Google announced a new low-cost competitor to Apple TV at its press event on Wednesday where it unveiled the Chromecast.
The Chromecast is a "dongle" device that can be plugged into a television set's HDMI port and allows the user to stream media from smartphones, tablets and computers. According to CNET, initial orders of the $35 Chromecast are already gone as it debuted in the U.S. exclusively. There is no word yet on any international releases. Initial orders for the device listed it as shipping between August second and August seventh.
The Chromecast device is Google's attempt to simplify streaming media into the living room. The device, once plugged into the televison set allows the user to stream from services such as YouTube, Netflix and Hulu Plus by connecting to mobile devices via their in-home WiFi network. Unlike Apple TV, the media is streamed through the cloud rather than from the mobile device itself. According to Google, this allowed for higher-quality streaming at less cost to the mobile device's battery life.
Google took extra care to emphasize the Chromecast's ability to stream media across multiple operating systems, meaning both Android or iOS users will be able to utilize the device.
While the device is sold-out in most places, CNET reports people finding ways to sneak in a pre-order here and there despite what the website lists. For example, one users said that, although it's listed as sold-out in Safari, once some users logged in with their Google accounts, they were able to place an order. In addition, the Google Play store is not the only place to pre-order a Chromecast. The stick is available on Amazon and Best Buy. Google says it hopes the technology will find its way into being built into upcoming televisions, set-top boxes and other media devices.
