Feeling Googly

First it was Google telling me my Pixel 4a phone’s battery was going to get clobbered by an update. The upshot of that was the purchase of a Pixel 8a for $300.

Now my 2nd generation Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices have been clobbered, possibly by outdated encryption certificates. Google says they’re going to “roll out a fix.”

Important information about your Chromecast

We’re contacting you because of a disruption affecting Chromecast (2nd gen) and Chromecast Audio devices. We apologize for the issue and understand your frustration. We are working to roll out a fix as soon as possible and will share updates and guidance on the Nest Community page. We appreciate your patience as we resolve this issue.

© 2025 Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States

There is no replacement for Chromecast Audio. The new Google TV Streamer that replaces Chromecast is too much like Roku and Fire TV — and too expensive by comparison — to be of any interest to me.