Google announced its Chromecast Ultra device at the tech giant's Pixel event on October 4, Tuesday. The new media player will stream 4K videos from Netflix, YouTube, and Vudu at launch, and Google Play Movies in November. Google claims the streaming device will be the fastest Chromecast for high dynamic range (HDR) and other content due to better Wi-Fi connectivity.
Ultra's speed will be the fastest Chromecast. It will load videos 1.8 times faster than a standard Chromecast model whether or not the owner uses a 4K television.
The new model's power adapter will also include an Ethernet port. It will upgrade Wi-Fi connectivity that is not powerful enough for 4K video streaming, according to The Verge.
Chromecast Ultra will also support HDR content using Dolby Vision and HDR10 formats.
Google's new media player will have a similar shape as the original Chromecast. It will look like a flat hockey puck but include the company's "G" logo instead of the round Chrome badge.
Ultra will include a small HDMI port so the device can be placed inconspicuously behind a TV set. It will also mirror content from the small screen of an Android phone or laptop to a big screen.
The new Chromecast will also work with the company's Google Home speaker. Its Internet of things (IoT) device will cost $129 and hit physical stores on November 4.
Apple and Google are taking different approaches to smart TVs. Apple CEO Tim Cook claimed about a year ago that apps are the future of TV.
Google seems to think future TVs will focus on bandwidth. One main drawback of apps is that that people must input their television provider's login and password each time they use an Apple TV app.
Ultra's biggest difference from the original Chromecast will be its price tag, which is twice the cost of the first model. The media player will be released this November in the United States and sold in 15 countries worldwide.
In related news, Google has just announced two Pixel smartphones whose sizes, specs, and colors had already been leaked on the web, according to Wired. The mobile devices are replacing the company's Nexus models.
A key issue with Google smartphones is related to the Android OS. Less than 0.1 percent of Android devices have Nougat two weeks after its release, which causes problems with updates and security.