It looks like Google is adding additional functionality to its popular Chromecast TV streaming device. The company is reportedly working on allowing all Android-powered devices to mirror their displays on a television with a Chromecast plugged in.
According to ZDNet, Google has released Android 4.4.1 last week, primarily to fix the camera in the Nexus 5 that was having issues, however, as with many Android updates from Google, some changes to the source code Google submits to the Android Open Source Project contained clues as to the company's future plans.
Developers at Funky Android over the weekend released a list of changes that were included in the update and some of them contain clues that the platform is gearing up to allow the images displayed on the smartphone or tablet to be mirrored by way of the Chromecast.
For those who don't know, the Chromecast is Google's $35 flash-drive-sized answer to Apple TV. It gives people the chance to plug a small adapter into their HDMI port on their television and be able to stream their video content from their mobile devices via a WiFi connection. At the moment the Chromecast can mirror any Google Chrome page from a browser that is connected to the same WiFi as the Chromecast. In addition it has app support for Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, HBO Go and Hulu Plus.
Those who have been able to translate the code found in the Android 4.4.1 update say that the mirroring technology will not be open to third party users. In other words, no one will be able to use their Android device to mirror anything that is not for use with the Chromecast specifically.
The Chromecast, with its low price tag, has been a popular commodity for those who want to get the same smart TV experience as some other devices like Roku or Apple TV, without breaking the bank. However, it's biggest drawback thus far has been that precious few apps work with it, and most of them are subscription-based. The ability to mirror a Chrome page goes under utilized as most people already have some means to stream content like Netflix, either from a gaming console or other device. Perhaps the inclusion of mirroring Android phones will encourage more people to adopt the low-cost technology.
