Xiaomi Global Vice President Hugo Barra recently let the media know that his company and Google will join forces at the I/O 2016 event.
Barra, who used to be a high-ranking executive for Google in the past, noted his excitement on Xiaomi joining Google at I/O. In his tweet, he shared the image at left, further touting a new release from Mi at the upcoming event. Xiaomi has the capability to deliver a lot of interesting electronics, but our bets are on an Android TV box.
Beyond thrilled to share that Xiaomi will be a part of Google I/O. A sneak peek of what you'll see from Mi at #io16 pic.twitter.com/GP3HHE3F6c
— Hugo Barra (@hbarra) May 17, 2016
Even though the "sneak peek" is rather vague, those with keen eyesight can detect a stylized "I/O." However, the concentric circles and volume rocker seem to indicate a media player of sorts.
Looking deeper into the matter, we notice that the circles do align with ones from the Bluetooth Remote manufactured by Xiaomi. The volume buttons also follow suit.
The "Home" button looks identical to the one on the Shield Android TV from Nvidia's own remote, not to mention the semblance to the home button on the Nexus Android TV.
Google opened up Android TV and Nvidia quickly took the opportunity and launched its Shield Android TV. In April this year, Shield TV got an update packing significant performance improvements, mouse navigation and more goodies. Read all about it in our coverage.
Xiaomi already developed the Mi TV Box, a device that plays well with Google's OS.
We know that an Android TV equipped with Nvidia's Tegra K1 can output 4K resolutions easily, so why not something similar from Xiaomi?
Android fans are rightfully curious about the price point of the gadget and speculations are running wild. What can be said right now is that the cost should be reasonable. One of Xiaomi's staples is that it engages in mass building of high-quality products at extremely affordable prices. The recipe works great in China, and the manufacturer could expand it at a global level.
Teaming up with Google might give Xiaomi the necessary edge to bring out a powerful, value-for-buck Android TV.
Are you excited at the possibility of having an alternative to Nvidia's Shield Android TV? Let us know in the comments section below.
