Amazon’s set-top box may actually be a Chromecast-like dongle

Amazon’s long-rumored set-top box/game console might look less like an Apple TV and more like Google’s Chromecast. The living-room device, which will reportedly debut as early as this month, won’t be a box, but instead an HDMI dongle, according to TechCrunch. The dongle form factor is quickly gaining traction. In addition to the Chromecast, other companies using HDMI dongles include the GameStick and the upcoming Roku Streaming Stick.

Amazon is readying a game console/set top box of its own, and we’ve learned from multiple sources familiar with the device that the Lab126-produced gadget will have a form factor similar to the Chromecast, or in other words it’ll be a stick or dongle as opposed to something like the Apple TV. In addition, one source claims it should have support for streaming full PC game titles, and as such might be able to compete with consoles including the Xbox and PlayStation, instead of just Android-powered living room game devices. The stick form factor is not a surprise, given that Roku has just launched its own device using the same design, and the Chromecast has done so well in terms of attracting buyers.