Skip to main content

Google celebrates Chromecast’s 2nd birthday with free movie rentals

google celebrates chromecasts 2nd birthday with free movie rentals chromecast black hdmi final
If you’ve picked up a cheap streaming dongle from Google in the past couple of years then you might want to go and check up on the offers page for the device — Google is celebrating the Chromecast’s second birthday with a number of promotional deals, including a free movie rental from Google Play.

Right now it looks like these offers only apply to users in the U.S. (as that’s where the Chromecast launched first) but pay close attention to the deals available as the anniversary rolls around in your own country. Users are also seeing offers for other third-party services and products.

Head to the official Google Q&A page for more details of what you can pick up. As far as the free movie rental goes, the company says you have to redeem the offer from Google Play and must do so by December 31, 2015 — there’s plenty of time to wait if you don’t like the current movie selection.

It may not be the biggest or flashiest Google product out there, but the Chromecast has been one of the company’s most popular devices, letting users stream content from laptops, smartphones, and tablets up to a larger television set or monitor. It’s certainly captured the public’s imagination more than Android TV.

Now entering its third year of existence, there are plenty of rumors that the Chromecast is going to get an update of some sort in the near future. Google has confirmed that a second edition of the dongle is in the pipeline, but quite what it will bring to the table or when we can expect to see it isn’t clear. Chances are Google will largely stick to its winning formula next time around.

David Nield
Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…
What is Android TV? Google’s smart TV platform fully explained
The Android TV interface on a TV.

Living in the same camp as Samsung's Smart TV Hub, LG's WebOS, and Vizio's SmartCast, Android TV is a smart TV system designed and engineered by Google and used across a variety of TV brands from Sony and Hisense to TCL. Featuring Google Assistant support, the ability to "cast" apps from a compatible device to your TV, and a range of other features, Android TV is a top dog in the world of TV streaming, but what truly sets it apart from the range of other smart TV platforms?

Even with Google's latest Google TV interface set to replace Android TV by the end of 2022, the popular media streaming platform is still relevant and worth explaining. Here's everything you need to know about Android TV.
An important note on Android TV and Google TV

Read more
What is Chromecast? Google’s wireless streaming tech explained
Chromecast icon seen on a smartphone screen.

In 2013, Google debuted a small gadget called Chromecast. The device could wirelessly link people's TVs and other devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers. The versatile dongle that you simply plugged into an HDMI port on your TV was far more affordable than other streaming media devices like Roku and Apple TV, but it had less robust streaming offerings. Chromecast added a new meaning to the word "casting," virtually emulating the casting of a fisherman's line by wirelessly casting an image from one screen onto another.

Today, Google's Chromecast is on more than just a stick. It's implemented on a wide variety of smart devices, from TVs to soundbars and smart speakers. As the technology gains popularity, it's worth understanding what exactly Chromecast is, what it does, how to use it, and how it compares to similar wireless technologies. That's what we'll do here.
Is Chromecast hardware or software?

Read more
Bose updates speakers and soundbars with Chromecast built-in
bose solo 5 tv soundbar walmart deal  s

We've been pretty impressed with Bose's collection of smart speakers and soundbars, especially their ability to connect seamlessly to Apple products via AirPlay 2. But because these products haven't included Google's Chromecast Wi-Fi audio streaming protocol, Android users have gotten the short end of the streaming stick. On February 8, that changed, thanks to a software update delivered by Bose through its Bose Music app that adds Chromecast built-in. The update is available to those who live in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.

The news that Bose products were slated to get this update initially came from Google in January 2022 as part of its virtual Better Together with Android and Beyond presentation at CES 2022, which included improvements to Google Fast Pair and other Android-specific advances. Bose was the only company Google mentioned by name, but it promised to also bring Chromecast built-in "to more brands."

Read more