Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Android TV and Google Cast get new partners, multiroom sync support

By

android tv google cast partner news home screen screenshot 01
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Google quietly announced new partners for its Android TV and Google Cast Platforms. In addition, Google Cast is getting a cool new feature.

Android TV has one advantage over most other media set-top boxes in that manufacturers can install the software directly on TVs without the need for additional equipment. Manufacturers like Sony, Sharp, and Philips are already offering TVs with Android TV built in, but more options are coming soon.

Recommended Videos

Arcelik, Vestel, RCA, Hisense, TCL, and Bang & Olufsen will begin offering Android TV models later this year. Google also announced that Linknet already has an Android TV available in Indonesia.

Not in the market for a new TV? You can still opt for the Nexus Player or the Nvidia Shield TV, which are standalone set-top boxes that you can connect to your current TV. With Android TV, you can install most media and gaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, MLB.TV, and so much more.

Google’s announcement also included new partners for Google Cast. Google Cast is similar to the Chromecast, but it’s for audio only. Manufacturers can embed Google Cast in speakers, sound bars and A/V receivers, which makes it easier to cast music from your favorite smartphone or tablet apps.

Google_Cast_Speakers_01
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sony and LG already include Google Cast in some speakers, but more companies like B&O Play, Harman Kardon, Onkyo, Philips, Pioneer, and Raumfield will be offering products later this year.

Google Cast shouldn’t be mistaken for Chromecast Audio. Both products are strictly for audio, but Chromecast Audio is a standalone dongle. The one advantage that it has is that it can be connected to virtually any speaker or A/V receiver. In addition, multiple Chromecast Audio dongles can be synced so you can listen to the same song in multiple rooms.

This leads us to Google’s final announcement, which is that multiroom sync is coming soon to Google Cast speakers. Not only can Google Cast speakers sync together, they can also sync with other speakers connected to Chromecast Audio.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Robert Nazarian
Robert Nazarian
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…
Android 15 release date: When will my phone get the update?
The Android 15 logo on a smartphone.

Google has announced and shown off Android 15, which is the next major version of its mobile operating system. The development and release cycle of Android typically has a three-phase strategy, and that applies to Android 15 as well.

The first phase is always the Developer Preview phase, which happened earlier this year. It’s then followed by the more public Beta testing phase, and then the final, stable version comes out for everyone.

Read more
Android users finally get YouTube TV parity with iPhone
YouTube TV multiview options on an Android phone.

YouTube TV is the biggest live-streaming service in the U.S., and multiview — the ability to watch more than one thing at a time — is a big reason why. And after having spent a couple months on iPhones and iPads, it's now finally available on Android phones and tablets.

You don't have to do anything more than make sure your app is updated. The feature itself is included in the monthly subscription and doesn't cost any extra.

Read more
Google has a magical new way for you to control your Android phone
Holding the Google Pixel 8 Pro, showing its Home Screen.

You don’t need your hands to control your Android phone anymore. At Google I/O 2024, Google announced Project Gameface for Android, an incredible new accessibility feature that will let users control their devices with head movements and facial gestures.

There are 52 unique facial gestures supported. These include raising your eyebrow, opening your mouth, glancing in a certain direction, looking up, smiling, and more. Each gesture can be mapped to an action like pulling down the notification shade, going back to the previous app, opening the app drawer, or going back to home. Users can customize facial expressions, gesture sizes, cursor speed, and more.

Read more