What you need to know
- Google may be working on a third Chromecast with a Google TV dongle.
- Its codename YTC appeared in the latest update preview of the Google Home app, along with other names used by the two previous streaming dongles.
- Little else is known, but hopefully this next dongle will bring improvements that affect both current options.
Google may be upgrading its streaming devices, as new findings suggest.
According to 9to5Google, the company’s upcoming Chromecast by Google made a brief appearance in the latest update preview of the Google Home app. Apparently, a quick look at the device reveals it’s called “YTC”. This reference is featured alongside other streaming devices such as the old Chromecast by Google (YTV) and the new Chromecast by Google HD (YTB).
For now, all past this brief sighting, we have to figure out and interpret what Google intends to do with this next device. However, it would be strange if it were anything other than some sort of capacity upgrade given what consumers are already getting. However, the recently launched Chromecast by Google HD only offers streaming content in 1080p.
These devices are among the best streaming devices a consumer can get. But both devices have features that users weren’t so enthusiastic about. The HD variant had lower streaming quality and the price seemed a little more attractive. Then there’s his 4K version, which had serious problems with not enough storage space. The dongle he only offers 8GB, but in reality users can only use half of that space for apps and other essentials.
The 4K version also doesn’t support the AV1 codec. The AV1 codec is a more efficient way to stream content and is more necessary for high definition streams. A possible successor could support this feature, along with more RAM and possibly an upgraded processor.
So if you’re going to climb the streaming device ladder from the low end to the mid-range of Google dongles, perhaps this next device will take the next step and end this trio of options for users who enjoy streaming.
Google’s I/O 2023 event is coming up in a few months, giving us a chance to see what the company is up to. Maybe this is the time to see something in the next iteration of the company’s streaming dongle. But at this point it’s just speculation.
Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
Affordable Chromecast with Google TV (HD) devices deliver streaming content in crisp 1080p. The product comes with a very handy remote control with a button to access Google Assistant, and cast support lets you watch your phone’s content right on your TV.
