Google unveils first new Android TV device, Nexus Player

The first device that will run Google’s new Android TV operating system will be a streaming media player for movies, music and videos called Nexus Player, the internet giant has announced.

The new device, which has been developed in collaboration with Asus, will also be a “first-of-its-kind Android gaming device,” said Google.

The Nexus Player will let users play Android games on their TV with a separately-sold gamepad, and then continue playing on their phone while their away from their television.

“Nexus Player is Google Cast Ready so you can cast your favourite entertainment from almost any Chromebook or Android or iOS phone or tablet to your TV,” said Google.

The device, which contains a 1.8GHz quad core Intel Atom chip, 802.11ac WiFi and HDMI out, also comes with a voice-activated remote control.

The news comes after Google launched Android TV, a new version of its operating system customised for big screens, at its I/O developer’s conference in San Francisco in June.

At the time, Sony, Sharp and TP Vision were touted to be among the first manufacturers to deploy Android TV in TV sets starting from next year, with the OS will also optimised to work in set-tops and gaming devices.

The Nexus Player will be available to pre-order on October 17. Price details were not immediately clear.

At the same time, Google also announced the new Nexus 6 phone, developed with Motorola, and the Nexus 9 tablet, built in partnership with HTC. Both will run on Android 5.0, the latest version of the OS for mobile devices, also known as ‘Lollipop’.