The Nexus Player is Google’s default proof-of-concept device for Android TV. Technically, the ADT-1 was the proof-of-concept device, but that was more for developers than the general consumer public. As such, the Nexus Player was more like the first initial device and showcasing what the platform could do on a mass scale. That said, since it was unveiled, it has been a limited product. Being a stock device and an early one, means that it does not offer the full functionality that Android TV can achieve. As such, follow-up devices like the NVIDIA SHIELD have taken the Android TV platform to the next level and come sporting much increased specs, as well as a much more feature-rich experience.
Well, the Nexus Player is a year old now and with a September 29th event scheduled and largely expected to be the launch event for the LG and Huawei Nexus devices, should one expect to see a new and 2015 Nexus Player? It looks like the answer might actually be yes. A device has now been spotted passing through the FCC that seems as though it could be the next Nexus Player. The device is going with the A4RNC2-6A5 FCC ID number and sports the NC2-6A5 model number. In all honestly, the listing does not provide any real substantial evidence that this is a Nexus Player. However, the filing does indicate that this could be a 2015 Nexus Player.
One of the most telling points is that the label for the device shows a curved label which seems to fit nicely with the shape and design of the current Nexus Player. As such, the assumption is that the shape won’t change much from the current Player. In addition, the listing notes the device (which is listed as a multimedia device) will come sporting dual WiFi radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), which is ideal for a device like this. Not to mention, it also comes sporting 4 USB ports, 1 micro USB port and 1 LAN port. These factors together do at least seem to suggest that a new Nexus Player might be en route. If it is, then it does seem likely that the September 29th event would be an ideal time to launch the device.