Spotify for desktop can now directly initiate Chromecast streams, reports 9to5Google.
Previously, the only way to control Chromecast streams on the desktop app was by initiating the stream on the Spotify mobile app first, but now you can do this directly from your Mac via Spotify Connect.
Starting a Chromecast stream on the desktop app can be done by clicking the Devices Available button on the bottom-right corner of the interface, where Google Cast as well as Spotify Connect-enabled speakers will now appear alongside any Bluetooth or AirPlay devices.
The functionality is available in version 1.1.38 of the Spotify app for Mac, and should delight users who have been asking for it in the Spotify Community forums for years.
Top Rated Comments
Quick check suggests this is still the case:
So perhaps Spotify have access to a special, private API? Would be interesting to know.
ironically I can no longer see the Google Dot on the list of devices to stream to on my iPhone app. I have to play a song via Google command directly on my Google Dot first and only then I can control the music on the Dot via my iPhone
Or perhaps API is just a contract between the 2 parties and it's not rocket science to figure it out? There are even open source implementations, e.g. https://github.com/insidegui/ChromeCastCore, that can be used outside of iOS world.Be great if a tech site like this one could cover how they are doing this. I have been told and always believed it wasn’t possible before because there is no Chromecast API for desktop applications, only iOS, Android and Chrome.
Quick check suggests this is still the case:
So perhaps Spotify have access to a special, private API? Would be interesting to know.