Android TV remote control and Cast Receiver apps arrive to Google Play

Android TV was formally announced earlier today and is several months off from actually being available, but that’s not stopping Google from pushing out the Android TV Remote Control app to the Play Store!

The Android TV app makes it easy to control your future Android TV device from your phone or tablet by providing you with a virtual d-pad of sorts, and a microphone button for using voice commands. There’s also a virtual touch-pad, if that’s more your thing.

In addition to the Android TV remote app, Google has also published its Google Cast Receiver app to the Play Store, which is designed to run on the Android TV itself. The purpose of the app is to allow Android TV devices to emulate the Chromecast, giving all the functionality that comes with the $35 dongle, on top of the expanded functions that are provided by Android TV.

For those wondering why Google would release the apps way ahead of Android TV’s arrival, remember that there are developer kits out there, including several on display at on the Google I/O floor as we speak. It remains unseen whether or not the apps will disappear after I/O is over, though we wouldn’t be surprised if they stayed around.

Although the Google Cast Receiver app won’t be able to work without an Android TV device, those who want to download the remote app, for whatever reason, will find it is compatible with most devices.