Stefan Mileschin

Google's Chromecast is Mountain View's next foray into the television market: a$35 HDMI dongle that mirrors content watched nearby on a tablet, smartphone or computer. The two-inch device runs "a simplified version of Chrome OS" and requires separate USB power; connect it to your local WiFi network and any similarly connected devices work with Chromecast. It can be ordered right now on Google Play and it'll apparently ship in "1 - 2 days" -- of note, the device seems US-only for now, as our UK colleagues are showing a "not available in your country" prompt.

Apps that work with the device include a "Cast" button that allows users to push video to their televisions and control various aspects remotely (volume, play, pause, etc.). "Once Chromecast is plugged in, you just go to YouTube on your smartphone," Google reps said. "You'll see the cast button in your UI and you press it -- Chromecast will pull the info you requested from the cloud and play it on your TV."

A demonstration on stage shows YouTube video being pushed "via the cloud," thus enabling other apps to be used while a video is being viewed on a television screen. Netflix is up next, and it's got similar remote control functionality. Google Play movies and television (expectedly) also work with Chromecast, and Google is delightedly demonstrating it with Vin Diesel vehicle Fast Five.

One final feature was shown off, with full Google Chrome functionality projected to the TV and controlled remotely with a "standard $500 Windows 8 laptop." The feature is "still in early days," so it's currently a beta product, but the promise is certainly there: the ability to easily project content via web browser to televisions.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/24/g... ign=Engadget