Tag Archives: googlebreakfast2013

Hands-on with Chromecast, Google’s wireless HDMI streaming dongle (update: video)

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We should've known this was coming after Google and Netflix informed us back at CES they were working on their AirPlay competitor, the DIAL wireless streaming protocol. Today, with the revelation of the new Chromecast HDMI dongle to leverage DIAL and expand upon it, you'll be able to stream more content more easily to your home's biggest screen -- all for just 35 bucks. We got to check out the Chromecast at today's Google event, so join us, won't you, for our full impressions.

Gallery: Google Chromecast hands-on

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Nexus 7 hands-on (2013) (update: video!)

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New Nexus 7 handson

The Nexus 7 was a rather swell device when it was officially launched last year, and now we've had the opportunity to play with the next-gen version, which bumps the swellness factor a notch or two. The tablet, which boasts a 1080-quality display (1,920 x 1,200, to be precise) and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, is being shown off after this morning's Breakfast with Sundar event -- which we suppose means we're now at brunch. We've grabbed a few images of the new tablet, seen below, and have added some early impressions after the break. Meet us there to see what we think.

Update: Hands-on video after the break!

Gallery: Nexus 7 hands-on (2013)

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Google letting developers in on the Chromecast action with Google Cast SDK

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Google letting developers in on the Chromecast action with Google Cast SDK

Now that Google has let its $35 Chromecast HDMI dongle out of the bag at its breakfast press event, it's gonna need developers to chip in some apps for it. To help boost that effort, the company is releasing the Google Cast SDK to help those folks bring content from mobile and the web to TVs. By using the kit, developers won't need to build new applications for the big screen from scratch; they'll just need to make a few tweaks to their existing mobile apps. Mountain View expects Google Cast tech to be embedded in future hardware from its partners, with Chromecast being "the first instantiation" of such an ecosystem. You can now grab a preview (at the source) for iOS, Android and Chrome -- which is good news, since the wee dongle already appears to be sold out on Play.

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Source: Google Cast

Netflix, Pandora confirmed as content partners for Chromecast streaming

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Netflix, Pandora confirmed as content partners for Chromecast streaming

Google's taking another big stab at the TV market with its just-announced Chromecast HDMI streaming solution, and it's naturally lined up some content partners to make that device more useful. At its event today, the company confirmed that Netflix is on board with video streaming support from its Android and iOS apps; Chromecast buyers will also get three months of Netflix for free "for a limited time" with their purchase (notably, that includes existing Netflix members). On the audio side of things, you'll also be able to take advantage of music streaming courtesy of Pandora, which is apparently coming sometime after launch according to Google's blog post. Less surprisingly, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, and the Play Music app will also be offering full support for the device, letting you push videos and music to your TV (and the sound system attached to it) from your mobile device of choice. Additional content partners are said to be "coming soon."

Gallery: Netflix on Chromecast

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Source: Google

Google introduces Chromecast, a $35 HDMI streaming solution for televisions (video)

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Google introduces Chromekey, an HDMI streaming device for televisions

Google's Chromecast is Mountain View's next foray into the television market. In brief, it's a $35 HDMI dongle that mirrors content being played nearby on a tablet, smartphone or computer. Hrm, that sounds familiar. The 2-inch device runs "a simplified version of Chrome OS" and requires separate USB power; connect it to your local WiFi network and similarly connected devices work with Chromecast. It can be ordered right now on Google Play and will apparently ship in one to two days. Of note, the device seems US-only for now, as our UK colleagues are showing a "not available in your country" prompt. Early buyers get three months of free Netflix with the purchase. Additionally, it's also heading to retail (read: Best Buy) on July 28th. Google ended its presentation with a quick word that Chromecast functionality will eventually come embedded in various other devices, and that it's working on getting other countries access "as quickly as possible." No specs were given during the presentation, but its Google Play page lists the device as HDMI-CEC compatible, and it uses 2.4GHz 801.11 b/g/n WiFi. Given the separate USB power required, the $35 nets you a Chromecast device, an HDMI extended, a USB power cable and a separate power adapter.

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." Meanwhile, an on-stage demonstration showed 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 was up next, and it has similar remote control functionality. Google Play movies and television (expectedly) also work with Chromecast, and Google delightedly demonstrated it with Vin Diesel vehicle Fast Five. Finally, Google demoed full Google Chrome projected on a TV and controlled remotely with a "standard $500 Windows 8 laptop." The feature is "still in early days," but a promise has already been made: that users will be able to easily project content to televisions via their web browser.

Update: We've added Chromecast's first commercial (which demonstrates much of the device's functionality) just after the break, and a source link with Google's formal announcement.

Update 2: Aside from the Google Play store and Best Buy, you can also buy the Chromecast from Amazon. Thankfully, that three-month gratis Netflix would still be applicable if you buy it from the online giant.

Gallery: Google Chromecast

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Source: Google, Amazon

Google intros Play Textbooks for purchase and rent

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Google Play Textbooks

Google is clearly committed to education on mobile devices beyond Play for Education -- it just unveiled Google Play Textbooks, a dedicated category on the Play Store for learning material. The section will offer titles from the top five publishers, and students will have the choice of renting books for six months in addition to buying them outright. Textbooks should be available this August, and they'll sync across Android, iOS and the web.

Gallery: Google Play Textbooks unveiled

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Google Play Games app launches today, provides a portal for tablet gamers (update: it’s here)

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Google Play Games app launches today, provides a portal for tablet gamers

Today Google unveiled a brand new Play Games app, that serves as a companion hub and portal for the Google Play Games Services, announced at I/O. The app serves as a front end for viewing leader boards and connecting with friends (from your Google+ circles, of course), simplifying the act of challenging them in head-to-head competitions. Play Games, in addition to serving as a place to track all of your achievements and other such gaming goodness, serves as a single repository for launching all your games. Think of it like Steam, but for your Android tablet or phone, and with a slightly less graphically-impressive library of titles. Asphalt 8 Airborne, Riptide GP2 and Prince of Persia The Shadow and the Flame are will be among the first to take advantage of the new Play Games App, with the latter hitting virtual shelves tomorrow.

Update: It's now available on Google Play; hit the source link for your download.

Gallery: Google Play Games hub

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Source: Google Play

Android 4.3 brings 1080p Netflix streaming

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Android 4.3 brings 1080p Netflix streaming

After revealing Google's new Nexus 7, Director of Product Management Hugo Barra revealed that the company has teamed up with Netflix to bring higher resolution video streams to compatible devices, a feature you'll only enjoy on devices running the just-announced Android 4.3. Yep, Netflix will now run at 1080p resolution, with the video-streaming company one of the first to use the new set of DRM APIs announced in tandem with this latest OS release. Unfortunately, of course, you'll just have to wait for that pesky OTA update before you can try it.

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New Nexus 7 vs. the competition: battle of the budget 7-inch tablets

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New Nexus 7 vs the competition battle of the budget 7inch tablets

The original Nexus 7 launched in a relative vacuum -- there were other low-cost, 7-inch Android tablets before, but few with the full support of a major manufacturer. The 2013-era Nexus 7 is entering a far more crowded marketplace with many recognizable names, and even more aggressive pricing. With that in mind, we've compared Google's latest tablet with three of its newest 7-inch peers -- ASUS' MeMo Pad HD 7, HP's Slate 7 and Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 -- to see whether it's as strong a value as its predecessor.

Ironically, the new Nexus 7 occupies the high end in this space. It's the most expensive tablet here, with the sharpest display, the fastest processor and the most built-in storage. However, that doesn't mean it's priced out of contention. The $30 you save with the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 just isn't worth it; Samsung's tablet is a big step down in every aspect outside of expandability. And you're clearly getting what you pay for with the Slate 7, whose low price doesn't excuse a poor display and sluggish performance.

The Nexus 7's real competition comes from its own manufacturer, ASUS. While the MeMo Pad HD 7 has a lower resolution screen and a slower CPU, its cameras, display quality, processing power and storage are superb for the price. If you don't crave the Nexus 7's technology or stock Android 4.3, it may be wiser to save $80 and buy the good-enough MeMo Pad instead. Full specifications for all the tablets are available after the break.

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New Nexus 7 with LTE headed to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile (update: 32GB LTE model available in the ‘coming weeks’)

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Google's new Nexus 7 refresh with LTE headed to AT&T, Verizon and TMobile

Coming as no surprise at all, Google's just unveiled its newest Nexus 7 tablet at a breakfast meeting in San Francisco this morning. What has caught us off guard, however, is news that the Android 4.3 tablet will bow on three of the US' top wireless carriers -- that's AT&T, Verizon* and T-Mobile -- as a single SKU and with support for LTE. No release date or pricing has yet been announced for the 7-incher, but when it does launch, it'll be the premier device to ship with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Update: Google's just released pricing and availability for the new Nexus 7, pegging the WiFi version for a July 30th bow in-store and online. There'll be two configurations -- a 16GB and 32GB -- that'll retail for $229 and $269, respectively. Users that prefer to wait for the LTE-enabled version will have to fork over $349 for a 32GB model, although this variant still doesn't have a solid street date; Google's saying it'll hit retail in the "coming weeks."

*the Nexus 7 LTE will not support CDMA (read: 3G service) on Verizon

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