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Tom’s Guide
Technology
Malcolm McMillan

Google Chromecast just got a surprise downgrade — here's why

Google Google TV
Chromecast with Google TV, Chromecast Ultra and a Chromecast

Chromecasts are great streaming devices — I use my Chromecast Ultra on a regular basis. But now, many Chromecast owners like myself are getting an unexpected downgrade.

First spotted by 9to5Google, Chromecast’s guest mode is going away for good. This feature allowed users to allow their guests to connect to Chromecast devices using just a four-digit PIN rather than needing to connect to the same Wi-Fi network. This PIN would be shown on the Chromecast’s screen saver and worked by emitting a hybrid Wi-Fi/Bluetooth beacon that would allow nearby users to connect provided they had the PIN.

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