Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
In January, Protocol revealed that Google was working on a cheaper Chromecast video streaming dongle that would top out at 1080p resolution, which could possibly be sold as the โChromecast HD with Google TV.โ
Now, a new Google filing with the Federal Communications Commission (via Droid-Life) suggests that device is indeed on the way.
Mind you, the FCC filing doesnโt straight-up confirm a Chromecast. For now, itโs simply designated the โGoogle G454V.โ There arenโt any juicy leaked pictures; the filings simply describe as a โwireless deviceโ with dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth LE.
But if youโll let me direct your attention for a moment to this diagram, friends, I think it will all become clear:
Image: FCC
The EUT (Equipment Under Test) appears to connect directly to a monitor with no intermediate cables, as well as a wireless remote controller and Bluetooth earphone.
The โEUTโ is the gadget weโre talking about, and this diagram is supposed to be a map of all its connections. Notice how itโs behind the LCD display? Notice how it is not connected to the LCD display with any cables? Notice how the only cable plugged into it is a power cable, and that power cable is USB?
Also notice how it has a remote controller, and โ in a related part of the filing below โ it was tested streaming video at 1080p?
Image: FCC
The device streams 1080p video while charging from a USB cable.
Now, I suppose there could be some other kind of gadget youโd put behind a screen instead of a Chromecast… but it seems pretty likely weโre not talking about a Nest wireless speaker. And while you might possibly pipe streaming video to a wireless soundbar or something of the sort which could pass video to the TV and have a remote control, thereโs no HDMI cable connected to the device in the test setup. Plus, Google has consistently favored barrel jacks for power across its Nest smart device lineup.
But Google does have a gadget with a remote controller and USB power that gets directly plugged into a screen with no other cables involved. So Iโll be very surprised if this isnโt exactly the Chromecast that Janko at Protocol uncovered.
Not every device that hits the FCC gets released, but typically manufacturers donโt submit them until theyโre relatively close. Iโd bet the price of a cheap Chromecast we see it this fall. I do wonder how low Google will go, though: the current Chromecast with Google TV already does 4K HDR for $50 (currently $40 on sale).