This Google TV Streamer Set-Top Box Comes After Chromecast

In April, we revealed that Google is working on a Chromecast sequel with Google TV (4K) in 2020. 9 to 5 google You can now report that this upcoming device will be the “Google TV Streamer”.

Google is ditching the built-in dongle form factor that plugs into your TV and stays out of sight.

As shown in the pictures shared with 9 to 5 googleGoogle is aiming for a receiver/tablet with a pill-shaped, tilted surface. It’s fairly wide compared to other streaming devices, and it’s unclear if it serves any functional purpose. For example, it would be great for the Ultra Wideband-powered Tap to Cast that was announced for the Pixel tablet earlier this year.

Attached to this is a pill-shaped base, and the whole thing looks like a miniature speaker charging dock for the Pixel Tablet. Two cables — presumably the power cable and the HDMI port — protrude from the back. Overall, it should have a slight presence (height) below the TV.

Meanwhile, the remote looks similar, but is longer. After the D-Pad, you have the back and home buttons on the first row. The voice input key no longer bears the Google Assistant branding, instead using a generic microphone as a sign of the times. It has a raised bump where the splash of color used to be for the home key.

The volume rocker has been moved to the front of the remote instead of the right edge, and you now get a mute button as well. YouTube and Netflix shortcuts complete the picture, as well as a power shortcut and a “Magic”/star shortcut.

With this drastically different design, we also get a new name. The Google TV Streamer keeps the Google TV branding, but ditches the Chromecast in a surprise move to the old name. It remains to be seen whether the company will continue to sell the Chromecast with Google TV (HD)Although it follows “Google Cast” replacing the “Chromecast built-in” branding earlier this year.