This is Google's next Android TV-powered Chromecast Ultra dongle
In a bid to take on Amazon and Roku, Google is working on a new Android TV-powered content streaming device: the second generation of Chromecast Ultra. The dongle is being developed with the codename of 'Sabrina', and now, thanks to XDA-Developers, we have a glimpse of what it might look like. Let's take a peek.
While digging into a pre-release firmware shared by a trusted Android developer, the team at XDA unearthed a marketing video showing the Sabrina dongle. The renders seen in the clip showed that the device looked similar to Chromecast Ultra, although a little more oval than the current circular model. It appeared in three main colors in the video: Black, Pink, and White.
Along with the dongle, the video gives a partial look at its remote, which appears to come in white (among other colors) with dedicated buttons for triggering Google Assistant and accessing play/pause functions. Then, there are some screen grabs that show a revamped Android TV experience, which powers the device and focuses more on content rather than individual apps and services.
Though the exact specifications of the device are unclear, 9to5Google had previously suggested it will have support for 4k HDR content as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Essentially, it will work pretty much like Amazon's Fire TV Stick, giving you a pre-defined interface with several pre-installed apps to play with. The original Chromecast-specific audio/video casting features might also remain available on the device.
Google is expected to launch this device in 2020 but the timeline still remains unclear. As for pricing, there are no specific details but a previous report had suggested that the dongle might retail at around $80 and come under the Nest brand, which Google uses to market its other smart home devices. Currently, Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra retail at $35 and $69, respectively.
