這網路界的巨人在一月時透過國際消費者電子展(the Consumer Electronics Show)，私下展示出之前未報導出來的機上盒裝置原型。那些簡介這個新產品的人說，與 Apple 與 Roku 所出產的數位媒體裝置有相似之處。
那些人也說 Google 的一位經理安迪魯賓(Andy Rnbin)主導這個機上盒的發表。該裝置運作的是Android 的作業系統並搭載 Google 特有的視訊裝置服務核心 Hangouts。這個裝置展示時包含了相機裝置和移動感應器。
一位 Google 的女發言人上禮拜四時拒絕發表評論。
Google 尚未發行的裝置是另一項指標，指出一些科技與媒體公司已經將領域擴展至家裡的客廳。其中像 Google、亞馬遜、Apple、Intel 都在和一些發展完全的媒體公司合作發展能將傳統電視和網路結合的方法。
這場戰爭將會重新塑造人們看電影、電視、上網的方法、消費者電子裝置中隱含的財富、娛樂產業、付費電視公司像康卡斯特(Comcast 美國有線電視、寬頻網路、IP電話服務供應商)，以及廣告商。
然而，目前為止科技公司的腳步對未來產品的構想比現階段許多人購買的產品走得更遠。Google 目前為止有些顯著的挫敗，包括2010年花費心力推出卻成果不理想的 Google TV 和 Nexus Q，一個 Google 一年前推出卻擱置不前的媒體串流裝置。
魯賓展示的 Google 產品和 Chromecast 不一樣，Chromecast 是 Google 上禮拜三推出的網路電視連接器。這個大小和 USB 差不多的裝置，連接電視後能讓人透過手機或筆電，從 YouTube 或 Netflix 選擇影片和電影，然後透過電視播放。
那些對 Google 的計畫作簡介的人說，Google 一月展示出的機上盒特色其實更廣泛。其中一人說這個裝置能讓人串流 YouTube 的影片、從 Google Play 的數位節目商店觀看電視節目或電影，也能操作 Android 的一些應用程式像電玩，或者可以進一步數位媒體服務像 Netflix 和 Pandora。
其中一人說 Google 計畫在 Google I/O (Google 每年五月舉行的網路開發者年會)中推出這個機上盒。
這個一月展示的機上盒失敗對 Chromecast 是有利的，或者最後有可能在某些形式上勝出都是不確地的。
Google 和其他科技公司持續想在家庭電視的市場中找到立足之地，電視目前仍占據消費者大部分的娛樂時間。華爾街日報 (The Wall Street Journal) 7 月稍早報導 Google 已經和一些媒體公司接觸，並討論類似有線電視的網路電視連接服務。
積極開發可連接網路電視的公司包含微軟、新力 (Sony 一部份是透過他們電玩遊戲的主機)、蘋果、亞馬遜，以及晶片製造公司英特爾 (Intel)。
另一方面，Chromecast 上市的隔天，Google 說他們將會取消在上星期三的展示中詢問度高的 Netflix 服務折扣。Google 已經為 Chromecast 的買家提供三個月的免費 Netflix 服務，讓原本總體價格 $35 的裝置降價至大約 $11。然而在上星期四時，Google 說這個促銷方案 (據說可以使用的服務是有限的) 將不再有，因為這對 Chromecast 裝置來說是「承受不住的需求」。
以下是 Google Chromecast 的介紹影片 :
原文 :
Google has shown another living-room device
Google's home-entertainment experiments extend beyond the gadget the company announced Wednesday, which turns TV sets into an extra screen for watching Web videos and other content.
The Internet giant in January used the Consumer Electronics Show to privately show off a prototype of a previously unreported set-top box device, similar to existing digital-media hubs sold by companies such as Apple and Roku, said people briefed on the device.
These people said Andy Rubin, a Google executive at the time, led the demonstrations of the set-top box, which was powered by the company’s Android operating software and had as a core feature Google’s video-conference service, Hangouts. The device as demonstrated had a video camera and motion sensor, they said.
A Google spokeswoman declined to comment Thursday.
Google’s unreleased device is another indication that the living room has sparked a land grab by technology and media companies. Players such as Google Amazon.com , Apple and Intel are jockeying with established media companies for ways to meld traditional TV with elements of the Web.
The fight could shape how people watch movies, TV and surf the Web and the fortunes of consumer-electronics makers, the entertainment industry, pay-television companies such as Comcast and the advertising business.
So far, however, technology companies have been longer on vision than on products people have purchased in large numbers. Google has had some notable stumbles so far, including a largely unsuccessful effort launched in 2010 called Google TV and the Nexus Q, a media-streaming device that Google announced a year ago but put on hold.
The Google device Mr. Rubin showed was different than Chromecast, a Web-to-TV connector Google announced Wednesday. The device, about the size of a USB drive, plugs into TV sets and lets people pick YouTube videos or streaming Netflix movies from their phones and laptops and display the images on their TV sets.
The people briefed on Google’s plans said the set-top box Google showed off in January had a broader set of features. One of these people said the device allowed people to stream YouTube videos, watch TV shows or movies from the Google Play digital-programming store, and access Android apps such as videogames or, potentially, digital media services such as Netflix and Pandora.
One of these people said Google had planned to launch the set-top box at Google I/O, the company’s software-developer conference held in May.
It’s unclear whether the device shown in January was scrapped in favor of Chromecast, or if it might eventually move forward in some form.
Google and other technology companies continue to grab for footholds in home television, which still commands the biggest chunk of consumers’ entertainment time. The Wall Street Journal earlier this month reported that Google has approached media companies to discuss a possible Internet-television service similar to cable TV.
Companies vying to play broader roles in Internet-based TV include Microsoft and Sony–in part through their videogame consoles–as well as Apple, Amazon.com and chip maker Intel.
Separately, the day after Chromecast went on sale, Google said it would stop a Netflix service discount that was a highly touted element of Wednesday’s launch. The company had offered three months of free Netflix service for people who bought Chromecast–lowering the effective price of the $35 device to roughly $11. On Thursday, Google said the promotion, which it said was available in limited quantities, is no longer available because of “overwhelming demand” for the Chromecast device.
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