Google today announced Google Cast for audio, a new music streaming technology in the vein of Chromecast that lets users stream sound from their smartphone, tablet, or Chrome-based web browser to Google Cast-ready speakers.
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The service uses pre-existing apps like Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Google Play Music, amongst a sizable list of others, to play a user's songs on a selection of speakers from companies like Sony and LG. With the long list of supported apps and sites, Google Cast supports a wide variety of input devices from iPhone, iPad, Android Phones and tablets, to any Mac or PC with a Chrome browser.
While Google Cast at first glance appears similar to Apple's AirPlay in that it is a standard available to speaker manufacturers to ensure support for wireless audio streaming, Google Cast speakers stream content from the cloud rather than directly from the control device. As a result, Google promises users will receive the best sound quality and can multitask on their devices without disturbing the streams.
The company promises the first Google Cast-ready speakers from Sony, LG, and HEOS by Denon will be made available this spring. Alongside the promise of a wider array of brands supporting the service with their own speakers throughout 2015, Google states that these devices will accompany "a growing Google Cast ecosystem," which plans to include Android-based TVs, gaming consoles, and even set-top boxes.
Top Rated Comments
That's amazing. No, not the tech, the spin. So somehow streaming music from some other site on the continent is supposed to be better than streaming it from a local computer connected at gigabit speeds? Rii-ii-ight...
I'll continue to use AirPlay with the Remote App on my iPhone or iPad controlling my iTunes library locally, and NOT have to worry about asking GoOgle permission to stream music from their servers. Oh, and I'll stream it to all my AirPlay devices plus my computers speakers synchronously, filling my house with music.
And when I want, I'll also be able to stream straight from my device to my speakers without having to route it over the Internet. Sorry, GoOgle, you can't put ads in my music stream or track my listening habits.
Yet another lame me-too product from the folks who brought you Android.
some people like multiple platforms
Lack of DTS.
Limited to 5.1 DD Surround sound.
No high-deff codec.
An App being a requirement.
Limited to 2.0 support from my 4K media streamer through my 4K TV even though I get 5.1DD from Netflix/Blu-Ray.
It was just a pain, especially if you have guests. Makes a lot more sense to go 'all in' on AirPlay which lets people also throw up photos/videos on TVs.
Really no points in buying a ton a bridges to add to the system for audio.
AirPlay offers an all around better solution that includes photos/video.
I went 'all in' with Sonos last year. Multiple TV bars w/ surround and multiple peripheral speakers. Spent a TON of money. All Sonos gear is gone and I am back to Sony w/ Airplay, Marantz, and AppleTV.