Amazon thinks outside the box for streaming service, plans Chromecast-like dongle

By Alex Tretbar Published March 17, 2014

The set-top box saga just got a bit juicier. Or is it really a dongle saga now?

According to a report by TechCrunch, Amazon (like Google and Roku before it) is allegedly pursuing the dongle/flash drive-style form factor for what was, until now, thought to be a forthcoming set-top box. Also explored in TechCrunch’s report (which cites anonymous sources “familiar with the device”) is the possibility of full PC/Mac game-streaming support coming standard on the device, a blurb that should connect some dots for those following the Amazon set-top box thread closely — last week the alleged photo of a game controller that Amazon might be planning to bundle in with its box/dongle began surfacing on the Web.

Recommended Videos

Like Steam and other services such as the lesser-known Desura, Amazon already sells digital download copies of PC and Mac game titles directly from its site, so it’s not too much of a stretch to theorize that Amazon might be trying to compete for more than just living room dominance — the colossal company could be aiming at the desktop realm, too.

According to one of TechCrunch’s unnamed sources, the streaming games would likely resemble something along the lines of OnLive (which botched its entry into the game-streaming game), with the titles streaming via Amazon’s services at 30 frames per second — a feat not out of reach as Amazon already has massive server farms that sit behind the scenes of its cloud and digital content services.

Looking closely at all of the different elements that Amazon has simmering in its cauldron, one can begin to see a Google-esque kind of all-encompassing service stretching across a variety of platforms and media: Amazon MP3 (and its potential blending into the Prime service), films and shows via Amazon Instant Video (and its exclusive original content), eBooks and the Kindle Fire, and now a new TV dongle (with third-party app compatibility), plus PC and console gaming — not to mention the tiered access Amazon could implement through Prime membership to generate even more cash.

If executed correctly, Amazon could be giving more than just Google and Netflix a run for their money.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alex Tretbar, audio/video intern, is a writer, editor, musician, gamer and sci-fi nerd raised on EverQuest and Magic: The…

Topics

Audio / Video

Google shuts down massive botnet running on 1.3 million Android TV boxes

Google says the Chinese manufacturer Videostrong Technology deliberately infected its devices and sold access to cybercriminals.

Videostrong GoogleTV box

Malware infecting Android devices isn't new, but Google's recent report is grim and concerning. The search giant has taken down a massive botnet that turned over 1.3 million Android TV set-top boxes into tools for cybercriminals. Unlike the usual attacks, where users end up downloading some shady apps from the internet, the malware here was planted inside the devices by the manufacturer itself.

According to the Google Threat Intelligence Group, the company behind it is China-based Videostrong Technology. Google has now cut ties with the manufacturer and banned it from building or supplying software for certified Android devices.

Audio / Video

Audio-Technica’s new wireless StreamSet headset promises studio sound without the cables

Finally, a wireless headset that takes your voice seriously.

Audio technica new headset.

I've lost count of wireless headsets that sound great until the microphone switches on. That is exactly why a cord-free streaming headset from a studio-audio brand earns my attention (with a pinch of skepticism). Audio-Technica wants to change my mind, and I am all up for it.

The company has announced the "ATH-M50xSTS-WL," its first wireless headset in the StreamSet line. What's unique, however, is how the brand has combined the studio sound of its ATH-M50x monitor headphones with microphone tech from its 20 Series studio mics (via Audio-Technica).

Audio / Video

Samsung’s new clip-on earbuds are coming to the US, and they’re not cheap

You can listen to music without blocking out the world around you, but Samsung is charging a premium for the convenience.

Samsung Galaxy Buds On earbuds

Earlier this month, Samsung unveiled its first clip-on earbuds called the Galaxy Buds On. Initially, it announced pricing and availability details only for Korea, but now the brand has revealed them for the US market as well. As per Samsung, the Galaxy Buds On will cost $229 and will be available to buy in early November. Only one color option, Black, will be available initially.

That is quite a steep price, considering the flagship Galaxy Buds 4 Pro go for $250. The Buds On also has no active noise cancellation, weaker bass response, and lower dust and water resistance. All that said, the use case is fundamentally different. While you might choose the Buds 4 Pro as the best daily drivers for your Galaxy smartphone, the Buds On keep your ear canals open, letting you listen to music while staying aware of traffic, conversations, and everything else happening around you. I can see the appeal for people who find traditional earbuds uncomfortable, or those who regularly listen to music while running or commuting.