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Google outs Chromecast Ethernet adapter to ease Wi-Fi streaming woes

The Google Chromecast dongle has proved itself a valuable companion for those wanting to stream content from their devices to secondary screens without the need for wires.

However, in those instances when Wi-Fi is intermittent or unavailable, it’s about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

So, in a rather surprising launch on Wednesday, Google has released an Ethernet adapter for its HDMI dongle.

The $15 accessory is effectively a power brick, but one that makes it easy to run an Ethernet cable from your Chromecast to the router.

Google says it’ll prove useful for reaching those Wi-Fi blackspots around the house, where streaming can often be interrupted through gaps in service. It’ll also be useful in places such as meeting rooms and hotels, which often offer wired-only connections.

Related: Google Chromecast tips and tricks

There was obviously quite a demand for such a backwards-compatibility tool: no sooner had it arrived on the Google Store, it had sold out (via Android Police).

Google had only launched the accessory in the US, so it remains to be seen whether an international release is in the pipeline.

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