Google’s Chromecast to No Longer See Updates, Ends Support for TV Tech from 2013

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 31 May 2023, 10:05 pm

Google's first generation Chromecast has brought the world one of the earliest techs to upgrade one's television experience, but that is soon seeing an end of support says the company. The tech giant will no longer release any firmware updates for the device, and despite being usable for those who own it, the Chromecast would also see performance issues.

The device already had an impressive run for ten years since it was introduced by the company, and now it will let the later releases power the television experience for all users.

(Photo : Paul Abraham (Deepaul) from Pixabay)

Google Chromecast Sees End of Support for First-Gen Device

Google has recently announced via its notice that it will be ending support for the first-generation Chromecast, the pioneering streaming device that revolutionized the way users consume media. After the April 27 firmware update, Google has confirmed that it will no longer release any further updates for the device.

The first-gen Chromecast, which was released in 2013, may experience performance issues and degradation as users continue to utilize the device.

The first-generation Chromecast, a thumb-sized media streaming device, quickly became popular for its simplicity and affordability. It allowed users to stream their favorite content from smartphones, tablets, or computers directly to their televisions.

With its intuitive design and broad compatibility, the Chromecast transformed any TV into a smart entertainment hub.

No More Updates in the Future, Performance Issues

It is an end of an era as the device will no longer see any updates in the future, and it is expected to face issues in its use.

As per Google, "Support for Chromecast (1st gen) has ended, which means these devices no longer receive software or security updates, and Google does not provide technical support for them. Users may notice a degradation in performance."

CNET reported that before the April 2023 and the November 2022 update, Google last released a firmware update three years ago.

Google's Chromecast Devices

The Chromecast is one of the most famous TV accessories that deliver streaming and entertainment in one. Although it had different iterations and designs, it still imbues what Google has to offer the public, centering on its capabilities to mirror screens or stream via the apps downloaded to it.

New plans arise behind the development of the Chromecast device and reports claim that there would be a future 1080p budget TV stick from Google that is coming soon. The tech industry has seen massive competition among the companies that offer it, but Google is not backing down from the likes of Apple, Amazon, Roku, and more.

Google's decision to end support for the first-generation Chromecast aligns with the company's strategy to focus on the development and support of newer devices. The company has continuously introduced improved iterations of Chromecast, offering enhanced features, better performance, and broader compatibility.

Those affected by this end of support may opt for a new Chromecast or other streaming devices from different companies.