Chromecast Audio: Google lets you 'cast' music to your home speakers

Google claims that Chromecast Audio can do for music streaming what Chromecast did for video streaming

Google shook up the video streaming world when it launched its Chromecast dongle in 2013, allowing many people to stream TV programmes and films to their TV from their smartphone, tablet or laptop for the first time.

Now the company is hoping to have a similar impact on the music streaming world, with the launch of Chromecast Audio – a dongle that plugs into a speaker and allows users to stream music directly from their mobile device.

Compatible with a wide range of music streaming services including Spotify, Google Play Music, Deezer and BBC iPlayer Radio, users can find the song they want to listen to on their device and then tap the "cast" button to start playing it on the speakers.

  The phone acts as a remote control, allowing the user to search, play, pause, queue songs and adjust the volume from anywhere in the house. Friends and family can also cast their music to the speakers without the need for any additional pairing or set-up.

Chromecast streams over WiFi, so users will get continuous high-quality sound, even when they leave the room. They can also use their phone to take a call or play a game without interrupting what is playing on the speakers.

The idea is similar to multi-room speaker systems from the likes of Sonos, Samsung, Pure, Ruark and Raumfeld. However, unlike these systems, Chromecast Audio works with the user's existing audio setup, rather than requiring them to buy new speakers.
Chromecast Audio supports 3.5mm/AUX (cable included), RCA and optical inputs, so it will work with most modern speakers as well as home cinema systems, table-top radios, bookshelf speakers and desktop speakers.

"The idea for this device is to do for HiFi what Chromecast did for TV. We're essentially allowing you to take any existing sound box or speaker, connect this device and have that cast experience," said Dan Saunders, head of Chromecast UK.
"Another big difference between Sonos and Chromecast is, with Sonos you have your control application, through which you receive all of the various services that you subscribe to; with Chromecast we cast-enable the individual applications, and that allows service providers to maintain their user experience intact."
Chromecast Audio costs £30 and works with iOS and Android devices, as well as Mac and Windows laptops and Chromebooks. The device will not support multi-room synchronisation at launch, but Google said this would come later in 2015.
Google has also unveiled an updated version of its original Chromecast, with improved specs and a new circular design. The company has sold 20m Chromecasts since launching in the US in 2013, making it the fastest selling media streaming device in the world.
The new dongle, which also costs £30, has a built-in adaptive antenna system, providing higher video resolution and lower buffering, and comes in a range of colours including lemon, coral and black.
It supports a broad range of apps including Netflix, YouTube, BT Sport, NOW TV, BBC iPlayer and iPlayer Radio, Spotify and Google Photos, as well as games such as Angry Birds Go!, WGT Golf, Driver Speedboat Paradise and Just Dance Now.
Android users, and people using the Chrome browser on their laptop can also mirror exactly what is playing on their device to their TV or speakers via Chromecast or Chromecast Audio, even if the app isn't supported.
"It’s not so much about having a game on your smartphone and presenting it on the screen, but about using all of the technology – all of the processing power and all of the smartness in your phone – to create a really engaging game experience," said Mr Saunders.
He gave the example of Just Dance Now, where the player copies the dance moves of the avatar on the screen while holding their smartphone in their hand, allowing the player's moves to be monitored using the phone's accelerometer and processor.
"Really key to this model is being able to say, given how much people invest in these devices, how do we leverage and make as much of that investment as we possibly can?"