Besides Android TV - which has Chromecast integrated - Google will also bring new stuff to your Chromecast device at home. Soon you will be able to mirror your Android mobile screen to the TV. Google also introduces Backdrop.

New stuff for your Chromecast
Today, Chromecast works by letting you browse for example YouTube or Netflix on your mobile device and cast the video stream to the TV. In that scenario the Chromecast device will take over the stream directly to Netflix or YouTube’s server.

Soon, it will be possible to mirror the entire screen on your Android device onto the TV. This is useful if you want to show family and friends photos or a website. Google says that Samsung, LG, Nexus and HTC will support screen mirroring in some existing high-end devices, but expect more to come later.


It will also be possible to start casting to a Chromecast as soon as you enter a friend’s living room. You no longer need to be connected to their WiFi network. It works by streaming from the cloud and Chromecast will know if the person is in your living room, Google says without detailing the technology. Google says that you can opt out of this feature at any time.

The last new feature for Chromecast is called Backdrop. The idea is to let you bring up your own photos (from Google+ for example) on the TV when the Chromecast is idle. You can also select photos from collections such as art, lifestyle and weather. If you would like to know where in the world a specific photos was taken, just ask your smartphone "What's on my Chromecast?".

Read our full Chromecast review here.