerous Apps available for various purpose. The major difference between Google TV and Chromecast is the immersive experience of Google TV with numerous TV channel viewing option, Games, running Apps like Skype etc. But, its small brother can stream the smart devices and Google TV, till now is incapable of doing this. Google is not planning to abort Google TV as yet and intends to add this missing functionality soon. Google TV has got many variants and one of the major variant is by Logitech called ‘Revue’ which has got a remote portable keyboard cum remote along with the box..

So, what is strategic in that? and what’s the fun of bringing in overlapping devices? It is probably part of a bigger scheme. You might have heard about Google Fiber ,Google’s ambitious project of high speed Internet connection. Smartphone market dominance, high-speed Internet connection and end delivery device and browser based operating system (Chrome)…isn’t that sounding like a grand plan? One of the major aim of Google is to do away with the satellite TVs , cable companies and even the smart TV manufacturers in the business of entertainment. Google has got two major competitors here, Apple TV and Roku HD box and streaming stick. There is also Amazon, with its Kindle series device and Video delivery system. While Google tops everybody with the total eco-system, Roku and Amazon is slightly ahead in content creation and sourcing. Roku alone provides seamless connection to YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO Go and other channels.

So, why all the big players are veering around this channel? A simple answer comes out from Sundar Pichai of Google in his recent interview . According to him, 49.5% of the net usage in USA is attributed to YouTube and Netflix alone and that average US household spend 4.5 hours daily on TV viewing. TV being so common a device, the usage is expected to be much higher. So, there is a vast gap between perceived demand and supply. Therefore, Google and other players are simply trying to be the early bird in the morning!

Author: Technology Blog