Google debuts new 'Nexus Player' Android TV set-top box & gamepad from Asus

Google today announced a new set-top box called the Nexus Player, the first device available to consumers running Android TV operating system.

The Nexus Player, which was announced today along with a slew of other gadgets to help kick off Android 5.0 (aka Lollipop), is manufactured by Asus in partnership with Google. The device itself is actually more of a circle than a “box,” as you can see from the photo above. I’m guessing this is a nice throwback to the design of the pretty, TRON bowling ball-shaped Nexus Q that the company wisely decided against shipping to retail shelves last year.