Amazon Kindle is making a TV set-top box? - VentureBeat

Updated:. Updated with a response from Amazon

After successfully storming the industry with successful e-readers and a line of tablets, Amazon is rumored to be launching its first set-top box for streaming media.

The information comes from a Bloomberg Businessweek That report cites three different anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Amazon declined to comment VentureBeat about the company’s set-top box plans.

While we obviously do not have confirmation, the notion That Amazon would make its own streaming media set-top box Is not entirely surprising. Amazon already had a successful Android app store That it could easily parlay into a set-top box. It’s usefull got a streaming video service (Prime Instant Video) that’s trying to compete with Netflix in terms of a collection of unlimited movie and TV shows and iTunes when it comes to video rentals and sales. It’s usefull Brought its Prime Instant Video service to a slew of other set-top boxes like the Roku and Xbox 360.

The report indicates

That Amazon, Which has toyed with the idea of ??producing a set-top box for years, is producing the project through its Lab126 under former head of Cisco video products Malachy Moynihan and former TiVo and Vudu engineer Andy Goodman.

Bloomberg’s sources make no mention of a price for the rumored set-top box, or even a name – Although the most likely choice would be Kindle TV. The set-top box is scheduled to debut in the fall, Which would be just in time for the holiday sale season.

As for what an Amazon TV set-top box might look like, I’d imagine there’s be a heavy emphasis on video. Currently the company is its promoting its original content and recently released 14 pilot episodes That are available to everyone. Amazon is letting people vote on the shows before deciding whichwill gain a full season of episodes. And while there’s never been mention of advertising during thesis programs (or any others That it’s hört licensing from other media companies), it would not surprise me if the company ended up adding commercials and using data from Their customer’s purchasing history to determining advertising That was appropriateness for each individual.

Illustration by Tom Cheredar