General
Set-top boxes (also known as cable boxes or TV boxes) refer to devices used in conjunction with television displays to present video to the user. Set-top boxes convert TV signals into forms that the television screen can understand and display. While not as glamorous as a 75” flat screen, set-top boxes are essential for enjoying a TV show. Set-top boxes can be as simple as picking up TV signals and as complicated as providing a smart TV interface that connects with other smart home devices.
Set-top boxes vary in composition and the platforms they use. Android set-top boxes run the Android TV platform to provide users with a familiar Android TV interface. The Android TV platform was launched in June 2014 as a replacement for Google TV. Android TV includes voice search features. Like all electronics, Android TV and video devices come at a range of price points depending on the included features. Other popular set-top box manufacturers include DISH Network, ARRIS International, Humax, Roku, Technicolor, Broadcom, Comcast, and Huawei Technologies.