RIM rumored to be planning Apple TV competitor

Research In Motion is reportedly going into the home entertainment business with a rumored set-top box in the works intended to rival Apple TV.

Nerdberryis reporting that RIM is developing a BlackBerry OS-based media box similar to Apple's set-top box that will be dubbed as the "BlackBerry Cyclone." Expected features include HDMI, Wi-Fi connectivity, and access to Netflix, YouTube and more unspecified channels.

Not much else is known at the moment except that we should be seeing this device this fall - if it is really going to happen.

As Boy Genius Report points out, it would definitely be a twist from RIM. It also remains to be seen what kind of media file manager that RIM would use to compare with iTunes. Nor has RIM ever shown much interest in developing strictly consumer/non-business and entertainment products.

It has, however, tried to go head-to-head with Apple before. There was the BlackBerry Storm that tried to compete with the iPhone, and that failed. And then there is the PlayBook, which was also received very tepidly by consumers, to say the least.

Although, like the HP TouchPad and even Sony's upcoming tablets, the BlackBerry PlayBook was not touted as an iPad competitor. Nevertheless, that's the way consumers shopping for either business or personal motives will see it.

That same principle could be applied should it actually launch this fall. However, there are other set-top boxes (especially from Roku and Boxee) that are far more popular in their market than the TouchPad and PlayBook are in theirs.

Related:

• Vultures circle RIM management: BlackBerry 7 devices as savior?
• Open letter to RIM: New BlackBerrys offer little excitement
• BlackBerry App World boasts one billion downloads
• AT&T finally approves BlackBerry Bridge app, slaps on $20/month for tethering
• Apple's iOS zips past RIM as Blackberry product vacuum continues