Google’s Nexus Player may be viewed by some as the second coming of the Nexus Q, the ill-fated orb that sought to bridge the gap between television and mobiles some years back. Fortunately, unlike the Magic 8-Ball gone awry, it’s making it to stores, safe and sound. Having released already in the USA, Google has now indicated the second territory to receive the Nexus Player is Japan, where it will retail for 12,800 Yen, which at the current exchange rate is about $108, though the value of the dollar/yen has been changing on an almost daily basis, so it could wind up cheaper than the $99 US retail price by the time its late-February release date hits.
We announced Android TV at Google I/O in 2014 as a new platform that puts Android inside televisions and set-top boxes. Just by speaking to the remote, you can find live TV shows, a new movie release on Google Play, or a cooking video on YouTube and watch them all on the biggest screen in your house. You can also use the remote, and the separate game controller, to turn your TV and Android games into a gaming console. (And pick up the game on your smartphone where you left off). Nexus Player, a collaboration with Asus, can also stream movies, music and videos and allows you to cast entertainment from almost any Chromebook, Android device or iOS device to your TV
It will be interesting to see how the Nexus Player fares in the Land of the Rising Sun, given how its only true rival is Apple TV. The Chromecast, while a bit different in nature from the device in question here, has been sighted frequently in used electronics stores which raises the question of its acceptance in the market. While the Chromecast is available both online and in stores here, there is no indication as of yet where the Nexus Player will be sold.