Images of new Google Chromecast appear online

Images have surfaced online of what would be the next generation of the Google Chromecast, the HDMI dongle for streaming audio and video to TVs. The shape of the new dongle differs significantly from the current Chromecast.

Instead of the small dongle, it seems to be a colorful, circular device with a protrusion, presumably containing the HDMI connection. It comes in black, yellow and red, according to the 9to5 Google images. The current Chromecast is a dongle about the size of an oversized USB stick.

Although the site has information about the new ‘streamstick’, the new features are not entirely clear. The new Chromecast is said to have ‘better WiFi’, but whether it will support dual-band WiFi-n or WiFi-ac is unclear. In addition, there is a new feature called ‘Fast play’ and streams of information will appear on the home screen of the Chromecast. You could also plug the Chromecast into speakers instead of just TVs.

In addition, Spotify will build Chromecast support, the site claims. Until now, the music service did not seem to plan to build in support. It is unknown whether Spotify will only work on the new Chromecast or also on the current one, which went on sale two years ago.

Google is preparing a hardware event to take place at the end of this year, where it also wants to show two new Nexus devices in addition to the Chromecast. That event was to take place on September 29. Google has not yet sent out an invitation.