Rumors started to circulate earlier this year that Intel had plans to launch some kind of Internet-based television service that would include a hardware set top box. Today, Intel finally confirmed that those rumors are indeed true.
Specifically, AllThingsD.com reports that, during a session at its own D: Dive Into Media conference, Intel vice president Erik Huggers stated that the company had started up Intel Media about a year ago, adding, "It’s a new division with new people — people from Apple, Netflix, and Google. And it’s devoted to developing an Internet television platform."
The plans will include giving consumers a way to buy a set top box directly from Intel, with hardware designed by the PC processor company. Huggers said, "But it’s not just a device. We’re working with the entire industry to figure out how we get live TV to consumers over the Internet."
In an odd, and somewhat disturbing addition, the device will have a camera to see who is watching the TV to deliver a more personalized experience. We will wait to judge this feature to see if it is optional (we hope), keep that in mind that Intel wants a video camera to watch you while you watch TV.
That means the set top box and service will likely compete with the cable TV industry, and will have on demand features, apps and more. The service should launch before the end of 2013, according to Huggers. It certainly sounds very ambitious and it will be interesting to see how other companies who have their own living room TV set top box plans, such as Microsoft, will react to such a big player entering the industry.
Source: AllThingsD.com | Image via Intel