Google TV is almost upon us, with the first hardware due in the U.S. in time for the holiday season.
Thankfully, Google has decided to finally reveal more details about Google TV, including specific apps and a video demonstration of its basic elements.
Google TV
Google unveiled Google TV, as a concept at least, in May 2010, after several months of rumors that the search giant was working on such a thing.
Google TV is an Android-powered television platform that will deliver video content, and a lot more besides, to the TV sets the vast majority of us have in our living rooms.
Google TV will be integrated into TVs, Blu-ray players and, it is hoped, other devices as time passes. It will also be available in the form of a dedicated set-top box from Logitech.
Where’s It At?
The last five months haven’t seen much in the way of details about Google TV. All we’ve really seen is the user interface on display at Comic-Con 2010, which StuffWeLike was on hand to video.
But Google has now started the promotional push of Google TV ahead of hardware announcement due from Logitech and Sony in the coming weeks.
Apps, Details, Video Demo
Google TV now has its own website with lots of details as to how it’ll all work and what buyers can expect from the platform.
The Chrome browser built in to Google TV means the Web is now a channel in its own right, while Android smartphones and the iPhone can be used as a remote control to power Google TV.
Netflix and Amazon On Demand have been confirmed, while YouTube Leanback is going to be an integral part of the platform as expected. Also detailed on the site are the firmware updates, photo viewing options, music sharing options, and how to create a Google Queue TV Playlist.
Most important are the apps which are being developed for Google TV, some of which are outlined in a Google blog post. Broadcasters working with Google include Turner Broadcasting, NBC, HBO, the NBA, Vevo, Blip.tv.
Conclusions
Google TV certainly looks impressive at this stage. But it remains to be seen whether it bring connected TV platforms into the mainstream in a way that hasn’t yet been achieved.
And while the new Apple TV has been received positively, that particular device doesn’t seem to be changing anything in this regard. All hopes rest with Google. Or so it appears.
