Google speeds up Chromecast shipments, but inventory remains low

IDG News Service - Google has reduced the time buyers have to wait to receive the US$35 Chromecast TV device, saying it will ship orders in two weeks or less.

The Chromecast order page on Google's Play Store states that units will ship by Sept. 3. Earlier, Google did not provide a specific date and said units would ship within three weeks from the order date, but a shortage led to cancelled orders and delayed shipments.

Demand for the device remains strong though supplies remain insufficient. A Best Buy store on 5th Avenue in New York City on Tuesday received 50 Chromecast devices from Google, and the units sold out in a matter of hours, according to a store salesman.

Google is supplying devices to Best Buy stores in trickles. Most stores in New York were out of stock on Tuesday, but they're getting larger shipments. Initially, stores got fewer than 10 units at a time.

One Best Buy outlet on 23rd Street in New York last week received only one Chromecast unit. Meanwhile, Best Buy's online store is not taking orders, saying that it's out of stock.

The Chromecast is also being sold through Amazon.com, which is currently out of stock. Amazon earlier said users would have to wait until the end of October for some Chromecast units to ship, but later told The Wall Street Journal that the note was sent in error.

Google announced Chromecast in July. The thumb-sized device plugs into a TV's HDMI port and brings smart TV functionality such as Netflix and YouTube streaming to larger screens. The device's functionality is limited only to a few online services, but its low price has made it an attractive buy. It competes with Roku's Roku 3 and Apple's Apple TV, both of which are $99.

Google declined to comment on Chromecast supplies.

Agam Shah covers PCs, tablets, servers, chips and semiconductors for IDG News Service. Follow Agam on Twitter at @agamsh. Agam's e-mail address is agam_shah@idg.com

Reprinted with permission from IDG.net. Story copyright 2012 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

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YouTube gets an update on mobile, with Chromecast in mind

IDG News Service - YouTube is adding new video-playing functions to its mobile app on iOS and Android devices. Some of the tools are aimed at giving users more control over how they stream video to their television sets using Chromecast, Google's new video streaming device.

The changes are being rolled out officially today, Google-owned YouTube announced in a blog post. A smaller rollout among just a small percentage of users on Android took place on Monday, a YouTube spokesman said.

Chief among the changes is a new tool letting users swipe to move a video to the bottom of the device's screen and reduce its size so they can search for other content while the video still plays. The idea behind the feature is to bring more potential videos to users as they explore within the app, even if the smaller video doesn't command their full attention.

"You can watch a video about making the perfect fried chicken while searching for homemade salted caramel sauce recipes," said YouTube software engineers Matias Cudich and Waldemar Baraldi.

The new version of the app includes several other enhancements to change how it displays video and interacts with other devices like Chromecast. The YouTube app already has a "Cast" button to let users send videos from their smartphone or tablet to their TV through Chromecast, Google TV or PlayStation 3 console. With the updated app, there is a preview screen users will see when the app is connected to their TV.

With the preview, users will see a thumbnail of the video on their smartphone or tablet, allowing them to play it on their TV or add it to the queue, without changing the video that is already playing.

Google unveiled its $35 Chromecast device last month, as a cheaper alternative to competitive devices such as the Apple TV set-top box. Chromecast plugs into a television's HDMI port to let various types of video and music content be pushed to the television from users' smartphones, tablets or desktop computers.

The new version of the YouTube app also lets users search and browse channels for playlists. Previously, users couldn't search or watch playlists within the YouTube mobile app, a spokesman said.

Finally, the updated app features a cleaner, simpler look that will be seen in other apps from Google, YouTube said.

The last time YouTube received considerable changes on mobile was last year, when the iPhone 5 and iPad version of the app got an enhanced look. Last year the Android version also received some speed improvements and an improved interface for channels.

YouTube faces rising pressure to stay fresh and offer new features to users as the mobile video landscape expands. Twitter's Vine app and video on Instagram are two rivals both vying for attention from users.

To give people another option, YouTube's founders recently launched MixBit, a service designed to let users shoot, edit and stitch videos together coming from multiple sources.

Zach Miners covers social networking, search and general technology news for IDG News Service. Follow Zach on Twitter at @zachminers. Zach's e-mail address is zach_miners@idg.com

Reprinted with permission from IDG.net. Story copyright 2012 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

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