The first-generation Chromecast is now 6 years old. During that time, Google has dutifully kept it up-to-date with both security patches and new features. Now, however, it appears that the small HDMI dongle is headed for retirement, albeit slowly. Originally spotted by 9to5Google, the current list of Chromecast devices shows a discrepancy between firmware versions, with the first-gen device conspicuously lagging behind more recent versions. This discovery has led some to believe that no new major updates will be made available for the product going forward.
Not that this means you need to stop using your first-gen Chromecast if it still meets your needs. When asked by 9to5Google to comment on the state of first-gen Chromecast updates, Google responded by saying, “Chromecast recently celebrated its sixth birthday. We’re thrilled that some of our earliest adopters are still enjoying the first-generation device, and we continue to update it with bug and security fixes.” That response would appear to confirm two things: New features are unlikely, and that for the time being, the device will continue to be perfectly safe and secure (or as secure as possible) to use.
Though Google abandoned the audio-only Chromecast in early 2019, the current video versions of the streaming devices continue to be very popular, with around 25 million of the devices in use in the U.S. according to Strategy Analytics. Until the end of 2017, growth among all the major streaming platforms, such as Apple TV, Sony PlayStation, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast/Android TV followed a fairly similar trajectory, with modest but visible increases each year. In 2018, however, the
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Still, Chromecast has some impressive features, some of which remain unique like the ability to stream Chrome browser tabs from desktops and