After a long wait, the Apple TV app finally landed on the Google Play Store earlier this year, giving Android users easier access to Apple TV’s library of award-winning movies and TV shows. At launch, the app lacked one key feature available on other streaming apps for Android: the ability to cast content to nearby devices. Apple has now addressed that with its latest update.
According to 9to5Google, the latest version of the Apple TV app for Android brings Google Cast support, which allows users to cast Apple TV content to smart TVs and displays. The app now displays a persistent Cast option beside the Apple TV account button in the top right corner of the home page. Tapping on it opens a pop-up menu with nearby Google Cast compatible displays, including Nest Hubs and Chromecast-enabled devices.
While casting, the app shows a miniplayer with playback information, the name of the connected device, a progress bar, a pause button, and a ten-second rewind button. Tapping the miniplayer opens a full-screen interface with large buttons to pause, rewind, and forward, followed by a progress bar and buttons to change audio and subtitle settings.
The update comes as Apple continues to expand the app’s functionality on Android, with a recent release adding new episode notifications. Google Cast support is available in version 2.2 of the Apple TV app for Android, which is rolling out via the Google Play Store. The update also tweaks the app’s home screen icon, which now features a slightly smaller Apple TV logo within the circle.
Apple adds Google Cast support while Netflix pulls back
It’s worth pointing out that while Apple has just added Google Cast support to the Apple TV app, Netflix has gone in the opposite direction. Earlier this month, Netflix quietly removed casting support from its mobile apps to most devices, limiting it to only a handful of devices, including the Chromecast 3rd gen or older, Google Nest Hub, Select cast-enabled Vizio TVs, and Select cast-enabled Compal TVs.