Google announced a slate of new apps for Chromecast last week, but as most were less than compelling, it’s time to speculate on what else might be in the pipeline. According to Janko Roettgers over at GigaOM, Google plans to launch further “waves of Chromecast apps” in the near future. Here are a few guesses as to what they’ll be.
Mari’s Purely Speculative Chromecast App List
First up, Aereo! The little streaming-start-up-that-could is reportedly making a profit in some markets, and CEO Chet Kanojia has said publicly that Chromecast support is on the way. Given the limited reach of Aereo, Chromecast integration isn’t likely to be on anyone’s make-or-break list. But with Aereo already available on Roku and Apple TV (via Airplay), Google’s streaming stick would be a natural platform extension.
Second app: Time Warner Cable. TWC COO (soon to be CEO) Rob Marcus said last week that the company is getting ready to launch its TV app on a new IP video device. Marcus could easily have been referring to the Apple TV with his statement, but it’s not unreasonable to think Chromecast could be on the horizon too. Time Warner has been remarkably progressive about getting its app out to as many platforms as possible. Given Google’s success with Chromecast, a new TWC app released just before Christmas would be well-timed for the many Americans sure to unwrap Google’s stocking stuffer this year.
Third and finally, I’m betting on ESPN. I’ve heard nothing at all to support this theory, but the sports network is typically quick to adopt new technologies. It also has some of the most coveted online video available through its WatchESPN app. And while ESPN has been highly focused on iOS development of late, Chromecast could be just the success it needs to make a bigger push on the Android operating system.
Anything else I’d like to see? Better support for local media sharing, or course. But all in due time.