Google’s I/O 2023 event is now about 24 hours away and many people are making predictions about what the tech behemoth might announce. We’re not going to do that. Instead, we’re going to walk you through the stuff we’re working on Which Hi-Fi? would like it Google announces.
Since our interests are in TV, home cinema and hi-fi, we’ve focused on that, so you won’t see any entries dedicated to Android OS updates or anything like that. We’ll leave that to the hardcore phone nerds.
Of course, that means our wish list is probably further away from what’s actually being announced – after all, I/O is a developer conference. Still, we can dream, can’t we? And even if these things aren’t announced at I/O 2023, they may appear at a later date.
So, with all that in mind, here’s what we want (but probably won’t get) from I/O 2023.
A new Chromecast audio
We want this so bad that editor-in-chief Al Stevenson has already written a whole piece about it. There’s no point in repeating his arguments in full here (go read his piece instead), but in short, adding streaming to an existing hi-fi system is still unpleasantly expensive and complicated for many people, while the original Chromecast Audio was extremely cheap, small and simple. A new version could add some new features (USB would be nice) and breathe new life into plenty of old but still excellent, traditional hi-fi systems.
A Chromecast that can rival the Apple TV 4K
Another dream device that we’re so passionate about that’s also been the subject of a special feature (this time by streaming nerd Lewis Empson), is a new Chromecast video streamer that takes on the Apple TV 4K. Until now, the Chromecast range has focused on affordability, which is commendable, but we think Google should also have an option for those looking for a more cinematic performance and willing to pay for it.
News about Project Caviar – Google’s attempt to dethrone Dolby Vision and Atmos
Thanks to a report from last year Protocol (opens in new tab)we know that Google has been working on rivals for Dolby’s HDR and 3D sound formats for some time now, but nothing has been said publicly yet about what is internally referred to as ‘Project Caviar’.
You might groan at the prospect of more format wars, but Google’s goal is apparently to deliver its new HDR visuals and 3D sound over existing formats, including HDR10+ in the case of the former. In fact, while manufacturers will have to pay Dolby to license Dolby Vision and Atmos, these new alternatives will be royalty-free, suggesting they may appear on lower-cost devices that can’t include Dolby Vision or Atmos for cost reasons. . This all sounds like gain and not pain, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about Project Caviar. That’s why we want Google to tell us more at I/O 2023.
Over-ear Pixel headphones
It’s kind of weird that Google has been producing its wireless ‘Buds’ since 2017 but still hasn’t launched any proper headphones, don’t you think? We do, and we think it’s high time that changed.
It’s true that the wireless headphone market is busy, but if Google were to attack it with a pair as technically smart as the AirPods Max, but a lot cheaper, it would definitely be a winner. As long as they sounded good of course. The original Pixel Buds were a bit poor in that respect, but the Pixel Buds A-Series proved that Google is certainly capable of producing good audio products.
Improvements to YouTube Music
Sure, YouTube Music is popular, but is it actually any good? Not if you value audio quality, it isn’t. That’s largely because the songs are still delivered in up to 256 kbps, while services like Tidal and Apple Music offer lossless and even hi-res audio.
It feels like it would be an easy win if Google at least added lossless format support (although Spotify’s trials in this area suggest “easy” might be the wrong word), and 3D audio (there’s Project Caviar again) would be the icing on the cake. Suddenly YouTube Music would become a ‘serious’ streaming service for the more demanding listener.
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