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7 things Google’s Nexus Player must do to rule the living room

Caleb Denison
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Nexus Player
To say that Google is late to the party with its recently announced Nexus Player would be a grand understatement.

To be fair, The company made an early appearance at the set-top box soirée masquerading as Google TV, but was promptly booted out for being unruly, uncooperative and just generally sucking really hard. Now, having undergone a dramatic wardrobe change and an attitude adjustment, Google is back, going by the name Android TV, and flashing the Nexus Player around like some kind of VIP pass. But it’s going to have to do some serious schmoozing if it wants to be welcomed back into what became a real rager of a product category in its absence.

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Like what? Here are seven things the Nexus Player must do in order to compete with Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV.

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Nexus PlayerApps, Apps, Apps, and Hulu Plus

Roku offers more apps than anyone knows what to do with, and Google needs to do the same for the Android TV platform. Also, if the App is free on a competing platform, then it needs to be free for the Nexus Player. Take Plex, for instance. Why would anyone want to spend $5 for an app Roku users get for free? And if there has to be a charge for the app, we should be able to pay in normal currency. No points, coins, medallions or any other ridiculous funny money, please (We’re looking at you, Fire TV!).

Also, your little beef with Hulu, Google? The one that prevented Hulu from appearing on Google TV? Figure it out. Bury the hatchet, kiss and make up, do whatever you must, because Hulu Plus is an important player and if you two can’t get along, then we don’t want you here.

Leverage Google play store – early run movies, good deals on TV shows

The best thing Google has going for it is the Google Play store. It’s time Google started sticking it to Apple and securing killer content deals for movies, TV shows, and music so that Googligans won’t have a reason to visit iTunes. It wouldn’t hurt if Google sold the content at a slightly lower price, either.

Snappy operation

Nothing kills a good set-top box buzz like slow-loading apps, sluggish navigation, and operational hang-ups. The Nexus Player needs to be fun to operate, and fast = fun. The Player does feature a 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor, as well as an Imagination PowerVR Series 6 Graphics 2D/3D Engine for gaming, so we’re optimistic it will do well in this regard.

Smartphone mirroring for all mobile devices.

People like being able to share their pictures, videos and music. The Nexus Player has the opportunity to make that process easier than anyone else. Forget AirPlay, let everyone – and this includes iOS users – simply and quickly mirror their phone on the big screen through the Nexus Player. Whichever company or device masters this first, wins.

Strong and reliable Wi-Fi (because no Ethernet for now)

Dear Google, why the hell didn’t you make Asus put an Ethernet adapter in the Nexus Player? In this day and age, when CAT 5 snakes freely through more and more homes, and High Definition content is going mainstream, why would you deny us the option to have a stable, wired network connection, free of interference from microwaves, competing wireless products and metallic infrastructure? If you’re going to force us to use Wi-Fi, then you best be sure the receiver/transmitter in the Nexus Player is both reliable and strong like bull.

Universal Search

For all that is decent and pure in this world, please give us true universal search, or at least a search engine that polls all the major apps, and not just the Google Play store. If I search for “House of Cards,” I want to see that I can get it from Netflix and Amazon and Google Play. Take a page from Roku’s book, then make it better, Google. If you can make it easy for us to find the least expensive option for what we’re wanting to watch, and be smart enough only to recommend those services that we have a subscription to, then you will have scored a major coup.

Remote control mobile device app

File this under: Duh.

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Caleb Denison
Caleb Denison
Editor at Large
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
Google officially announces Android TV
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Google already began its invasion into home theater with the launch of the Chromecast, but it's not done with Google TV yet. Rebranded, the company officially announced "Android TV" during the Google I/O 2014 Keynote.
Android TV is the spiritual successor to Google TV, Google's attempt to integrate smartphone-style features into a television's user interface. Similar to Google TV, Android TV will run on hardware as opposed to the set-top box model of the Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku. Android TV's interface is reminiscent of the look of most current set-top systems, though overlays and navigation seem more universally consistent. Android TV will also support Google Cast, allowing it to function just like Chromecast.
The new approach to the project will run on Android L. Google stated Android TV "isn't a new platform, that's the point. It's the same thing as phones and tablets." The integration between Android devices was put on display during the demonstration, with an Android TV app on an Android smartphone and the ability to control the TV through an Android Wear watch. All that is required to control the Android TV, though, is a D-pad with voice input.

Voice activated search will be an integral part of the new interface. Google says it has built core functionality directly by voice from Android phones to allow users to easily search for their favorite content. Proven by the short demo, users will be able to easily find episodes of their favorite shows, look up actors and background information, and even find Youtube clips by voice. The platform is also designed to leverage Google's knowledge graph to allow users to ask full questions in content search like "What is Jennifer Lawrence in?"
An additional emphasis was placed on gaming on the Android TV system, similar to Amazon's approach to its Fire TV platform. A supported gamepad was used to play several different games. The titles appeared to be Android titles, not necessarily designed for the big screen. Android TVs will come with a game controller and will offer multiplayer gaming through the Google Play Games network.
The Android TV platform will be open in the fall of 2014, alongside the launch of Android L. The 2015 HD and 4K smart TV offerings from companies including Phillips, Sharp, TP Vision, and Sony will run on Android TV. Razer and Asus have been tapped to create set-top boxes running Android TV that will focus on the gaming experience. 

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Android TV set-top box with gaming focus due to launch at Google I/O
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Google is really pulling out all the stops at its developer conference this year. The company is expected to show off a ton of new software, a few smartwatches, and now, according to a Wall Street Journal report, an Android TV set-top box.
Google will reportedly show off at least one set-top box during I/O. The new set-top box will be small just like Apple TV and Amazon's Fire TV, but it will run on a new operating system that Google is supposedly calling Android TV.
Users will be able to stream movies, TV shows, video games, and other content from their Android smartphones and tablets to the set-top box and from there, to their big screen TV. It is unclear whether Google will design the set-top box itself like it did with the Nexus smartphone and tablet line.
Android TV will supposedly focus on games, which are the most popular apps for mobile device users. According to people familiar with Google's plans, gamers will be able to start playing on their big screen TVs and then resume play on their Android tablet or smartphone when they're away from home. Split-screen mode and multiplayer games will also work with Google's new set-top box.
Of course, Google will have to entice developers to design apps and games for Android TV. Google's earlier attempts at making set-top box TVs ended in failure, but its Chromecast streaming dongle has achieved great success. Even with all that experience behind it, entering the already crowded TV space could prove challenging for Google. However, if the Android TV focuses on creating an incredible gaming experience for users, it could fill a niche in the TV market that hasn't been tapped just yet.
Regardless, we'll find out soon enough when Google I/O kicks off later today. In the meantime, check out our I/O rumor roundup.

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Hands on with the Hisense Pulse, the most affordable Google TV box yet
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Despite the off-brand name, much has been made of Hisense’s Pulse Google TV box. After hearing about its $100 price point and specs, we scratched our collective heads wondering what the catch was. Well, after some hands-on time with the Pulse, suffice it to say that our heads are still feeling itchy.
When we finally got the dual-sided QWERTY keyboard remote in our hands, we expected a herky-jerky, hiccup-prone experience; but what we got was a smooth, responsive version of Hisense’s SmartHub UI, the same interface built into Hisense’s smart TVs. Cycling swiftly through apps like YouTube and Flickster, we wondered aloud how Hisense could afford to offer the Pulse so cheaply. In fact, some of the company’s own employees even confessed that they were as befuddled as we were.
The Pulse simply does not feel like a cheap product, load times are short (slow connection notwithstanding), typing is quick and easy, the trackpad is responsive, and the whole experience felt more or less like browsing the Internet.
Still, if you want to step up the speed and smoothness, the downloadable smartphone app is the way to go. The app (available on Android and iOS) turns your mobile device into a Pulse remote, complete with touch-wheel control and a QWERTY keyboard. Navigating this way feels almost iPod-like, as you swipe your thumb in circles and cycle through content. This method offers ultra-smooth browsing -- a bit too smooth for the clumsy thumbed among us.

The Pulse has HDMI, USB, and Ethernet inputs and works with both traditional cable boxes and satellite options. For the former, all it needs is the brand and model number. With those provided, you just hook up the IR blasters (which are included) and you’re ready to go. The Pulse pulls your electronic program guide (EPG) from online, and thus, effectively knows what will be on your TV before you do.
Considering that the typical SmartTV model costs over $100 more than a comparable, less-educated television, we’d have to proclaim the Pulse a solid buy. We were waiting for the other shoe to drop, but for now, the skies seem to be clear. The Pulse will be available in late November, bundled with the remote (originally billed as an add-on) at a suggested price of  $100. 

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