Is your Chromecast not functioning? Google is already addressing the issue.

      Over the weekend, numerous second-generation Chromecast devices unexpectedly stopped functioning, leaving users frustrated and confused. Many took to Reddit to voice their concerns, revealing a clear trend: only the second-gen devices were impacted, while first- and third-gen models continued to operate smoothly. Initially, some users speculated that Google had halted support for these devices, but the company has not indicated any plans to discontinue support. Google has acknowledged a problem with Chromecast devices and is actively working on a solution. The exact cause of the issue remains unclear, but it appears to be related to Google rather than the users; in other words, users may have to wait for a server-side fix to be implemented.

      Reddit user u/tchebb suggested that the issue stems from the expiration of the Chromecast’s device authentication certificate. By examining Chrome error logs, u/tchebb was able to identify part of the problem as being linked to an intermediate certificate authority (CA), which was set to expire on March 9, 2025 — and seemingly has done so.

      The issue occurs when attempting to cast content to the Chromecast, resulting in an error message: “Untrusted device: [name] couldn’t be verified. This could be caused by outdated device firmware.” This error prevents any further action; users can only close the dialog box. Reports indicate this problem affects apps like YouTube, and it coincides with many Pixel users reporting screen brightness issues following a recent update.

      To clarify, this message does not imply that support for Chromecast devices is ending. Google has confirmed there is a problem with the second-gen Chromecast and that a solution is underway. Although the company has a track record of discontinuing devices, it typically announces the end of support before halting service. Google declared it would stop supporting the first-gen Chromecast in May 2023, yet those devices still function today.

      With any luck, Google will resolve the issue, and your streaming device should be operational again soon.

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      Earlier today, Google made several notable AI announcements as the tech industry examines China’s DeepSeek AI, while the company faces antitrust scrutiny in China. The latest development from Google is an experimental version of Gemini 2.0 Pro, touted as the company's most advanced creation yet.

      “It features the best coding performance and capability to manage complex prompts, with enhanced understanding and reasoning of global knowledge compared to any model we've released thus far,” the company states. This model increases the prompt context window to 2 million tokens, enabling it to process and understand large inputs effortlessly.

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      Google has issued a warning regarding the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3. A "limited number" of these smart wearables are at risk of overheating potentially causing burns, but this does not apply to every Sense or Versa 3 model. A firmware update began rolling out yesterday and will continue for the next month, with Google indicating that affected customers — those with devices at risk of overheating — may be eligible for $50 in compensation.

      The firmware update aims to reduce the likelihood of battery overheating but this may come at the cost of battery capacity, meaning the wearables will not last as long as they previously did, according to TechRadar. This isn't the first occurrence of such problems for Fitbit; in 2022, the Fitbit Ionic was linked to several burns and led to refunds. An incident involving a Fitbit explosion in 2017 was also reported, although the company claims no responsibility for that event.

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      The Fitbit app requires improvement — here’s how Google could enhance it.

      Fitbit has been on the market for 14 years, initiating a journey that has attracted over 120 million users. The journey reached a new pinnacle four years ago when Google acquired the company for $2.1 billion, but it took nearly three years for Fitbit's innovations to be incorporated into Google’s hardware offerings.

      The outcome of this integration is the Pixel Watch 3, launched alongside the Pixel 9 series last year. It stands out as one of my favorite health devices from the past year and rightly deserves a spot on the list of best smartwatches, as it boasts the top heart rate monitoring capabilities of any smartwatch produced by a phone manufacturer.