A computer on a stick that can be plugged into any TV screen turning it into a PC has been launched by Google and Asus.
Named the Chromebit, the flash-stick-sized computer provides a neater and more expensive alternative to the UK’s Raspberry Pi.
Coming with a $100 price tag, the Chromebit will enter the market in mid-2015, Google said.
Running Google’s Linux-based operating system Chrome OS, Chromebit is equipped with a quad-core Rockchip 3288 ARCM Cortext-A17 processor with an ARM Mali 760 GPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. It has a USB port, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 4.0.
In addition to the screen, the device has to be connected to a keyboard and a mouse.
"By simply plugging this device into any display, you can turn it into a computer. It's the perfect upgrade for an existing desktop and will be really useful for schools and businesses," Google said in a blog post.
Apart from Raspberry Pi, it will compete with Intel’s recently launched Compute Stick, which at $149 can power Windows 8.1 and comes with a quad-core Intel Atom processor, built-in wireless connectivity, on-board storage, and a micro SD card slot for additional storage.
Together with Chromebit, Google will manufacture a new Chromebook, called Chromebook Flip, together with Taiwanese manufacturer Asus. The $249 all-metal convertible Chromebook is equipped with a touchscreen and weighs less than two pounds.
Google’s partnership with Asus is the latest in a string of collaborations with global technology manufacturers. Previously, Google has produced Chrome devices with Acer, Lenovo, Dell and LG.
Google has also announced a new low-cost computer manufactured in cooperation with Chinese electronics makers Haier and Hisense. The device will sell through Amazon and Walmart for $149.
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