Amazon Invites Being Sent out, Set-Top Box Announcement Expected

Amazon has long been rumored to be launching a Amazon phone and a set-top box of sorts. Various leaks supported the notion. When Amazon raised the rate for Prime from $79 a year to $99 a year, I had a sneaking suspicion that they might be ramping up for a new product launch. Primarily a set-top box for your TV. Increasing the cost of Prime by $20 would help offset the cost and profit margins for what is sure to be an extremely affordable device that will bring Amazon Prime video functions to your TV.

Right now Amazon is sending out invites to the media to attend an event on April 2nd. The invite tosses out the line “Please join us for an update on our video business.” It is hovered over a couch and has some stray popcorn pieces laid about. Since couches are typically found in a living room, and popcorn is enjoyed while watching movies, one could easily assume that they plan to take the wraps of a new set-top box of sort that will bring the video library from Amazon to your living room.

It is a tricky thing to speculate what the box will be all about. It will certainly be built on Android, but be forked around a bit like the Kindle line is. We bet their will be a ad display version and one without that costs a bit more. It will most likely have access to the Amazon app store for additional apps and game installs. The rumored name was the FireTube when Amazon trademarked the name back in October, sticking to the Kindle Fire and ‘Fire’ branding that they have been working with for some time. I bet their will be a compatible Kindle Fire app for controlling the unit, along with additional functions only found on a Kindle Fire, but I am fairly certain Amazon will have their own controller as well.

It should be a rather interesting release to say the least. April 2nd is just a few short days away and we will be sure to relay what happens to you guys when we know more.

via 9to5Google