Google To Rebrand The Chromecast App As Google Cast

[CBers 7450]

Source: http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/03/22/google-rebrands-the-chromecast-app-as-google-cast/

[ebr 16169]

Yeah, good move so they aren't tied to whatever associations may come with "Chrome" (think Chromebook).  They've actually been calling it that for a while.

 

Look at the bottom of your Nexus Player screen...

[CBers 7450]

Oh OK.

 

Did you read this?

 

It's also curious to note that all mentions of Android TV have been removed from the Google Cast website. This may be nothing more than a strange coincidence (the Android TV website is still live, after all), but the new site fails to list any set-top boxes with Android TV, which are obviously all Cast-capable.

[ebr 16169]

No, I did not see that.  Yikes.

 

Remember how I said last fall that the fact that the Nexus Player disappeared from most big box store shelves and went on fire sale everywhere else was a scary sign...?

 

I hope that means they are just re-branding and coming out with a new box as opposed to dropping the platform (again).

[CBers 7450]

Let's hope it's just a coincidence.

[gthrift 64]

It doesn't look good for Android TV, and that is really unfortunate.  I love my nexus players.  I have 3 of them in my bedrooms and they all work perfectly.  I think the issue, like all other platforms, is that there was not a lot of developer support.  A lot of big names are on the platform but there are others that are missing.  HBO Go and WatchESPN are the two biggest ones I'm missing.  

[Luke 42077]

No I think it's that amazon got in first and undercut everybody on price with the fire tv

[ebr 16169]

The stick is the only hardware that undercut Google on price but they advertised the heck out of it and had an already established market to sell to.  Unfortunately, it is way underpowered as well.

 

Even if Google drops it, the Fire TV is big enough now for the platform (in at least some form) to survive for quite a while.

[blade005 185]

They are also working on the following.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtE8N8Fpj4g&app=desktop

 

I think we will see a race between Google Cast and Roku integrated TV's the rest of the year. It is a nice concept on the Vizio P series TV, but integrated solutions seem to feel old and dated rather quickly. Maybe these two companies can change that. But, a standalone player with your ecosystem of choice with the flexibility of just picking the best TV at your purchase moment still seems best.

[Koleckai Silvestri 1154]

They are also working on the following.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtE8N8Fpj4g&app=desktop

 

I think we will see a race between Google Cast and Roku integrated TV's the rest of the year. It is a nice concept on the Vizio P series TV, but integrated solutions seem to feel old and dated rather quickly. Maybe these two companies can change that. But, a standalone player with your ecosystem of choice with the flexibility of just picking the best TV at your purchase moment still seems best.

 

Looks very interesting. The Smartcast Remote seems to have a nice interface. Have been looking at these earlier. Now we'll need an Emby Remote app for these devices.

[KarlDag 25]

It's pretty clear to me they're not dropping androidtv as just a few months ago they partnered with a bunch of oems to use androidtv for their smart panels. Also, they are working on picture-in-picture in android N. I think they're just dropping making their own set-top box, especially with shieldtv being so great.

 

Firetv might or might not be great, they're not a threat as long as they're USA only.