Google has received quite the mixed bag of jubilation and criticism regarding its first Chromecast device. The HDMI dongle was unable to keep up with demand early on, which caused the team to expand rapidly to deal with the huge rush of interested users and developers. Since its launch, Google has added support for a few premium streaming services, but for the most part the device has remained the same. Developers and users alike have grown tired of waiting for actual third party apps and services, but it looks like the wait is nearly over.
The first big clue was the recent early addition of a Chromecast section to the Google Play store. This looks like a mostly empty repository for apps that already have homes in other places on the Play Store right now, but with an open SDK for developers it could rapidly fill. If you’re curious about what apps are preparing Chromecast support, take a look at Plex and Pocket Casts as prime examples. Despite Google’s early banning of AllCast for breaking the Chromecast Whitelist a few months ago, it looks like some form of local streaming is on the list already.
The big question is when any of this will be available, and it seems likely that the answer is early next week. Google is hosting a Chromecast Hackathon this weekend for developers to get some time to rub elbows with the team and get their hands dirty with the finished version of the SDK. According to multiple sources, Google has allowed several developers to prep apps for launch shortly after this hackathon. We’ve recently seen similar behavior from Google’s Glass team, so it’s not hard to see them take this same path for the Chromecast.
By the end of the weekend most, if not all, Chromecast owners should have received an update to their device that includes a few visual changes, but also has some new tricks under the hood. This update removes the huge “ready to cast” text and replaces it with a series of pleasing photographs and a cleaner font in the bottom right-hand corner. By Monday, all the pieces will be in place, and Google will be able to pull the trigger and start the next step in the Chromecast adventure.
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