Nexus Player the flagship of Android TV? 🤨
Better get your downvotes ready guys ;-)
In comparison, the three year old Nexus Player—arguably the flagship of Android TV
ROFL whilst it is Google's own Flagship hardware - as already stated it in this thread, it is not the Flagship Android TV ecosystem hardware - the Shield is.
I'm not going to get locked into "Android TV" stockholm syndrome here in this post. Because there are some serious core issues that Google is not addressing with external Android TV media players, like:
Android OS support for International customers. Those that live outside the USA need auto 25fps / 50Hz display refresh rate support otherwise it's video judder hell for local Apps, especially IPTV. Users should not be continually having to fiddle within Android settings looking for a solution.
Getting App developer support to actually use existing Android TV OS API's properly - meaning Netflix, Amazon Video, VUDU etc should all have the option to match display refresh rates to the source video content's frames per second. (see video judder hell above)
Actually having an auto colorspace switching/conversion API in Android so SDR / HDR video content outputs color correctly to a 4K HDR display. This is bread and butter stuff on other (non Android TV) 4K HDR capable media players. Even 4K HDR smart TV's do this properly otherwise there would be a LOT of consumer backlash.
Providing extra support to non USA, International Apps developers. Android TV Apps support once you get outside the USA is woeful. It really is poor to non existant.
Android TV Global searching is inconsistant, Google allowing Apps to do their own thing and opt in or out does not make for a consistant end user experience.
Then for the Shield we have NVIDIA not addressing serious security concerns promptly for Wannacry with Windows and SMB1: https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/1020382/shield-tv/smb2-3-support-smb1-is-being-removed-from-win10-soon-/ Having an Open Android system is one thing but Google allowing this sort of file sharing security advice to be dispensed by NVIDIA is really poor for Android TV.
NVIDIA still have not addressed the Shield poor upscaling picture quality output since the device was released nearly 3 years ago.
Users that believe all these Pay TV operator Android TV boxes like the (Technicolor) Channelmaster are going to be the saviour of Android TV need to think again. They run restricted Operator Tier Android TV with a Pay TV custom home screen interface promotion/pushing their own Pay TV content first.
Google even goes so far as allowing Operator Tier Android TV to block installation of Apps like Kodi from the Playstore using a blacklist on such boxes (see Technicolor - Foxtel Now Box).
Some Operator Tier ATV boxes do not even come with Netflix - let alone Amazon Video.
Getting Android TV Apps developers onboard is the really tricky thing for Google. They simply need to commit more resources and money to Android TV, otherwise yes it will wither on the vine.
The market share of Android TV capable devices vs the competition simply is not there so developer priorities naturally get directed elsewhere where there is more money to be made with such Apps.
Boxes are alive and well and aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Smart tvs are good until someone needs to replace their $1000 tv due to a broken built in Android tv. They would need to build modular swappable hardware before most streamers are willing to ditch their boxes.
What about Channel Master's upcoming Android TV box? Looks like a great cord cutting device. Stream+ Media Player CM-7600
If you really want something that is going to be left to wither on the vine, depend on smart TVs.
I expect Google will be announcing a new Android TV box by Google this summer at Google I/O. They been so busy with Google assistant I think it got put on the back burner. But now that assistant is pretty well rounded and on every Google OS (phone, auto, wear, TV, ect) they can focus on building Android TV platform better.
At least that's just my evaluation of the situation.
I read this article and my immediate thought was it’s clickbait rubbish. The Shield is the flagship Android TV device at this point.
How about the lots and lots of boxes sold on AliExpress? GearBest? Are there any that are good for 4K HDR streaming?
Reading this article makes me doubt if the editors/authors at Android Police knows Android TV at all