Nexus TV: Google May Launch Android Set-Top Box Next Year

Google is rumored to be working on a set-top box that will run Android, play video games and stream from services such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube. The device, reportedly named “Nexus TV,” is said to be scheduled for launch in the first half of 2014 and may include a motion sensor that can be controlled with an Android smartphone. Earlier this fall, Google apparently showed developers an early version of the box, which won’t support live broadcast.

According to The Verge, these rumors come from The Information’s Amir Efrati, citing an anonymous Google employee. “The Wall Street Journal reported that such a device was demoed by [former Android CEO] Andy Rubin behind closed doors at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas,” notes the post.

The choice not to include support for live broadcast would mean Google could “avoid the hassle of trying to bring traditional content providers on board,” The Verge says. The article explains that has been “impossible” for other companies like Intel, which nixed its plan of launching an Internet set-top box after its respective attempts at deals didn’t pan out.

“If the Nexus TV reports are accurate, Google seems to be pursuing a similar strategy as Amazon,” the article says. Amazon is also rumored to be releasing its own set-top box in 2014.

Earlier this year, Google began selling Chromecast, the $35 device that plugs into your TV and streams from Netflix, HBO Go, YouTube, Hulu Plus and more. It’s been successful, The Verge says, but has a “simple feature set.” A set-top box running Android, however, would be in “a different category.”

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