MediaMall Technologies, the maker of the PlayOn PC-to-TV media server software platform, has set its sights on the Google Chromecast, promising to expand the number of “channels” that can be supported by the hot-selling video streaming device to more than 60.
The $35 HDMI-connected Chromecast got off the ground in late July with integration with YouTube, Netflix, Google Play and the Chrome browser. MediaMall said it will expand that total with PlayCast, allowing the Chromecast to grab over-the-top video from dozens of sources, including Hulu and HBO Go.
But MediaMall said the debut of PlayCast is contingent upon the release of the Chromecast official software development kit (SDK). MediaMall did not know precisely when that will happen, but the company anticipates that PlayCast should become available sometime in October. In the meantime, MediaMall has begun development of PlayCast using a preview/beta version of the Chromecast SDK, a spokeswoman said.
And PlayCast won’t center its efforts entirely on the Chromecast and the Chrome browser. The company said the feature, which has a lower CPU requirement than the primary PlayOn platform, will also serve as a browser-casting system for Roku and Xbox 360 users, as well as Firefox, Internet Explorer and Opera browsers.
“We want to give our users options. PlayOn’s support for Chromecast and our new PlayCast feature will offer more viewing options, greater reliability and an enhanced user experience,” said MediaMall CEO Jeff Lawrence, in a statement. “Instead of being restricted to one type of streaming device and one type of browser, we designed PlayCast to work with a variety of the most popular streaming devices, including Chromecast, and several types of Internet browsers.”
MediaMall said PlayCast will be available to new and existing users of PlayOn, which sells for $6.99 per month, $29.99 per year, or $59.99 for a lifetime subscription.
In July, MediaMall launched the Aereo Channel, a component that enables Aereo subscribers to stream live TV and cloud DVR-stored content to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U and other connected devices that fall outside Aereo's current list of officially-supported platforms.
