David Gerry on the Atom processor at the core of these devices: "It has the necessary processing power and Web
compatibility, with special circuitry developed for the activities expected in consumer electronics, like showing HD
video."
Google TV takes your existing television experience and adds the internet
to it. In short, you will be able to watch TV just like you do today, but you'll also be able to watch web video, surf the
web, read websites -- whatever you do on the web on your big screen television. No longer will you have to crowd around the
laptop to watch web video. No longer will you have to use half-way solutions like browsing through a Playstation,
Wii, or Xbox.
Google TV is software based on Google's Android operating system
The same software that powers Google's
mobile devices -- Android-- is being used to power Google
TV. It will also have the Chrome web browser to allow you to surf the web. Google TV will also support Flash, which is good
because 70% of the video on the web is powered by Flash. So you'll get a full web experience, allowing you to watch whatever
web video you'd like to watch.
Google
TV be in set top boxes and INTEGRATED into televisions
Google's Android software will be built into
some televisions from SONY starting in the fall of 2010. It
will also be available in separate boxes from Logitech. You can plug your cable into the box
from Logitech. You'll be able to watch cable and you'll get an extra layer of web functions
on top of it with the Logitech box. Both have Intel chips inside them.
Google TV will be optional
to your cable interface
Google TV is complementary to cable. Google TV adds all the web functions on top of cable. It will suck in
the local cable listings so that if you search for "30 Rock" you get to see it on HULU
(if allowed), YOUTUBE, Netflix or NBC if
its playing at the time of your search.
Google
TV does not act as a DVR, though. If you want to DVR a show, you
still need to use cable's interfaces. However, you'll be able to do all that from one remote control.
Dish Network is one of
the big partners with Google on this launch. It will have DVR functions integrated with Google
TV.
Google TV gadgets will be sold at Best Buy
Google learned
its lesson from NEXUS ONE STORE. It's going to let the professionals handle selling Google TV
devices. Best Buy is the first announced retail partner. You'll be able to buy Google TV gadgets at Best Buy.
We
still don't know how much it costs
We didn't hear anything about pricing yesterday. Sony lists a 40 inch Bravia
flat screen for $1,079 on its site. We'd assume a television with Google TV baked in will go for a little more since it's
a nice new feature and requires stronger hardware to run.
Logitech said it wouldn't discuss pricing when we asked. For a rough point of comparison,
a TiVo premiere XL box costs $499. Lower end DVRs costs $150.
There is no monthly subscription fee.
You
will control Google TV with your phone or a new remote
We spoke with Logitech about its box. It says it will
include a remote that has a touch pad, a compact keyboard and typical remote elements. Let's hope it doesn't look ugly. Logitech will also have an Android app and an iPhone app to control the box.
Google
will offer help for developers to make the web look good on the television
This
all sounds exciting, but how will a website designed for 20 inch monitors translate to 40 inch televisions? Google says it
will give web designers and developers tools to optimize their sites for Google TV.
This is just a start, developers will be able to make incredible things...and Mobile Device Brokers and Liquidation
Pros will benefit - big time!
