Lenovo Cast Takes on Google Chromecast

At Lenovo’s Tech World Conference today, the consumer electronics company unveiled the Lenovo Cast, its first ever media streaming device. Similar to Google’s Chromecast, the Lenovo Cast allows users to view videos and photos from the mobile devices to a bigger screen such as TV or tablet.

Lenovo says that around 80 percent of families are using tablets in their home and over 50 percent of them using tablets to watch their favorite TV shows. This realization compelled Lenovo to build Cast. The device works in three simple steps. First, you plug it. Then link the device to your TV or tablet. Then press the play button.

On TVs, Cast works via HDMI. If you have an iPad or a tablet running Windows 8.1 or Android, you can connect Cast through Miracast and DLNA. The device also supports 5GHz Wi-Fi networks and can transfer content up to 20 meters. The Lenovo Cast will hit stores in August this year for the price of just $49.

“Today people want more from their devices – the freedom technology gives them to accomplish more. They want to share a variety of content from their smartphones and tablets such as online videos and games with friends and family on a larger screen,” said Liu Jun, executive vice president and president, Mobile Business Group, Lenovo. “The new Lenovo Cast is our latest device created to enable such personalized experiences.”