With the launch of Chromecast back in 2013, Google gave Android users a super-convenient way to get content from their phones and tablets onto big-screen televisions, all with the help of an affordable little dongle. In the months since, Chromecast adoption has skyrocketed, and the tool has become a key component of many home entertainment setups. That’s well and good for video content, but what if you’re looking for something a little more audio-focused: a corresponding system that takes the music you listen to on your phone and makes it available on full-sized speakers in your home or office? Manufacturers have already been delivering phone-connected audio equipment for years, but proprietary interfaces and occasionally head-scratching setup requirements have kept such products from finding quite the same mass appeal of Chromecast. Google aims to do something about that, and today announces Cast for audio.Instead of a plug-in accessory like Chromecast, Cast for audio will find its hardware directly integrated into things like speakers or receivers, ready to be paired with your phone or tablet. Once devs add Cast support to their apps, you’ll be able to easily hit the Cast icon and start streaming music right to those connected devices.Supported apps are slated to include Play Music (obviously), Pandora, iHeartRadio, and others. On the hardware side, manufacturers like LG and Sony will deliver some of the first Cast-ready products in Q2 2015; they’ll be joined by even more companies further out into the year.Like we said, the basic idea here isn’t anything new, but if Google can do wireless music streaming in a way that’s eminently intuitive and approachable, Cast for audio could go a long way towards making such systems a hell of a lot more popular.
Via Android ThingZ 
Via Android ThingZ
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