Microsoft still has to announce whether it is working on a TV STB, yet word on its potential demise is already out-- The Wall Street Journal says "it is unclear whether the company will introduce the device."
According to anonymous WSJ sources Microsoft is working on different "simple set-top box device" designs, all offering similar functionality to the likes of the Apple TV or the Roku. More recent prototypes even having Kinect compatibility.
Such a device would cost less than the Xbox 360 console, yet still allow access to the Xbox Live social network.
The WSJ also reports the company is encouraging development teams to write apps using recently developed coding standards making it easier to create programs working on any device (be it Xbox, PC or smartphone) running Microsoft software.
Talk of such standards makes sense, since at the April 2013 Mediaroom IPTV business sale to Ericsson Microsoft confirmed it is "dedicating all TV resources to Xbox in a continued mission to make it the premium entertainment service... whether on a console, phone, PC or tablet." Such effort extends to rebranding all Microsoft entertainment offerings (such as its Windows PC music streaming service) under the Xbox label.
Then again Microsoft is not the only company with (rumoured) STB plans-- according to Bloomberg Amazon is also preparing a similar device at its Lab126 division. Either way we might learn more on future Microsoft plans come 21 March 2013, once it reveals the successor to the Xbox 360 console.
