• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
ClassThink

ClassThink

School Technology Guides

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • HOME
  • LATEST
  • Featured
  • School App Search
    • Search
    • Dashboard
    • Directory Login
  • TEACHER GUIDES
    • Microsoft Teams
      • Microsoft Teams Teacher’s Hub
    • Microsoft OneDrive
    • Microsoft Stream
    • Microsoft Office
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Microsoft OneNote
    • Microsoft Office
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Microsoft Windows
    • Microsoft SDS
    • Google Classroom
    • Google Meet
    • Zoom
  • REVIEWS
  • NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT
    • Contact Us
    • About ClassThink
    • Support ClassThink
    • Write for ClassThink
    • Advertising and Sponsorship
You are here: Home / iPad / Google Cast announced — cross platform screen mirroring apps are on their way

Google Cast announced — cross platform screen mirroring apps are on their way

25 June 2014 by Karl Rivers Leave a Comment

 Google Cast allows screen mirroring and media streaming from Android, iOS, and Chrome — a cross-platform answer to Apple’s AirPlay.

At today’s Google I/O conference the company announced Google Cast as part of it’s new Material Design presentation.

Google Cast is a technology used to stream media content from Android, iOS, and Chrome web apps to devices like Chromecast, and allows developers to build media streaming and screen mirroring capabilities into their apps really easily.

Google’s Chromecast has been extremely successful in the consumer market but its uses have been limited to a small number of apps. By differentiating the Google Cast technology from the Chromecast device Google is opening up the ecosystem to allow developers the space to innovate while still keeping control of the user experience.

Unlike Apple’s AirPlay, Google Cast can be built into any app on iOS, Android, or Chrome. This means you no longer have to worry about whether your device is compatible, as long as the app supports Google Cast you’re good to go.

Interestingly Google uses the term “receiver” throughout the documentation, suggesting that Chromecast will be just one of many hardware and software receivers available. This also opens the possibility for third-party developers to create their own Google Cast receivers or build the technology into new devices such as set top boxes.

From the Google Cast developer guide:

  • The receiver should not have any interactive elements, only informational elements to describe the state of the app, errors, etc. User interaction should only take place on the Cast sender (phone, tablet, or Chrome browser), not the Cast receiver (TV).

  • Remember that the action is happening in the middle of the TV screen, and your UI elements should not interfere with the presentation. Place UI elements within the lower third of the receiver display.

  • The UI should use transparency and visual nuance to prevent overpowering the content. The experience should not feel like a “computer” UI.

Google Cast has huge potential in the classroom. Imagine a classroom where students have multiple devices — Chromebooks, Windows laptops, iPads, Android tablets, phones — and all of them can share their documents, videos, and apps to the teacher’s screen or to each other’s. Alternatively the teacher could mirror their tablet to all of the student devices at the same time.

Apps which support Google Cast will be identifiable by the new Google Cast logo.

I’ve always been a fan of Chromecast because of the potential for it to develop into a cross-platform technology. iPad screen mirroring works really well, but Apple’s insistence of only supporting iOS devices is extremely frustrating. If Google or another developer can produce a Google Cast receiver with features such as password management, and access control, this technology could become standard in classrooms. I’d love to see Google build in Chromecast support into Google Apps to allow schools to centrally manage multiple streaming devices across a Google Apps domain. They do it with Chromebooks, why not Chromecast?

The low cost of Chromecast compared to Apple TV alone is an incentive to support his type of technology in schools.

Let me know what you think about Chromecast and Google Cast in the comments!

You might also like...

Filed Under: Android, Chrome OS, Featured, iPad, News

This page contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on the links to these products. For an explanation of our Affiliate Policy, please visit this page.

About Karl Rivers

Karl Rivers is a Director of IT who has worked in education for more than twenty years. He won the Naace Impact Award for Supporting School Services.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

You might also like...

Popular School Apps

  • Bromcom Computers Plc

    Bromcom Computers Plc

    MIS/SIS System

  • CleverTouch

    CleverTouch

    Classroom Screens & Projectors

  • Capita SIMS

    Capita SIMS

    MIS/SIS System +3 Parent Communications, Parent Portal, Parents Evenings,

  • Wakelet

    Wakelet

    Learning Platform +1 Social Bookmarking,

  • BKSK

    BKSK

    Assessments +1 Educational Games & Quizzes,

Latest Edtech News

Virtual breakout rooms for Microsoft Teams – everything you need to know

Download the free OneNote for Team Collaboration eBook

New Surface Laptop Go Announced

Featured

Best Chromebooks for students in 2021

Create beautiful infographics for your classroom

Record online lessons with Camtasia

Naace Impact Awards Winner

Footer

Recent

  • Best Chromebooks for students in 2021
  • Create beautiful infographics for your classroom
  • Virtual breakout rooms for Microsoft Teams – everything you need to know
  • Record online lessons with Camtasia
  • Download the free OneNote for Team Collaboration eBook
  • New Surface Laptop Go Announced
  • Managing Windows 10 in schools with Intune and Autopilot
  • How to stop students unmuting themselves in Microsoft Teams
  • How to spotlight students & demonstrations in Microsoft Teams meetings
  • How to record a PowerPoint presentation as a video
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Recent Forum Topics

  • JvFHf5vfJ HyVSv2mpZ
  • Use VPN Security
  • How less is more with application development
  • How Much Does it Cost to Make an App like Uber
  • Microsoft Team class not appearing for teacher but is correct in Teams admin
  • FCM Test Notification!!! message in Microsoft Teams
  • FAQ: Can students begin a meeting in a private channel in Microsoft Teams
  • Microsoft Lists for Education
  • Benefits of hiring a ghostwriter
  • Things You Need To Make An Android App

Most Popular Posts

  • How to turn off chat for students in Microsoft Teams
  • How to stop students muting and kicking others in Microsoft Teams video meetings
  • How to delete a video from Microsoft Teams
  • How to record and share a lesson in Microsoft Teams
  • How to enable Large Gallery view and Together Mode in Microsoft Teams
  • How to mute students in Microsoft Teams
  • How to record a PowerPoint presentation as a video
  • Virtual breakout rooms for Microsoft Teams - everything you need to know
  • How to set and mark an assignment in Microsoft Teams
  • Best webcams for schools, classrooms, and assemblies in 2020
  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 · ClassThink.com · Affiliate Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Here's the secret · Log in