Chromecast, launched by Google last week, is a small dongle enabling you to watch content controlled from your mobile device on the TV. It connects to the HDMI port and is for the moment enabling applications such as Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, and Web pages via Google’s Chrome browser.
I consider this one of the most important launches in the Internet TV space for a while. It is simple and inexpensive at $35. In an earlier blog post, I asked the questions if it is smart to be a dumb TV. Only a small proportion of the current Smart TV owners actually use their TV set to connect to the internet. And now, considering the launch of Chromecast, it seems more likely that consumers will rather buy a dumb TV and connect it to Chromecast than paying extra for buying a Smart TV.
From last week, it is not only Apple users, via Airplay, who are enabled to “transfer” content easily from mobile devices to the TV, all other users, including those of iOS, can use Chromecast. The launch will accelerate the change towards internet TV - away from the traditional pay TV, as all users easily can access the plethora of video content from the web on their TV set. The interest from other video application providers is documented by the interest in coming to Chromecast. Already yesterday, it was announced that Vimeo will add the feature!
I consider this one of the most important launches in the Internet TV space for a while. It is simple and inexpensive at $35. In an earlier blog post, I asked the questions if it is smart to be a dumb TV. Only a small proportion of the current Smart TV owners actually use their TV set to connect to the internet. And now, considering the launch of Chromecast, it seems more likely that consumers will rather buy a dumb TV and connect it to Chromecast than paying extra for buying a Smart TV.
From last week, it is not only Apple users, via Airplay, who are enabled to “transfer” content easily from mobile devices to the TV, all other users, including those of iOS, can use Chromecast. The launch will accelerate the change towards internet TV - away from the traditional pay TV, as all users easily can access the plethora of video content from the web on their TV set. The interest from other video application providers is documented by the interest in coming to Chromecast. Already yesterday, it was announced that Vimeo will add the feature!
