The $99 Nexus Player Is Google’s Answer To The Apple TV

Remember Google TV? It’s gone. Now there is Android TV and it promises to do everything Google TV couldn’t including play games for just $99.

Google partnered with Asus for the first device. Called, Nexus Player, the set top box is reminiscent of the Fire TV and runs Android TV with the help of a quad-core 1.8GHz Intel Atom processor with PowerVR Series 6 graphics, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage.

Android TV is a much more simple interface than what was previously used with Google TV. The interface is flat and presents apps and movies on a grid. Users select their options via a remote that’s very similar to the one that ships with Amazon’s Fire TV — even the voice search button is in the same spot.

Google also designed the Nexus Player to be a gaming device and is releasing a controller to enhance that experience.

Of course Google backed Chromecast into this device, which could be its killer feature. So not only can someone use the Nexus Player with all their favorite streaming apps, they can cast content from any PC, smartphone or tablet. It’s the best of both worlds and something missing from any other device on the market.

However, the Nexus Player is not the first Android TV player to be announced. In France, all Internet service providers give customers a set-top box to watch IPTV and use as a media center. SFR and Bouygues Telecom both announced an Android TV set-top box, while Free is reported to be working on one as well. Bouygues’ Project Miami box is set to be released this Fall, while SFR has already been offering its Android-powered box to its subscribers for months.

The Nexus Player will be available later this week on October 17, 2014 for $99.

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