Google this week confirmed that it has stopped manufacturing Chromecast Audio, its inexpensive audio streaming dongle. And I have no idea why.
“Our product portfolio continues to evolve, and now we have a variety of products for users to enjoy audio,” a Google statement notes. “We have therefore stopped manufacturing our Chromecast Audio products. We will continue to offer assistance for Chromecast Audio devices, so users can continue to enjoy their music, podcasts and more.”
I use Chromecast Audio all the time, so I’m a bit confused by this: It’s how I was able to combine an inexpensive pair of studio monitor speakers ($99) with a Chromecast Audio ($35) and achieve better sound quality than Sonos at just one-third the cost: A pair of Sonos One speakers cost $380.
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So why on earth would Google kill a product that just works, especially when it lets you integrate “dumb” speakers with Google Assistant-powered smart speakers and other devices to create a whole-house audio system?
That I cannot explain. And having products like Google Home Max certainly doesn’t solve the problem either. I just don’t get it.
If you’re interested in Chromecast Audio, buy now: They’re going to disappear, and Google is selling the dongle for just $15 right now.
Yes, I just bought another one too.
dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#396033">In reply to david.thunderbird:</a></em></blockquote><p>google fanboys didn't appreciate your truth comment</p>
saturn
<p>This is what Google does all the time though and it’s one of a few reasons I use very few Google products. Google discontinues something because Google doesn’t see a need to keep it available or to keep working on it. They have an aggressive budget it seems for projects where the second it doesn’t make at least a certain amount of money or has a certain amount of users, they kill it. I don’t think I’d ever use Chromecast audio as I see no need for it but I understand some people get a benefit from it.</p>
dontbe evil
<p>Were is the snark and outrage about Google dumping another product Comments about never trusting Google hardware?</p><p> (Google dumps more products than most other companies, and yet they don’t get the backlash that other companies receive.)</p><p>…ah right, that’s because is google not ms, google is good, ms is evil /s</p><p><br></p><p>p.s.</p><p>even the title is different just because is google and not ms</p>
Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#396237">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yeah the GTard is strong in this one. </p><p><br></p><p>I would never rely on any Google app being there for long outside of maps and Google search. I guess youtube but they did not invent that just smartly bought it at the right time.</p><p><br></p><p>I use Chrome and CANT wait for the chromium version of Edge to finally ditch Google Chrome forever.</p>