Google will partner with US manufacturer Vizio to launch a new line of television sets with built-in Chromecast streaming technology, reports have claimed.
According to a Variety report, the sets will do away with the need for the $35/£30 dongles that enable streaming directly from mobile devices.
That slate would be pre-loaded with streaming apps as well as an EPG of sorts, according to the unnamed sources.
The sets, which will be released this spring according to Variety, will not feature a conventional Smart TV interface with streaming apps, the report claims. Instead the content delivery will be handled by casting from the mobile device.
Related: Chromecast tips, hints and secrets
The partnership with Vizio could be the first of many, according to those supposedly in the know.
Google has “approached at least one other TV manufacture” with a view to building in Chromecast functionality, the sources have said.
If true – and Google has thus far declined to comment – the initiative places the future of the Android TV platform in serious doubt.
Google already partners with manufacturers like Sony to sell Android TV sets, so the presence of Chromecast options would muddy the waters somewhat.
Would you be game for a Chromecast-enabled television? Or, given the device is so cheap and attainable anyway, is it enough of an incentive to influence a TV purchase decision? Share your comments below.
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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.