In the US, summer means a few weeks to lounge around and do a lot of couch potato-ing for some people. Well, mainly for those who have nothing to do, don’t have jobs, or maybe those who are already rich and have all the time and resources in the world. Whoever you are or whatever you do, if you’re a TV junkie, you’d be happy to know that Google keeps on improving its Chromecast even if it’s already two-years old.
In gadget town, a two-year technology is oftentimes considered old. Others may even describe it as obsolete because of the rapid advancements but Google has maintained Chromecast to be relevant by regularly updating the software. It’s one of those few devices that remain simple yet very useful. Sure, Internet TVs may be enough but there’s something about Chromecast that makes it more special. (Or maybe I’m just biased because it’s what I use…)
To make Chromecast more exciting, Google has finally added support for HBO. This means you can watch your favorite HBO shows like Games of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, and Ballers. Take advantage of HBO NOW by streaming shows to your Chromecast-enabled TV. No cable subscription? That’s fine because your Chromecast is enough.
The Pixlr app is great for amateur photographers who need to quickly edit photos right on the screen. Feel free to rotate, crop, or fine-tune your photos. If you’re into food network and travel-related apps, you’ll be happy to know that you can now cast Watch Travel Channel and Watch Food Network.
For the kids and young-at-heart, you can also play new games like Catch Phrase Blitz and FitFlap. The latter is interactive in the sense that it needs your phone’s front-facing camera to capture the players’ movements. It’s like having a Kinect but in a much simpler way and gameplay. It can be fun because you need to flip hard to make the pigs on the screen fly higher. Hasbro’s classic guessing game, Catch Phrase Blitz, also comes to Chromecast so you can enjoy this brain game with your friends. MediaMonk’s Tricky Titans is also available, ready to challenge your strategic skills in this turn-based game. There’s Pokemon TV where kids can watch dozens of episodes featuring their favorite Pikachu.
Some content may require subscription but most apps are free. Download any of the Chromecast-enabled apps from the Google Play Store and start “casting” from your Android tablet or smartphone.
SOURCE: Google Chrome Blog
