Amazon preparing Apple TV competitor to launch in coming months - report
Online retailing giant Amazon is putting the finishing touches on a set-top box that may be on the company's virtual shelves in time for Christmas, according to a new report.
The device, reportedly codenamed "Cinnamon," may be similar in design and functionality to a Roku box, with the ability to run third-party content applications, says the Wall Street Journal. Amazon has been rumored to have the set-top box in development since at least April of this year.
In addition to streaming movies, television shows, and music from Amazon's own services, the Seattle-based company is said to be in negotiations with cable companies and other content providers to provide apps for the set-top box, with the company laying down a mid-October deadline for submissions. Pricing for the rumored device is still unknown.
Amazon may also offer games that run natively on the device, a feature which some have conjectured could make it to the Apple TV and spark a new living room gaming battle. iOS games can currently take advantage of the Apple TV via Apple's Airplay technology, allowing developers to display the main game content on a user's television while using the iOS device as a controller and "second screen" display.
The device, if released, will be entering a crowded field. In addition to market leaders Apple and Roku, Google recently got into the game with their Chromecast device. The $35 HDMI dongle streams YouTube, Google Play Music, and Netflix from both iOS and Android devices, in addition to web video through the Mountain View company's Chrome browser.
Apple is rumored to have a hardware refresh for its "beloved hobby" in the works, which last saw new silicon in March 2012. Cupertino reportedly received three mysterious shipments of "set top boxes" last month, which led to ultimately incorrect rumors that the company would unveil the fourth generation Apple TV at their Sept. 10 iPhone 5s and 5c introduction.
Apple did take the covers off of a software update for Apple TV at the September iPhone launch, releasing Apple TV version 6.0. The update brought iTunes Radio and support for AirPlaying content from iCloud ? like music from iTunes Match ? to another person's Apple TV.
The device, reportedly codenamed "Cinnamon," may be similar in design and functionality to a Roku box, with the ability to run third-party content applications, says the Wall Street Journal. Amazon has been rumored to have the set-top box in development since at least April of this year.
In addition to streaming movies, television shows, and music from Amazon's own services, the Seattle-based company is said to be in negotiations with cable companies and other content providers to provide apps for the set-top box, with the company laying down a mid-October deadline for submissions. Pricing for the rumored device is still unknown.
Amazon may also offer games that run natively on the device, a feature which some have conjectured could make it to the Apple TV and spark a new living room gaming battle. iOS games can currently take advantage of the Apple TV via Apple's Airplay technology, allowing developers to display the main game content on a user's television while using the iOS device as a controller and "second screen" display.
The device, if released, will be entering a crowded field. In addition to market leaders Apple and Roku, Google recently got into the game with their Chromecast device. The $35 HDMI dongle streams YouTube, Google Play Music, and Netflix from both iOS and Android devices, in addition to web video through the Mountain View company's Chrome browser.
Apple is rumored to have a hardware refresh for its "beloved hobby" in the works, which last saw new silicon in March 2012. Cupertino reportedly received three mysterious shipments of "set top boxes" last month, which led to ultimately incorrect rumors that the company would unveil the fourth generation Apple TV at their Sept. 10 iPhone 5s and 5c introduction.
Apple did take the covers off of a software update for Apple TV at the September iPhone launch, releasing Apple TV version 6.0. The update brought iTunes Radio and support for AirPlaying content from iCloud ? like music from iTunes Match ? to another person's Apple TV.
Comments
How not-inovative of them.
I normally like Amazon's decisions, but this isn't wise. Now if this can go after Roku or Chromecast- fine. But why would Netflix and others want to team up with Amazon/Amazon Instant Video? Apple and Roku are the only real players here.
Who wants to buy stuff off their TV? Didn't Time Warner try something like that in the 90s with their Full Service Network? That sure didn't last long.
Ask QVC.
or HSN.
anyone try iRadio yet? Not sure why Apple invested in a dying medium...
It's not literally a radio station. It's online streaming of music. Are you saying that music itself is dying?
Not another remote:!
Until the cable TV box monopoly can be broken open , all anyone can do is keep re-iterating the same old pattern of producing yet another single point / ecosystem box which streams/downloads marginal boring re-runs and maybe some first run TV like netflix or Amazon has with a few shows.
Steve cracked it open, but Apple can't deliver on his solution until Apple gets enough agreements in place with content providers at reasonable pricing to fully provide that all in one concept. So until then you are still going to have lots of crappy legacy remotes on your coffee table.
This will be great if I can shop directly on my TV for all my needs- something neither an ATV nor a Roku provides.
Yes... its simply too hard for me to spend money using computer, iPhone and iPad. I need to be able to by stupid crap while watching TV as well.
Yep the wife and I use it all the time. At the pool, at the gym using iPhones, and background music via Apple TV / Hi Fi system for parties etc.. It's brilliant.
I can see it being popular with those folks that are glued to the shopping channel in between day time soaps…
why of why does everyone copy Apple
because it's obvious, once apple does it.
No really... I've seen this coming for 2 years now. Apple is staking its space for delivery of online content... AppleIDs are worth the same as AmazonPrime accounts. This was obvious the moment the iPhone appears as a 'Point of Purchase, ' eliminating the Mac iTunes app as the 'shopping app' Amazon knew this at that time. The kindle wasn't in response to the iPad, but to protect their first level product (books) from being more easily bought on Apple devices, than theirs.
I've never thought Samsung was the competition, nor was Android by Google the competition. The competition is for people with wallets that have online cashflow, not handsets, or tablets.
Hence the reason why TouchID makes so much sense, not so much for buying apple's wares, but for Apple selling the access (inapp purchases, or even a backend SDK for major sites for doing 3 way auth) to App Developers. [let alone passbook, which the killer app is that passbook can be tied to a CC, minimally your AppleID pw]. You greatly reduce fraud loss, and at the same time decrease the friction in purchase (no entering a no entering a password, CC#, CVV, exp date... just touchID and money flows).
With Apple getting into TV in a big way... as a content delivery solution, amazon realizes that the big purchases will be done in front of a 50" screen (think of this use case... on your Apple TV, a 'shopping' channel by, say, Target... large screen views of products, reviews, etc. just like on big browser, but you just click on what you want, and then click "Buy"... TouchID, and then boom, next day ship from the nearest Target warehouse. and no credit card or password ever goes over the internet, nor does a password get entered... just a finger press).
Family shopping... don't have to haul 3 kids in the car for school supplies... just get them infront of the TV and ask' is this the shirt you want'? and click buy. and when all done, then go back to your regularly downloaded iTunes TV show.
Apple and Amazon are the real titans girding for battle. Google is still looking at eyeballs... Apple and Amazon... deathmatch for the wallet
Ask QVC.
or HSN.
and think of QVC and/or HSN with 'an App for that.' Not even having to dial the phone... or entering a CC... just click on your AppleRemote, press buy. enter TouchID finger. shipping.
Frictionless buying. One Click Purchase was Amazon's 'TouchID' moment. The don't want to be bypassed by Apple
This won't stand a chance against Apple TV in the gaming department- not even close. The games nor the hardware will be close to the specs of the ATV (particularly once it gets refreshed).
I normally like Amazon's decisions, but this isn't wise. Now if this can go after Roku or Chromecast- fine. But why would Netflix and others want to team up with Amazon/Amazon Instant Video? Apple and Roku are the only real players here.
I second this.
Everything Amazon does boosts it's share price. Everything Apple does causes its share price to take a tumble. Apple needs to figure a way to outsmart Amazon and get investors on Apple's side. If Apple lets Amazon steal its thunder with a superior streaming box solution then Tim Cook needs to step down from the CEO post. It would be a major embarrassment. The Kindle Fire HDX is bad enough for Apple since Timmy might not even be able to deliver a Retina iPad Mini to compete this holiday. Jeeeeez.
Curious if the UI will look like a Kindle Fire, an Amazonian flavor of Android. The original Kindle Fire didn't play well with videos not purchased from Amazon; the video UI seemed like an afterthought.
I just had to share this picture.