Two new Google hardware devices are shown in FCC filings, and as 9to5Google notes, it seems likely that they are related to the new Android TV product that has apparently been in the works for a while. If so, the sign-ups may suggest that Google is finally preparing to release it soon.
An XDA Developers report in June said Google was preparing a TV dongle encoder called “Sabrina” that would use Android TV and a traditional UI remotely, as opposed to smartphone-controlled Chromecast devices. One of the new filings of FCC refers to an “Interactive Media Streaming Device” with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while the other is for a “Wireless Device” with Bluetooth and a power cover, which 9to5Google speculations could control Sabrina and her distance, respectively.
Unless you are buying a TV with the built-in software, there are not too many options for Android TV right now. There’s the high-end Nvidia Shield range, which starts at $ 149.99, compared to the $ 59.99 Xiaomi Mi Box S that Google even promoted a few years ago, but that’s about it. Xiaomi also just released a $ 40 Mi TV Stick in India and Europe, which is currently the only way to get Android TV into that form factor.
We’ll have to see if Google has something more compelling along the way. XDA Developers first reported that the launch was scheduled for this summer, so there’s still time for Google to hit that window.
