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Google shuts down Chromecast's free Netflix offer after 'overwhelming demand' 

Google
Google

When Google revealed that its Chromecast is priced at $35 and comes with three free months of Netflix service, many rushed off to order the little media-slinging gadget. And odds are that they're glad they did: Google has put an end to the promotional Netflix offer already.

The Chromecast is a small dongle which is plugged into a television's HDMI input (and powered via USB) and allows you to push content from your phone, tablet, or laptop. With Chromecast, you can switch seamlessly among devices, allowing any of them to serve as a media-slinging remote for your television.

Those who ordered a Chromecast before mentions of the offer disappeared from Google's product pages will still receive 3-month subscription codes for Netflix service (which can be redeemed by both new and existing Netflix customers). Everyone else is outta luck.

"Due to overwhelming demand for Chromecast devices since launch, the 3-month Netflix promotion (which was available in limited quantities) is no longer available," a Google spokesperson plainly told the Los Angeles Times. It's unclear how many Chromecast devices were sold before the promotional offer ended. Developer Sahas Katta claims on Twitter that a Netflix employee told him "that nearly 250,000 promo codes were created for the Google Chromecast when the promo was pulled."

Excitement over the Chromecast is likely to build as more developers take advantage of the device. Google has already announced that the Chromecast will be supported by the Netflix, Google Play Movies, Google Play Music, YouTube, and Pandora apps as well many websites (as long as they are opened in the Chrome browser). Some configuration files spotted by developers suggest that Revision3, Songza, and HBO Go apps may soon support the device as well.

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