Google Inc (GOOG): Could a Little Plug Disrupt the Digital TV Race?

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is not an active part of the digital TV/entertainment market yet, but it isn’t for a lack of trying. As big a company as it is, Google has been working to stretch itself into as many digital market segments as possible, and TV seems to be one of the final frontiers of an arms race between some of the biggest tech players.

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) tried to launch a streaming-video device called the Nexus Q, but the sphere never got off the ground, so for all intents and purposes it has been sent to the scrap heap. Instead, though Google has still be working to get into the TV world, but it is looking at a different approach – one that turns your wide-screen computer monitor or television set into an extension of your smartphone or tablet. Why reinvent the wheel?

After all, many smartphones and tablets can get access to video streaming right now, so it isn’t so much a matter of creating a whole new device or service; it’s a matter of getting what is on your mobile device onto a large, stationary display.

That at least seems to be the direction that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is taking, instead of trying to compete with Roku or Apple TV or some of the gaming/entertainment consoles out there like Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

Say hello to Chromekey. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is developing a plug that would serve as an extension of a mobile device. Now we don’t know necessarily all there is to know about it, but what we understand is that is is not a device in the sense like a set-top box or some other intermediary between digital content and the TV screen.

Supposedly this is a plug that goes into a HDMI port on either a large-screen computer monitor or a TV set, connects with Wi-fi and can allow content that is shown on a smartphone or tablet – provided it is running the Chrome browser – to be seen on that monitor or TV.

A user that accesses Netlflix, Hulu or YouTube through the Chrome browser will be able to project that onto the larger screen for everyone to enjoy. This plus is no bigger than a thumb drive, will supposedly have 2 gigabytes of storage space and support 1080p HD – all for about a third of the $99 Apple TV set-top box. It is supposed to retail for about $35 we are told.

What are your thoughts? Let us know what you think about the Chromekey by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) in the comments section below.

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