電(dian)視(shi)盒(he)子(zi)是(shi)一個小型的計算終端設備(bei)，只要簡單的通(tong)過HDMI或色差(cha)線等技術將(jiang)其(qi)與(yu)傳(chuan)統電(dian)視(shi)連接，就能(neng)在(zai)傳(chuan)統電(dian)視(shi)上實(shi)現(xian)網頁瀏覽、網絡視(shi)頻播放、應用程(cheng)序安裝，甚至能(neng)將(jiang)你手機、平板中的照片(pian)和視(shi)頻投射(she)到家中的大屏幕電(dian)視(shi)當中。

它可(ke)以將(jiang)互(hu)(hu)聯(lian)網(wang)(wang)內(nei)(nei)容通過(guo)其(qi)在(zai)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)機上進行播放(fang)，此(ci)前在(zai)互(hu)(hu)聯(lian)網(wang)(wang)領域被稱(cheng)之(zhi)為網(wang)(wang)絡高清播放(fang)機，后被廣電(dian)(dian)總局(ju)定(ding)義(yi)為互(hu)(hu)聯(lian)網(wang)(wang)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)機頂(ding)盒。它與(yu)可(ke)接(jie)入互(hu)(hu)聯(lian)網(wang)(wang)的智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)一起，統稱(cheng)為“互(hu)(hu)聯(lian)網(wang)(wang)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)”。業(ye)內(nei)(nei)認為，隨(sui)著國家對于(yu)版權問題的愈發(fa)重視(shi)(shi)，電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)盒子上的“免費午餐”將(jiang)會越來越少(shao)，其(qi)市(shi)場競爭力亦會隨(sui)之(zhi)減弱(ruo)。而目前大部分智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)在(zai)功(gong)能和使用上，具備甚至已超過(guo)了電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)盒子，更多廠(chang)商在(zai)新品開發(fa)過(guo)程中也愿意將(jiang)機頂(ding)盒功(gong)能內(nei)(nei)置在(zai)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)中，因此(ci)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)盒子今后或(huo)和智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)“合體(ti)”。