90+ malicious Android apps with 5.5m installs found spreading malware on the Play Store — protect yourself now
20 Things You Didn't Know Your Google Chromecast Could Do
After 11 years of streaming success, Google's Chromecast has been canceled. The company announced that it's discontinuing the device, which is now only available "while supplies last," and has replaced it with the Google TV Streamer.
If you've snagged a Chromecast on sale (or are using one you've had for a while), you know how simple it is to operate. Just plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi, and you'll be watching shows and movies in no time.
But there are a few tips and tricks that can make casting more magical. Check them out below.
1. Get a Bird's-Eye ViewNest Doorbell (Credit: Google)
If you have Google's Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell, you can live-stream from those devices to your TV with the Chromecast. Just use the Chromecast Voice Remote to ask which device you want to show on your TV: for example, say, "Show me the front door camera." You can also use a Nest speaker or display for a big-screen view by saying something like, "Hey Google, show me the front door camera on my TV."
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(Credit: Google)
You share a lot with the people you love, but maybe not your taste in movies and shows. Everyone in your household can keep their watchlists—and more important, their recommendations—separate with Google TV on your Chromecast. Go to the Google TV home screen and select your profile. Select Add Account. Sign in to the Google account you want to add, answer the profile setup questions, then select the streaming services you want to associate with the profile.
3. Make Things Family-Friendly(Credit: Google)
Parents with the Chromecast With Google TV can set up separate profiles for their kids, so no one has to worry about unsupervised screen time. Parents can specify which apps their kids can access (including YouTube Kids), select a theme, and even manage screen time. "When it's almost time to turn off the TV, your kids will be greeted with three countdown warning signs before a final 'Time is up' screen appears and ends their watch time," Google says. Kids are smart, so parents can PIN-protect their own profiles.
4. Ask Google Assistant to Pull Up Your Favorites(Credit: Google)
Instead of scrolling through menus to get to your watchlist, just press the Google Assistant button on the side of the remote and say, "Show me my watchlist." You can also use it to ask Google's virtual assistant to open supported apps. If you have an older Chromecast without a remote, but you do have a Google smart home device such as the Nest display, connect them, and make requests such as, "OK Google, play Emily in Paris on Netflix." Other compatible services include Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, and YouTube TV.
5. Where's the Remote? It Doesn't MatterGiven that the Chromecast plugs into a port on your TV, you'll need to switch the input on your TV to go between the cable box, the Chromecast, and whatever else you have in your home entertainment setup. If your TV supports HDMI-CEC, though, your TV can make the leap as soon as you hit the cast button from a supported app; no old-school remote needed. Some TV makers might call it by a different name (Google lists a rundown here), but if your TV supports it, go to the TV's settings, select the HDMI-CEC option, and enable it. Note that your Chromecast must be using a wall outlet for power and not plugged into a USB port on the TV.
6. Phone It In(Credit: Google)
If you lose a Chromecast remote in the couch cushions, you can still navigate on your screen with the Google TV app. On iOS, turn on the TV, open the app, and select TV Remote on the bottom right. Select your device and enter the code shown on your TV screen. Tap Pair. On Android, add the virtual remote to your Quick Settings.
7. Mirror Your Android Device on TV(Credit: Google)
If you want your Android screen to appear on the TV for work or entertainment, screen casting is supported on devices running Android 8.0 and above (sorry, iPhone users). Your mileage may vary depending on which phone you have; the screenshot above is from a OnePlus 5T. Open the Google Home app, tap your Chromecast device, and tap Cast My Screen on the bottom and then Cast Screen. Tap Stop Mirroring when you're done.
8. Bring Apple TV and Google TV Together(Credit: Google)
Maybe there's a huge rivalry between Apple and Google, but you don't have to get involved in the conflict when you have a Chromecast With Google TV. The Apple TV app, which includes Apple TV+, is available in the Apps section of your home screen. It's the kind of friendly cooperation you'd find on Ted Lasso.
9. Cast Music to Your TV(Credit: Spotify/Pandora/Apple Music)
If you have an impressive sound system hooked up to your TV, why not use it to listen to your favorite tunes? A variety of music-streaming services can cast music to the Chromecast, including Spotify, Pandora, and Amazon Music. Make sure your device is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast, look for either the More Devices button or the Chromecast icon, and select your Chromecast from the list that pops up. Disconnect from your music app via the Google Home app.
10. Cast Google Photos to the TV(Credit: Chloe Albanesius )
The Chromecast can serve as a modern-day alternative to old-school slideshows—no projector needed. Google Photos has Chromecast support, so you can cast your pics from Google Photos on iOS, Android, and the PC to your TV. Look for the Cast icon on the top of the Google Photos app, and tap to connect.
11. Add Photos to the Chromecast Background(Credit: PCMag)
Switch up your Chromecast background with Ambient Mode. You can use your own photos or choose from Google's selection of art, landscape photography, and satellite images. In the Google Home app, tap your Chromecast. Tap the gear icon and select Ambient Mode. Here, you can choose to have your Chromecast display images from Google Photos or a gallery of Google-curated images and artwork. Tap Experimental for a low-bandwidth mode. You can also add the weather and time to the display and set how fast the Chromecast cycles through each photo.
12. Make Your Meetings Bigger(Credit: Google)
We hate to bring up the topic of video meetings, but if you're tired of staring at them on a small screen, you can make them more like entertainment by bringing them to your TV. You can cast your Google Meet meetings while still using your computer for its camera, microphone, and audio. Download the Meet app, open your meeting using Google Calendar or the Meet app, and select Cast This Meeting. You'll be able to choose the Cast device you want to use in the Cast tab. To stop casting, select the three-dot menu and click Stop Casting Meeting.
13. Cast Google Slides to Your TV(Credit: Google)
When you use Google Slides, you can show your presentation with the Chromecast, since Google Cast is built into Chrome. Click the Present option on the top-right of your presentation, select Present on Another Screen, and pick your Chromecast device.
14. Chromecast Guest ModeWhether you have house guests for a week or party guests for an evening, you might want to let them decide what to watch without giving them access to your Wi-Fi. On older-model Chromecasts, turn to Guest Mode. (Guest Mode is not available on the Chromecast With Google TV.) Open the Google Home app, select your Chromecast, tap the settings cog on the top-right, select Recognition & Sharing > Guest Mode, and tap it to toggle on. When guests want to cast something, they can tap the cast icon in a supported app, select Nearby Device, and enter the four-digit PIN that appears on the TV or that you provide to them.
15. Banish Buffering With an Ethernet Adapter(Credit: Google)
The Chromecast is a handy gadget for streaming Netflix, YouTube, and other content from mobile devices to your TV, but it requires a strong Wi-Fi connection to deliver streams that don't buffer. Not everyone has a super-fast Wi-Fi network, though. For those who don't, Google offers a $20 Ethernet adapter for the Chromecast With Google TV, though there's currently a waitlist.
Recommended by Our EditorsThe adapter looks like the existing Chromecast power cord, but the plug end includes a small Ethernet port. Connect an Ethernet cable that's also connected to your modem to that port, plug the USB end of the adapter into the Chromecast, attach the Chromecast to the HDMI port on your TV, and you're ready to go.
16. Listen on Your HeadphonesWhen you want to watch something on TV but don't want the sound to disturb others, the Chromecast With Google TV includes Bluetooth support, which you can access in the Remote & Accessories section of the Google TV home screen.
For older Chromecast devices, try LocalCast for Chromecast. It lets you cast video to your television while keeping audio on your device. Tap Route Audio to Phone on the Now Playing screen, and plug in some headphones.
17. Create a YouTube TV Queue(Credit: PCMag)
The only annoying thing about watching YouTube via a Chromecast is that you have to pick up and put down your device every time you want to watch another video. Or do you? Open the YouTube app, tap the Cast button, select your Chromecast device, and choose a video to watch. A pop-up box appears that gives you the option to play the video right away or add it to your queue. Add as many videos you want to watch to your queue, then settle in. Tap the up arrow at the bottom of the screen to view or edit your upcoming video selections.
18. Cast Plex to the Chromecast(Credit: Chloe Albanesius)
One of the chief complaints about the Chromecast is that it doesn't support local media playback, so you can't tap into content you've saved in the cloud. But with media management app Plex, you can stream your music, movies, and photos via the Chromecast. Plex organizes your scattered content and lets you watch it on tablets, TVs, phones, and other devices. Sign up, download the Plex app, and send your content to the Chromecast.
19. Do Not Track(Credit: PCMag)
It's impossible to turn off all tracking, since the Chromecast is merely a conduit for content, but you can limit what it sends to Google. In the Settings menu of your Chromecast device, select Recognition & Sharing and toggle off the option next to Send Device Usage Data and Crash Reports to Google.
20. Chromecast Preview ProgramIf spoilers don't dissuade you, you'll want to join the Chromecast Preview Program. It brings you the latest Chromecast features before they're released to the public. Google says the program is not for beta testing but rather a preview of stable features.
To sign up, open the Google Home app. Tap your Chromecast and the gear icon on the top-right, select Device Information > Preview Program. Tap Join Program, and agree to receive emails about new features. To opt out, return to this page and tap Leave Program.
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About Chandra SteeleSenior Features Writer
My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I've been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you've just seen my Bernie meme.
I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I've had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who've used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it's touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light.
Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.
Read Chandra's full bio
Read the latest from Chandra SteelePixel Problems: Google's Security Nightmare Caused By Hidden Software
A vulnerability included in every version of Android for previous Google Pixel models will soon be patched, but Pixel 9 buyers don't need to worry.
The majority of Google Pixel smartphones sold from September 2017 onward have included a potentially dangerous bit of code in a hidden app. One that could be used to provide considerable access to the device by an attacker.
Security researchers from iVerify discovered an issue when a threat-detection scanner discovered an odd Google Play Store app validation on a device used by someone at Palantir. Wired reports iVerify and Palantir worked together to find and disclose the problems to Google.
The problem stems from a third-party Android package called Showcase.Apk. It was developed by Smith Micro to help Verizon put store phones into a retail demo mode.
However, the app has privileges including remote code execution and remote software installation, which could be hazardous when used by an attacker.
It also has the capability of downloading a configuration file over an unencrypted HTTP web connection. This is dangerous as it could be a vector for an attacker to hijack the software and use it for their own purposes.
Though Showcase isn't in use by Verizon anymore, the APK was still included in the Android builds included on Google Pixel smartphones.
Despite the disclosure at the beginning of May, Google has yet to fix the problem, but it does intend to close the security hole. The APK is not present in any Pixel 9 devices, and Google says it will be removed from all supported Pixel devices with a software update within a few weeks.
However, while Google may be in the process of fixing the problem, iVerify believes that the Showcase app could have been embedded on other Android devices as well. Google said it is also notifying other Android producers, just in case.
The Showcase issue demonstrates the issues involved in including third-party apps or software in an operating system release. It also shows that old code can still be included despite not actively being used, and can still be an attack vector.
Android devices are also often sold with a number of preinstalled apps, or bloatware, with the common complaint that they are unwanted and often take up storage capacity.
By contrast, Apple has stopped including third-party apps in versions of iOS and iPadOS that it installs onto the iPhone and iPad. It did include the YouTube app as a preinstalled App, but it was removed in iOS 6 with Google supplying and directly managing its own app release.
Top 10 Skills For Remote Jobs Hiring In 2024, From Research
To make (and win) the case for remote work, you should ensure that you have the necessary remote ... [+] working skills in place, especially those that are in high demand
gettyApproximately 75% of professionals would take up the offer to use a work-from-anywhere, remote working policy at work, even if it indicated taking a pay cut (50%), upping working hours (20%), or reducing PTO (15%), according to a recent FlexJobs survey for their Work From Anywhere report.
The study, which surveyed more than 4,000 workers from across the United States, noted that Millennials are the working generation that would be most likely to sacrifice workplace benefits for location independence.
But to be able to make the case for remote work to your employer, or even to secure a remote role at a remote-first or flexible working company, you need to be able to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills.
Some skill sets are more in-demand within the world of remote work and digital nomadism than others. For example, according to FlexJobs 2024 Digital Nomad Guide to Work-From-Anywhere Careers, the following jobs were highlighted as being the most in demand by employers, for those seeking remote jobs:
Based on this analysis, here is a breakdown of the most desired technical and soft skills needed by employers for these in-demand roles:
1. Relationship-BuildingRelationships are at the heart of everything we do at work. But perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in roles which require you to collaborate with stakeholders, make complex negotiations and agreements, or conduct sales. Much of what we do in remote work—and the success of our projects—revolves around the quality of the relationships and understanding we build with colleagues, our boss, clients, employees, and partners.
To demonstrate your relationship and rapport-building skills to your employer, think about using specific examples of where your relationship-building has paid off, such as the role you played in partnerships, managing stakeholders, or in handling complex contracts and enterprise sales. Consider using strong action-oriented verbiage such as:
To be effective at relationship-building at work, you need to be an effective communicator. Out of the roles listed above, you might naturally think of account executive, content writer, and editor, as being the remote jobs in which exceptional written and oral communication skills are more integral to success.
But the other roles, such as software engineer, data analyst, and marketing manager are also communication-heavy, as you will regularly need to be able to translate complex technical ideas and business requirements into a product that can be used and understood by others. Your daily work is concentrated on interpreting information and relaying it to others in some format. Therefore, even in tech-heavy roles, soft skills such as communication have their place.
3. Analytical SkillsAnalytical skills are mission-critical for analyzing data, solving complex business problems, and making well-informed decisions. Some of the jobs that would require high proficiency in this skill more than others include data analyst, DevOps engineer, product manager, and software engineering roles.
4. Project ManagementProject management is a career and job on its own, but it's also a high-value skill in the workforce, which professionals who work in management, leadership, or even marketing and editing, would need to carry out their roles successfully and ensure well-organized collaboration on projects.
It's essential to gain a thorough grasp of the technology stack used within your industry and role, ... [+] especially for remote collaboration
getty 5. Technical ProficiencyEvery industry and every remote occupation has its own set of standard software and technology requirements, which are integral to supporting the role in being more efficient. Think about tech stacks, CRMs, unique software needed for project management or engineering work, etc. Ensure you have a thorough understanding of what software is used in your industry and for your specific role.
This is especially essential when working from home, as you will need to be confident in using remote collaboration tools.
6. AdaptabilityOne of the core attributes employers look out for in potential hires is adaptability. It's essential to have a flexible, positive attitude to change, whether in your industry or in your workplace, as things are moving at a very fast pace. Adaptability is a skill that is sometimes needed more in roles such as product management and marketing, than others.
It also is listed in the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs skills report for 2023 as a skill on the rise over the next few years.
Forbes5 Ways To Improve Your Communication Skills As A LeaderBy Rachel Wells 7. Leadership SkillsYou don't need to work in leadership or management to need leadership skills. Leadership skills rank highly on employers' priorities this year as they indicate that you take ownership and responsibility for your work, and have high levels of emotional intelligence. This makes for a more cohesive remote work environment.
8. CollaborationAlong the same lines as relationship-building, collaboration is another skill that is used frequently in the top 10 remote jobs listed by FlexJobs. Knowing how to pull the best outcomes out of individuals, and even work together cross-functionally, especially while doing so remotely, is a major bonus for employers.
9. Customer-Centric MindsetOne common theme of the top 10 remote jobs listed is that many of them share the skill of being customer-focused. For instance, product designers and product managers must concentrate on designing products that anticipate and meet customer needs and requirements, and must factor in aesthetics and ease of use.
10. Problem-Solving SkillsProblem-solving falls on no.9 in LinkedIn's Most In-Demand Skills of 2024 report, which lists the top 10 skills in demand by employers globally, according to analysis of LinkedIn hiring trends and data spanning several months. Taking initiative to come up with creative solutions is much needed in today's workforce, especially since this is one of the rare skills that AI cannot master—at least not yet.
A customer-centered focus is critical to success in many of the popular remote jobs
gettyIf you're looking for a remote job this year, you first need to develop and emphasize these 10 in-demand skills so you can be viewed as more hireable by employers, and have a greater likelihood of being successful in your role.
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