Chromecast as we know it is now part of Google's graveyard

In a move that marks the end of an era, Google has officially announced the discontinuation of its popular Chromecast streaming device. After 11 years and over 100 million units sold, the tech giant is pulling the plug on production, with remaining stock to be sold until supplies run out.

The announcement came as part of a blog post titled “7 memorable moments in Chromecast’s history,” where Google reflected on the device’s journey and impact. “The time has now come to evolve the smart TV streaming device category — primed for the new area of AI, entertainment and smart homes,” the company stated.

Launched in 2013, the Chromecast revolutionized how we interact with our TVs. Its simple dongle form factor and affordable price point made it accessible to millions, offering an easy way to cast content from phones, tablets, and laptops to the big screen. At a time when smart TVs were still in their infancy, Chromecast provided a much-needed bridge between online content and traditional television sets.

However, as technology has evolved, so too has the streaming landscape. Google has invested heavily in embedding its Cast technology into millions of TV devices, including Android TV, which has expanded to 220 million devices worldwide. The company has also brought Google Cast to other TV brands, such as LG.

While the discontinuation of Chromecast might come as a surprise to some, Google isn’t leaving the streaming device market entirely. In fact, they’re doubling down with the introduction of the Google TV Streamer, a more premium device set to launch on September 24th with a price tag of $99.99.

The new Google TV Streamer boasts significant upgrades over its predecessor. It features a processor that’s 22% faster, double the RAM, and 32GB of integrated storage. The device also incorporates Thread and Matter integration, positioning it as a smart home hub, like the Apple TV, in addition to its streaming capabilities.

According to The Verge, Google’s decision to create a more premium device was driven by user feedback. Shalini Govil-Pai, VP and GM of Google TV, told the publication, “The Google TV Streamer was our response to a lot of our users saying, ‘Hey, Chromecast is great and really inexpensive. But we can get inexpensive devices from a lot of players now.'” Google aimed to create a device that could compete with the performance of the Nvidia Shield, long considered the gold standard for Android TV streamers.

The Google TV Streamer also introduces new AI-powered features. Leveraging Gemini, Google’s AI technology, the device can create generative AI screensavers and provide more detailed content summaries. Govil-Pai explained to publication, “You can see a summary across the web of what people are saying about this show. Like, is it amazing? Is it not so amazing, but really good for people who love sci-fi? All of that will be summarized for you.”

One notable change is the form factor. Unlike the Chromecast’s dongle design, the Google TV Streamer is a set-top box meant to sit visibly under your TV. It comes in two colors: porcelain (white) and hazel (dark gray), with the latter being exclusive to the Google Store.

The remote control has also seen improvements, with volume buttons now on the face instead of the side and the addition of a customizable button. Perhaps most interestingly, there’s a remote finder button on the back of the device — a feature many users will undoubtedly appreciate.

While the Chromecast name may be retiring, its spirit lives on in the new Google TV Streamer. The device still supports casting functionality, ensuring that users can continue to enjoy the seamless content sharing they’ve grown accustomed to with Chromecast.

As for existing Chromecast owners, Google has assured that there will be “no changes to our support policy for existing Chromecast devices, with continued software and security updates to the latest devices.” However, the company didn’t specify which models would continue to receive updates.

The discontinuation of Chromecast marks the end of an affordable entry point into the world of smart streaming, joining a growing list of “Killed by Google” products and services. However, with the new Google TV Streamer, the company is betting on a more robust, feature-rich future for home entertainment. As we bid farewell to the iconic dongle, it’s clear that its influence on how we consume media will be felt for years to come.