Google TV aims to integrate the TV with the web

by Scott Bicheno on 20 May 2010, 18:43

Tags: Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Sony (NYSE:SNE), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), Best Buy (NYSE:BBY)

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TV, but not as we know it

The announcements are coming thick and fast from Google I/O now. Having just unveiled Android 2.2, Google has now announced Google TV - a new technology collaboration designed to bring full Internet functionality to the TV.

We'll just give you a quick summary and the obligatory explanatory vid for now, but we'll have a more in-depth look before long.

Either through ‘Sony Internet TVs' or Logitech set-top boxes, you will be able to access the Internet on your TV via a Chrome browser. Furthermore, you'll be able to do it soon, with Google and partners announcing initial availability in autumn of this year. There's also half a chance we'll get it over here then too as Best Buy has been announced as the retail partner. Google also got Adobe on the stage.

Eric Schmidt, Google chairman and CEO said: "We are very proud to be working with this distinguished set of partners, all of whom have decades of experience in hardware, design and retail."

Howard Stringer, Sony head honcho, said: "I am delighted to announce the unique alignment of Google's rapidly growing, open source Android platform with Sony's unparalleled expertise in the field of TV design and technology. The addition of ‘Sony Internet TV' will further bolster Sony's comprehensive TV line-up and will fuse new levels of enjoyment and interactivity into the TV experience."

Gerald Quindlen, president and CEO of Logitech said: "While Google TV enables seamless discovery of all your content, Logitech enables seamless control over how you experience that content. We look forward to continued collaboration with Google and the developer community to create new Google TV experiences that have yet to be imagined."

 

HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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Posted by circuitmonkey - Thu 20 May 2010 19:01
want one!
Posted by bradyjames - Fri 21 May 2010 10:26
I think this will be a game changer if Google can make this easy to use and reliable. When you think about it this is such an obvious thing to do - getting Web content and media onto a TV. Granted there are already ways to do this with a HTPC but this looks like it will be more intuative and can even be built into a TV.
Posted by Brewster0101 - Fri 21 May 2010 11:39
bradyjames
I think this will be a game changer if Google can make this easy to use and reliable. When you think about it this is such an obvious thing to do - getting Web content and media onto a TV. Granted there are already ways to do this with a HTPC but this looks like it will be more intuative and can even be built into a TV.

Big problem in the UK with this technology. Most ISP have a limit on how much data you can download, even if they are unlimited. Ie BT's unlimited is capped at 100GB (although you can go over, the speed is reduced)

Now if all this video content to your TV on the net, it will only take a matter of days of heavy use to hit 100GB of info.

I just don't think the UK's broadband infrastructure could take it - its too weak.
Posted by GaryRW - Fri 21 May 2010 13:11
Fingers crossed on a pc version as well for all of us with HTPC's….. I'm hopeful as it's google and presumably they'll want to get it in front of as many eyes as possible to increase the ad revenue.
Posted by bradyjames - Fri 21 May 2010 14:59
Brewster0101
Big problem in the UK with this technology. Most ISP have a limit on how much data you can download, even if they are unlimited. Ie BT's unlimited is capped at 100GB (although you can go over, the speed is reduced)

Now if all this video content to your TV on the net, it will only take a matter of days of heavy use to hit 100GB of info.

I just don't think the UK's broadband infrastructure could take it - its too weak.

Yes it will be interesting to see how this plays out. We also have ‘Project Canvas’ which has the potential to push up utilisation too. I thought there might be broadband usage limits in most countries from most Telco's now (inlcuding the US) but I might be wrong.

If it's any good we might see some Telco's jump on board and do special packages or bundles with high usage allowance + Google TV. Might be a good way to take on Sky etc.

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