Dell is giving some serious consideration to developing devices that would stream Internet content to run-of-the-mill television sets, according to Networkworld.
According to the report, the company is evaluating new devices from set-top box makers and original design manufacturers (ODMs) that could seamlessly bring Internet content to TVs, said Chris Camilletti, desktop product manager at Dell. The company is also considering the Google TV platform, which merges broadcast TV and Internet into one interface.
As of yet, Dell has not officially announced any product, and is still looking into market opportunities.
For now, Dell is leveraging its PCs to merge the disparate worlds of TV and the Internet. Just this week, the company unveiled its Zino HD mini desktop, a PC-based video source that promises to let users watch movies as if they were on the big screen with a DVD-RW or Blu-ray Disc drive. Alternatively, users can connect the device to a HD TV using the HDMI port for a home theatre experience. The Zino HD mini desktop can store up to 1TB of data and, depending on price, is powered either by Advanced Micro Devices' Athlon II or quad-core Phenom II processors.
If the head honchos over at NBC are any indication, however, Dell would be wise to take things slowly. At a recent Goldman Sachs Investor conference, Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal’s CEO, suggested that selling its television shows for the cost of an iTunes ditty is reason enough to steer clear of Apple TV.
“We do not think 99 cents is the right price point for our content,” says Zucker, adding that “we thought it would devalue our content.” Viacom’s CEO agreed, stating at the investor conference that his company is not prepared to participate in Apple’s new 99-cent digital rental TV service because “the 99-cent rental is not a good price point.”
Edited by
Erin Harrison