Guest mode is one of the Chromecast's relatively unknown but very handy features. It uses location proximity and WiFi availability to allow guests to cast content to your speakers or TVs without logging in to your WiFi network, provided they have the specific PIN code for that device. Whether you're throwing a party or have temporary visitors and you don't want to bother with sharing WiFi access, you can simply give them a 4-digit code and let them choose the media that gets played. The feature launched in December of 2014 on Chromecasts and carried over to Google Homes — because they're essentially cast targets.
Read MoreFirmware update enables Stadia on some existing Chromecast Ultras (Update: Official)
Stadia was largely touted as a cloud gaming service that’s supposed to work across screens, but with a big asterisk. For streaming games on a TV, you need a Chromecast Ultra unit shipped inside the Founder’s or Premiere Edition packages, at least initially, while the existing Ultras were required to wait for an update. It appears that some Redditors got a new firmware that allows pairing Stadia controllers with those left-out dongles.
Read MoreHulu is finally getting voice support for Chromecasts and Google Home smart displays
Over time, major TV, movie, and video service providers have been rolling out Google Assistant voice support so that users can access their favorite content on Chromecasts and Google Home smart displays simply by speaking. Just last month, Sling added its service to Google's growing list of companies, and today, Hulu has officially hopped onto the roster, as well.
Read MoreNokia’s new 55-inch 4K Android TV costs $590, but you can’t get it in the US
In partnership with the Finnish brand Nokia, India’s Walmart-owned online retailer Flipkart today announced a 4K TV running Android TV 9 Pie out of the box. The Nokia-branded TV will join the ongoing smart TV boom in the country to compete with the likes of OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Vu in the budget category. The 55-inch Android TV supports Google Assistant along with a few local and global streaming services.
Read MorePopular
Get a Google Chromecast, Home Mini, and $10 Vudu credit for just $35 ($40 off)
A Chromecast is an excellent way to make your TV smarter, but you can achieve ultimate comfort by controlling it using your voice. The best option to do so is to use Google Assistant, ideally through a smart speaker like the Home Mini. When bought separately, these devices cost about $75, but thanks to a Black Friday deal on Google's Smart TV Kit, you can snatch both devices for just $35 and get $10 of Vudu credit for free.
Read MoreHow to factory reset your Google Home, Nest Mini, Nest Hub, or other Google Assistant speaker
Smart speakers and smart displays are still relatively-new types of devices, and since many of them don't have a screen, it's not always obvious how to do certain tasks. That includes performing a factory reset, which involves different steps on Google's smart speakers/displays and third-party Assistant devices.
Read MoreWalmart announces big Black Friday deals on Android phones, Chromebooks, TVs, and a ton more (Update: Live)
Black Friday is only two weeks away, and the internet is bursting at the seams with potential savings. Joining the fray of deals that have graced the front page of Android Police — like the ones from Best Buy, Target, Amazon, and more — the retail behemoth Walmart has unveiled its list of Black Friday discounts.
Read MoreTime for water-cooling: Google Stadia causes some Chromecast Ultras to overheat
The Chromecast Ultra has long been prone to over-heating issues, even before it became the launch device for Google's video game streaming service. The complaints about toasty Chromecasts have returned, as some of Stadia's first players are experiencing crashes when playing games from their TV.
Read MoreSling adds support for voice control and Google Assistant smart displays
Cutting the cord is a difficult decision, but Sling makes it easier. Its service offers live TV so there's no need to give up on football, your local stations, or the 24-hour news cycle. Sling has supported Chromecast for some time now, and today the company is adding voice control options as well as the ability to stream on your Google Assistant smart displays.
Read MoreGoogle Files lets you cast local media from your phone [APK Download]
Google Files started out as a Go app and has since been promoted and shrugged off that denomination. It's still a lightweight application aimed primarily markets with low-bandwidth internet, so most of its features don't rely on the internet, such as device cleaning and peer-to-peer file sharing. The app has now also gained support for local media casting, finally bringing it on par with many third-party apps that have supported this for almost as long as the Chromecast protocol has existed.
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