Google Partners with Intel, Sony, Logitech & Others to Create Google TV: A Review

Google TV, as I reported on April 1, 2010 and was officially announced at the Google I/O on May 20 2010, is one of the newest editions to the Googleverse and the household living room. Google TV is Google's version of the need to bring the Internet to television. Google states on their official Blog that this version of Web television will open the amount of channels available from the hundreds we receive now with Cable and Satellite television to millions, while retaining the quality that television offers and the browsing experience of the Internet.

Google TV Partners and Power

Google's Android operating system and their Chrome web browser, which will give the G-TV users the ability to surf the web and channels seamlessly and simultaneously, will power Google TV, according to their website. In addition, Google is developing the service with their partners, including Sony, Intel and Logitech to produce Google TV and are utilizing help form Best Buy to sell as well as DISH Network and Adobe for some extras not yet announced.

Sony, using their thousands of HDTV ready television sets, will incorporate Google's Android OS platform into the programming to make the sets "stand alone" versions, which do not require anything else to work. Sony will also make a set top box which will incorporate a BlueRay disk player as well.

Intel also has a part in the play using their Atom processor to power the graphics and audio. Intel is world renowned for their chips, which are sued in gadgets like smartphones, computers, laptops and more around the world. The processor, the Intel Atom CE4100 is what Intel calls a "system in a chip" and it will allow better searching, surfing and watching as well as awesome audio and voice command power.

Logitech's advanced technology will produce a "companion box" and a controller to go with it, which allows users to use G-TV anywhere and do anything with it, as well as other peripherals, including a cam and a video based calling app for the HDTV and various apps for smartphones that will utilize Logitech's expert technology and knowledge of remote controls.

What to Expect

Using Google's Chrome browser, the users of Google TV will have the ability to search and use the web as they always have, they will just have the ability to do it from their television instead. In addition, users will have the ability to play PC games, run web applications, play music, watch movies and much more. Even watching YouTube or updating your Twitter or Facebook status will happen on the TV. In addition, using the Google TV home screen, the user can access the program guide, however it is not just a lost of television shows and movies anymore.

The user will also have access to the Internet form this guide as well, making the ability to surf the Internet form the television easy. Users can view and interact with websites, programs and applications just as they would on their computer. It is an open platform, meaning developers have an SDK available to them as well. They can program any application, meaning productivity, gaming and, well... anything can be done right form the television. Google has available on their Google TV website instructions for optimizing websites for the Google TV experience as well as instructions on how to optimize web apps.

What not to Expect

No matter what Google, Sony Intel and the others produce, anyone wishing to sue their service should not expect it to work on every television. According to a press release from Logitech, the G-TV service will work best if it is used in conjunction with DISH Network's Satellite service. What this means is that although you might have the ability to use the service because it is made to work with any television operator, a user might find that they do not get the full experience unless they subscribe to DISH Network's service.

This service is an extra cost to many people, especially considering how many still use the D-TV free television service and do not subscribe to cable or satellite. According to the DTV.gov website, 34,879,001 million D-TV boxes are in use (per coupon redemption for boxes), this translates to 12,643,490 million households who do not use cable or satellite service still. In addition, the subscription requires a contract and good credit in most cases. In addition, according to their terms of service, Dish Network requires the applicant for the DISH account hold a credit card, to which early cancellation fees will be charged automatically if the customer decides to cancel the account before the contract expires.

In addition, not all programming is available in all areas, for example, if you live in Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico, you cannot receive certain packages, the same ones needed to use Google TV. This begs the question, if people chose not to subscribe to Dish Network, or if they cannot subscribe for some reason, where will the Google TV service leave them?

Overall

Google TV is coming this fall 2010 to Best Buy stores almost everywhere. While there is still no specified price, it is difficult to judge what a price would be, especially the way that Sony is integrating Google TV into existing sets. In addition, price could also depend on which DISH network service you choose as well as the specific television and/or companion set top box you choose to purchase, since HDTV is a requirement and not everyone has a set that is HDTV enabled. A Google TV enabled HDTV and other Google TV services and hardware offer no price on anything just yet.

Google TV seems like an excellent idea, especially for those who like the idea of having their Television and computer merged into one device. However, considering the D-TV and DISH Network statistics and other information, this service might just leave millions of people in the dark.

Google: Designing Websites for Google TV
Sony: Internet TV, Google TV
Press Release, "Sony & Google Establish a Strategic Alliance...," Sony News and Media
Logitech, "The Announcement," The Future of TV is Coming to Your TV: Logitech
DTV, "DTV Transition Statistics," What you Need to Know bout Digital transition
Intel, "Internet Meets television: Say Hello to Smart TV," Intel and Smart TV
Best Buy "Announcing Google TV"
Dish Network "Satellite TV"
Dish Network, "Google TV to Debut this Fall"
Salahuddin Choudhary, "Announcing Google TV, TV meets Web, Web Meets TV," Google Official Blog