Less than 24-hours after Google officially announced a shedload of new products, features and functionality it’ll be adding to its rapidly-growing Android ecosystem in the coming weeks, the search engine giant has now uploaded the first batch of companion applications to the Play Store for us to download and acquaint ourselves with — even though the actual goods aren’t available just yet.

First up we have the Android TV Remote Control app, which, as the name suggests, allows its users to control their Android TV directly from their smartphone or tablet. The application works via Wi-Fi so even if your device doesn’t have an integrated IR blaster, you will still be able to use it. According to Google, the app is currently targeted at developers who are keen to dive into the Android TV SDK to develop new apps for the upcoming service.

The next app uploaded is by far our favorite. It’s the Google Cast Receiver client which essentially enables users to mirror their smartphone’s/tablet’s display directly onto the big screen using the Chromecast dongle, which currently retails for $30 from the Play Store itself. This app will allow users to stream movies from third-party sources directly to their TV, too.

Last but not least is Cardboard. This is Google’s simple and cheap approach to providing all Android users with a Virtual Reality headset. Using the Cardboard webpage you are taught how to construct your very own wearable VR glasses out of (you guessed it!) cardboard. Once created you can use the Cardboard app to accustom yourself to the wonderful world of Virtual Reality using one of the five preloaded demo scenarios.

More apps are expected to debut within the next few weeks — so stay tuned for more information.