Almost two years later, Chromecast with Google TV still can’t use Nest Audio as speakers

July 29, 2022

One of many most important options confirmed for the Chromecast with Google TV, the flexibility to make use of Nest Audio as a speakerphone, has but to launch.

This week, Google introduced that Chromecast with Google TV from 2020 – and ultimately all Google TV, Android TV and Forged appropriate units – can now see the reside video stream from their new Nest cameras straight on the TV. Some on Twitter have been fast to level out a small similarity to a beforehand leaked characteristic for Android TV and Google TV, which might present alerts from a Nest Doorbell picture-in-picture.

The announcement and ensuing dialogue recalled a number of the different options that Google initially confirmed for the Chromecast with Google TV when it launched in late 2020. Arguably essentially the most notorious of those comes from just a little promoting textual content that has not been utilized by Google. , during which it was claimed that the brand new Chromecast would have the ability to flip your Nest Audio speaker(s) right into a “residence theater sound system”.

Though not in use – solely showing briefly in Google search outcomes – the corporate has confirmed the wall road journal that he was engaged on a option to join a number of Nest Audio audio system to the Chromecast with Google TV. In our overview of the Nest Audio, we praised the well-balanced sound profile which lent itself nicely to music, however it might be simple to think about the speaker being equally well-suited to motion pictures and video games.

Nest Audio speaker next to a decorative vase

Nevertheless, we’re simply over two months away from the anniversary of the Chromecast’s two-year launch with Google TV, and there is been no motion to attach the dongle to any member of the Nest speaker vary. . The closest factor we’ve is a tough workaround of making a speaker group within the Google Residence app that mixes the Chromecast along with your Nest audio system.

Utilizing this trick, some Forged-enabled video streaming apps will present that speaker group as an accessible goal. The draw back, in fact, is that the answer would not work for native Android TV apps. Latest adjustments to Google Residence’s speaker teams have additionally made this workaround much less sensible. So prospects who personal each the Chromecast with Google TV and Nest Audio are eagerly awaiting Google’s official resolution.

At this level, nevertheless, with solely imprecise affirmation that they have been “working” sooner or later, it is perhaps time to surrender on formally utilizing Nest Audio as a speakerphone for a Chromecast.

In that case, nevertheless, it might be a transparent detractor of Google’s Nest ecosystem in comparison with Apple and Amazon’s setups. As we speak, you may simply pair one or two Apple HomePod Mini audio system with an Apple TV, and Amazon’s Echo audio system will be paired to a Fireplace TV gadget in the identical method.

In some methods, it is one more lesson in not shopping for a product based mostly on what it’s. ought to have the ability to do sooner or later. The blame would not totally lie with Google on this case, as they by no means formally introduced or promoted the potential characteristic, however that does not make the scenario any much less disappointing.