Update: Images of Xiaomi’s Mi Box are available in the gallery below. The slim, rectangular device features an HDMI, USB, and AV port. It comes with a simple controller, but a traditional game pad is also available. Xiaomi is working closely with Google to release the device in the US later this year.
As hinted yesterday by Hugo Barra, Xiaomi is making an Android TV device. The Chinese company is just one of many partners introducing new Android TV and Google Cast devices throughout the course of the year. Google also announced today at its Google I/O developer conference keynote a few new apps and channels coming to the Play Store.
On the hardware front, Sony — who went all in with Android for their smart TVs — has new 2016 BRAVIA sets, while Sharp is announcing the Net Player. First time partner RCA will have an affordable Android TV out next month. Not much is known about Xiaomi’s set-top box, save for that it will output 4K content. Additionally, Android TV will be available in Europe from Beko, Grundig and Vestel starting in June.
Yesterday, ESPN and Disney announced a new app that will let users watch live sports through their Android TV devices. Many new apps are coming to Android TV, including CNN, Comedy Central, MTV, Freeform, Nickelodeon, Spotify, STARZ, WATCH ABC, WATCH Disney Channel, and WATCH Disney Junior.
Android N will add new features like a picture-in-picture mode that will let users do other things while watching video. High Dynamic Range will support 4K UHD video and recording APIs will bring recording functionality to live TV.
All Android TVs, speakers, Chromecasts, and more devices can be controlled from an updated Google Cast app.
Google announced today that it’s now sold 25 million Chromecasts to date while giving updates on some other company stats.
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