We weren’t really expecting any major announcements from Google at CES 2015, but today the company surprised us with Google Cast for audio.
Google announced today that Google Cast, its service that lets you beam video content to a TV or other monitor, now works with audio as well. Google Cast for audio uses the same technology as Chromecast and embeds it into speakers and receivers. To use it, you’ll just tap the “Cast” button in music apps on Android, iOS or the web and then select a speaker that supports Google Cast.
Google explains that Google Cast for audio already works with a number of popular music apps, including Pandora, Google Play Music, Rdio, Songza, TuneIn Radio, Pocketcasts, and more. And since your music is pulled in directly from the cloud, Google says that you’ll get high-quality audio all of the time. The first Google Cast-compatible speakers will launch in the U.S. this spring from brands like Sony, LG, and Denon, with more manufacturers expected to get in on the action later on.
Chromecast has been a big hit for Google because it lets users easily beam their videos to a nearby TV or monitor, so it’s no surprise to see that Google Cast for audio is here too. The good news is that unlike some other, similar offerings, Google Cast for audio works on Android, iOS, and the web rather than just a single platform.