After having been spotted in FCC documentation, the second-generation Chromecast has been confirmed by Googlers from the Chromecast team during a Reddit ask-me-anything session, but they said the device will not have any new features for users, without revealing more details about it. Meanwhile, Gigaom has learned that a Chromecast V2 is indeed coming, as Google doesn’t plan to replace its extremely affordable and very popular dongle with Android TV just yet.
FROM EARLIER: Don’t be too excited about the new Chromecast Google is going to soon launch
In an interview at Gigaom’s Structure Connect conference on Tuesday, Google vice president of product management Mario Queiroz confirmed a new Chromecast model will launch, though he declined to reveal any specifics.
The executive said Google is interested in further improving the second-screen experience made possible by the Chromecast, adding that Chromecast and Android TV both have a place in Google’s strategy. Queiroz also hinted that Google may be working with other OEMs on integrating Chromecast functionality in devices, without specifying exactly what kind of products might be in the works.
The Chromecast has been hugely popular with consumers, with Google having registered more than 650 million cast button presses since the device was first launched in mid 2013 — the company has never announced sales numbers for the device, instead revealing the total number of cast sessions. The exec also said that more than 6,000 developers are building over 10,000 apps for the Google Cast ecosystem, and further detailed the new Backdrop feature coming to Chromecast.
The full video interview follows below.
