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Hard to believe but the OG Chromecast Gen 1 has just celebrated its sixth birthday. Released in July of 2013, the streaming dongle has changed the way millions consume media and laid the groundwork for not only multiple Chromecast devices but thousands of third-party cast-enabled products. Alas, nothing lasts forever.
As 9to5Google’s Kyle Bradshaw reports, firmware versions for the Gen 1 Chromecast have fallen well behind the current software version for newer cast devices. Additionally, the “Preview Program” firmware is only slightly ahead of the out-dated version now running on the original Chromecast. While no official word has come down from Google, this is a very good indicator that the dongle that started it all will no longer receive major updates.
Still using your Gen 1 Chromecast? For now, you have nothing to worry about. In a statement from Google, developers will continue to push bug fixes and patches to the tiny streamer.
Chromecast recently celebrated its 6th birthday. We’re thrilled that some of our earliest adopters are still enjoying the first-generation device, and we continue to update it with bug and security fixes.
Google via 9to5Google
Now, there’s no promise of tomorrow in that statement. While I don’t see the Gen 1 being out of commission in the immediate future, the time will come that an upgrade will be a necessity. If you’re in the market, you might want to check out Joe’s article on which Chromecast is right for you. We have a couple of OG Chromecasts lying around. It may be time to add this one to the Hall of Fame with our growing Chromebook collection.
Shop Chromecast (3rd-gen) on Amazon
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Source: 9to5Google
