電(dian)視(shi)盒子是(shi)一個小型(xing)的計算終端設(she)備，只要簡單的通(tong)過(guo)HDMI或色(se)差線(xian)等技(ji)術將其(qi)與傳統(tong)(tong)電(dian)視(shi)連接，就(jiu)能在(zai)傳統(tong)(tong)電(dian)視(shi)上實現(xian)網頁瀏覽、網絡視(shi)頻播放、應(ying)用程(cheng)序安裝，甚至(zhi)能將你手機(ji)、平板中(zhong)的照片和(he)視(shi)頻投射到家中(zhong)的大屏幕(mu)電(dian)視(shi)當(dang)中(zhong)。

它可以將互(hu)(hu)(hu)聯(lian)(lian)網(wang)內容通過其在(zai)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)機上(shang)進行播放，此前在(zai)互(hu)(hu)(hu)聯(lian)(lian)網(wang)領(ling)域被稱之為網(wang)絡高(gao)清(qing)播放機，后被廣電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)總局定(ding)義為互(hu)(hu)(hu)聯(lian)(lian)網(wang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)機頂盒。它與可接入互(hu)(hu)(hu)聯(lian)(lian)網(wang)的智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)一起，統稱為“互(hu)(hu)(hu)聯(lian)(lian)網(wang)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)”。業內認為，隨著國家對于版權問題(ti)的愈發(fa)重視(shi)(shi)(shi)，電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)盒子上(shang)的“免費午(wu)餐”將會越來越少，其市(shi)場競(jing)爭力亦會隨之減弱。而目前大部分(fen)智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)功(gong)能和(he)(he)使用上(shang)，具(ju)備甚至已(yi)超過了(le)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)盒子，更多廠(chang)商在(zai)新品開發(fa)過程中也愿意將機頂盒功(gong)能內置(zhi)在(zai)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)中，因此電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)盒子今后或和(he)(he)智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)“合體”。