Google Chromecast has been around for a while now, giving Android and iOS (and regular computer) users a way to beam their video to a larger display. That tech is still around today, but it’s undergoing a name change.
The Chromecast app for Android and iOS is now known as Google Cast. Google explains the name change by saying that the new name better reflects the wide variety of devices that support casting audio and video. The updated Google Cast app will roll out to Android and iOS devices this week.
In other Google Cast news, Vizio today announced the P-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Displays. These new displays will be available in 50-inch ($999.99), 55-inch ($1,299.99), 65-inch ($1,999.99), and 75-inch ($3,799.99) sizes. They’ve all got 4K Ultra HD resolutions, anodized aluminum surfaces, built-in Wi-Fi and quad-core processors, and lots of other TV goodies. Another detail that’s worth noting is that these displays don’t have tuners built-in, so if you use an external antenna to watch over-the-air TV channels, you’ll need a TV tuner. That’s why Vizio calls these devices “displays” and not “TVs.”
Of course, there’s probably a reason why Google mentioned these new Vizio displays in its Google Cast app announcement, right? Right. That’s because the Vizio P-Series displays come with Google Cast support built-in, meaning that you don’t need any extra equipment to cast content from your Android or iOS device to the display.
Additionally, the new Vizio P-Series displays come with a P-Series Tablet Remote, which is basically an Android Lollipop tablet with a 6-inch 1920x1080 display, octa-core processor, stereo speakers, and 16GB of storage. It comes preloaded with a Vizio SmartCast app for controlling your P-Series display, but it’s also got Google Play Store access so that you can download other apps.
The new Vizio P-Series displays are available now.
