Tag: Chromecast

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Chromecast 4K with Google TV received October security update

After getting the Android 12 update in the first half of October, the Chromecast with Google TV 4K is now set to receive the October 2022 security patch.

‘STTE.220920.015.A1’ is a 148MB update that will bring the October 2022 Android security patch, alongside other bug fixes and performance improvements to the Chromecast 4K. Last month’s Android 12 update was paired with the July 2022 security patch and came in at 722MB.

Following the Android 12 update, users reported minor bugs with the Chromecast 4K, like having to re-pair the Chromecast Voice Remote and interface lag. It is likely that today’s update serves to fix all the bugs that arrived with the Android 12 update.

To download the update, head to your profile avatar in the top right corner > Settings > Systems > About > System update. The update should be available widely by today evening.

Learn more about the Chromecast 4K with Google TV here.

Chromecast 4K is available at a discounted price of $54.99 at Best Buy and Amazon.

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Source: 9to5Google

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Leak confirms Google’s upcoming budget Chromecast will be called Chromecast HD

Recent leaks suggest that Google intends to launch a cheaper Chromecast streaming stick in the near future, and from what we know so far, the cheaper Chromecast will reportedly stream in HD only, and will likely come with a remote.

Now, according to developer Kuba Wojciechowski (@Za_Raczke) on Twitter (via AndroidPolice), who was able to get their hands on the full software build for the new streaming stick, the new Chromecast will reportedly run on Android 12 with Google TV, and will be likely branded as “Chromecast HD” on Google’s store.

Furthermore, according to Wojciechowski, the stick will feature Amlogic’s S805X2 CPU with AV1 decoding and 1.5GB RAM, down from the 2GB RAM found in the 4K Chromecast, which should result in either a trade-off in terms of features or lower performance.

Furthermore, according to Google’s recent GMS update, any device featuring less than 2GB of RAM would not be able to update to Android 13, and that seems to be the case for the new budget Chromecast.

On the connectivity side of things, the upcoming Chromecast relies on the NXP 88W8987 chipset for dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and for updates, the Chromecast HD will support A/B updates, which, according to Wojciechowski will allow the update to be directly streamed to the stick’s virtual partitions instead of being downloaded to its storage.

While we are not entirely certain when and if Google will release the new Chromecast HD, its fall Pixel 7 event seems to be the right time and place to do it.

Source: @Za_Raczke, via AndroidPolice

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Mobile Syrup

Budget Chromecast with Google TV on the horizon

Leading up to Google’s fall event, where we expect to finally learn everything about the Pixel 7 Series and the new Pixel Watch, rumours are swirling again about a new budget Chromecast.

Since the launch of the original Chromecast, Google has worked to keep the cost of the device low to make sure it was popular against competition like Roku and Fire TV. However, when the company launched the 4K variant and then replaced that with the new Chromecast with Google TV, the price got a little more expensive.

It was justified by the inclusion of a remote and a browsable interface, but it appears that Google is still working on bringing the price down to continue to take on the competition.

The leaks suggest that the new Chromecast will only do HD video, which is a disappointment in 2022, but it makes sense, since the device it’s replacing only streams in HD. It’s also slated to be €39.99, roughly $52 CAD. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the device was sold here for $40 since that’s the cost of the current low-end Chromecast.

Since the new version is going to run the Google TV operating system, it will likely come with a remote. The version that comes with the 4K Chromecast is already very cheap feeling so I’d expect Google to ship that with the new model. I’d be very scared if they made an even cheaper option.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

An APK teardown suggests Google has a new Chromecast on the way

It’s only been around a year and a half since Google revealed the current Chromecast with Google TV, but a new leak suggests that a newer version is on the horizon.

There’s no telling if this device, codenamed ‘Boreal,’ will replace the Chromecast or if it will be a higher-end model to be sold alongside it. Still, the prospect of new Chromecast hardware is intriguing nonetheless.

The 9to5Google APK teardown team is confident that this Boreal device is running the same software as the existing Chromecast with Google TV, and it expects the tech giant to reveal the device at some point in 2022.

The publication speculates that Goole could be working on a higher-end Chromecast to compete with the Nvidia Shield TV.

While they’re likely right, however, I also like the idea of Google possibly revamping the Chromecast with its custom silicon as it did with the new Tensor chip in the Pixel 6.

On top of that, I know that there have been complaints about the storage space on the Chromecast and the overall stability of the platform, so if Google could remedy that moving forward, that would help with the Chromecast’s reputation.

I hope the next version has a drastically improved remote because the current version is tiny, mushy and just all-around, not pleasing to use.

Source: 9to5Google