People of Lava trumpet Android-packin' Scandinavia HDTV, one bodacious company name
Forget Sony, Vizio, Samsung, LG, Toshiba and Sharp -- those guys might have leverage in the production line, but they ain't got the pizazz possessed by Sweden's own People of Lava. After confirming (and reconfirming) that such a company really exists, we were stoked to learn that an Android-based television (the "planet's first," as they say) will be shipping later this year from 'em. As the story goes, the future set -- which will be fittingly dubbed Scandinavia -- will sport a 42-inch panel, a 1080p native resolution and internet connectivity. We're told that 47- and 55-inch variants are on the way, all of which will include Android widgets onboard and provide users with easy access to YouTube, Google Maps, the weather, an internet browser, Facebook, Twitter, etc. A USB socket will also be included (presumably for playing back media on your external hard drive), and it'll demand a €2,000 ($2,695) and €2,500 ($3,370) investment when it rolls out in September. IKEA, you seeing this, or what?
Swedish manufacturer launches world's first Android TV
Sweden's People of Lava beat everyone to the chase to launch the world's first fully interactive
internet TV. Following the launch at IFA Berlin in September, the new People of Lava
"Scandinavia" will hit the stores, complete with Full-HD LED display and a fully integrated
Android platform. But starting already early summer, selected early users will be able purchase
and evaluate the Scandinavia TV through a beta-test program. And discussions are already
ongoing with potential future partners and developers for content and media.
The Scandinavia TV set is the embodiment of People of Lava's vision to build a machine that
goes beyond push-TV to become "a window to the world".
– Think of it as a device that provides all the functionality that you would expect from an Android smart phone, combined with the quality and definition you demand of a high-end Full-HD LED TV set, says Christian Svantesson, co-founder and CEO of People of Lava.
The Scandinavia Android TV - which will first be released in a 42" version, followed by 47" and
55" - is built without compromises. It features top-of-the-line components and is carefully put
together by hand to ensure the kind of quality that customers expect from a People of Lava Full-
HD LED TV set. Its Android platform and internet capabilities provide a wide range of
functionalities, including:
-Out of the box Android TV applications such as:
-YouTube, Google Maps ,Weather, Time, Calendar, Internet Browser
-Downloadable Apps, both free and from coming App-store:
-Facebook, Twitter, Email and more...
- Internet connection
-USB connection
The Scandinavia TV is unique in many ways. Not the least in the design and materials. People of
Lava have worked with the German office of the well-respected design-firm Designit to capture
the sprit of the company in the design. The materials have never been used in televisions before
- a nearly natural material, with a very deep gloss, and hard as stone, otherwise mainly found in
exclusive kitchen and yachts.
According to current plans, this is even the first TV to be built in Sweden for several decades -
thus bringing a proud Swedish tradition back to life. For this reason, People of Lava has set up
their own assembly-line at their offices in Stenungsund, outside of Gothenburg.
The price of the Scandinavia 42" will be between €2,000 and €2,500 at the global sales-start in
September.





























Cool chairs.
@DoctarPeppar
That was the same thing I thought when I first saw the image.
Came for the chairs. Stayed for the company name.
This is great but, at the same time in order for android to fully penetrate into the tv market they will need one of the big manufacturers(sony, samsung,vizio, panasonic,toshiba,sharp, or mitsubishi) to come along for the ride. To me vizio seems like the most likely company(if anyone)to jump on this because its an american company and is already using an os with widgets and internet connectivity on board anyway
@DoctarPeppar I clicked for the chairs. Does anyone know who makes these or something similar?
@lv2bll54 I don't know why, but I see Vizio doing it in a heartbeat.
@DoctarPeppar There's a lot of room for improvement here.. with that, I think we can start by upgrading its platfrom to 2.1. Updates: http://bit.ly/people-of-lava-android-tv
@Ducman69 The chairs are called "Space", from Fritz Hanssen.
http://www.fritzhansen.com/en/fritz-hansen/products.aspx#/lounge/space/jl10/3/?i=i
Anyone that will say this is not cool needs to see a doctor
@staticjethro
I would buy this just because of the company name
@staticjethro
What is cool about it?
(1) Unless you live alone and don't share your television, I can't foresee Facebook on your television as a popular app. (2) Most people I know either don't use Twitter, have stopped using it or never will. (3) I rarely use YouTube anymore. Face it, most of the user content on YouTube is just crap. (4) The only time I use Google maps is on my phone when I need directions or to get a phone number – meaning I have absolutely zero need for it on my TV.
@staticjethro I think this is why the majors should follow suit, and actually should've started this pursuit. Let's say I'm Samsung, Panasonic or Sony; and we venture there is a 50-60% chance we lose millions on this TV. I take that chance a while ago and now commit to an even bigger loss, why? Because losing money on this TV but giving your company a better chance to take over this niche is a good idea, even better now that this is also a defensive move. It's one thing to let another competitor beat you here, but to let a new one sneak in and make a name for itself? That can also erode your current marketshare if they become known as a good manufacturer.
I wonder if they are all just as happy as yesterday, sure there are companies that will be content. There are others who might be thinking worst-case and see this as the "HTC" of the Android TV sets. You don't want to open that can of worms!
@zerotwone
I would not mind seeing a map on my TV, I'm addicted to youtube (and apparently several hundred million people still use the site extensively), and would love to see some apps like Google earth on my TV eventually, along with browsing. Honestly, for you to say this would be useless is rather ignorant, I can see plenty of cool things appearing in android for T.V.
@Eliasj
There is a difference between people who "don't mind" having these apps on their TV and people who would actually find them useful – I'm pretty confident that the latter will prove that these type of TV integrated applications will go unused.
Any development with Android makes me happy. Go Android go!
@gbhall
Now that's a TV. I thought Boxee was the next thing in TV. Bring on Android to my TV. Boxee should come along for the ride too.
Google, I don't know what you have planned for GoogleTV, but it better take some hints from this!
@Invader Par I know, I'm about to get Boxee on our TV this week. But I love Android.
Quick, someone compile XBMC for Android!
I like the idea of having Android on my TV and all, but Im not gonna pay a premium for it...at least til Im convinced I really need it.
Though if I could just instantly beam my Moto Droid screen to my TV and vice versa, I could be talked into it...and throw in those chairs
@Ldubbz that's what they said about the iPad too XD
@Ldubbz: Exactly. It seem counter-intuitive since the OS is free. All I need is an app that let's me control widget placement/selection and general controlability and I might be sold.
It would be funny if it supported the android market LOL. But im interested to see what the TV's will utilize android for (other than widgets)
So what is this? I mean like do they integrate a Android HTPC in there? Like Tegra2 or something?
Wonder if they are gonna make a vest for this thing too. I can picture it now...
@DigitalDali
Scottevest is already all over this: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4494233313_c5beff416f_d.jpg
That is an awesome name.
People of Lave sounds like a Dr. Who episode.
They need a 36" model. I'm looking for a tv for the bedroom.
I'd Bork that!
.
People of Lava used to be called Northern Star and they sold re-branded asian noname LCDs.
How do you open the cabinets? Are they digital too?
Dear prospective manufacturers of Android-based gadgets:
When taking press shots of your product, you don't have to show off the clock widget or any similar looking analog clock for us to believe it's running Android. We totally believe you. Same goes for the old-style dock tab.
Love,
Consumers
Hrrrmm..those chairs are some kinda sexy...oh and the TV is aight too.. :P
Too bad every single picture in that gallery is still a render.
Give us the actual thing already!
Nobody needs a 10 inch tablet if he can have a 55 inch TV :D
Am i missing something? Why all the praise for android in a tv?
Whats the difference between this tv using andriod and samsung tv's ?
The price of the tv seems high.
@Jaco Made and sold in EU will make it expensive relative to low cost Asian companies, this is built in Sweeden. I don't think this is supposed to ramp up costs that much, so if one of the big names did it, they'd be able to undercut them. However, there is an open market here and consumers who like the tech will pay.
All those apps would be amazing, but I'd only pay that price if it were a 3D TV.
Am I the only one that wants my TV...to just be a TV?
@(Unverified)
I know, right? Anyone techy enough to even be in the market for this would be using WMC with a fully featured PC to boot.
@Very Powerfull Codfish Who would WILLINGLY use Windows Media Center? Seriously, Why pay for something like that? There are SOOO many alternatives that are both far better and free.
Seeing Google Earth/Maps on the bigscreen is cool.
Once this thing is rooted will we be able to get free cable and pr0n?11!?
@Chas Percodani You hit the nail on the head...free porn would sell 10 million tvs alone.
Lol I can just get a computer with a large LCD and much better specs and a DVR ofcourse
If Ikea made a TV