INTERNET GIANT Google unveiled Chromecast on Wednesday, a device that looks set to rival Apple TV.

Google Chromecast, essentially little more than an HDMI dongle, is Google’s first foray into the media streaming market, and it works in a similar way to Apple TV and the firm’s Airplay technology. 

Google showed off the Chromecast dongle, which measures little more than 2in, at an event in San Francisco on Wednesday. Google explained, “With Google Chromecast, all you have to do is plug it into any HDMI input on your TV, connect to your home WiFi network, and you’re ready to kick back and watch. It simply disappears behind your TV.

“Once Chromecast is plugged in, if you want to watch Youtube on your TV, you simply go to the same Youtube app on your laptop or tablet and press the Chromecast button to play it on your TV.”

Google boasts that unlike Apple TV and Apple’s Airplay technology, Chromecast works across multiple operating systems, including iOS, Mac OS X and Windows. This was demonstrated using Netflix on an iPhone, an app that supports the “cast” button to fire the footage onto the TV.

Also unlike Apple’s Airplay technology, users can continue to use their phones and tablets for browsing the web and sending emails while streaming footage to their TVs.

As well as enabling users to stream House of Cards from their phone to their TV, Chromecast also supports music playback and tabs within the Chrome browser, so you can share an open webpage with your television.

Google Chromecast will be available in the US for just $35.

At its Android and Chrome launch event in San Francisco, Google also unveiled Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and its second generation Nexus 7 tablet. µ

BUY NOW