In the sea of CES 2016 news this morning, Google took a few minutes announcements Regarding some of the latest smart home products. More specifically Android TV and all its current and future partners. Google Cast support, as well as new features and more.
In 2016, Google aims to offer more choice, connectivity, features and entertainment in living rooms and every room of the house with Android TV and Google Cast. While Android TV sets are already available from select brands, Google has confirmed all of its partners and more coming later this year.
As of today, smart TVs running Google’s Android TV are available for purchase from Sony, Sharp, and Philips, but many more will be available in the coming months. At the same time, Google will expand Google Cast support by adding multi-room support and more.
This morning Google took a few moments away from the busy CES news to announce additional partners for Android TV and Google Cast. The search giant has confirmed that we may see new Android TV products with built-in software from Arçelik, Vestel, RCA, Hisense, TCL and Bang & Olufsen in the coming months.
Users who purchase one of these capable Android TVs will get more than just a smart TV. Android will have full access to Google Play Music, Google Movies & TV, the entire Google Play Store, and certain apps or games built for Android TV.
Then, last year, Google Cast debuted inside select Bluetooth and wired speakers, allowing users to instantly connect and stream music and more from Android devices to their favorite speakers like Sonos. Currently LG and Sony offer most of the Google Cast speakers, but by the end of the year that will be expanded to B&O Play, Harman Kardon, Onkyo, Philips, Pioneer and Raumfeld, to name a few. I’m looking forward to myself the new Harman Kardon Google Cast speakers and will put one in every room.
Above is a picture of some of the Google Cast supported products that are rolling out and coming soon, but that’s not all Google announced this morning.
The same update that came to Google Chromecast Audio devices last year is also coming to Google Cast. Easier playback means improved audio, but more importantly multi-room support and playback. After the update, we will be able to listen to the same song on multiple speakers in different rooms of the house or more than one song at the same time. This also allows mixing and matching of different speakers while playing the same broadcast stream. Expect more details to follow, and many of these new products will be announced during CES 2016 this week.
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