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Google Discontinues Chromecast Audio

'Our product portfolio continues to evolve, and now we have a variety of products for users to enjoy audio,' Google said on Friday.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Do you have an older wired speaker that still sounds good? Until today, you could make that speaker wireless with the help of Google's Chromecast Audio device. But as Android Police first reported, Google has discontinued the puck-shaped dongle.

"Our product portfolio continues to evolve, and now we have a variety of products for users to enjoy audio," Google told PCMag on Friday. "We have therefore stopped manufacturing our Chromecast Audio products. We will continue to offer assistance for Chromecast Audio devices, so users can continue to enjoy their music, podcasts, and more."

As of Friday afternoon, you could still grab one from Staples, but it's now out of stock. Other retailers such as eBay, Best Buy, and B&H Photo Video also have it listed as discontinued or out of stock.

First released in September 2015, Chromecast Audio plugs into your speaker or sound system's aux input via a 3.5mm audio jack and makes it wireless. The device earned an "excellent" rating in PCMag's review and our coveted Editors' Choice award. We gave it props for its inexpensive price tag, easy setup, and high-resolution audio support.

"With the simple, focused mission of making any speaker wireless, Google Chromecast Audio succeeds admirably and affordably," we wrote at the time.

Meanwhile, if you miss your opportunity to purchase Chromecast Audio before it's completely sold out, don't worry. There's plenty of other ways to introduce wireless connectivity to your current setup, most of which are relatively inexpensive and easy to accomplish.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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