Google's Nexus TV Could Launch in Early 2014, Report Says

Google is one step closer to unveiling its own Nexus-branded set-top box for streaming videos and playing games, according to a new report.
The set-top box, which streams video from services such as Hulu and Netflix will run on Android, and could be available as early as the first half of 2014, The Information reported Friday.

The tech publication is not the first to speculate on a set-top streaming device from Google. Months ago, The Wall Street Journal reported that Google showed off a prototype device in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. The device reportedly had a motion sensor similar to Xbox's Kinect technology, and also supported Google Hangouts for video conferencing.
The idea that Google may soon join the battle for streaming set-top devices is not entirely surprising. The recent success of Netflix shows, including Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards, confirmed that viewers don't mind streaming their favorite shows. Traditional television is now just one of many ways people are consuming content.
A Nexus TV would face stiff competition from more established set-top devices such as Apple TV and Roku. Other tech companies like Intel and Amazon are reportedly building their own devices, as well.
This won't even be Google's first foray into television streaming. The company already has Chromecast, a small HDMI plug-in that looks like a memory stick for streaming content to the television. Chromecast requires users to have a mobile device or computer with a Chrome browser in order to operate.
A Nexus TV would likely be much more expansive than Chromecast, and would not require external devices to operate, although reports claim it could be operated using an Android mobile device.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.