“Amazon.com Inc. is taking steps toward releasing a video-streaming device in time for the holiday selling season, according to people briefed on the company’s plans,” Greg Bensinger reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“The set-top box, which would pit the online retailer against a host of established rivals, is a small device that resembles a Roku Inc. player and is similarly styled as a platform to run apps and content from a variety of sources, these people said,” Bensinger reports. “It would also serve as a delivery vehicle for Amazon’s existing streaming video service—available as part of its Prime membership—which competes with Netflix Inc. and has been expanding lately.”
Bensinger reports, “In recent weeks, Amazon has approached a variety of media app developers, as well as cable television providers, seeking partnerships for the rollout of the set-top box, these people said. The Seattle-based retail giant has given some a deadline of mid-October to submit apps that could work with the device, the people said… The company may offer a separate remote control for the set-top box, though it is likely to also be controlled through apps on smartphones and tablets, similar to the Apple TV set-top box, the people said.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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The only set-top I’ll buy from Amazon will be made by Apple.
Don’t do that…
Amazon is to retail, what MS is (was?) to computing, Goooogol is to “open source” and samsung is to phones.
Lying, cheating, dishonorable and unethical behaviors should not be rewarded.
Buy it anywhere… but amazon.
So, Apple’s hobby has become a past time for others, too. Interesting!
Maybe Apple should start a club?
…APPS
Maybe if Amazon allow apps to be run on their AmazonTV perhaps Apple will finally put an App Store on the AppleTV … and also allow the use of controllers (that are in iOS7).
Apple tends to make what that can, when they can build something that works well.
They not about doing “me too” products, so I sincerely doubt that amazons (nor googol’s) set top box will factor into (in any way) what apple offers.
Just waiting for the Apple TV 2 shoe to drop and then watch all the competition whither away. Can’t wait for more Oct. Apple goodies!
Caught the middle of the headline and said i deep down…..Yes! Finally Apple…. Then I read further …… Come on Apple!
Amazon/Lab126’s “Emerging Technologies Division” is working on this “rumored” device.
It may be a good time for Apple to stop blocking the 3rd party apps and accessories from their “hobby” iOS device. Tim, either man up or someone else will do it years before Apple. Put the A7 chip in the next generation AppleTV and start shipping it!!! 12/25/2013 is just around the corner.
Good job, Apple! MS beat you to the punch with the “flat” look so everybody could accuse you of copying. Now, Amazon will do the same thing with apps on the set-top box. Way to go!
I said it at least a year or two ago, and I’ll say it again: A new $149 Apple TV with 32GB of RAM on board with apps in App Store just for TV… Use your iPhone or iPad, or a Bluetooth Xbox/PS3-style controller. Games. Utilities. Photo viewers. Digital signage. It would be a whole new developer gold rush and Apple would KILL in the living room.
Come on, quit dicking around and kick some ass in this space, Apple!!!
Apple will sit back and watch everyone else come out with their offerings and then do it better in a few years. That’s what matters most, not that you’re first, but that you’re best. iPod and iPhone proved that. There were many who beat them to the market, but none that beat them in performance an customer satisfaction.
I realize that’s Apple’s typical modus operandi, but in this case, Apple already had a lead. The Apple TV “hobby” was class-leading. Now, there is serious, legitimate competition, and that trend will likely continue. The Amazon piece will probably be an “also-ran”, but it will also be a worthy competitor, as is the Roku.
I think the Apple TV platform has a LOT of untapped potential, and I see no reason to wait for the competition to move first. Innovate, Apple! Apps on a $150 Apple TV with good games and a controller could literally take the wind out of the Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo sails. That really would be game-changing!
Other people’s failures are kind of like free research and development though. You get to sit back, watch how people react to the new product in the wild, see what they expected from it that wasn’t delivered, what they hate, what they found difficult and then go back and create something better that removes the hate and frustration parts.
I totally get that, and it’s worked well for Apple on many occasions. However, operating that way all the time also you means you follow instead of lead.
I just don’t think Apple wants to be in the position of improving on others’ work all the time. Innovate. Lead. They already know a lot about what people like and dislike.
Cheers!
But isn’t it interesting no one can seem to improve on Apple’s work?
I don’t mind Apple’s stealth and destroy method at all, and it seems to work quite successfull for them.
Without a Plex client it will be DOA for me. Ill stick with my Roku.