Google TV
Google TV is yet another paradigm-shifting technology which is slated to be available in Fall 2010. Google TV ingeniously mates television content with Web video content and smartphone apps to create an enhanced video viewing and shopping experience. Let's see what Google TV does for channel-surfers... |
What is Google TV?
Probably the most interesting feature that Google TV offers is the ability to use the powerful and familiar Google search box to help you find what you'd like to watch. Granted, you can already search TV listings on regular cable TV. But the user interface is very awkward, and you can only search the cable channels to which you are subscribed. Google TV provides a Web-like search bar, something Internet users are familiar with. Just type in keywords relating to what you want to watch and Google TV will find it for you.
That includes YouTube and other Web-based stockpiles of free video and live streaming TV! You're no longer limited to your cable package; the whole wide world of Internet video is yours via Google TV. In fact, the rest of the Web is bundled with Google TV, too.
Through a browser on your TV screen you can do anything you can do from your computer: find and read text; download software and media files; update your Facebook status; work on your Web site; and so on.
Impulse buying will be easy as pie, too. When an ad for Nike shoes appears you can click on it for a display of Web sites where you can buy the shoes. Special offers may be built into Google TV ads to motivate your clicking.
Google TV's Partners
Google TV will be built into HD television sets made by Sony. If you already have a HD TV set, Logitech Corp. will have an add-on box for Google TV called Revue (MSRP $299). Google's Android operating system will power Google TV. Android is designed for mobile devices and is well known on smart phones; now imagine controlling your TV, DVR, and home entertainment system from your phone! You can even "toss" a video from your smartphone to the big screen in your living room. These are some of the options that Google and Logitech are promising.
Intel Corp. is developing a Smart TV platform, based upon its Atom microprocessor, to work with the Google TV platform. The Smart TV platform will be the heart of Google TV products from Sony and Logitech, and probably more hardware products from other OEMs.
Both Logitech and Intel are hinting at a new type of remote control device. Frankly, that could be the key to Google TV's success. A remote control that looks and acts more like a keyboard or game controller would be a huge step forward from the typical confusing TV remote.
Web app developers will receive a Google TV SDK to enable development of new apps for Google TV. The developer community has been critical to Android's smart phone success, spawning thousands of apps for Android phones. Google is counting on the same level of innovation in Google TV land.
Marrying TV and the Web has been tried before, with disappointing results. You may recall the original WebTV which never caught fire in the marketplace. But times have changed, and Google TV may be what consumers have been waiting for.
Do you have something to say about Google TV? Post your comment or question below...
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Posted by Bob Rankin on 20 Sep 2010
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Source: http://askbobrankin.com/google_tv.html
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Most recent comments on "Google TV"
Posted by:
Beth
20 Sep 2010
Sounds good, but I'd be even more excited about this if Sony offered a Google TV-enabling firmware update for CURRENT Sony HD TV owners.
Posted by:
Seree
24 Sep 2010
Google TV sounds like just the thing my husband and I have been looking for; we are tired of rigid cable/satellite subscriptions which make you step up in price just to get one or two channels you really want and watch often. Worse, you have to still view channels not in your subscription while browsing your options, creating situations where you see something interesting and click on it and you receive notification it is not currently in your subscription but just pay more and you can watch it, or those "specialty" channels like HBO and PPV are constantly getting in the way of looking for something on our own channels.
We don't watch much television, but the hour or two at night we do we enjoy it. We were going to hook up the television to the Internet and get a nice antenna, and use a computer I am setting up as a DVR/Content Provider. We don't mind if our shows are a few days late, so Hulu is a great option for us.
Sign us up!
Posted by:
kds
25 Sep 2010
Like Seree stated - we're really fed-up with the way we are getting gouged by our Qwest packaging that includes DirecTV, DSL, landline, Verison cell - all for a mere $200 a month. The satelite pkg. seems to change on a weekly basis and trying to get customer service from any of the entities is such a headache - I'd rather have a root canel than call for service!
My concern is that Internet TV is going to require really fast connection speed in order to be able to enjoy the likes of Netflix movies and YouTube video. Will DSL (1.3 Mb down) be suitable? That's the best I can get in my area and then, I'm still tied to Qwest for that. Another concern is that I am curious if I will be able to use my computer while my wife watches her favorite show - is it one or the other or will both be available? What about local channels?
Posted by:
Dena
27 Dec 2011
Purchased Google TV for Christmas but will not connect to my Linksys SRX Wireless Broadband Router (WRT54GX ver.2). It keeps turning off the power when attempting to setup. Can't decide if I need to replace router since it is several years old for a new one. Would appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have to fix problem before investing in new equipment.