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Following Google’s announcement about changes to Chromecast on September 29, I noticed that the Chromecast app on my Android (bit.ly/1R9MNNI) and iOS (apple.co/1Lt5dsT) devices had received a significant update, with a redesigned interface and new options. Connect the app to your TV, then tap ‘Browse your Cast Apps’. You’ll be taken to the new What’s On tab, where you’ll see a list of apps installed on your device that work with your Chromecast. Tap the Get Apps tab to bring up a list of other Chromecast-compatible apps you can install.

You can now customise Chromecast’s background images on your TV screen, using photos from your Google Photos and Facebook account. To do that, tap the Devices tab, then Customise Backdrop (or the cog icon, see screenshot), then Allow. In this new Backdrop section, you’ll see a list of options for apps, including Google Photos, Facebook and Flickr. Simply select the one you want, tap the slider at the top to turn it on, accept requests for permissions (for Facebook and Flickr), then tick to select the albums containing photos you want to use as your backdrop images.

To change how fast or slowly the images in your albums change, return to the Backdrop section, scroll down, tap ‘Customise speed’, tap the slider to turn it on, then choose from the three speeds on offer Slow, Normal or Fast.