“Google Inc. is to unveil a new television set-top box on Wednesday as it races Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc. and others to control digital content in the home,” Rolfe Winkler reports for The Wall Street Journal. “During its developer conference Wednesday, the search giant plans to show off at least one small set-top box that resembles products like the Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV, and Apple’s Apple TV, according to two people who have seen the device.”
“Google’s device will carry another company’s brand, but will be powered by Google’s new Android TV software designed to play movies, games and other content on televisions, the people said,” Winkler reports. “Users will be able to control the box using Android smartphones or tablets, and potentially other devices. It isn’t clear if Google plans to design its own version of a set-top box running Android TV similar to its Nexus line of smartphones and tablets that are powered by Android. Each Android device presents another opportunity for Google to display ads, its primary way of generating revenue.”
“One key feature according to a developer who has been briefed on Google’s plans will be games that work seamlessly between mobile devices and televisions,” Winkler reports. “Android games and other apps built for TVs are also expected to take advantage of larger screens, for instance split-screen, multiplayer games will be offered according to a person who has seen one such game being developed.
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MacDailyNews Take: Hopefully it will prompt Apple to finally release an Apple TV SDK and open an Apple TV section in the App Store.