Google Cast

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.{{cite news|last1=Turner|first1=Adam|title=Hands on: Chromecast Android screen mirroring|url=https://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-go/hands-on-chromecast-android-screen-mirroring-20140713-zt68u.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=July 14, 2014}} In both cases, playback is initiated through the "cast" button on the sender device.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/advice/10744999/Should-I-buy-Google-Chromecast.html |title=Should I buy Google Chromecast? |newspaper=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |first=Rick |last=Maybury |date=April 5, 2014 |access-date=July 3, 2014 }}

• The primary method of playing media on the device is through Google Cast–enabled mobile and web apps, which control program selection, playback, and volume. Google Cast receiver devices stream the media from the web within a local version of the Chrome browser,{{cite web |url=http://www.fastcolabs.com/3014797/wow-googles-chromecast-is-amazingly-hackable|title=Wow! Google's Chromecast Is Amazingly Hackable |work=Co.Labs |publisher=Fast Company |first=Gabe |last=Stein |date=July 24, 2013 |access-date=January 9, 2014 }} thus freeing the sender device up for other tasks, such as answering a call or using another application, without disrupting playback. Mobile apps enabled for Google Cast are available for both Android 4.1+ and iOS 7.0+; web apps enabled for Google Cast are available on computers running Google Chrome version 72 or later (on Microsoft Windows 7+, macOS 10.7+, and ChromeOS) through the installation of the "Cast extension" in the browser.{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/3046409?hl=en&ref_topic=3058948 |title=Get Started with Chromecast: What's under the Hood? |website=Chromecast Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=August 7, 2014 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/7/24/4552204/google-reveals-chromecast-tv-streaming |title=Google Reveals Chromecast: Video Streaming to Your TV from Any Device for $35 |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |first=Adi |last=Robertson |date=July 24, 2013 |access-date=September 19, 2013 }} Streamed content can be Internet-based, as provided by specific apps, or reside on the sender device's local storage.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/1/9433121/google-photos-android-chromecast-support-now-available |title=Google Photos for Android Now Works with Chromecast |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |first=Chris |last=Welch |date=October 1, 2015 |access-date=October 8, 2015 }}{{Cite web |url=http://appadvice.com/appnn/2015/12/google-updates-photos-and-wallet-apps-for-ios-with-new-features |title=Google Updates Photos and Wallet Apps for iOS with New Features |website=AppAdvice |first=Aldrin |last=Calimlim |date=December 11, 2015 |access-date=January 1, 2016 }}
• Content can also be mirrored from a tab of the Chrome browser (with the Cast extension) on a personal computer or from the screen of some Android 4.4+ devices. In the case of "tab casting", the quality of the image depends on the processing power of the device, and minimum system requirements apply to video streaming. Content that uses plug-ins, such as Silverlight and QuickTime, does not fully work, as the stream may lack sound or image.{{cite web|title=Cast from Chrome to your TV: Casting a Tab|url=https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/3228332?hl=en|work=support.google.com|publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=September 24, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/3209990?hl=en|title=Cast from Chrome to your TV: Minimum System Requirements|work=support.google.com|publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=August 30, 2013}} Similarly, screen images mirrored from Android devices are typically degraded, reflecting the fact that video displayed on the smaller screens of tablets and smartphones is usually downscaled.

Sender devices previously needed to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as a Google Cast receiver device to cast content,{{cite web|url=http://www.androidcentral.com/chromecast-allow-casting-without-being-same-wifi-network|title=Chromecast to allow casting without being on same WiFi network|work=Android Central|first=Richard|last=Devine|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=June 25, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/chromecast-gets-a-slew-of-extra-apps-and-an-awesome-new-1595869127|title=Chromecast Is Getting a Slew of Awesome New Features|work=Gizmodo|publisher=Gawker Media|first=Andrew|last=Tarantola|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=June 25, 2014}} until the addition of a "guest mode" feature on December 10, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.droid-life.com/2014/12/11/chromecast-update-brings-guest-mode-beta-mirroring-fresh-material-ui/|title=Chromecast Update Brings Guest Mode, Beta Mirroring, Fresh Material UI|work=Droid Life|author=Kellex|date=December 11, 2014|access-date=December 12, 2014}} 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;{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/26/5846726/chromecast-will-use-ultrasonic-sounds-to-connect-nearby-devices|title=Google's Chromecast will use ultrasonic sounds to connect with nearby devices|work=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|first=Chris|last=Welch|date=June 26, 2014|access-date=June 27, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6279388?hl=en|title=Set up guest mode for Chromecast Audio|work=support.google.com|publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=December 18, 2015}} alternatively, the sender device can be paired with the receiver device using a four-digit PIN code.{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/2014/06/26/chromecast-will-use-ultrasonic-sounds-to-pair-your-tv-with-your-friends-phones/ |title=Chromecast will use ultrasonic sounds to pair your TV with your friend's phones |work=GigaOM |first=Janko |last=Roettgers |date=June 26, 2014 |access-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |archive-url=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/ |url-status=dead }} Guest mode is only available for Chromecasts; the Nexus Player and Android TV devices do not support the feature.{{cite web |url=https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/guest_mode |title=Guest Mode |work=Google Developers |publisher=Google Inc. |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=November 18, 2016 }}

File:Chromecast cast button icon.svg players.{{cite web |url=https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/design_checklist#cast-button |title=Google Cast Design Checklist |work=Google Developers |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=July 30, 2014 }}]]

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.{{cite web|url=http://twit.tv/show/this-week-in-tech/416 |title=This Week in Tech 416 |work=TWiT.tv|access-date=July 31, 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/chromecast-vs-roku-vs-apple-tv-best-streaming-154945428.html |title=Chromecast vs. Roku vs. Apple TV: What's the Best Streaming Device? | Daily Ticker |work=Yahoo! Finance |publisher=Yahoo |first=Aaron |last=Pressman |date=August 1, 2013 |access-date=August 27, 2013 }} 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.{{cite web|url=https://developers.google.com/cast/release-notes|title=Google Cast Release Notes: 1.0|work=Google Developers|publisher=Google Inc. |date=July 24, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2014}} 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.{{cite web |last=Nischol |first=Karan |title=Cast Away: Hulu Plus on Chromecast |url=http://blog.hulu.com/2013/10/02/cast-away-hulu-plus-on-chromecast/ |work=Blog |publisher=Hulu |access-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225550/http://blog.hulu.com/2013/10/02/cast-away-hulu-plus-on-chromecast/ |archive-date=October 4, 2013 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/chromecast-adds-pandora-to-short-list-of-apps-so-far/|title=Chromecast adds Pandora to short list of apps so far|work=CNET|publisher=CBS Interactive|first=Joan E.|last=Solesman|date=October 31, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2014}} 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".{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/11/21/google-chromecast-sdk-hackathon-app/|title=Google invites devs over for a Chromecast hackathon plus SDK show-and-tell, updates official app|work=Engadget|publisher=AOL |last=Lawler|first=Richer|date=November 21, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2014 }} The session attracted 40 developers from 30 companies and was followed by 10 additional apps, including Plex, Avia, and Realplayer Cloud.{{cite web|url=http://gigaom.com/2013/12/13/chromecast-in-2014-an-open-sdk-big-international-plans-and-maybe-even-new-devices/|title=Chromecast in 2014: an open SDK, big international plans and maybe even new devices|work=GigaOM|first=Janko|last=Roettgers|date=December 13, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2014|archive-date=June 26, 2014|archive-url=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/|url-status=dead}}

Google opened the SDK to all developers on February 3, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-takes-chromecast-sdk-out-of-preview/|title=Google takes Chromecast SDK out of preview|work=ZDNet|publisher=CBS Interactive|first=Chris|last=Duckett|date=February 4, 2014|access-date=June 27, 2014}} 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.{{cite web|last=Affaki|first=John|title=Ready to cast: Chromecast now open to developers with the Google Cast SDK|url=http://googledevelopers.blogspot.com/2014/02/ready-to-cast-chromecast-now-open-to.html|work=Google Developers Blog|date=February 3, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|title=Get ready for tons of new Chromecast apps: Google releases Cast SDK|url=http://gigaom.com/2014/02/03/chromecast-apps-sdk-google-cast/|newspaper=Gigaom|date=February 3, 2014|access-date=November 17, 2016|archive-date=February 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203192513/http://gigaom.com/2014/02/03/chromecast-apps-sdk-google-cast/|url-status=dead}} 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;{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/06/25/live-google-io/11349219/ |title=Live: Google unveils Android experiences for home, car |newspaper=USA Today |publisher=Gannett Company |first=Brett |last=Molina |date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=June 27, 2014 }} by the following year's conference, the number of compatible apps had doubled.{{cite web |url=http://www.technobuffalo.com/2015/05/28/17m-chromecasts-sold-to-date-20000-apps-available/ |title=17M Chromecasts Sold to Date – 20,000 Apps Available |website=TechnoBuffalo |first=Todd |last=Haselton |date=May 28, 2015 |access-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528223514/http://www.technobuffalo.com/2015/05/28/17m-chromecasts-sold-to-date-20000-apps-available/ |archive-date=May 28, 2015 }} Google has published case studies documenting Google Cast integration by Comedy Central, Just Dance Now, Haystack News and Fitnet.{{Cite web|url=https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/case-studies|title=Cast: Case Studies|website=Google Developers|publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=April 13, 2016}}

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

• The sender app is based on a vendor's existing Android or iOS mobile app, or desktop web app, and provides users with content discovery and media controls, including the ability to select to which device content is streamed. Under the hood, sender apps can detect receiver devices on the same local network, establish a secure channel, and exchange messages.
• The receiver app is a web app executing in a Chrome browser-like environment resident on the cast receiver device. Receiver apps of varying complexities can be developed depending on the variety of content formats the app can play. For example, a simple receiver app might just play HTML video content, whereas custom receiver apps, which require more programming effort, can take a variety of streaming protocols, including MPEG-DASH, HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), and the Microsoft Smooth Streaming Protocol.

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;{{cite web|url=https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/media|title=Supported Media for Google Cast|date=March 13, 2023|website=Google Developers|publisher=Google Inc.|access-date=August 9, 2024}} 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:

• First and second generation Chromecast
• H.264 High Profile up to Level 4.1 (decoding up to 720p at 60 frames per second (fps) or 1080p at 30fps)
• VP8 (720p at 60fps or 1080p at 30fps)
• Third generation Chromecast
• H.264 High Profile up to Level 4.2 (decoding up to 720p at 60fps or 1080p at 60fps)
• VP8 (720p at 60fps or 1080p at 30fps)
• Chromecast Ultra
• H.264 High Profile up to level 4.2 (1080p at 60fps)
• VP8 (4K at 30fps)
• HEVC / H.265 Main and Main10 Profiles up to level 5.1 (4K at 60fps)
• VP9 Profile 0 and Profile 2 up to level 5.1 (4K at 60fps)
• Chromecast with Google TV
• H.264 High Profile up to level 5.1 (4K by 2K at 30fps)
• HEVC / H.265 Main and Main10 Profiles up to level 5.1 (4K by 2K at 60fps)
• VP9 Profile-2 (4K by 2K at 60fps)
• Google Nest Hub
• H.264 High Profile up to level 4.1 (720p at 60fps)
• VP9 up to level 4.0 (720p at 60fps)
• Nest Hub Max
• H.264 High Profile up to level 4.1 (720p at 30fps)
• VP9 up to level 4.0 (720p at 30fps)

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/5/7482719/google-cast-audio-streaming-speakers-availability-ces-2015|title=Google takes on AirPlay with Google Cast for audio|work=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|first=Micah|last=Singleton|date=January 5, 2015|access-date=January 11, 2015}} Manufacturers supporting Google Cast as a built-in function in their speakers include LG and Sony.{{Cite web|title = Google Cast for audio|url = https://www.google.com/cast/audio/|website=Google Cast|access-date=February 4, 2016}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.droid-life.com/2015/05/29/google-launches-cast-remote-display-apis-game-manager-apis/|title=Google Launches 'Cast Remote Display' APIs, 'Game Manager' APIs|work=Droid Life|author=Tim-o-tato|date=May 29, 2015|access-date=November 18, 2016}} Lastly, additional APIs were provided to control autoplaying and queuing of content.{{cite web|url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/05/29/google-cast-gets-new-apis-allowing-for-second-screen-functionality-autoplay-queuing-and-more/|title=Google Cast Gets New APIs, Allowing For Second-Screen Functionality, Autoplay, Queuing, And More|work=Android Police|first=David|last=Ruddock|date=May 29, 2015|access-date=November 18, 2016}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/09/29/google-invades-your-home-with-new-chromecast/|title=Google Announces Chromecast 2 And Chromecast Audio To Bring Intelligence To Your Living Room|work=TechCrunch|publisher=AOL|first=Drew|last=Olanoff|date=September 29, 2015|access-date=September 30, 2015}} The feature's release has since been delayed.{{cite web|url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/07/27/chromecasts-fast-play-content-prediction-feature-has-been-delayed-still-being-worked-on/|title=Chromecast's Fast Play Content Prediction feature has been delayed, still being worked on|work=Android Police|first=David|last=Ruddock|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=November 21, 2016}}

File:Collection of Chromecast devices.jpg

• Chromecast:
• First generation (video)
• Second generation (video)
• Third generation (video)
• Chromecast Audio (audio)
• Chromecast Ultra (video)
• Chromecast with Google TV
• Android TV devices:
• Nexus Player
• Nvidia Shield
• Xiaomi Mi Box
• Xiaomi Mi TV
• Hisense televisions
• Vizio televisions
• Sharp televisions
• Sony televisions
• Toshiba televisions
• Panasonic televisions
• Philips televisions
• Polaroid televisions
• Skyworth televisions
• Soniq televisions
• Nokia televisions and set-top boxes
• Onn. players
• Soundbars and speakers:{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/chromecast/built-in/audio/ |title=Chromecast built-in - Audio |access-date=July 27, 2017}}
• Google Nest (previously Google Home)
• Vizio
• Sony
• Samsung
• LG
• Philips
• B&O Play
• Grundig
• Polk Audio
• Bang & Olufsen
• Raumfeld
• Brookstone
• NAD
• Onkyo
• Integra
• Pioneer
• Riva Wand
• Grace Digital
• Jensen
• JBL

• AirPlay
• Miracast
• WiDi
• DLNA

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://developers.google.com/cast/ Google Cast SDK] at Google Developers

{{Google LLC}}

Cast

Category:Streaming media systems

Category:Wireless display technologies