Google continues to bolster the services available via its Chromecast dongle with the Thursday addition of HBO GO.
HBO this week added Chromecast support to its Android, iOS and Web app, meaning you can"cast" HBO GO content from your mobile device or PC to a TV that's hooked up to Google's $35 Chromecast.
"Google's Chromecast is one of the newest, more exciting devices in the marketplace today, so we are very happy to bring this capability to our subscribers," Otto Berkes, Chief Technology Officer at HBO, said in a statement. "From the beginning, our goal has been to bring HBO GO to the devices where viewers want to watch it and Chromecast definitely falls into that category."
On iOS, Chromecast support for HBO GO will work on devices running iOS 6 or higher. Google devices require Android 2.3 and above.
If you already have HBO through your cable provider, why would you want to cast HBO content from a mobile gadget to your TV? For one thing, the HBO GO app often has more on-demand content than is available on demand via your cable provider. Whereas Time Warner Cable, for example, might be offering one or two seasons of The Sopranos on demand, you can watch the series from beginning to end via HBO GO.
Meanwhile, if you only have one cable box - in the living room let's say - you either have to be in the living room to watch HBO, or tune in on your tablet, phone, or PC in another room. With this update, you could hook up a TV in the bedroom to a Chromecast and "cast" HBO content to the bigger screen, even though there's no cable box there.
Finally, you might be among those who don't actually subscribe to HBO but are using a fellow subscriber's HBO GO log-in information. If so, you must watch on mobile gadgets. You can always hook up a laptop to your TV via HDMI, but that can be a hassle. A Chromecast remains connected to the TV at all times, so just switch your input, press the Chromecast button on the HBO GO app, and you're ready to watch.
That Chromecast icon looks like a little TV. Once you connect your Chromecast to your Wi-Fi network, pressing it will ask you if you want to watch the selected TV show or movie on your device or your Chromecast-connected TV. After you've cast a show to the TV, you can close out of the HBO GO app and surf on your phone, tablet, or PC without interrupting the show.
Chromecast debuted in July with support for Netflix, YouTube, and Google Play content, but recently added support for Hulu Plus and Pandora, too. It's on sale via Google Play, Amazon, and Best Buy for $35.
The HBO GO apps are available now in the App Store and Google Play.
For more, see PCMag's review of Google Chromecast. Also, learn how to set up Chromecast.