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.
So, if they decide to release this with a cablecard tuner, I wonder how quickly TiVo stock will bottom out.
All Microsoft has to do is add a cablecard slot to xbox and they would own the set-top wars. Knowing google they'll install a webcam and keep track of my housekeeping habits to sell ads to lysol.
They should try food next.
1984
@Anticrawl
What about it?
It is a fantastic novel. But what I am getting at is if you control information you control the world. Google is scary powerful.
If Sony is involved, why can't Google port this "Google TV" software to the PS3?
Instant massive user-base. Would also make a ton of PS3 users happy.
@Temple it worked with blu-ray. why not?
I'm thinking the Mayans weren't wrong about December 2012 after all. I imagine that is the day when all the Google services come together to form a self-aware AI with intimate knowledge of every person on the planet. We of course, for fear of Matrix-like scenario ask it to search itself, which causes a rip in the space-time continuum and destroys us all.
What about Dish Network 0_o
So is google gonna turn into Skynet or the Borg?
can anyone say streaming to an Android phone near you??
This will probably provide video content on the lines of how Clicker or Boxee does. I wouldn't expect too much localized playback... no need to even mention Apple TV.
Next, Google Government!
SkyNet just can't be stopped....who will stand up to them??
This is really not all that innovative. Boxee does this, XBMC does this, Mythtv does this. An SFF x86 based machine and a minute amount of tinkering and you could do this in an afternoon. I do hope Steve Jobs' ass is a little redder for it though.
@jakeroberts I assume the obvious advantage here is for things like Apps. Something Apple HAVE NOT done with the Apple TV. I can imagine that unleashing developers to create great applications for the platform (not least of which some great torrent/ad removal programs) could produce some amazing stuff. Games optimized for the TV say. Or video podcast apps. Or weather widgets. Or ... Something Boxee has no chance at...
I would never buy this. If Google was trying to dominate the world – they would be doing nothing different.
The Remote Controller is a problem, how to controller web content smoothly on TV while sitting on couch? Should a new controller with the concept of keyboard or mouse been created? Is it possible to create a remote touchscreen-like controller?
http://gearor.com/google-is-working-on-tv-set-top-box/505/
So when is Google going to release a Media Player and/or a PMP?
Wasn't that a Google hoax 3 years ago?
I thought Intel's recent alliance with Nokia for MeeGo would be doing much the same thing amongst other things?
Folks, there is a duopoly in the traditional set top box market: Motorola and Sci-Atl/Cisco. And the major cable companies have to get behind it to get any widespread adoption. Unless this trio expects to create some new IP-based TV service to power these new fangled set tops, color me skeptical. I don't see the majors lining up to dump their boxes to put this shiny new toy into your houses anytime soon.
@The Digital Pimp Its a platform. If you add it to a set top box from SA or Motorola then it would have Google built in. Not that either of those companies will jump in. But a Sony TV makes sense--it can already display TV channels, either with a cable card slot or an external box to handle the cable or satellite feed. It would now have additional abilities to search the web or handle internet video say. Or widgets.
@Fanfoot
Do you think these guys would like to share that limelight? Then have a cable provider buy in as well, to further dilute revenues sharing with Google? Come on, man...
If this thing has Netflix streaming then I will totally buy one.
@Fanfoot Actually, plugins for boxee could come just as rapidly as they do for Android and since Boxee runs on top of the OS of your choice all the apps you named are already available.
Better with Windows 7 TV Media center
http://www.ii-view.com/