Google has launched the second generation Chromecast streaming device along with Chromecast Audio in India. They are priced at Rs. 3,399 each and will be available online on Flipkart, Snapdeal, Paytm, as well as via offline retailers like Reliance and Croma.
The Chromecast 2 comes with a new design and offers better performance than its predecessor. The new dongle has an HDMI cable looped inside a circular Chromecast logo-shaped unit. The connectivity is also improved as it supports the latest WiFi standard 802.11ac and comes with three antennas, for faster data transfer speeds. It is also capable of beaming media content and on-screen activities from your devices (smartphone, laptop, tablet) to your TV via an HDMI port.
Chromecast 2 also comes with a new feature called Fast Play, which allows it to start a video or audio streaming quickly once the Cast button is pressed. You can control the Chromecast 2 from your device from the Chromecast app. The streaming device comes with free HOOQ subscription.
The Chromecast Audio is a dedicated music streaming device and turns the speaker into a wireless audio streaming device. It plugs into a standard speaker, car stereo, TV for streaming music over WiFi. The device works with iOS, Android and laptops, and supports high-quality audio and 2watts RMS. It also has Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz) support, similar to the Chromecast and comes with free Saavn subscription for six months.
Google has released an update to its Chromecast audio that brings support for multi-room audio and hi-resolution audio files.
The Multi-room feature lets you group Chromecast Audio devices together so you can listen to the same song on multiple speakers. You can use this to stream the music simultaneously to your speakers in the living room, kitchen and bedroom, and you'll hear the same music wherever you go. This works if you create a group of speakers via the Chromecast app and then cast to the group the exact same way you cast to a single device.
The latest update also add supports for higher-quality 96KHz/24-bit lossless audio playback, which gives you higher-than-CD quality audio.
Google's Chromecast Audio is a $35 device that connects to your speaker via 3.5mm analog stereo cable, RCA connectors or an optical cable and cast audio from your devices to the speakers via WiFi.
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In addition to the Chromecast 2.0, Google also unveiled Chromecast Audio, a small device that plugs into your speaker for streaming music through WiFi. It connects to the speaker via aux/line input, RCA or optical digital out.
Once connected to the speaker, you will be able to stream music to the speaker from iPhone, iPad Android phones & tablet or laptop. It has the same design and packs the same improved WiFi radios as Chromecast 2.0, which supports 5GHz WiFi in addition to the 802.11ac standard.
Chromecast Audio doesn't compress the audio assuring audiophile that the device wouldn't compromise on high audio quality. It can play music from Spotify, Google play, Pandora, or any other app that supports casting. It can also play music content stored on your device's inbuilt storage or microSD card.
It has a new feature called guest access, allowing your friends to stream even if they are not connected to WiFi. Spotify will also support multiple users at one, allowing one to skip a song
if they don't like it, this feature arrives later this year.
Priced at $35, Chromecast Audio will be available across 17 at countries at launch.
