In what is becoming a saturated market of smart-TV boxes , Google has launched its Nexus Player in the UK . It builds on the technology in its Chromecast stick to offer live and on-demand streaming of shows and films to any TV with a HDMI port . The Player additionally comes with Google 's standard Play Store , Play Music and Play Movies meaning apps can be installed onto the TV . The Nexus Player was originally released in the US in November 2014 and is available in the UK from Google 's Play Store for £79 . The set-top box , built by Asus , adds smart features to any TV with a HDMI port and users can then stream shows from apps such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer . This will appeal to gamers , for example , who will be able to play their favourite gaming apps on the big screen . The Player is compatible with Google Cast , which lets people control what 's on their connected TV using their mobile device , but is additionally sold with a standalone remote with voice control . Google Cast also works with apps on Android , iOS , Mac and Windows computers , as well as Chromebooks . And for gamers who do n't want to use their phone with their TV , Google is selling a controller called Gamepad for £34.99 . Both the £79 Nexus Player and the Gamepad were built by Asus , and the whole system runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop . Google originally released the Nexus Player in the US in November last year . The Player additionally comes with Google 's standard Play Store , Play Music and Play Movies meaning apps can be installed onto the TV . This will appeal to gamers , for example , who will be able to play their favourite gaming apps on the big screen . Games can be controlled using a phone or Gamepad ( shown , sold separately ) Last week , Amazon launched its £35 Fire TV Stick ( pictured ) . It is a smaller , more affordable version of Amazon 's Fire TV box and can be plugged into any set with a HDMI port . It comes with apps including Netflix , BBC iPlayer , Amazon 's Prime Instant Video and streams music from Spotify and YouTube among others . It comes with apps including Netflix , BBC iPlayer , Now TV , YouTube , Sky News and more . Plus whatever apps are available on the connected phone or tablet . Once plugged into a TV using the HDMI port , the Player connects to a home Wi-Fi network . It is powered by a 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor , has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage . By comparison , the £30 Chromecast has 512MB of RAM and 2GB of storage . The Nexus Player will be available from 5pm GMT today through the Google Store . It is also on sale at Currys PC World , Amazon and John Lewis . Apple recently dropped the price of its TV box in a bid to attract more users , while Amazon unveiled its Amazon Fire TV Stick last week , to join its Amazon Fire TV box . These devices join the likes of the Roku stick , Sky 's Now TV and WD TV Play . Amazon 's Fire TV ( pictured ) launched in the UK in October and costs more than double the price of its Stick , at £79 . The Fire TV Stick is n't as powerful as the TV box , but many of its features are identical including the apps available and its Fling function that lets people beam content from their phones to their TV . Google 's Nexus Player directly competes with Apple TV ( shown being controlled with an iPad ) . Apple recently dropped the price of its TV box to £59 in the UK and $ 69 in the US in a bid to attract more users .
The Nexus Player was originally released in the US in November 2014 . It is available in the Netflix from Google 's Play Store from 5pm GMT for £79 . Set-top box , built by Asus , adds smart features to any TV with a HDMI port . Users can then stream shows from apps such as UK and BBC iPlayer . And with access to Play Store , users can install Android games to their TV . Games can be controlled with a phone or a £35 Gamepad , sold separately . Device rivals Apple TV , Amazon Fire TV and Sky 's Now TV .