Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. Reviews

Chromecast bulks up on content with support for Disney, Twitch, iHeartRadio

By

chromecast
Google hasn’t welched on its promise of a Chromecast app explosion following the release of the device’s SDK kit to developers last February. In the past few months the device has seen exponential growth in its library, and the hits just keep on coming. Today, Google announced its latest Chromecast additions, which include three new Disney apps, as well as apps for iHeartRadio, DramaFever, and the gaming site, Twitch.

Opening the Disney vault may be the most welcome new feature for Chromecast owners with a brood of kids to satiate. They’ll be able to access content from Watch Disney, Watch Disney Junior, and Watch Disney XD. Live streams of Disney Channel shows, and on-demand access to recent episodes will also be available, though users will need to have a correspondent TV provider.

Recommended Videos

Hosting up to 60 million gamers, the addition of Twitch will allow users to watch streams from some of the top pros in the world in certified gaming competitions, as well as casual gamers. And music lovers will appreciate the addition of iHeartRadio, which joins other services like Songza, and Pandora.

DramaFever is a lot less familiar, filed under the category of “niche” apps for the popular dongle. However, with over 15,000 episodes of International dramas from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Latin America, those looking for something decidedly different than the average U.S. or BBC fare may want to give the service a spin.

All of the new apps are compatible with both iOS and Android, and join other recent additions, including NPR, to give the most affordable streaming device on the block another boost.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Ryan Waniata
Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
There’s a rare deal on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones today
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones seen in black.

The massively popular Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones rarely appear in headphone deals, so if you've had your eye on them for quite a while, you're in luck because they're currently $51 off on Walmart. From their original price of $400, you'll only have to pay $349, but only if you hurry because we don't expect stocks to last long. You're going to miss out on the offer if you take too long, so don't hesitate -- add the wireless headphones to your cart and check out as fast as you can.

Why you should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
The best headphones that you can buy right now are the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones, and it's not even close. At the heart is their outstanding wireless sound, supported by top-quality active noise cancellation that uses two processors and eight microphones to block all unwanted sound, as well as crystal-clear hands-free calling using four beamforming microphones and advanced audio signal processing. The wireless headphones also offer Bluetooth multipoint connection so that you can quickly switch between different devices, touch controls for functions like adjusting volume and calling your digital assistant, and Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention features to stop your music and let ambient sound in without having to take them off.

Read more
Sony’s premium soundbars will finally get support for VRR, ALLM
Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos soundbar close-up of top panel.

It's been a long time coming, but the wait is almost over. Sony's premium home theater soundbars are set to receive a software update that will add support for variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM), two HDMI 2.1 gaming features that have been absent since these products launched.

The soundbars in question are the Sony HT-A5000, HT-A7000, and the multi-wireless speaker HT-A9 system. All three are scheduled to receive the update this fall, but Sony has declined to share specific timing, saying only that there will be more information closer to the rollout date.

Read more
What is Roku? The streaming platform explained
A roku powered TV hanging on a wall running Roku OS 12.

How do you get your Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or Prime Video fix? Chances are it's through a streaming device or smart TV, and there's a good chance that it's through a Roku device or one running its pioneering streaming operating system. At this point, cord-cutting is old news, and Roku was one of the earliest companies to drive the adoption of web-based streaming with its self-contained, app-driven devices.

Today, watching something "on Roku" is standard parlance and the company's popular platform can be found baked into some of the biggest TV brands in the world as well as in its own lineup of streaming devices sticks, and set-top boxes. Even so, that doesn't mean you totally get what a Roku actually is. What is Roku? How does Roku work? Do you need a subscription to use it? Is it just a device you buy, or is it software?

Read more