The browser is set to be updated with a new feature that will allow you to take advantage of Google Cast without needing a separate browser extension.
Google Cast is a technology that allows you to cast content from your smartphone or browser to your TV or speakers. While Google Chrome has technically supported casting for some time, it would require a separate browser extension to use it.
With the update, this functionality will be done in the browser itself. All you need to do is click on the tools in the upper right corner of the browser and select “Cast.” From there, you’ll be able to cast tabs from your browser to any Cast-enabled display.
The update was first spotted in a beta version of Chrome back in January, but it looks like Google is now preparing to release the feature to the general public. Google's support page for the feature says it's rolling out with Chrome version 51, which is the current version, so we expect users to start seeing it soon.
Google Hangouts will also benefit from Chrome's new Casting capabilities. The update will allow users to cast Chrome tabs directly into their Hangouts conversations. To do this, Google still recommends using the Google Cast browser extension, but you can also take advantage of the feature without it.
While Hangouts already supports screen sharing, casting could be a handy alternative for situations where you want to share a single browser tab instead of your entire desktop. Google says this feature will be available with Chrome 52, which hasn't been released yet.
