You won’t need Android TV to get a YouTube app on Chromecast
- Google is testing a YouTube app for Chromecast devices without an Android TV.
- You get a remote control, suggestions, and other features usually reserved for full apps.
- It is not sure when this will be generally available, assuming it moves forward.
The YouTube experience on previous Chromecast devices is very simple, but it could get significantly more sophisticated in the future. 9to5Google Readers have found that Google is testing a web-based YouTube app for Chromecast that greatly expands functionality without the need to opt for an Android TV-based device like the latest Chromecast or a smart TV.
Chromecast users using the new YouTube experience said they saw a much more sophisticated player. You can add videos to the queue, change the resolution, enable subtitles, and even review raw data. When a clip is done, you’ll get suggestions for more videos instead of going back to a splash screen.
Connected: Chromecast with Google TV test
According to reports, a remote control in the YouTube mobile app helped users navigate.
The test has since disappeared from users’ devices. It’s not clear when that YouTube web app is coming to your Chromecast, assuming it actually does. We asked Google for a comment.
Assuming this is introduced, it suggests a change in Google’s living room strategy. Until the introduction of the Android TV-based model, Google treated Chromecasts as little more than audiovisual channels for everything that was happening on your phone. While you clearly still need your phone for this YouTube app to work, your “basic” Chromecast could act more like a full-fledged media hub, reducing the temptation to buy new devices.
