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Google: millions of Chromecasts sold, international launch soon

by Mark Tyson on 10 March 2014, 15:00

Tags: Google (NASDAQ:GOOG)

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Google's Chromecast device has been selling well, if Sundar Pichai, Google's SVP of Android and Chrome is to be believed. Speaking at SXSW in Texas on Sunday the Google bigwig said that "millions" have been sold. Pichai also said that sales of the HDMI multimedia streaming adaptor are growing "very actively" and it is soon to be launched in international markets.

The Chromecast was launched at just $35 in the US last July and is understandably popular at that impulse buy level price. The device allows streaming on your HDMI equipped TV/monitor of many movie and music services as well as just about anything from you can watch in Google's Chrome browser thanks to the 'cast' button. Watching on the big screen you don't need a remote as the Chromecast takes its orders from the tablet or smartphone you already own (Android and iOS, Macs and PCs with the Chrome browser).

As mentioned in the intro, Sundar Pichai told attendees at SXSW in Texas on Sunday that the Chromecast was selling like hotcakes. "We are in the millions now, and it’s growing very actively," he said in the first public statement about the devices sales numbers. So it is imperative that Google gets its skates on and sets up distribution worldwide. Such a launch was mentioned at SXSW but unfortunately no countries/regions were named specifically. Other competitive device makers (like Roku) have no doubt noticed the budget priced Chromecast's success in the US and would like to rub out any of Google's first mover advantage in other territories.

Remember the Google Cast Software Development Kit (SDK) for app-developers was launched just a month ago and promises to make the device even more useful as more app makers can easily integrate casting into their wares. I notice that UK buyers have been able to purchase these Chromecast dongles recently, at £29.99 including delivery, but hope that Google implements an even keener price.



HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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Initially I misunderstood these “Cast” sticks, including the Roku offering.

So all it does it receive a sound and video stream from a compatible “Casting” device?

Not too impressed to be honest. If it were able to stream anything from my PC / mobile then that's a different matter, but restricting it to only certain browsers or apps just restricts the use too much for my money.
I've been using a chromecast for few months now and for US$35 can't really complain. Yeah you have to stream from something but these days when don't you have a smartphone or tab near you… I was already using mine for a remote anyway.

Streaming tabs from Chrome PC is good as well.

Now that they have opened up the API more and more apps are getting support.
Dooms
Yeah you have to stream from something but these days when don't you have a smartphone or tab near you… I was already using mine for a remote anyway.

That's a good point. My mobile is generally an extension of me and is always within arms reach. Still tempted and might just have to take a gambit and see where it leads, although i'll need to find one that can stream from PC without going through chrome browser.

On a side point, anyone know if chromebooks get native support for casting the screen / sound? i.e. can I use the chromecast to setup a 2nd monitor?
The way I understood it, your phone/tablet (with Chromecast app) tells the chromecast what to stream, but the Chromecast itself streams from the internet so once you're finished with the act of ‘casting’, you can do what you want with the phone/tablet, even switch it off and the film/music will still stream.
Smudger
The way I understood it, your phone/tablet (with Chromecast app) tells the chromecast what to stream, but the Chromecast itself streams from the internet so once you're finished with the act of ‘casting’, you can do what you want with the phone/tablet, even switch it off and the film/music will still stream.

That is true (unless you are streaming from a tab in chrome) - I quite often swap control devices mid stream when I want to pause or something and I just grab the closest device :P