Google TV
Encyclopedia
Google TV is a Smart TV
platform from Google
. It was announced on May 20, 2010, at Google’s Google I/O event and was co-developed by Google, Intel, Sony and Logitech. Google TV integrates Google’s Android operating system and the Linux version of Google Chrome
browser to create an interactive television
overlay on top of existing internet television
and WebTV sites to add a 10-foot user interface
. Google TV initially launched October 6, 2010, with official devices from Sony and Logitech.
Logitech, however, announced in November 2011 that they will stop making Google TV devices due to them losing more than $100 million on operating profits on their Logitech Revue Google TV device, which is also discontinued. No sequel is planned by Logitech.
An Android-based set-top box
that featured video-on-demand, ThinkFree Office
viewer software, a browser, remote control, keyboard interface and 1080p
video was shown by Western Mediabridge at CES
2010.
The project was officially announced at the 2010 Google I/O
conference on May 20. Google stated that the new platform would be incorporated directly into new high-definition television sets and Blu-ray Disc
players by Sony
, although set-top boxes would also be developed by Logitech
. The company indicated that the new systems developed by Sony and Logitech would be powered by Intel Atom
based CE4100 consumer electronics system-on-chip
. It also stated that a "fully optimized" viewer experience would be available through the Dish Network
, although the platform would operate through any provider.
In May 2010, Sony announced that it would be releasing its Google-enabled Sony Internet TV product lineup in the fall of 2010, including standalone TV models and set-top units with integrated Blu-ray drives.
On November 10, 2010, Dish Network L.L.C. (Nasdaq
: DISH) announced that Dish Network's Google TV solution was available to customers. Dish Network's Google TV solution, which requires a DVR
integration service, includes the Logitech
Revue with Google TV, a small set-top box.
On December 15, 2010, Google announced the first Google TV update, with some bug fixes and four major improvements: namely Netflix
streaming catalog, Dual View, Remote Control App for Android Phones and Movies search results.
At Google IO 2011, it was announced that Google TV devices will be updated to Android 3.1 Honeycomb, will have access to the Android Market, and have some application updates.
On June 18, 2011, Google acquired SageTV http://sagetv.com/index.html.
Google has announced Google TV would be officially released in Europe on January 2012.
On October 28, 2011, Google TV started the roll-out of Google TV 2.0, with the Android™ 3.1 operating system and access to the Market.
, and content from other providers through the Chrome browser. Partners have built applications that allow customers to access content in unique ways. Netflix
, for example, has built an application that allows customers to access Netflix’s large library of movies and television shows. Android and Apple smartphones may be used as remote controls for Google TV. Google TV products ship with wireless remote controls with a full QWERTY
keypad. An update in November 2011 allows access to the Android Market
and increased the search to find content from live TV, Netflix, YouTube, HBO GO, and more.
remarked, "Google TV feels like an incomplete jumble of good ideas only half-realized, an unoptimized box of possibility that suffers under the weight of its own ambition and seemingly rushed holiday deadline."
In a 2010 review, Google TV is criticized for the lack of popular codec support.
Kevin Sintumuang said of Google TV in his Wall Street Journal review that "The potential is as big as, well, the Internet, but right now Google TV is a bit of a tease."
The New York Times David Pogue
had similar sentiments, saying, "This much is clear: Google TV may be interesting to technophiles, but it's not for average people." Concentrating more on the product's usefulness for finding and watching television shows than on its capabilities as Internet appliance
, he also expressed concern about the inconsistencies throughout the user interface as well as the fragmentation of Google TV.
By July 2011, commentators were saying "Google TV is sinking" and that it was "on its last legs" as launch partner Logitech slashed the price of its Revue (from $249 to $99) to clear unsold inventory. Further, the company revealed that returns from Distributors and Retail exceeded the number of units sold in Q1 2011.
As of August 2011, Sony reduced the prices on its Google TV-powered HDTVs to capture more of the market.
, ABC
, CBS
and Hulu
have blocked Google TV enabled devices from accessing their web content since Google TV's launch. As of November 22, 2010, Google TV devices are blocked from accessing any programs offered by Viacom
’s subsidiaries. Of the cable providers, only Dish Network
has embraced Google TV. Dish Network is promoting Google TV, offering customers a discount on the Logitech Revue. Roku
, Boxee
and Apple sell hardware with similar functionality to the Google TV offerings. In 2010, Hillcrest Labs
released the Kylo browser
, which is a
web browser
optimized for television use, with a 10-foot user interface. One reviewer called it "an alternative to Google TV."
Smart TV
Smart TV, which is also sometimes referred to as "Connected TV" or "Hybrid TV", , is the phrase used to describe the current trend of integration of the internet and Web 2.0 features into modern television sets and set-top boxes, as well as the technological convergence between computers and these...
platform from Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
. It was announced on May 20, 2010, at Google’s Google I/O event and was co-developed by Google, Intel, Sony and Logitech. Google TV integrates Google’s Android operating system and the Linux version of Google Chrome
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google that uses the WebKit layout engine. It was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows on September 2, 2008, and the public stable release was on December 11, 2008. The name is derived from the graphical user interface frame, or...
browser to create an interactive television
Interactive television
Interactive television describes a number of techniques that allow viewers to interact with television content as they view it.- Definitions :...
overlay on top of existing internet television
Internet television
Internet television is the digital distribution of television content via the Internet...
and WebTV sites to add a 10-foot user interface
10-foot user interface
In computing a 10-foot user interface is a software GUI designed for display on a large television with interaction using a regular television-style remote control."10 foot" refers to the fact that the GUI's...
. Google TV initially launched October 6, 2010, with official devices from Sony and Logitech.
Logitech, however, announced in November 2011 that they will stop making Google TV devices due to them losing more than $100 million on operating profits on their Logitech Revue Google TV device, which is also discontinued. No sequel is planned by Logitech.
Development
Media outlets reported in March 2010 that the Google TV project was underway, although the partnering companies did not confirm their involvement in the venture until later.An Android-based set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
that featured video-on-demand, ThinkFree Office
ThinkFree Office
ThinkFree Office by Haansoft ThinkFree Co. Ltd., a subsidiary company of Haansoft Corporation, is an office suite written in Java that runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and Android platforms....
viewer software, a browser, remote control, keyboard interface and 1080p
1080p
1080p is the shorthand identification for a set of HDTV high-definition video modes that are characterized by 1080 horizontal lines of resolution and progressive scan, meaning the image is not interlaced as is the case with the 1080i display standard....
video was shown by Western Mediabridge at CES
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
2010.
The project was officially announced at the 2010 Google I/O
Google I/O
Google I/O is an annual two-day developer-focused conference held by Google in San Francisco, California. Google I/O features highly technical, in-depth sessions focused on building web, mobile, and enterprise applications with Google and open web technologies such as Android, Chrome, Chrome OS,...
conference on May 20. Google stated that the new platform would be incorporated directly into new high-definition television sets and Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
players by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, although set-top boxes would also be developed by Logitech
Logitech
Logitech International S.A. is a global provider of personal peripherals for computers and other digital platforms headquartered in Romanel-sur-Morges, Switzerland. The company develops and markets products like peripheral devices for PCs, including keyboards, mice, microphones, game controllers...
. The company indicated that the new systems developed by Sony and Logitech would be powered by Intel Atom
Intel Atom
Intel Atom is the brand name for a line of ultra-low-voltage x86 and x86-64 CPUs from Intel, designed in 45 nm CMOS and used mainly in netbooks, nettops, embedded application ranging from health care to advanced robotics and Mobile Internet devices...
based CE4100 consumer electronics system-on-chip
System-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
. It also stated that a "fully optimized" viewer experience would be available through the Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
, although the platform would operate through any provider.
In May 2010, Sony announced that it would be releasing its Google-enabled Sony Internet TV product lineup in the fall of 2010, including standalone TV models and set-top units with integrated Blu-ray drives.
On November 10, 2010, Dish Network L.L.C. (Nasdaq
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
: DISH) announced that Dish Network's Google TV solution was available to customers. Dish Network's Google TV solution, which requires a DVR
DVR
The initialism "DVR", when used by itself, can refer to:* Digital video recorder* Discrete valuation ring* Distance-vector routing* Direct volume rendering* Derwent Valley Railway * Devco Railway...
integration service, includes the Logitech
Logitech
Logitech International S.A. is a global provider of personal peripherals for computers and other digital platforms headquartered in Romanel-sur-Morges, Switzerland. The company develops and markets products like peripheral devices for PCs, including keyboards, mice, microphones, game controllers...
Revue with Google TV, a small set-top box.
On December 15, 2010, Google announced the first Google TV update, with some bug fixes and four major improvements: namely Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
streaming catalog, Dual View, Remote Control App for Android Phones and Movies search results.
At Google IO 2011, it was announced that Google TV devices will be updated to Android 3.1 Honeycomb, will have access to the Android Market, and have some application updates.
On June 18, 2011, Google acquired SageTV http://sagetv.com/index.html.
Google has announced Google TV would be officially released in Europe on January 2012.
On October 28, 2011, Google TV started the roll-out of Google TV 2.0, with the Android™ 3.1 operating system and access to the Market.
Features
Google TV leverages many of Google’s existing products. Google’s Android operating system provides the underlying foundation, allowing developers to create applications that extend the system’s functionality. Google’s Chrome browser provides a gateway to the Internet, allowing consumers to browse web sites and watch television, in tandem. Consumers can access HBO, CNBCCNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
, and content from other providers through the Chrome browser. Partners have built applications that allow customers to access content in unique ways. Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
, for example, has built an application that allows customers to access Netflix’s large library of movies and television shows. Android and Apple smartphones may be used as remote controls for Google TV. Google TV products ship with wireless remote controls with a full QWERTY
QWERTY
QWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
keypad. An update in November 2011 allows access to the Android Market
Android Market
Android Market is an online software store developed by Google for Android OS devices. Its gateway is an application program called "Market", preinstalled on most Android devices, allows users to browse and download mobile apps published by third-party developers...
and increased the search to find content from live TV, Netflix, YouTube, HBO GO, and more.
Devices
- Sony Internet TV - 24", 32", 40" and 46" models (NSX-24GT1, NSX-32GT1, NSX-40GT1 and NSX-46GT1)
- Sony Internet TV Blu-Ray (NSZ-GT1)
- Logitech Revue (PN 970-000001) - Discontinued November 2011
Reviews
Most reviews of Google TV have described it as mediocre. Nilay Patel, of the tech blog EngadgetEngadget
Engadget is a multilingual technology blog network with daily coverage of gadgets and consumer electronics. Though on appearance Engadget functions much like a blog and may be defined as such, much of its editorial content takes the form of an online magazine...
remarked, "Google TV feels like an incomplete jumble of good ideas only half-realized, an unoptimized box of possibility that suffers under the weight of its own ambition and seemingly rushed holiday deadline."
In a 2010 review, Google TV is criticized for the lack of popular codec support.
Kevin Sintumuang said of Google TV in his Wall Street Journal review that "The potential is as big as, well, the Internet, but right now Google TV is a bit of a tease."
The New York Times David Pogue
David Pogue
David Welch Pogue is an American technology writer, technology columnist and commentator. He is a personal technology columnist for the New York Times, an Emmy-winning tech correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning, weekly tech correspondent for CNBC, and a columnist for Scientific American...
had similar sentiments, saying, "This much is clear: Google TV may be interesting to technophiles, but it's not for average people." Concentrating more on the product's usefulness for finding and watching television shows than on its capabilities as Internet appliance
Internet appliance
An Internet appliance is a consumer device whose main function is easy access to Internet services such as WWW or e-mail. The term was popularized in the 1990s, when it somewhat overlapped in meaning with an information appliance, Internet computer, network computer, or even thin client, but now it...
, he also expressed concern about the inconsistencies throughout the user interface as well as the fragmentation of Google TV.
By July 2011, commentators were saying "Google TV is sinking" and that it was "on its last legs" as launch partner Logitech slashed the price of its Revue (from $249 to $99) to clear unsold inventory. Further, the company revealed that returns from Distributors and Retail exceeded the number of units sold in Q1 2011.
As of August 2011, Sony reduced the prices on its Google TV-powered HDTVs to capture more of the market.
Competitors and controversies
Cable providers as well as content providers have been slow to warm to Google TV. NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and Hulu
Hulu
Hulu is a website and over-the-top subscription service offering ad-supported on-demand streaming video of TV shows, movies, webisodes and other new media, trailers, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from NBC, Fox, ABC, and Obstacle on October 20th 2011 Nickelodeon and CBS and many other...
have blocked Google TV enabled devices from accessing their web content since Google TV's launch. As of November 22, 2010, Google TV devices are blocked from accessing any programs offered by Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
’s subsidiaries. Of the cable providers, only Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
has embraced Google TV. Dish Network is promoting Google TV, offering customers a discount on the Logitech Revue. Roku
Roku
Roku , is an American, privately held, consumer electronics company that sells home digital media products. The Company is based in Saratoga, California.- Company profile and products :...
, Boxee
BOXEE
Boxee is a cross-platform freeware HTPC software application with a 10-foot user interface and social networking features designed for the living-room TV...
and Apple sell hardware with similar functionality to the Google TV offerings. In 2010, Hillcrest Labs
Hillcrest Labs
Hillcrest Labs invented Freespace motion-control technology and the first motion-controlled remote for television. Freespace allows users to control images on a screen by using natural motions, allowing for a new way of interacting with television content...
released the Kylo browser
Kylo (web browser)
Kylo is a web browser developed by Hillcrest Labs for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Initially released in 2010, the Kylo web browser features a 10-foot user interface, with large fonts and buttons that make it easy to see from across the room, making it especially suitable for use with a HTPC ...
, which is a
web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
optimized for television use, with a 10-foot user interface. One reviewer called it "an alternative to Google TV."
See also
- Smart TVSmart TVSmart TV, which is also sometimes referred to as "Connected TV" or "Hybrid TV", , is the phrase used to describe the current trend of integration of the internet and Web 2.0 features into modern television sets and set-top boxes, as well as the technological convergence between computers and these...
- Interactive televisionInteractive televisionInteractive television describes a number of techniques that allow viewers to interact with television content as they view it.- Definitions :...
- Internet televisionInternet televisionInternet television is the digital distribution of television content via the Internet...
- TV GeniusTV GeniusTV Genius is a United Kingdom-based software company that specializes in TV search engines, TV recommendation engines, and EPG development. TV solutions are provided across TV, mobile, web, set top boxes and devices like Playstation and Nintendo Wii. The company works with television operators in...
- WebTV
- Home theater PCHome theater PCA Home Theater PC or Media Center appliance is a convergence device that combines some or all the capabilities of a personal computer with a software application that supports video, photo, music playback, and sometimes video recording functionality...
- TivoizationTivoizationTivoization is a coined term to describe the creation of a system that incorporates software under the terms of a copyleft software license , but uses hardware restrictions to prevent users from running modified versions of the software on that hardware...
- Apple TV
- BoxeeBOXEEBoxee is a cross-platform freeware HTPC software application with a 10-foot user interface and social networking features designed for the living-room TV...
- RokuRokuRoku , is an American, privately held, consumer electronics company that sells home digital media products. The Company is based in Saratoga, California.- Company profile and products :...
- XBMC Media Center
- Hillcrest LabsHillcrest LabsHillcrest Labs invented Freespace motion-control technology and the first motion-controlled remote for television. Freespace allows users to control images on a screen by using natural motions, allowing for a new way of interacting with television content...
- Kylo (web browser)Kylo (web browser)Kylo is a web browser developed by Hillcrest Labs for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Initially released in 2010, the Kylo web browser features a 10-foot user interface, with large fonts and buttons that make it easy to see from across the room, making it especially suitable for use with a HTPC ...