9to5Google can report that development on a next-generation Google TV Streamer is underway.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the new Google TV device retains the same general design. The width is narrower for a slightly more compact footprint.
The big upgrade is the presence of microphones on the Google TV Streamer itself. There are cutouts on the slanted, pill-shaped surface that will listen for “Hey Google” commands.
Another new hardware feature is presence sensing. Last year, TCL launched the first Google TV with that capability to turn on the Google Photos screensaver when someone enters the room. If you get close, the display shows ambient information like the time and weather.
Meanwhile, the new Google TV Streamer will be powered by a faster processor and offer more storage than the current model’s 32GB.
Google is also updating the included remote. The design is largely the same but with two more shortcuts joining the existing buttons for YouTube and Netflix. Additionally, the Find My Remote button remains on the back of the streaming device.
We don’t have any information on when this next Google TV Streamer is launching. There was a four-year gap between the Chromecast with Google TV 4K and the Google TV Streamer, with the lower-end HD dongle coming in between the two. This refresh comes as Google raised the price of the existing unit by $50 in August.
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