Amazon has reportedly delayed the launch of its Android-based set-top box beyond the original Christmas release date window.
Apparently the online retail giant has been rushing to finalise and finish its TV set-top box in time for Christmas, intending to compete with the Apple TV and Roku range.
However, sources speaking to The Verge suggest the Amazon TV box release date has been pushed back, “possibility beyond the holiday season”.
Similar to the Amazon Kindle Fire range, the Amazon TV product will be based on a unique version of Android. However, Amazon will seemingly allow third-party apps like the Google Play Store in addition to its own store-fronts and services.
It may well be that the Amazon TV box runs a special version of the Fire OS.
Back in April, it was reported that the Amazon set-top box was being developed by the company’s Lab126 facilities, which is already responsible for many of Amazon’s consumer products.
Lab126 has been a hive of activity over the past 12 months. It has already undergone a huge expansion and has been testing advanced wireless network standards.
The location is also reportedly the place where Amazon’s 3D smartphone is being developed. At the start of the month more information surrounding the heavily rumoured Amazon smartphone emerged, suggesting it is currently going by the codename “Project Smith”.
Instead of introducing a 3D screen as we know it now, such as the Nintendo 3DS technology, the Amazon smartphone will feature four front-facing cameras to track your head and eye movements.
The display and UI will shift according to your movements to give the illusion of 3D without the headache side effects.
You could then simply move your head to take a look at UI elements that are hiding just off-screen.
An Amazon TV set-top box could be a huge seller for the company, especially as it could utilise the huge movie and TV library offered by the Amazon Prime service.
Next, read our pick of the best TVs of 2013.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
