Google prepares second-gen TV Streamer with microphones, TechRadar reports
Google Prepares Second Generation TV Streamer with Microphones
Google is preparing a second-generation Google TV Streamer featuring a slightly narrower chassis, built-in microphones for voice commands, and upgraded internal storage, TechRadar reported. The original Google TV Streamer debuted in August 2024 alongside the official discontinuation of standalone Chromecast devices, retailing currently in the United States for $149.
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The Tech TL;DR:
- Hardware Footprint: The upcoming streaming box maintains the general form factor of the 2024 model (6.4 x 3 x 1 inches) but features a reduced width.
- Integrated Audio Capture: Onboard microphones allow direct “hey Google” voice queries and AI command processing without relying on a handheld remote.
- Capacity and Interface: Upgrades include expanded flash storage beyond the current 32GB ceiling and two additional dedicated shortcut buttons on the physical remote.
New Hardware Adds Acoustic Sensors and Proximity Detection
According to details gathered by 9to5Google from a source familiar with the matter, the unannounced hardware preserves the aesthetic and physical layout of its predecessor while trimming overall width. Beyond structural modifications, the device incorporates acoustic sensors designed to function similarly to a dedicated smart speaker. This enables continuous listening for assistant prompts without requiring users to hold down a physical remote button.
Proximity detection capabilities are also slated for inclusion. When a user enters the physical space, the system screensaver transitions to display contextual data such as local time and meteorological reports. Performance bumps accompany the peripheral changes, featuring a faster system-on-chip and expanded onboard flash memory to accommodate heavy application caches and cached media files.
# Example system diagnostic query for Android TV performance monitoring
adb shell dumpsys cpuinfo
adb shell cat /proc/meminfo
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