What you need to know, quickly
What is it? | The latest Google media streaming device and follow-up to the original Google Chromecast |
When is it out? | Likely announced at the end of September and released shortly after if not immediately |
What's new? | An all-new design is likely as is improved Wi-Fi performance with 802.11ac |
What will it cost? | With stiff competition around budget streamers we're hoping the price will stay around £30 |
The original Chromecast was a bit of a revelation. It gave us media streaming on a super-tight budget when it first launched but now there's plenty of competition from Amazon and Roku who both have budget streaming sticks of their own that arguably do a similar job better. The former just announced an update to its Fire TV Stick that now adds a Voice Remote and then there's of course the new Apple TV on the horizon, although admittedly this is going for a more upmarket approach. All this has amounted to Google preparing an update to its Chromecast to stop it being left behind.
Release Date and Design
All signs are pointing towards a big September 29th reveal. This also happens to be the rumoured reveal date for the new Nexus 5X device, so it's more than likely the announcement will be tacked on to a wider launch. The biggest indicator that a new Chromecast is imminent is from 9to5Google. Supposedly leaked images obtained by the website show a brand-new design that's a big departure from the stick-shaped original Chromecast.
Instead, the New Chromecast (as it's so far been referred to as) has a new puck-shaped design that has a shape closer to the Asus manufactured Google Nexus Player. It's difficult to judge the size of the device from the blurry leaked images but it does look like it's still a streaming stick with a self-contained design that plugs directly into your HDMI port. If the leaks are to be believed, we can also expect a range of colours.
Wireless Improvements
Aside from the new shape, the other big improvement appears to be to wireless performance. The original Chromecast supported only 802.11n (although there was an optional but hard to obtain Ethernet adaptor). The first hardware version didn't support 5GHz networks, either. If you were looking to stream local content, say from a NAS via Plex, this could prove a network bottleneck when it came to streaming high-definition, high bit rate content. The New Chromecast is rumoured to now have 802.11ac, which should provide a vast improvement in wireless speeds.
Background Feed
Along with this, 9to5Google has reported there will be better use of the Chromecast's screensaver with a "background feed" function that is assumed to be for social media integration. This will make the screensaver far more useful than its current state that just cycles images and provides weather information.
Spotify Chromecast support
Another thing to be excited about, and one that will also come to existing older Chromecasts, is Spotify support. This is also expected to come at a September 29th event and see the service branch out from its current Spotify Connect method of getting its music to devices.
