Google exec confirms Chromecast V2 and Backdrop API for developers is in the works

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Google exec confirms Chromecast V2 and Backdrop API for developers is in the works

There’s no question Google’s Chromecast has been one of the company’s more successful projects. We’re sure a lot of that has to do with its ridiculously low $35 price tag, a near-impulse buy piece of technology for infusing your television with some smarts. After hitting the 1 million in sales mark back in March, it’s not much of a stretch to assume Google was already hard at work on a followup.

In an interview with GigaOM, Google’s VP of Product Management Mario Queiroz talked numbers, mentioning over 650 million casts have been beamed since launching last July, a number that was only 400 million 3 months ago. He also went on to talk about Backdrop, the Chromecast’s newest feature which allows your TV to display feeds of information onscreen without active user input (things like weather, images from your Google+, etc.). While, again, limited at this point. Queiroz mentioned that they hope to one day launch some sort of API for developers to take advantage of and expand this useful feature. The prospect of feeds from social networks like Tumblr, Facebook, or Twitter could all one day be a reality.

When asked whether the Nexus Player and the Android TV platform — which has Google Cast functionality baked in — would soon replace the Chromecast, Queiroz was quick to announce: “There will be a 2nd version of Chromecast in the future.” Of course, he declined on providing any sort of details but he did mention Google is working with developers to further extend the 1st/2nd screen experience, things that “haven’t been possible as of yet.”

You can watch the full interview in the video down below.

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Android Wear 4.4W.2 rolling out now, Moto 360 gets new battery saving features, UI tweaks, and more

Motorola’s Director of Product Marketing Lally Narwal took to Motorola’s official blog to talk about a new software update rolling out to the Moto 360. It’s the 2nd update since the smartwatch launched back in September and where Android Wear 4.4.W.1 mainly address battery life concerns, the latest version — Android Wear 4.4W.2 — polishes things up a bit. Here’s everything you can look forward to when it hits your device starting today.

• Smart Battery Saving – When your battery hits 15%, your Moto 360 will turn off ambient mode, so you don’t have to remember to.


• Timely Time Checks – Moto 360 will synchronize the time with your phone more often to make sure it is up to the minute.


• User Interface Tweaks – We observed with consumers that there are many times where you want to use your Moto 360 as truly a classic watch—a beautiful way to see the time. A new gesture now lets you see the full watch face without permanently dismissing a notification. Just touch the top of a notification and swipe down. You’ll see the notification again when you have another high priority notification.


• Mood Lighting – Moto 360 will adjust to the lighting of the room while charging, so that it isn’t too bright or too dark.


• Readying the wires for Bluetooth – There are a couple of under-the-hood enhancements that will pave the way for connecting Bluetooth headsets to the watch.


• Bug Squashing – As usual, bugs are squashed to enhance the overall user experience.

Motorola says to make sure your watch has at least an 80% charge on it and connect to your phone via Bluetooth. Because it’s rolling out in phases, don’t freak if you don’t see the update just yet — it’ll get to ya. And while Android 4.4W.2 is also hitting the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live, we’ll have to wait for an official word on anything new hitting those smartwatches as a result.

[Motorola]

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