Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Android
  4. Audio / Video
  5. Mobile
  6. Photography
  7. Legacy Archives

Google frees Chromecast from Wi-Fi bonds, adds screen mirroring, ‘Backdrop’ and more

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

At Google I/O 2014 today, Google announced some forthcoming updates to its popular Chromecast streaming dongle for televisions. In addition to a new app discovery engine that will work across iOS, Android and Chrome devices, Google is cutting the Wi-Fi ties that require users to be on the same network as the Chromecast they wish to ‘cast’ to, adding a baked-in screen mirroring options, and offering a new ‘Backdrop’ feature for display customization.

Casting goes social

Presently, if you want to cast content to a Chromecast dongle, your device must be on the same Wi-Fi network the Chromecast is on. But that’s about to change, as Google announced that, soon, users will be able to cast to any Chromecast or Android TV within close proximity, no Wi-Fi connection needed.

Recommended Videos

Google said it would use ‘various technologies’ to verify that someone is, indeed, in the same room as the television they wish to cast to, but as a fallback measure, a PIN will be displayed on-screen through the Chromecast which will allow users to authenticate themselves and get casting, free of Wi-Fi bonds.

Baked-in screen mirroring for Android devices

Until now, Android device users have had to employ the use of a third-party app to mirror anything from an Android phone on a big-screen TV through the Chromecast. That app cost money, and worse, the “mirroring” it offered suffered from occasional latency and was restricted to photos, music and stored video. In other words, it wasn’t true screen mirroring.

Now, thanks to an update for Android devices expected later this year, true, real-time screen mirroring will be a reality. In a demonstration at the I/O developer conference, Google showed an Android phone’s screen mirrored in real time, stutter free. Even when the demonstrator opened up the camera app, the video feed was shown instantaneously and without hiccup. From the live demonstration, this appears to be huge coups for Google, as screen mirroring from mobile devices has, thus far, been an involved, often expensive process.

The screen mirroring feature will be introduced first to the following list of devices, with support for more Android devices coming soon.

  • HTC One M7
  • LG G2
  • LG G2 Pro
  • Nexus 4
  • Nexus 5
  • Nexus 7 (2013)
  • Nexus 10
  • Samsung Galaxy Note3
  • Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Samsung Galaxy S5

Your TV, as a picture frame

One of the chief complaints uttered by Chromecast users since the device’s introduction is that there was no easy way to control what the dongle displayed when TV wasn’t being watched. Now, with the addition of what Google is calling “Backdrop,” users will be able to stream artwork or personal photos to the television, essentially turning the television into a giant picture frame.

google chromecast backdrop
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For personal photos to be displayed, the images will have to be stored in a Google + account. Other images, such as well-known works of art, will be available directly from Google, and categorized under different headings, such as Art, Places, Lifestyle, Weather, and News. Google has also tweaked mobile device integration so that users can use voice search to find out more about the art that is being displayed on the screen.

A better way to find Chromecast apps

Presently, finding Chromecast-compatible apps is a real chore. But Google aims to change that with a new discovery system that will work across Android, iOS, and Chrome devices. The update is highlighted by a new Chromecast app store within Google Play, where all available Chromecast apps will be searchable by category and/or through the use of filters. Google stated the new discovery engine will be available “later this year.”

Are more Chromecast apps on the way?

Google spent plenty of time discussing the Chromecast’s successes and milestones, and highlighted its increasing useage. The company also reminded developers that its Chromecast SDK (software developer kit) is completely open, prodding developers to get on board. Though Chromecast app development has been a little slow to start, perhaps seeing how widely used the device has become will be the encouragement necessary to bring some more original apps to the table. Only time will tell, but at this point it is clear that the Chromecast is no stepping-stone technology, but a device Google has clear plans on leveraging heavily going forward.

Caleb Denison
Caleb Denison
Former Editor at Large
Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched expertise in AV and…
Topics
I picked four wireless chargers so you can stop making your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch fight over one dorm outlet
The best back-to-school wireless chargers for dorm desks, study spaces, and travel
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

A dorm-room desk can disappear surprisingly quickly beneath a laptop charger, phone cable, Apple Watch puck, and the growing collection of adapters required to power them all. Add textbooks and other academic materials, and finding enough room to study becomes the first assignment of the semester.

A wireless charging stand can consolidate several of those cables into one station. It also gives your phone a dedicated place to sit, which helps when you are checking the time or watching a lecture. Every charger here still needs one connection to the wall. So finding a peripheral that works with all of your gadgets isn't just convenient, it's smart. I picked four models ranging from an inexpensive two-device stand to a fast 25W wireless charger capable of powering an entire Apple setup.

Read more
Your backpack needs one of these power banks before classes start
I picked 4 power banks that can survive your longest day on campus
Anker Nano 3-in-1 10,000mAh portable power bank for iPhone.

Finding an empty outlet on campus can require more patience than registering for a popular class. Common spaces like libraries or lecture halls rarely have sockets in the right places. So a good power bank gives you far more freedom. It gives you the option to choose the quiet corner of the library, work outside between classes, or even finish an assignment without worrying about your laptop's battery.

The right model depends on what you carry, since a phone needs far less power than a MacBook or gaming laptop. I picked four Anker power banks that cover everything from everyday phone charging to running several demanding devices at once.

Read more
The Minimal Phone 2 looks dramatically better than the original, and I’m genuinely here for it
Plastic is out, metal is in, and Minimal Phone 2's renders suggest the digital detox phone concept finally has the hardware to match its ambition.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

I've been following the Minimal Phone since its initial crowdfunding days. The first iteration had the right idea trapped inside the wrong body, I’d say. Plastic build, no 5G, an underwhelming camera, and e-paper ghosting that frustrated early adopters; all these issues kept the phone from reaching a wider audience. 

Now, founder Armen Youssefian has posted what appears to be a 360-degree render of the Minimal Phone 2 on X, and from what I can see, the team has done its homework.

Read more