Skip to main content

Google Nexus Player

See All Stories

Along with the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, Google unveiled the Nexus Player in October of 2014. It became the company’s official Android TV set-top box made by ASUS, and showcased what Google intended for the platform. It was the first Android TV hardware on the market, and it went on sale alongside Google’s 2014 Nexus flagships the Nexus 9 and the Nexus 6.

While Google has long been trying to get some screen space on our televisions, its previous set-top box offerings have been nothing more than disappointing. The Chromecast has been a successful project, but Android TV is going to change the game and that begins with the Nexus Player.

The device ships with a remote not too different from the one that comes with the Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and similar devices.

ASUS submits minor FCC modifications to the recently-discontinued Nexus Player

nexus-player

It was just a few days ago that it seemed the Nexus Player had been discontinued, but now it looks like a slightly modified version of the device could be on its way. It doesn’t seem likely to be a “second generation” Nexus Player, but the device’s FCC listing has just received some minor updates — almost two years after it first launched…


Expand
Expanding
Close

New ESPN app will let subscribers stream live sporting events on Android TV, ‘new Nexus Players’

WatchESPN_AndroidTV_Home

New televisions and boxes running Android TV have been released throughout the year and Android N will add new features like a picture-in-picture mode. Google I/O tomorrow might see more announcements including ‘new Nexus Players’, but until then ESPN is launching a new app that will allow subscribers to stream live sporting events.


Expand
Expanding
Close

How to: Add the Apple TV’s cinematic screensavers to your Nexus Player, Android TV, more

aerial-dream

As screensavers for their latest streaming device, Apple filmed beautiful slow motion video of cinematic locations and landmarks. Developers have since discovered the public URL for the video files and packaged them up for other uses. Now, there is an Android app that turns the Apple TV’s screensavers into Daydreams for any Android device.


Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Nexus Player $45, Galaxy Note 5 $550, USB-C cables $4.50, more

9to5toys-header

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

player-grid2-1600.jpg (1400×1078) 2015-09-09 18-17-41

Google Nexus Player by ASUS Android TV: $45 shipped (Reg. $100) | Newegg

s-l500

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 32 GB LTE GSM (unlocked): $550 shipped (Reg. $1,000) | eBay

techmatte-usb-c-cable1

TechMatte 3-ft USB-C cables starting at $4.50 Prime shipped (Reg. $9), 5-ft $5 (Reg. $10)

 

moto-360-Cognac

First gen. Moto 360 Android Wear smartwatch: $100 shipped (Reg. $150) | Google Store

logitech-smart-control

Amazon Gold Box – Logitech Harmony Smart Control with App and Remote $75 shipped (Reg. $130)

amazon-echo-deal

Amazon Echo Smart Speaker w/ free shipping: $150 or $95 for card holders (Reg. $180)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

skullcandy-crusher-headphones-with-built-in-amplifier-and-mic-sale-01

Headphones: Skullcandy Crusher w/ built-in amp & mic in black $60 (Reg. $80+), more

BLACK FRIDAY AD LEAKS & NEWS:

best-buy-black-friday-ad

Best Buy’s Black Friday ad brings deals on Apple Watch, Macs, HDTVs, games & more!

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

ulka-iphone-6s-android

ULAK Cases for iPhone 6/s, iPad mini, iPod Touch and Android devices from $3 shipped (Reg. $10+)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

yuneec-typhon-actioncam

Yuneec introduces its own stabilized 4K action camera, bringing prices lower than ever before

tp-link-wifi-extenders

TP-Link introduces two new Wi-Fi extenders for home theaters, gaming consoles, and more

You can now get last year’s Nexus Player for just $38 shipped (Reg. $100)

player-grid2-1600.jpg (1400×1078) 2015-09-09 18-17-41

The Nexus Player is perhaps a great Chromecast alternative if nothing else, and now it looks like you can grab one for about the same price as the recently-announced 2nd generation Chromecast. Groupon is currently offering the device for just $39.99 — down to $37.99 with coupon code VISA5 —  which is a steal for the set top box and the lowest price we’ve seen for a new unit.

We reviewed the Nexus Player last year, and had mostly positive things to say. That said, it’s clear that the Android TV platform is losing out to the Chromecast, which is less capable in terms of features but available for just $35 outright and has been much better advertised by Google. It doesn’t help that the Nvidia Shield is leaps and bounds better than Google’s offering.

You might want to act quick, because these Groupon deals tend to go fast.

Google Nexus Media Streaming Player by ASUS | Groupon 2015-11-04 17-10-56

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Nexus 6 (unlocked) $300, Galaxy S6 (unlocked) $430, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

nexus-6-midnight-blue

Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked 32GB: $300 shipped (Orig. $650)

$_57

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $430 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

lg-g4-press-render-710

LG G4 brand new smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $400 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

nexus-player

Brand new Google Nexus Player by ASUS: $50 shipped (Reg. $100) | Best Buy

aukey-9-6a-48w-4-port-usb-car-charger-with-aipower-tech-technology-for-iphone-ipad-air-2-samsung-galaxy-s6-s6-edge-nexus-htc-m9-motorola-nokia-black-e1442939243985

The best USB car charger (Aukey 4 port/48W) is just $7 Prime shipped, Lumsing 6000mAh Power bank: $10

amazon-prime-free-shipping

Amazon teases one day sale that’ll discount Prime memberships down to just $67

this-is-ground-mod-laptop-2-toffee-giveaway

Giveaway: This is Ground’s Mod Laptop 2 is a road warrior’s dream bag, up to $499 value

More new gear from today:

cyberpower-cp1350pfclcd-ups

CyberPower 1350VA 810W UPS Mini-Tower w/ Dual USB Ports: $130 shipped (Reg. $175+)

More deals still alive:

gopro-hero-action-cameras-9to5toys

GoPro HERO4 Black $389 + shipping (Reg. $500), HERO+ LCD $249 (Reg. $300)

New products & more:

s6-lifestyle-white

Polk’s new flagship Omni S6 speaker goes after the multi-room audio crown

call-of-duty-black-ops-iii-limited-edition-bundle-02

Sony reveals the first 1TB PlayStation 4 for North America w/ the new COD: Black Ops III bundle

9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G4 (unlocked) $400, Nexus Player by ASUS $50, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

lg-g4-press-render-710

LG G4 brand new smartphone 32GB (unlocked): $400 shipped (Reg. $800) | eBay

nexus-player

Brand new Google Nexus Player by ASUS: $50 shipped (Reg. $100) | Best Buy

Logitech mice, keyboards, speakers up to 50% off: Wireless Solar Keyboard for Mac $40, Bluetooth mouse $22, more

brother-wireless-mfc-j450dw-printer

Brother Google Cloud Print All-in-One InkJet Color Printer: $48 shipped (Reg. $80+)

amazon-prime-free-shipping

Amazon teases one day sale that’ll discount Prime memberships down to just $67

this-is-ground-mod-laptop-2-toffee-giveaway

Giveaway: This is Ground’s Mod Laptop 2 is a road warrior’s dream bag, up to $499 value

More new gear from today:

oontz-curve-bluetooth-speaker1

Daily Deals: OontZ Curve Bluetooth Speaker $15, MS Band Smartwatch $100, more

More deals still alive:

lg-49ub8200-4k-uhdtv-deal

LG 49-inch 60Hz Smart 4K UHDTV: $550 shipped (Reg. $800+)

New products & more:

infento-modular-bike-system (1)

Infento’s Constructible Rides are a K’NEX-like bicycle system that grows with your kid

makerarm-early-version1

The Makerarm 3D prints, laser engraves, and even assembles your electronics

9to5Toys Last Call: Google Nexus Player by ASUS $50, Aukey Quick Charger $8, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

nexus-player

Brand new Google Nexus Player by ASUS: $50 shipped (Reg. $100) | Groupon

719pWSGffuL._SL1500_

Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 18W charger + 3.3′ Micro USB Cable: $8 Prime shipped w/ code XW6FG5ZD (Reg. $26) | Amazon

turbo-charger-motorola.jpg (1000×540) 2015-09-09 18-12-24

Motorola 15W Turbo Charger (refurb) w/ Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0: $14 shipped (Reg. $35) | Groupon

jawbone-up2-fitness-tracker

Jawbone reformulates its UP2 fitness tracker with a new fashion-forward design

More new gear from today:

omaker-m4-portable-bluetooth-4-0-speaker1

Daily Deals: Omaker Bluetooth Speaker $19, HP Envy 5660 All-In-One Inkjet Printer $65, more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/641694204079525888 align=’center’]
[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/641711274225717249 align=’center’]

More deals still alive:

nexus-6-design

Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked 32GB in Cloud White/Midnight Blue: $350 shipped (Orig. $650)

New products & more:

raspberry-pi-rear-display

The Raspberry Pi touchscreen display we’ve been waiting for is now available

jbl-flip-3-review-9to5toys (1)

Review: JBL’s new Flip 3 Bluetooth speaker slims down for an ultra-portable form factor

Speck_DFI_Ad_CS-Stacked-Cube_728x90_v1[2]

Site default logo image

PSA: ASUS currently offering Google Nexus Player for $65 (normally $99)

nexus-player

Google’s Nexus Player may not be a substitute for a full-on games console, but if you want something which combines the casting capabilities of the cheaper Chromecast stick with some casual gaming capabilities, you can now pick one up for 35% off.

The official Asus store on Amazon is currently offering the device for $64.78, a saving of a little over $35.

The Nexus Player was the first device to get Android 5.1.1 back in April.

Google’s Nexus Player is now available in South Korea (Update: Now $20 off, too)

player-overview-1600

Asus’ Nexus Player, the device Google launched last year to introduce the world to its new Android TV platform, is now available in South Korea via the online Google Store. Following the first availability of the Nexus Player in the UK in March, and 9 additional countries last month, the Mountain View company is now selling the device in the Korean market as well.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Sling comes to Android TV, offers half off Nexus Players for new subscribers

Site default logo image

sling

Streaming televison site Sling announced today that it has launched an Android TV application, allowing users on a new set of devices to subscribe to the service and watch TV shows from a variety of networks. To help put more Sling-capable devices in users’ hands, Sling is offering a special price on the Nexus Player.

Those who pre-pay for three months of Sling TV will be able to get Google’s Nexus Player for half off the regular price, bringing the cost closer to $50. To claim the offer, users just need to sign up for a three-month subscription through the Sling website and select the Nexus Player deal.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Nexus Player now available in 9 new countries

player-overview-1600

Following the first availability of the Nexus Player in the UK last month, the Nexus Player is now available in 9 new international countries. Among them are Australia, as well as eight different European countries:

  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • Italy
  • Norway
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

The device launched in October of 2014 to little fanfare, and we reviewed it not long after saying that it’s a bit unfinished. Right now, owners of the Nexus Player are the only lucky souls to have their hands on Android 5.1.1.

Nexus Player first to receive Android 5.1.1 factory image, download it here

player-overview-1600

Google has just pushed the first build of Android 5.1.1, and it looks like the first device to get the update is the Nexus Player. We have still yet to see Android 5.1 for the Nexus 9 (and only last week saw it arrive for the Nexus 4), but Google seems to be charging ahead regardless. Rumors said that the Nexus 9 would be skipping 5.1 in favor of 5.1.1, so maybe this is a sign that the update for Google’s flagship tablet is right around the corner.

Download the new factory image straight from Google’s servers:

Alternatively, you can head over and download this image and more from Google’s developers website. If you’re wondering how to install the update, be sure to check out our nifty guide.

Nexus Player now available in the UK, new accessories land in Google Store

player-overview-1600

Amazon accidentally revealed earlier this week that this would be happening today, but we now have proof that the slip was legit: the Nexus Player has now launched on the Google Store in the UK for £79. A couple of new Android Wear accessories have also landed in the store today though, including a Sony SmartWatch 3 watch band and a standalone charger for the Asus ZenWatch.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Nexus Player shows up on Amazon UK for March 26 launch

player-overview-1600

The Nexus Player has been available in the US for quite some time, but now we have a bit of an idea of when the device will be launching in the UK. As spotted by Engadget, the Nexus Player has shown up on the UK Amazon website with a launch date of March 26th and a price of £80. Sadly, that page seems to have been taken down already and the only listing for the device is currently via a third-party reseller (at a pretty decent markup).

In January, Google revealed that the Nexus Player would be coming to Japan by the end of February, its first market outside the US. More recently, Google posted the Android 5.1 factory image for the Nexus Player. If you’d like to, you can head over to read our full review that we published all the way back in November. We found it to be a useful new platform for Android, but a lot of its features can feel a bit half-baked.

Site default logo image

Google posts Android 5.1 factory image for Nexus Player

 

player-overview-1600Android 5.1 has slowly begun rolling out to Nexus devices over the last couple of weeks (and has been seen on Android One devices since February), but Google has today posted the factory image for the Nexus Player. Previously, Google updated the download page with links for the Nexus 52012 WiFi Nexus 7, and the Nexus 10, and now you can manually update your new Nexus-branded Android TV set top box as well if you’d like.

Hit up Google’s developers site to find the Nexus Player’s Android 5.1 image, with build number LMY47D.

Site default logo image

Nexus Player coming to Japan by end of February, its first market out of North America

nexus player image shotEarlier this month, Google’s Nexus Player became available from a variety of new online retailers and big-box stores, and now the company revealed the first market outside of North America in which the device will be available. In a post on its Asia Pacific Blog, Google has revealed that the Nexus Player will be available in Japan by the end of February.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Nexus Player to hit store shelves and online retailers on January 25th

Site default logo image

Screen Shot 2015-01-22 at 11.09.27 PM

Google’s Nexus Player has appeared on Newegg’s online store in preparation for a January 25th release, and appears to be showing up in some Walmart stores as well. The $99 streaming device was first announced last year and is currently available through Google’s Play Store.

Along with the Asus-built Nexus Player, shoppers will be able to pick up the associated gamepad for $49. Like the player itself, the gamepad is scheduled to go on sale this Sunday.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Google releases new app with live channel support for Android TV

Site default logo image

Google, without any sort of announcement or waning, has released a new app to the Play Store this evening called “Live Channels for Android TV.” The app isn’t compatible with any current phone or tablet running Android, but rather with Android TV powered devices. The app is meant to offer an interface with which users can navigate live TV channels. It is currently only compatible with the Nexus Player.


Expand
Expanding
Close