Ahead of Google’s October 9 hardware event, a ‘Smart TV Kit’ has leaked, revealing an upgraded Chromecast device (via reddit).
A refreshed Chromecast
The new ‘Smart TV Kit’ appears to be a refreshed version of the current ‘Home Mini + Chromecast’ bundle that Google sells. It is a way to upgrade TVs with Chromecast and voice capabilities.
The interesting part is that the leak reveals a refreshed Chromecast device. It now has a matte surface. The new Chromecast passed FCC earlier this year and the filing suggests that it is a relatively minor upgrade on the hardware side, with improved WiFi and Bluetooth.
The company currently sells the HD-capable Chromecast 2 and the 4K HDR-capable Chromecast Ultra.
Google is still trying to make inroads into the TV segment with its Android TV operating system, Chromecast, and Google Assistant. Android TV adoption is lagging behind other major platforms such as Apple TV (tvOS), Roku, and Fire TV, and Chromecast is losing share, too, according to data from Conviva. Google Assistant, however, is finding its way into TVs running non-Android operating systems such as LG’s webOS – albeit slowly
The leak comes a week before Google’s planned October 9 event where the company is expected to launch new hardware products, including the refreshed Chromecast unit. We hope for a few surprises, too.
- Source: reddit (LitheBeep) via Android Police
