Amazon recently agreed to play nice with Apple TV by activating the Airplay feature on their instant video app, but rumors had already been circulating that Amazon was working on a set-top box device as well. Now there’s confirmation that they will release a set-top box for TV, allowing users to stream content. According to huffingtonpost.com:
“Amazon is planning to invade your TV set. The Wall Street Journal reports that the world’s largest online retailer will release a set-top box that will stream online video to your TV. The device is code-named ‘Cinnamon,’ and will have apps for playing games and streaming video and music from other companies, not just Amazon, according to the WSJ. It will be released for the holiday shopping season.
“Amazon’s plans come at a time when there is no shortage of ways to stream Internet content like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube on your TV. Roku and Apple TV are the most popular set-top boxes, and game consoles like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, as well as DVRs and Blu-ray players, can also be used to stream. And in July, Google released Chromecast, a $35 device that allows people to watch Netflix, Hulu Plus and YouTube, among other things, on their TVs.”
Just like Kindle readers and tablets, expect Amazon to produce a solid product at a competitive price. Because it’s such a large company, it will profit from other products besides content. According to The Wall Street Journal:
“A key motivation for Amazon is boosting its Prime membership rolls, which may be bolstered by a set-top box. The $79-per-year service offers thousands of movies and television shows for streaming, as well as two-day shipping on many items and, analysts say, compels users to buy more goods through Amazon.”
There are no details about the price of the new device, but like most Amazon products, it will likely be priced competitively. A good price coupled with its bundled benefits and set-top box may prove to be a smart move in this crowded space.
