Baig: What to expect from Google Chromecast, Nexus 7

Baig: What to expect from Google Chromecast, Nexus 7

The new Google Chromecast is displayed during a Google special event at Dogpatch Studios in San Francisco, California. (Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images)

Story Highlights Nexus 7 has improved full high definition display and more memory A Wi-Fi plus LTE version will work with AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon Chromecast streaming gizmo works with Android, Chrome and iOS devices

Google has always kept Android and Chrome software as separate and distinct entities. But both fall under the jurisdiction of the amiable Google executive Sundar Pinchai. On Wednesday, Pinchai hosted a press breakfast to announce the latest developments for Android and Chrome, and the new hardware that exploits the newest software.

For starters, there's a new version of the popular Android-based Nexus 7 tablet that is built by Asus. And a small $35 Chrome-based gizmo called Chromecast that works over Wi-Fi to stream videos from your smartphone or tablet (Android or iOS) or laptop. Here's what to expect:

Nexus 7. This slightly thinner and lighter version of Google's popular 7-inch tablet becomes the first device to run Android version 4.3, an update to the software that will still carry the moniker Jelly Bean. Though the 4.3 update strikes me as fairly modest, it does bring a "restricted profile" feature that supplies parental controls that should appeal to moms and dads. A parent can limit the apps and content that the kids can use on the tablet within their own customizable and segregated user area.

The latest Jelly Bean software also brings support for a newer, more power-efficient iteration of Bluetooth, bolstering the device graphics.

On the hardware side, there's now a more vibrant full high definition display (1920x1200 at 323ppi) and stereo speakers that sounded pretty sweet in a brief test. The tablet now has virtual surround sound technology provided by Fraunhover, the inventor of the MP3. Inside is a robust quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of memory, double its predecessor. Google is claiming 9 hours of HD video playback off a single battery charge, or 10 hours of Web playback or reading time. It can exploit wireless charging solutions too. NFC is also supported.

Wi-Fi-only versions of the tablet will be available in 16GB and 32GB configurations for $229 and $269, respectively. They're slated to arrive July 30. Google hasn't given a specific availability date for a third $349 32GB version that supplies 4G LTE capabilities. The banner news here is that this same cellular model will work with LTE from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless.

Chromecast. I don't yet know how well the Chromecast USB dongle will work streaming video from a phone, tablet, or laptop onto a big screen TV. But at $35 bucks I can sure see lots of folks giving it a try.

What I can tell you after removing this thing from the box - it's not much bigger than the keys that unlock my front door.

One end of the device plugs into the HDMI port of your TV; the other end has a port for USB power. After plugging it into the TV, you switch to the appropriate "input" and download an app onto your computer or phone/tablet. The computer should be within 20 feet of the TV and on the same Wi-Fi network as the Chromebook.

To choose what to watch, you press the "cast" icon within the app that you want to play on your TV, with YouTube, Google Play Music, Google Play Movies and Netflix initially supported. In fact, under a current promotion, you get three months of Netflix free when you buy Chromecast. You can control the volume and playback using your smartphone, tablet or iPhone.

Though this particular feature is still in a beta testing phase, Google will also let you stream the Web via the Chrome browser on certain Macs, Windows PCs and Chromebooks.

Google made a big point out of the fact that Chromecast not only works on Android and Chrome based machines as you would expect, but on the rival iOS-based iPhone and iPad too.

I plan to test both the Chromecast and the new Nexus 7 in the coming days.

Email: ebaig@usatoday.com; Follow @edbaig on Twitter.

news by July 25, 2013 at 05:08PM