Google has plans for another take on the set-top box new tech news site The Information reports-- the search giant is supposedly working on the "Nexus TV," an Android device able to stream video services and even play videogames.
Such a device will follow on the Chromecast as a fully-fledged STB (if with Nexus branding) and should hit the market as early as H1 2014 at an "aggressive" price, the anonymous source continues. No other details are available, other than it offering familiar video services such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube.
The story reminds of a July 2013 Wall Street Journal story. Reportedly at CES 2013 Google showed off a "previously unreported" STB, with demonstrations led by former Google exec Andy Rubin. The device carried a camera and a motion sensor, and had the Hangouts videoconference service as a core feature together with YouTube, Google Play media and Android apps.
One source told the WSJ Google planned to launch the STB at the May Google I/O developer conference, but it was either scrapped in favour of the Chromecast or "move[d] forward in some form."
At the same time the WSJ reported on separate rumours of Google working on a game console, since it is "reacting in part to expectations that rival Apple will launch a videogame console as part of its next Apple TV product release."
Games console, STB-- frankly, with all current- and next-gen consoles replete with Netflix, Hulu and YouTube apps, such devices might as well be one and the same. Either way, don't be too surprised if Google won't give up on the living room dream just yet.
Go Google's Latest TV Takeover Attempt: "Nexus TV" (The Information)