Showing posts with label Chromecast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chromecast. Show all posts

Monday, August 4, 2014

Google offers three months of free streaming music to celebrate Chromecast anniversary

Today marks the one year anniversary of Chromecast, Google's uber affordable streaming dongle that allows you to push content from your phone, tablet or notebook to your television. It was unveiled during a media event alongside the second generation Nexus 7 tablet and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with a jaw-dropping $35 price tag.

To celebrate the occasion, Google has released some updated usage stats as well as a sweet offer for existing Chromecast owners.

Since its launch, Chromecast users have cast media more than 400 million times. Google has also added hundreds of apps and a mirroring feature for Android devices over the year. We still don't know exactly how many dongles Google has sold but given its low price, the fact that initial batches sold out quickly and its availability in more than 30,000 stores across 20 countries, it's probably a pretty big number.

What's more, Google is offering all Chromecast owners a 90-day free trial of its premium music screaming service, Google Play Music All Access. The service launched at last year's I/O conference and is one of several offerings consumers can choose from in the crowded streaming music space.

Chromecast has spawned a couple of copycats like the Roku Streaming Stick although none have been able to match Google's $35 price point.

Have you tried Chromecast yet? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know in the comments below!

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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Google offers three months of free streaming music to celebrate Chromecast anniversary

Today marks the one year anniversary of Chromecast, Google's uber affordable streaming dongle that allows you to push content from your phone, tablet or notebook to your television. It was unveiled during a media event alongside the second generation Nexus 7 tablet and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with a jaw-dropping $35 price tag.

To celebrate the occasion, Google has released some updated usage stats as well as a sweet offer for existing Chromecast owners.

Since its launch, Chromecast users have cast media more than 400 million times. Google has also added hundreds of apps and a mirroring feature for Android devices over the year. We still don't know exactly how many dongles Google has sold but given its low price, the fact that initial batches sold out quickly and its availability in more than 30,000 stores across 20 countries, it's probably a pretty big number.

What's more, Google is offering all Chromecast owners a 90-day free trial of its premium music screaming service, Google Play Music All Access. The service launched at last year's I/O conference and is one of several offerings consumers can choose from in the crowded streaming music space.

Chromecast has spawned a couple of copycats like the Roku Streaming Stick although none have been able to match Google's $35 price point.

Have you tried Chromecast yet? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know in the comments below!

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Thursday, July 24, 2014

Prankster creates device to hijack Chromecast and your big screen

A developer has created a way to hack Google's Chromecast device, hijack its connection and blast that Rick Astley video we all know and love (or any other media) on infinite loop across your big screen. Dan Petro has built what he calls the Rickmote, a small, Raspberry Pi based device designed to take-over near by Chromecast adapters. Once engaged, it simply bombards the Chromecast with WiFi disconnection requests, making it vulnerable to the effects of Rickmote.

There likely isn't much to worry about here, considering devices like the Rickmote would need to be in range of the WiFi connection a Chromecast is on. However, some reports suggest fixes for this type of hack likely won't happen due to the effect it might have on the Chromecast's ease of use, so hopefully more malicious pranksters don't find a way to get a longer range from devices like the Rickmote. At least at this point, if someone hijacks your big screen and Rick Astley appears, its someone close by. 

It takes a few seconds before Rick's infamous YouTube video for Never Gonna Give You Up appears, so you'll have just enough time to mute your sound system and go on the hunt for the near by prankster.

You can check out Petro's Rickmote demonstration in the video below:

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