Google Play Movies app shows movie info on second screen with Chromecast

Google is updating its Play Movies app for Android that will allow smartphones and tablets to show additional information about the movies a Chromecast user is watching on its big screen. Among other things, the app can recognize music in movies.

Google gives the Play Movies app a new look based on Material Design, which is also used for Android 5.0 Lollipop. Also part of the update is that the app will show information in the form of ‘cards’ on mobile devices for films that the user watches, such as data about actors and actresses and songs in the films that the app recognizes.

The secondscreen mode works not only with the Chromecast, but also with the upcoming Nexus Player. Not every movie supports the functionality yet; according to Google, the content with support can be recognized by an Info Cards badge in the Google Play store. Furthermore, Google’s movie service with the app has been given a recommendation option in the Watch Now tab and trailers can be viewed directly in the app. The update will roll out in the coming weeks.