To everyone’s surprise, including our own, Google has decided to retire the Chromecast – a device that has been connecting phones and TVs for years now. You know that feeling you get when you say bye to a friend with whom you’ve watched many series together? Yes, that little dongle you’ve used to turn your supposedly ‘dumb’ television into a ‘smart’ one is being phased out, to the disappointment of users.
Chromecast: The Phenomenal Growth and Domination
Originally launched in 2013, Chromecast is a relatively affordable product that allows you to cast your phone’s screen to your television. The device turned out to be a success in the market; the company sold over 100 million units of the device globally. It was clear, efficient and performed well; users just fell in love with the product as they no longer had to deal with a bundle of cords and complicated configurations.
Chromecast became mainstream as it turned any TV with a USB port into a smart TV. The gadget was like a magic stick for your television, you simply touched the screen of your phone and what you wanted to watch came on the screen. Several versions followed over the years and each of them was slightly superior to the previous one in order to keep the users engaged.
Why Google Is Saying Goodbye To Chromecast
Google has announced that it will stop manufacturing Chromecast. The final versions, Chromecast with Google TV 4K and HD, are still available but will not be reordered once they run out of stock. This is something that for many, brings about the feeling of coming to the end of something. Some fans on Reddit have expressed disappointment, with one user saying, “It’s like their best product. Why discontinue?”
But,Google has also stated that Chromecast will receive regular updates in the future and existing devices like Chromecast 1 and 2 will not be left out. Therefore, if you are still using your Chromecast of choice, then you need not worry at all.
Google introduces Google TV Streamer
While Chromecast may be getting ready for exit, you shouldn’t regard Google as done with TV streaming. The company is introducing a new player in the market: Google TV Streamer. This as the ‘more premium device’ is characterized to suit the dynamic future age of artificial intelligence, entertainment, and smart homes. Google just hit the bull’s eye by venturing into pioneering the TV streaming experience, welcoming the future with opened arms.
The example with Chromecast shows that Google is ready to leave the markets even if they are promising and growing rapidly. Also, this is not the first time that Google is pulling the plug out of its devices. It has done this many times in the past too.
Here’s a quick trip down memory lane with some notable Google services that have vanished over the years:
VPN by Google One (2020-2024):
Of this service, it provided encrypted data and network activity masking but was not existing for long.
Google Podcasts (2018-2024):
A portal based for podcast lovers and a secondary listening site masked in an Android, hard to recall now.
Google Stadia (2019-2023):
A high-scale service from Google that enabled gamers to play their favorite games on the cloud; It no longer exists.
YouTube Originals (2016-2022):
As for this program, this was special as it created its own content, including the scripted series and educational videos, but the curtain came down quickly.
Google Hangouts (2013-2022):
This is one of the early messengers that offered a strong competition to Skype for some time before it vanished from the internet.
YouTube Go (2017-2022):
Initially targeted for emerging markets, this app allowed YouTube to be played in mobile devices with offline capabilities however the app is no longer available.
Google Duo (2016-2022):
From a social platform that allows globally connected users to make video calls with them, to a thing of the past.
Cameos on Google (2018-2022):
This tool enabled public figures, including celebrities, politicians and others, to answer people’s questions through video, thus making search results more personal.
Backup and Sync (2017-2021):
A handy tool for synchronizing files from Google Drive limited to usage in 2017.
Google My Maps (2014-2021):
Users were allowed to create personal maps, but Google have mapped this right out of existence.
