Technology
Facebook reportedly building a device to stream Watch shows on your TV
Facebook wants to push even further into your home.
The social media company is building a TV set-top box with a built-in camera, according to a new report in Cheddar.
The device, reportedly referred to internally as “Ripley,” will be optimized for Facebook’s burgeoning TV platform, Watch. The set-top box would let you stream Watch shows to your television, though it’s not clear if it would support content from other platforms.
In addition to streaming, the box would also be equipped with a camera similar to Facebook’s recently announced Portal speakers. Like Portal, Ripley would enable video calling.
It’s not clear when Facebook would launch such a product. Cheddar reports the company delayed its initial plans due to privacy concerns surrounding the company, but that Ripley could launch in the spring of 2019.
Facebook didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
A set-top box would be the second piece of non-Oculus hardware to come out of Facebook. It also demonstrates how invested the social network is in ensuring the success in its streaming service, Watch. The company has been investing steadily in new programming and features that it hopes will lure creators away from YouTube.
But it hasn’t been clear if Facebook has been very successful in directing its billions of users to view content on Watch. By creating a dedicated device for the service, it would no longer need to rely on people discovering its shows via its bloated app and website.
Adding a camera and video chat features, like those in Portal, could be a further draw for some people (provided they aren’t concerned about their privacy). Facebook launched Portal earlier this month, touting the in-home speaker as the ideal video chat accessory due to its intelligent camera that can “follow” you as you move around the room.
The speaker has since been criticized for not doing enough to address concerns about Facebook’s privacy policies and its use of data for ad targeting purposes. But releasing Ripley would show it’s still intent on embedding itself deeper into users’ lives and homes.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;
n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,
document,’script’,’https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘1453039084979896’);
if (window.mashKit) {
mashKit.gdpr.trackerFactory(function() {
fbq(‘track’, “PageView”);
}).render();
}
Zomato’s quick commerce unit Blinkit eclipses core food business in value, says Goldman Sachs
Monsta X’s I.M on making music, gaming, and being called ‘zaddy’
Petlibro’s new smart refrigerated wet food feeder is what your cat deserves
The books on your favorite creators’ TBR shelf
Xaira, an AI drug discovery startup, launches with a massive $1B, says it’s ‘ready’ to start developing drugs
Rabbit R1 hands-on review: Something is iffy about this
UK probes Amazon and Microsoft over AI partnerships with Mistral, Anthropic, and Inflection
‘Shōgun’ co-creators break down the finale: ‘It’s a story about death’
Tesla’s new growth plan is centered around mysterious cheaper models
Tesla’s in trouble. Is Elon Musk the problem?
API startup Noname Security nears $500M deal to sell itself to Akamai
US think tank Heritage Foundation hit by cyberattack
NASA discovered bacteria that wouldn’t die. Now it’s boosting sunscreen.
How to watch ‘Argylle’: When and where is it streaming?
Tesla drops prices, Meta confirms Llama 3 release, and Apple allows emulators in the App Store
Tesla layoffs hit high performers, some departments slashed, sources say
TechCrunch Mobility: Cruise robotaxis return and Ford’s BlueCruise comes under scrutiny
Meta to close Threads in Turkey to comply with injunction prohibiting data-sharing with Instagram
Former top SpaceX exec Tom Ochinero sets up new VC firm, filings reveal
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fines BloomTech for false claims
Zomato’s quick commerce unit Blinkit eclipses core food business in value, says Goldman Sachs
Monsta X’s I.M on making music, gaming, and being called ‘zaddy’
Petlibro’s new smart refrigerated wet food feeder is what your cat deserves
The books on your favorite creators’ TBR shelf
Xaira, an AI drug discovery startup, launches with a massive $1B, says it’s ‘ready’ to start developing drugs
Rabbit R1 hands-on review: Something is iffy about this
UK probes Amazon and Microsoft over AI partnerships with Mistral, Anthropic, and Inflection
‘Shōgun’ co-creators break down the finale: ‘It’s a story about death’
Tesla’s new growth plan is centered around mysterious cheaper models
Tesla’s in trouble. Is Elon Musk the problem?
-
Business7 days agoLangdock raises $3M with General Catalyst to help businesses avoid vendor lock-in with LLMs
-
Entertainment6 days agoWhat Robert Durst did: Everything to know ahead of ‘The Jinx: Part 2’
-
Entertainment6 days agoThis nova is on the verge of exploding. You could see it any day now.
-
Business6 days agoIndia’s election overshadowed by the rise of online misinformation
-
Business5 days agoThis camera trades pictures for AI poetry
-
Business6 days agoCesiumAstro claims former exec spilled trade secrets to upstart competitor AnySignal
-
Business4 days agoTikTok Shop expands its secondhand luxury fashion offering to the UK
-
Business5 days agoBoston Dynamics unveils a new robot, controversy over MKBHD, and layoffs at Tesla
