More news emerges from the Amazon STB front-- The Wall Street Journal reports the retailer plans to launch the device on the holiday season, while 9 to 5 Google points out Amazon recently trademarked the name "Firetube."

Of course, Firetube might be the name of the rumoured Amazon smartphone, but one has to admit it would make more sense attached to a piece of online video streaming equipment of some kind.

The WSJ does not mention the "Firetube" name, instead saying the STB is code-named "Cinnamon." Apparently it will not only push media content available on the Prime subscription service but also connect to competing services "for streaming video and music, as well as some games."

Wait, games? Game Informer and TechCrunch did report Amazon is working on a games console a few months ago...

Sony does not give up on Google TV (even as Google itself appears to do exactly that) and announces the NSZ-GU1 Bravia Smart Stick, an MHL/USB dongle for post-2013 Sony TVs similar to the Google Chromecast.

It carries 8GB storage, connects to TVs via MHL port (USB takes care of power) and "seamlessly integrates Google and Sony's own BRAVIA apps, allowing viewers to stay in a single menu to launch any of their apps."

In other words customers get access to both Sony and Google Play apps, as well as regular TV services, with a single menu handling access. It also allows picture-in-picture web surfing/TV watching, while an included universal remote features a touchpad on one side and a QWERTY keyboard on the other.

The big vendors too can play in the realm of palm-sized micro consoles-- Sony reveals the PlayStation Vita TV, a low-cost TV device packing the innards of the PS Vita handheld console in a small (6.4 x 10.5cm) device.

The console uses up to two regular Dual Shock 3 controllers (not included) to play around 1300 software titles from the Playstation Network digital games catalog, including PSOne, PSP and PS Vita titles.

In addition the Vita TV connects to the Vita handheld and, eventually, the Playstation Continue reading...

Game Informer and TechCrunch report yet another company plans to join an already crowded Android-powered games console market-- both say Amazon will launch such a device "by the end of this year."

Apparently the machine features a dedicated controller and provides access to games via Amazon.com app store. The TechCrunch "reliable source" goes further and says the hardware features a Qualcomm MPQ processor, of the kind found in smart TVs and STBs.

Does this mean the the device is actually the STB in development at the Amazon Lab126 hardware division Bloomberg reported on back in April 2013? TechCrunch says no ("those plans are still on track") but it would make sense for the company to combine media and games in a single machine, seeing how the major games consoles alreadly tout entertainment capabilities.