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Amazon Reportedly Working On Set-Top Box

Posted by Soulskill on from the aren't-we-trying-to-get-rid-of-those dept.

Bloomberg is reporting that Amazon has plans to release its own television set-top box later this year. The device will stream video over the internet from Amazon's video service catalog. From the article: "Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos is pushing the company into a broadening array of hardware, including tablets, electronic readers and a planned smartphone. ... The set-top box is being developed by Amazon’s Lab126 division, based in Cupertino, California -- the city that’s also home to Apple. Lab126 has toyed with building connected television devices for several years, the people familiar with the effort said. ... Plans for pricing couldn't be determined. Amazon’s typical strategy is to sell hardware at competitive prices, sometimes at a loss, with the intent of making up for discounts through sales of content, including books and movies. Amazon could also use the set-top box to promote its online store.

4 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. YASTB by nospam007 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yet another Set-Top Box.

    My TV is less than half an inch thick, nobody is going to 'set' something on top of that.

    What I need is a Set-Bottom box so large that I can put my TV on it.

  2. Amazon Reportedly Working On Set-Top Box by Ensign_Expendable · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Skating to where the puck is, instead of where it's going.

  3. Is there really a use case for single-providers? by Proteus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No one I know would be interested in a device dedicated to a single provider's service. Everyone I know who uses Internet-based delivery for some of their media uses more than one source, and none of them would have any desire to have multiple devices. Perhaps if this was the only way to consume Amazon's video offering... but it isn't.

    There's already a number of devices (Roku, PS3, XBox, a variety of DVD/Blu-Ray players, etc.) that allow access to Amazon's Instant Video as well as Netflix and a host of other media services. I can't see how Amazon thinks it's a good idea to compete with that.

    --
    We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating and complex—but Congress can. – Cullen Hightower
  4. Future Slashdot Headline by sesshomaru · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Latest Update to Amazon's Video Player disables Roku Players and Internet Enabled Blu-ray players from playing their content."

    "An Amazon spokesman was quoted as saying, 'Unfortunately, due to piracy concerns, we are unable to continue supporting non-Amazon set-top devices. We are sympathetic to our customers who's set top devices will no longer play our content, and are offering them a $10 off coupon for KindleTV....'"

    --
    "MIT betrayed all of its basic principles."