Chromecast Now Streaming Web-based Google Play Media
December 16, 2013
By Michelle Amodio, TMCnet Contributor
Google Play Music and Google Play Movies & TV can now stream from the Web on Google’s Chromecast device. Android (News - Alert) and Google aficionados can now cast their favorite song or show from the convenience of the Chrome browser to their television in the living room or family room.
All that is required is the Google (News - Alert) Cast extension installed on the Chrome Web browser. Users then just click on the cast icon in the Google Play Web player and any movie, song, or TV show will cast over to the television via Chromecast.
Google seems to be updating its inexpensive device with more apps and features for the common cord cutter. The company recently announced a full host of apps that let users stream cloud-based content to their Chromecast, including RealPlayer Cloud, Plex, and Avia.
While Chromecast has been popular due to its pricing, it’s extremely limited app lineup lags in comparison to rivals Apple (News - Alert) TV and Roku. Google is, of course, not one to stay behind on the times, so it’s safe to assume that the tech behemoth will start rolling out more app compatibility and features to entice more buyers towards its product.
Gadgets like the cost-effective Chromecast are part of a larger scope of products designed to offer more viewing media at home minus a cable television subscription. The growing adoption of broadband combined with a dramatic push by content providers to promote online video has helped to pave the way for mainstream audiences to embrace online video viewing.
Streaming entertainment, or “cord cutting” as it is known, allows for people to bypass their cable providers entirely, giving users the ability to watch or download their favorite TV shows and movies exclusively online. Hanging in the balance is the question of how this will affect cable companies and, subsequently, the customers who do subscribe to TV services.
Market intelligence from Deloitte (News - Alert) predicted that 2013 wouldn’t see much of cord cutting (less than 1 percent) and those that do are driven to do so due to economic factors and changing TV watching habits. But the pay TV market is a moving target and its variables change over time; subscribers hop on or drop off every quarter.
Word on the street is the Internet is still going to be the contender that kicks cable TV to the curb. Predictions indicate that you’ll be able to watch pretty much anything so long as you have a connection and a TV. Chromecast makes it that much easier to do so.
The device is a mere $35, which is comparatively low against other devices of its ilk. At that price, it’s a rather tempting alternative to other set-top boxes and overpriced cable subscriptions.
Edited by Cassandra Tucker