Google Cast

The protocol is used to initiate and control playback of content on digital media players, high-definition televisions, and home audio systems using a mobile device, personal computer, or smart speaker.

[1] The Google Cast SDK was released on February 3, 2014, allowing third parties to modify their software to support the protocol.

Consumer devices that natively support the protocol were marketed as Chromecast built-in from 2016[3] to 2024, after which the branding reverted back to the Google Cast name.

[25] While that admonition remained in force, Google Cast-enabled applications for Hulu Plus and Pandora Radio were released in October 2013, and HBO GO in November.

[26][27] Google invited developers to a two-day hackathon on December 7 at Googleplex, its Mountain View headquarters, offering the opportunity to test drive the SDK's "upcoming release".

Chromecast product manager Rish Chandra said that Google used the intervening time to improve the SDK's reliability and accommodate those developers who sought a quick and easy way to cast a photo to a television without a lot of coding.

Chromecast supports the image formats BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, and WEBP, with a display size limitation of 720p (1280 × 720 pixels).

[40] In September 2015, Google announced "Fast Play" and accompanying developer tools, which are aimed at reducing the delays between loading content.

Icon for the "cast button", which is used to connect, control and disconnect from Google Cast receivers. The button can also represent compatible non-Cast receivers, such as Bluetooth audio players. [ 22 ]