Earlier this week, Google launched its latest Android TV set-top-box called the Google TV Streamer. The device has arrived as a replacement for the old Google Chromecast products. The pill-shaped offering provides a more powerful processor, Google AI integration, smart home functionalities, and the latest Google TV experience.
Google has revealed most of the specs of the new offering, except for the Android TV version. However, thanks to the folks over at Android Authority, we now know that the Google TV Streamer is the first Android 14 for TV-powered devices.
Notably, Google introduced Android 14 for TV at this year’s I/O event a few months ago. However, not a single product based on the new OS has hit the market yet, as far as we know.
Google TV Streamer boots a special version of Android 14 that’s optimized for TVs
According to the source, it has obtained a copy of the software for the Google TV Streamer. The firmware is codenamed “kirkwood” and it’s based on Android 14. Furthermore, the source suggests that the new TV accessory still runs a 32-bit version of Android despite having sufficient hardware resources.
When Google showcased Android 14 for TV at the I/O event in May, there weren’t many devices to test it. The developers were only able to test it out using the emulator in Android Studio. However, the devs will soon be able to test their latest apps on real hardware, thanks to the Google TV Streamer.
Google TV Streamer provides all the new features of Android 14 for TV OS
The Google TV Streamer is expected to offer all the features of the new Android 14 for TV OS. The latest Android 14-based OS update offers a handful of new useful features for the Google TV platform. The Google TV Streamer will get all the performance, sustainability, accessibility, and multitasking enhancements of the Android 14 for TV OS.
Notably, the latest iteration of Google’s OS for TV also improves the device’s boot-up time. The new OS also reduces the standby power consumption via two new energy modes. These include the Low Energy Mode and Optimized Energy Mode. The Android 14 for TV version also offers a new PIP mode, apart from a native Find My Remote feature.
As for the Google TV Streamer device, it is available to pre-order from Best Buy for $99. It is double the price of the Chromecast with Google TV (4K). However, all the new upgrades are worth every penny. Google will start shipping the TV Streamer from September 24th.