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Amazon's video streaming device reportedly arriving next month

Amazon's video streaming device reportedly arriving next month

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Amazon's answer to Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and others will be here next month, according to a new report. Citing sources, The Wall Street Journal says Amazon will begin selling its streaming device from its site in "early" April, as well as through some retailers like Best Buy and Staples. The device will hook into Amazon's own streaming video service, as well as from third-parties like Netflix and Hulu. The Journal says it will also run a specialized version of Android so that users can install extra apps, just like the company does on its Kindle tablets.

After several delays

Amazon's much-rumored streaming device has been in development for more than a year according to a report last April by Bloomberg Businessweek. It was originally expected in time for the 2013 holiday shopping season, though faced delays. During that time the company has gotten more aggressive in its push to create exclusive, original content.

Along with the streaming device, which TechCrunch reports will resemble a stick-like device similar to Google's Chromecast, Amazon is also expected to debut a wireless controller for gaming. Photos of that hardware leaked out late last week through a Brazilian regulatory agency, depicting a controller with a typical gaming layout, plus buttons for basic Android commands. Its release is expected to coincide with the streaming device, and a tie-in to Amazon's Appstore.