Google TV is an internet-connected television platform. It was announced by Google on May 20, 2010 at Google’s Google I/O event and was co-developed by Google, Intel, Sony and Logitech. Google TV integrates Google’s Android operating system and Google Chrome browser to create “a new experience for television”.Google TV officially launched October 6, 2010 with devices from Sony and Logitech
Features
Google TV leverages many of Google’s existing products. Google’s Android operating system provides the underlying foundation, allowing developers to create applications that extend the system’s functionality. Google’s Chrome browser provides a gateway to the Internet, allowing consumers to browse web sites and watch television, in tandem. Consumers can access HBO, CNBC, and content from other providers through the Chrome browser. Partners have built applications that allow customers to access content in unique ways. Netflix, for example, has built an application that allows customers to access Netflix’s large library of movies and television shows. Android and Apple phones will be used as remote controls for Google TV. Google TV products ship with wireless remote controls with a full QWERTY keypad.
Devices
- Sony Internet TV - 24", 32", 40" and 46" models (NSX-24GT1, NSX-32GT1, NSX-40GT1 and NSX-46GT1)
- Sony Internet TV Blu-ray (NSZ-GT1)
- Logitech Revue (PN 970-000001)
According to a Bloomberg report, Toshiba and Vizio will unveil Google TV devices at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2011.
Critical Reaction
Google TV has been met with mediocre reviews. Nilay Patel, of the tech blog Engadget remarked, “Google TV feels like an incomplete jumble of good ideas only half-realized, an unoptimized box of possibility that suffers under the weight of its own ambition and seemingly rushed holiday deadline.”
Kevin Sintumuang said of Google TV during his Wall Street Journal review that, “The potential is as big as, well, the Internet, but right now Google TV is a bit of a tease.”
The New York Time’s David Pogue had similar sentiments, saying, “This much is clear: Google TV may be interesting to technophiles, but it’s not for average people.” David Pogue also expressed concern about the inconsistencies throughout the user interface as well as the fragmentation of Google TV.Fragmentation is when a product is launched by many different companies spawning similar, yet different iterations of the original product which may not support the same features. Google currently faces this problem with the Android operating system.
It’s been two months since the first Google TV device went on sale. Since
then, we have been hard at work thinking about how we can make the
platform even better for our users. In fact, one of the greatest things
about Google TV is that it comes with free, automatic “over-the-air”
software updates that give you the newest features and content as we
release them. It’s as if Google TV goes up in value over time.
Today we’re excited to start pushing out our first Google TV software update. In addition to fixing some bugs, there are four significant improvements to the platform:
Netflix
We’ve partnered up with our friends at Netflix to upgrade the app so that you can search, browse and watch any movie or show
that is in the Netflix streaming catalog. You can even add these titles
to your DVD queue if you want them mailed to you. Not sure what to
watch? The new Netflix app will also give you personalized
recommendations based on what you’ve watched before. Your TV is now an
unlimited source of entertainment.
Dual View
Google
TV brings the TV and web together in one seamless experience so you can
easily watch your favorite TV show and browse your favorite website
together at once. With the feature, you can do things like watch Conan
while tweeting about him on Twitter at the same time. Since launch,
we’ve had users give us feedback that they want even more customization
options for this feature, and so today we have enhanced it to allow you
to re-size and move the window however you’d like.
 |
| Standard capability |
 |
| New capability to move and re-size |
Remote Control App for Android Phones
What
if you could control your TV with the power of your voice? Starting
today you can download the Google TV Remote app in Android Market. Apart
from the standard TV remote options like changing channels or accessing
your DVR, you can now interact with your TV in ways you never have
before. For instance, try using the integrated voice search which allows
you to find your favorite shows and movies just by speaking into your
phone. Or, go from small screen to big screen by sharing videos and
websites directly from your phone to your TV. We’ve included a short
preview of these features below. Stay tuned for more information about
the Google TV Remote for other platforms in the near future.
Movies
Say
you’re searching for a movie like ‘Harry Potter’. Google TV now has a
movie results page that shows you all films associated with the title so
you can quickly watch what you want, wherever it’s available -- ranging
from sources like live TV, Netflix, and Amazon Video on Demand. You can
also read a quick summary, see photos, and find the cast list. Click on
the name of a cast member and we’ll take you to a new search landing
page where you can find other movies featuring that actor. Trust us,
you’ll never leave the couch again.
Google
TV users will start to see these updates roll out to their devices
throughout the week. The Google TV Remote app is available today (click here from your Android device or scan the barcode below) but all features may not work until your device has received the update.
Search your television
Type in what you want to watch, and we'll find it for you. Google TV lets you seamlessly search all of the content on your TV, the web, and apps – then access it with a single click. You can also easily switch between TV and the web without having to change inputs on your television. The web is now a channel
With Google Chrome and Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Google TV lets you access everything on the web. Watch your favorite web videos, view photos, play games, check fantasy scores, chat with friends, and do everything else you're accustomed to doing online. Plus, the world's best websites are now being perfected for television -- check out our
Spotlight gallery for examples.
A new world of apps for your TV
Google TV will come pre-loaded with apps like Netflix, Twitter, CNBC, Pandora, Napster, NBA Game Time, Amazon Video On Demand and Gallery. Starting early next year, apps from Android Market will work on Google TV as well.
Watch the video. Your phone = remote control
Your Android phone or iPhone can be used to control your Google TV in place of a remote control. Use your voice to search, and even use multiple phones to control the same TV. No more fighting over the remote! Fling a video to your television
Find a great website on your phone and want to show it to everyone? Now you can. "Fling" what you're watching, listening to, or doing on your phone by sending it to your TV with the press of a button. Watch it now
Never miss a show again. With Google TV, you can access over 40,000 shows and movies whenever you want with Netflix ($8.99 a month) or Amazon Video On Demand (shows start at 99 cents!). YouTube perfected for TV
YouTube is great on the web, but it's even better on television. With YouTube Leanback, you can watch videos without ever clicking play -- just sit back and watch all of your favorite YouTube content, personally chosen for you, in full screen HD. You can even create new channels on the fly. Watch and browse,
simultaneously
With Google TV, you can browse the web or open an app and watch TV on the same screen. Check your fantasy football stats while watching the game, check your @replies on Twitter during American Idol, or purchase a product online right after you watch the ad. It's just like picture-in-picture mode, but with the web and the TV. TV gets a homepage
Turn on your television and you'll instantly have access to your favorite channels, apps, podcasts, and websites, thanks to the Google TV home screen. The home screen is customizable for you, by you, so that you can always change your preferences. Find your favorite episode
Google TV has a special page for every TV series that lets you quickly find and watch any episode, whether it's on TV or the web. Create a TV playlist
Want to watch something, but don't have time right now? Send it to your Google Queue and watch it later. You can also subscribe to your favorite websites and video podcasts, add YouTube videos, and more. It's like building a DVR for the web. Record from the search bar
If you're a DISH Network subscriber using Google TV, you’ll enjoy many enhanced TV and DVR features, including recording a show right from the search bar and being able to search all of your recordings at once. Rock out in your living room
Listen to your favorite music on the best speakers in your house by creating a personal radio station on the fly with Pandora or listening to any song, any time, with Napster. The ultimate picture frame
Turn the biggest screen in your house into a beautiful, high definition photo gallery. Now your TV can stream photos from Picasa, Flickr, and every other photo-sharing site. Plus, you can access any public gallery, not just your own. Over-the-air updates
How many consumer electronics products go up in value after you buy them? Google TV updates itself automatically, so you'll get new features for free.
