The Wall Street Journal reports Google is expanding efforts to take over the living room-- with a Google-branded wireless music streaming system.
Selling own-branded hardware would be a first (and a significant shift) for Google, whose Android OS is used by other companies to power devices such as smartphones, tablets and TVs.
While very little is known about the supposed Google music streaming system, it will probably be similar to wireless audio offerings from the likes of Sonos or Apple. The WSJ says it will also stream music to web-connected devices and "Google-made speakers."
It could also be linked to Android @Home-- the home device networking framework revealed at Google I/O on May 2011. Back then, Google demoed the system using an Android smartphone to control on-stage lighting.
While Google never sold actual hardware, it does have expertise from purchase Motorola. And it also has a cloud-based music service, Google Music. Unsurprisingly, everything adds up...
Go Google Device Marks Shift to Apple Approach (WSJ.com, subscription required)
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