When we heard an upstart named
People of Lava were going to beat
Google to the punch with an all-in-one TV set, we were confused, amused and skeptical all at the same time. Thankfully,
Expert Reviews made a special trip to Sweden to see the company's Android-powered television in action, and now we know what the unit actually does -- it switches between an Android interface and a discrete TV mode without actually mixing the two in any appreciable fashion. Disappointing as that might seem, the publication rather enjoyed the Android side of things, which features not only the above widgets but also a full
Chrome web browser, a TV app marketplace, spacious Google Maps page and more. Before you pull out your wallet, though, know that the edge-lit, LG-powered display is intended for the sub-lux crowd; when the Scandinavia ships in September, it's expected to run as much as £2,000 (around $2,898) for the basic, 42-inch model -- or roughly $2,700 more than just sticking with your existing TV and adding a
Bonux box for Android functionality.
posted June 5th 2010 11:13PM
I'd rather buy a used car for that kind of money.
@bathellfire
this is so stupid. $3k for useless android widgets taking up space on your tv?
@WindowPhoneOwnsAndroid Soon they will start releasing electric shavers powered by Android for like a thousand of dollars.
@WindowPhoneOwnsAndroid I honestly don't think this TV is going to be bought by people who find the Android experience compelling, but that is where your comment is lacking. This would more likely be bought by people who want an HDTV and then this a bonus. To those complaining about price, if this were manufactured in China it'd cut over $500 off the price due to: economies of scale, lack of environmental regulations, wages, etc. The fact that this is a EU born TV should be worth a tiny bit of the premium, this clearly says "as much as £2000" not that that's the actual price, and some will compare the $2700 USD thinking that's valid when the marketplaces are different.
@bathellfire
Before putting your comments go through the elaborate review by Expert Reviews at http://goo.gl/kYFe
Also, Engadget would do well to provide the link of the source. The people who have done the hard work deserve that much at least.
@WindowPhoneOwnsAndroid How is this magical device, designed to help your wallet lose weight, a stupid idea? :'(
@juanvaldez Source article at Expertreviews says the panel is from LG.
They're trying to be in the league of Bang & Olufsen, which I tend to associate with being a little too expensive and too gimicky. The fact that the Android part is a mode, you can't overlay a widget in the corner of live TV, suggests that they did not think this through.
I think they should drop the "people of" from the name, it's cumbersome and unnecessary.
I expect they will sell, but I don't know what their expectations are. If it offered widget overlays, I think it would go well in hotel lobbies, restaurants, bars, any commercial establishment with TVs already, with a widget assortment that fits their customers. For personal use, I would just keep using the TV I have and use my laptop.
The UI looks so ugly to me... and i honestly believe that this concept won't beat Google TV, mostly for the price, but also cause there's no interaction between Android and the TV itself.
@DeuX The fact that the testers enjoyed the set gives GoogleTV an extra bit of a puncher's chance. Without the interaction and simultaneous functionality it's still a somewhat compelling experience. Plus, Google's product is not exactly refined/polished. So, in 2-3 years it has plenty of hope, especially if/when they grow their partner list.
They REALLY have to change their name.
cool
@littlea
meh
.... price? *faints
(2 days later waking up in hospital)
*gasp *gasp Does it have touchscreen?
Engadget, come on guys. Yet another biased article. Google definitely paid you to plug their box in this article.
@Bruce Willis
Oh my god, another Android OS Product!!11111
If you don't like it then go back to your Apple Dungeon with your unopened source OS'
@ComeShot
I'm not an apple fan-boy you tard. I was simply pointing out the slant of this article. I own a dell and a crappy lg phone from verizon. Do you still want to go after for me on illegitimate reasons?
@Bruce Willis
Yes.
@Bruce Willis Lol, liked your second post. I'm getting kind of sick of all this fanboyism, it's like someone can't post a critical comment without them being accused of "siding" with another company or product.
@ComeShot
Issues man, serious issues. I've seen your kind at best buy. Playing with the laptops till you jizz inside of your pants. So fat that the lard drips onto the desk. It's always picking a side for you people. D&D or Magic, pokemon or digimon. Please dude, quit defending something before you understand what exactly it is i was referring to. I was referring to a tone, not a scantly clad homo slitting a mythical creature's throat.
Too expensive, looks sharp though.
@ComeShot I kinda liked the look as well. But f--k, 2.8k starting price! I can get just the TV for $600 and get a netbook computer for another 300. Install Android on it and boom, i got the same sh--t for $900. 1700 in savings.. and mine will probably be Sony or Phillips, not some People of Lava (how high do you have to be to come up with name like that?)
I guess they didn't get the Google TV memo, and now they are totally fucked.
@jellotime91 Nah, that's just how the people of lava roll in goat-borg.
"...when the Scandinavia ships in September..."
The whole thing? For $3k that might be worth it.
Google should add some code so you can just send a google map or route or destination via e-mail and it is picked up by the mapping app in android phones/tablets.
That way no special syncing or any of that crap is needed.
Just send it off to e-mail and when you get on your phone/tablet just check your e-mail and good to go.
roughly 3grand for 42" display? PASS!
Come on...they have to do better than that for that price...However, I do like the small bezel -- but there would have to be way more functionality...I'm thinking:
1.) USB2\3 or FireWire\Esata ports for External Storage
2.) Built in DVR to External Storage
3.) Integrated BluRay
4.) DLNA software (the TV would need WiFi-N or GigE -- or both)
5.) Flash support with the browser
If you have to complain about the price then this TV obviously isn't for you.