Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Google quietly kills Nexus player as Android TV finds a new home

Google quietly kills Nexus player as Android TV finds a new home

Google is no longer selling the Nexus Player on its own store, and it looks like it's not coming back.

Although the player continues to be available on other sites, it appears that third-party retailers have been out of stock of the device for months.

We have contacted Google to confirm that the player has been officially cancelled, and will update this story when they respond.

The Nexus Player originally existed as a means for consumers to retrofit non-smart TVs with Google's Android TV operating system.

Increasingly, however, television manufacturers such as Sony, Sharp and Philips are installing Android TV directly on their television sets, removing the need for an external device like the Nexus Player.

An early stepping stone

We weren't all that impressed when we reviewed the Nexus Player back in 2015. The Android TV operating system was still early, and the player was lacking key streaming apps from Amazon Prime and HBO.

However, in the years since its release the OS has seen a great deal of development, leading our own Jamie Carter to declare it one of the best Smart TV platforms in the world.

Other Android TV devices, such as the Nvidia Shield TV, have begun to differentiate themselves with increased gaming offerings rather than focussing on just video playback.

But with most TVs now shipping with a smart TV platform of their own, it was only a matter of time before Google decided to kill off its dedicated external box.

  • A Nexus Player could still be a great option if you're looking for one of the best Kodi/XBMC boxes
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