Google develops very few hardware devices, but when they do, it’s usually to bolster their web presence. The $35 Chromecast is one of these very devices.
An intriguing (if not simply for its great price) piece of hardware; it’s also powerful in its capability to display the power of the web upon any display with a HDMI port – all in a package the size of many USB flash drives.
Yet its full-potential was only available on a limited number of applications which Google approached that, in fairness, included many of the biggest industry hitters – like Netflix. This was a notably strange strategy for the company; who generally prides itself on its open-nature.
But the past is the past and Google has today unleashed the Chromecast SDK to developers and invited them to get creating dedicated applications; whether new, or integrating into current projects…
One of the people who had been waiting most for release of the SDK is Koushik Dutta, developer of the AllCast application. AllCast integrates with Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, Playstation and other DLNA/AirPlay ready devices to stream music, video, and pictures.
Dutta says: “The implementation was very trivial. Took me maybe 20 minutes?”
It’s not just streaming media in the traditional sense which Chromecast supports. It’s possible to create deeper experiences than what’s possible on the limited available real-estate on your smaller mobile devices’ screens. For example, Sony could release their board game ‘Jeopardy’ and use the TV as the display for the board, whilst the mobile device acts as the ‘Buzzer’.
On the blog post today, Google wrote: “If you’re a developer looking to bring your content to the big screen, head on over to the Google Developers Blog for a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of it all.”
Whilst it may take a while to see truly innovative applications created from the release of this new SDK and its capabilities, you can expect to see that little Chromecast button to start appearing on some of your favourite media streaming apps very soon… maybe in 20 minutes?
Download the SDK here.
What do you think about Google’s Chromecast? Will you be developing applications?
