The Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku Streaming Stick, and other HDMI-based entertainment devices may have met their match with Intel’s recent announcement. Instead of just being a specialized player for streaming video or other content to your TV, Intel has unveiled the Intel Compute Stick.
This is different than the Intel Curie product that Intel discussed at CES as a button-sized hardware component for wearable solutions. The teased device is a full Windows 8.1 or Linux PC that plugs into an HDMI port and provides full computing with a quad-core Intel Atom processor, Wifi, storage, and a micro SD card slot. All of that hardware fits into the four inch long device in a similar form factor as the Chromecast. As we can see from the image below, there is a power button, USB port, and micro USB port.
Intel is targeting the device for consumers and businesses with a variety of capabilities.
For consumers
A solution with plenty of storage and performance needed for light productivity, social networking, web browsing, and streaming media, such as Netflix, Hulu, or games.Business ready
Enable thin-client solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses, delivering ultra portability and reliable plug-and-play simplicity, with Windows Remote Desktop access for on-the-fly support.PC-like Embedded
A reliable low-power solution for developers creating light digital kiosks with no-effort installation and delivering streaming or static HD content on displays located anywhere.
The Intel Compute Stick is set to arrive later in 2015 at a price point of $149. Intel recommends bookmarking the Intel Compute Stick page for new details, product specs, and availability information.