Intel's been open about its plans to launch a connected set-top box for the living room since earlier this year, but one feature that raised some eyebrows won't be included when the product launches: a camera with facial recognition capabilities. The Wall Street Journal reports on Intel's latest plans, with Intel Media's Erik Huggers stating that the bundled camera has been dropped for the time being because it didn't perform well in low-light conditions and because of privacy concerns. Reuters reported that Intel was working on a TV platform that would use facial recognition to target ads back in 2012, but when Huggers confirmed Intel's TV plans this past February he framed the feature as a way for viewers across the country to watch programs together, or a system for delivering personalized recommendations.

A server-side DVR that records everything

From Roku to the Apple TV to Chromecast, Intel will be entering a crowded market — but its one that no single company has really cracked yet. The Journal reports that Apple has been experimenting with a number of different features to bolster the Apple TV — from integrated DVR storage and voice interaction — while Microsoft has been looking at several options itself. The Xbox One has been largely touted as an all-in-one entertainment device, but the company is also said to have looked into building an Apple TV-style device of its own, or adding Xbox functionality to TVs themselves.

Still on schedule for launch this year