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Video - Introducing Google TV: What is it?
Brandon Davenport
Combining TV with the Internet: Introducing Google TV http://bit.ly/cPmhKX #io2010
A Googler
google
So yes, it is official! Google has announced the new, potentially compelling startup called “Google TV”, and quite simply, it is very interesting. It combines “the TV that you already know with the freedom and power of the Internet” and it appears that there are quite a few big-name hardware partners. Full demo video and more info after the break!
What is Google TV?
Google TV is an online/cloud based system that runs in harmony with your TV via a Logitech box. Google’s not sharing hardware specs, but tech pundits are being told that told Google TV devices will have HDMI, WiFi, and the Intel CE4100 processor. It will work with a variety of input devices, which will all have keyboards, and you’ll also be able to use Android devices as a remote. If that isn’t enough, you can use voice search to find content and send content from the phone to the TV, epic!
This peppy little system is powerd from a healthy mix of software, based on Android with Chrome as the browser and full Flash 10.1 support. It’s running Android anyways, so there’s also version of the Android Market for the Google TV. There will also be a shiny new Google TV-specific Android SDK launching in early 2011, along with the Android Market for Google TV, which is sure to be a moderate “hit” at least.
There are many partners working on the project with Google, such as Sony, who will be launching TV’s with Google TV built in, in the fall. Also, Logitech tagged along who will be showing off a set-top box with a Harmony remote and an HD camera to boot (for video chat of course) also in the fall. Dish Network will also be sporting a Google TV box at some point in the near future, while the big-box retail giant, Best Buy, will promote the platform as a whole in their store.
Do you plan to use Google TV?
Personally, I am very interested and I have a real urge to go out and pick one up when it comes available - just because of the fact it will work with any TV. I also have a few questions I need answered like “how is this that much different than Boxee or XBMC?” or stuff like “How robust is the experience going to be? Full browsing and storage for downloads?”
Are you going to grab a Google TV in the fall? Discuss in the comments…
