Google TV: Android-based web platform for the living room, with help from Intel, Sony, and Logitech
By Ross Miller 
posted March 17th 2010 6:14PM
posted March 17th 2010 6:14PM
There's not a lot to see here -- in fact, there's nothing at all to see at this point -- but The New York Times has it on good authority that Google, Intel, and Sony have teamed up to develop an Android-powered internet platform using Atom processors for televisions and set-top boxes. Dubbed Google TV, the apparent mantra seems to be making web app navigation (Twitter, Picasa, etc.) as easy as changing the channel. Joining the fun will be the peripheral casanovas at Logitech for, you guessed it, peripherals. It certainly isn't novel territory, from as far back as WebTV to as recent as Yahoo! widgets -- and from Google itself, be it Motoblur boxes or Dish Network trials -- but the proof will be in the pudding, and for now, mum's the word on any more concrete details. As they say, stay tuned.
I bet it will be better than Apple TV
@kb24istrash Yes their partners are way better
as soon as i played with googlereader new thingy http://www.google.com/reader/play/ it was obvious they going for tablet/tv world.
its a great great way to browse ya interests/feeds.
buying a second mon just for it.
@kb24istrash
G( )( )GLES ON MY TY??
@kb24istrash
Someone will probably figure out how to run it on an Apple TV.
@Theli At the risk of being down ranked, I think this is exciting and I actually agree that it'll probably be superior than the Apple TV, but in general, this is very dangerous, Google's dominance is very dangerous, they have a hand in almost every single industry, I don't know if any of you guys have ever thought this throughly, but if you haven't please do, as this is truly an important manner.
and again, thats not to say anything negative about Google, they are simply great in everything, and that is the very reason why it is scary, Google as it is have tremendous power, now I can only imagine with this rate of their growth how this company will have an even bigger power that can literally paralyze a big part of the world.
@kb24istrash
and it will be F R E E !!!
@kb24istrash
The real question is : will it be better than Oprah ?
@dark star
No but it will be plastered with Ads.
And the Apple haters will eat it up for a while, then rage out.
@kb24istrash I bet you aren't the only fanboi that has to bash apple in this post.
@angermeans
Are you talking about me? A person who owned the first Powerbook Ti running dual boot OS 9 and Jaguar and is now using a white macbook.
The thing is, Im not a fanboy. I have a macbook, a Lenovo ThinkPad and a moto droid. I choose the right product for me. That's called being an individual. Not a fanboy.
But of course you wouldnt know that...
@pukerocket
No because it sucks. I'm willing to admit that. You wont. That's why you are a fanboy.
Yaa... Lets piss on Apple!!!
/s
@kb24istrash
I LOL for real each time I read your I bet it better than (insert apple product) post
+1
@Techno1q I agree it's my fear that these big companies will keep Boxee underground. Those guys have laid way for big companies to come in and capitalize on their lack of revenue. I hate to say it but this will progress much faster and be much bigger than boxee could dream. on a lighter note... Google will buy Boxee re-brand it and those guys will get rich, so kudos!
@kb24istrash that ain't saying much
The little green guy will soon be everywhere. I can't wait to buy an Android based washer and dryer I can load custom roms on.
@treats You gotta root it first!
@treats By everywhere you mean everywhere in US or Canada too perhaps. With luck few selected Western European counties.
@CaptainPlanet Will I brick my washer machine or my TV?
Those would be closer to boulders rather than bricks..
@treats Im waiting for the kitchen sink.
Interesting. I wonder how well it will work if they contine the model of only using Open Source codecs for video? I don't believe anof them support DRM, and I am sure the content providers would prefer a DRM based codec any day. For various apps and widgets it seems fine, but I am skeptical of a Hulu or Netflix app appearing.
Whats the benefit over having a full REAL computer with media center functionality like the Dell Zino HD running W7?
Even my parents are using media center fine, and they aren't the most technical bunch.
Price
@Ducman69
how about global warming? running a full computer 24/7 just to watch TV is a terrible waste of electricity when it's used only sometimes. it's bad enough when every law firm in the country does it without adding every house to the problem. something more efficient with an instant on/off OS would be infinitely preferable for society at large. it would save the folks money on the electric bill, too.
@patches66 Thank God my area gets nuclear power.
@MarcusMaximus
Perfect!!
@cdave You don't have to run a computer 24x7, just when you're browsing the web and watching movies, and it uses a ultra-low voltage processor thats a little more powerful than a dual-core Atom. Price was dirt cheap when I bought it months ago.
* Windows 7 64bit
*1.80GHz AMD Dual Core X2
* 4GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 2x2GB
* 320GB 7200rpm Serial ATA Drive
* 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
* Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n
* Dedicated ATI Radeon HD 4330 512MB of dedicated memory w/ 7.1 DTS audio over HDMI
+ accessories: cheapest wired keyboard/mouse
------------------------
* $388.82 after tax - 20% bing cash back.
@patches66 "Instant on/off OS" you mean sleep? Mine wakes in about 2 seconds, and automatically goes to sleep after an hour of inactivity if you don't press the power button on the gyromote.
I bet this will be interesting
@Alexpeegs
lol... well the Apple haters are intrigued. That's a solid market already, Google.
Google's the new MS.
@Wesscoast
I'm sure there will be an update for Apple TV that will remove shows that they think aren't appropriate for you. Of Course this fantastic feature will require a price increase.
Aren't you excited?
@Wesscoast The New MS what a fail joke
Will this be for Satellite or Cable or both?
Well, considering that Google's main bread and butter comes from selling advertising, it was inevitable that TVs are their next platform to target.
What's next? Google Billboards? Google Radio?
I love Android, but Google is freaking me out with getting into everything. I totally worry about them pulling an Apple and going ego crazy.
@Valicore I agree
An atom processor? Unless you need windows compatibility, there is no reason to use an atom processor on a low-power or low-end device. ARM (Cortex) is a much better choice.
@mikedep333
These things will be plugged in rather than using a battery.
@kb24istrash
Ok, disregard that. I now see what you are saying. Maybe they just want intel to get a piece of the action?
@mikedep333
I just hope Google doesn't work with Intel on their Chrome OS netbook, because if it runs Atom, I will keep my Windows netbook thanks.
@HawtDawg I was under the impression that Google wasn't making an official Chrome OS netbook. They are developing Chrome OS for both x86 (intel) and ARM netbooks, and letting their hardware partners sell them.
But then again, since there is an official nexus one google smartphone, I wouldn't be surprised if that happened.
@mikedep333 Yup, I'm sure this works for both ARM and Intel Atom. My guess is that the ARM based Google TV set-top box will cost half as much as the Intel Atom based one, consume much less power and perform about the same if not better.
I hope this atom platform will have uTorrent app that can read from showrss and get my favorite shows.
So Google's taking over cell phones, voice plans, broadband and now cable tv. Also I remember reading stuff about them providing electricity. Next in line must be Google Water Services.
Offer CNN, ESPN, and TNT, and I would cancel my Dish Network !
or google air..
Are you listening, AppleTV?
Is this something that will provide tv stations over internet or is like a media player like the WDTV?