Google's Next Step in Adding to the Googleverse: Google TV in Your Living Room

The Google tree is branching out again. First, it was mobile operating systems with the Chrome OS, although even before that, Chrome had started life as a browser heralding their entry into that market. Then they came roaring into the smartphone OS market with the Android attack. After they established their stake there, they moved into the smartphone market itself with the slightly less than stellar (un) successful splash (so far) of the Nexus One, as it is simply not selling as they would have liked it to. Now, Google is moving into the Living room. A recent story has confirmed that Google Inc., Sony Inc. and Intel Inc. are collaborating on a project to develop an actual Google powered TV. The mind fairy swims with possibilities.

"...Just the facts, Ma-am"

This is no ordinary "Set-Top Box." It is an all-in-one unit that doubles as a computer, and an open-source one at that! According to the New York Times, a report of this unit claims it will have two main functions. Allow the people to surf the Internet from their television and watch television, all in one device. There is, as you can imagine, little hard information as to what this might look like or what it might do as of yet. Nevertheless, there is enough information to paint something of a picture. For example, the NYTimes and a few other outlets report that early forms of the television/PC will be available by the end of the summer months 2010.

Development

There is a prototype do this television/PC, and it is currently undergoing testing within the infamous Google Labs. This Television/PC has been confirmed as under development for quite a few months now, and will continue to be under development until right before its release. At the moment, Google has already tested their TV ads and a TV search function made for searching programming on satellite services with the help of Dish Network Corp. Google TV Ads is a program running for over three years now, and it allows clients to advertise on television just as they would on a website.

Communications System

It's base computer capabilities will allow it to run not only Android as it's operating system, but the Chrome Browser as well. The browser will allow the users of the TV access to the Internet so they can use applications such as Twitter, Picasa, Facebook and more just like they would do if they were using a real computer. The platform, because it is Android powered, is open to third party development. This allows anyone to develop applications for the Television the same way they would for any other mobile device, such as a smartphone. No one knows exactly how this program ill work however speculation and rumor has it that the TV will contain its own version of the Android Marketplace.

Physical Factors

Sony is manufacturing the device This means that because Google chose Sony for this, they already have a leg up on any competition they might receive in the end. We all know Sony as one of the biggest brand names on the market today. Almost everyone knows who they are because of their take over of living rooms everywhere. They manufacture electronics of every nature including televisions, smartphones, radios, car stereos-almost anything can be found with a Sony version of it.

Intel is adding the processor for the Web based actions, which is one of their newly released Atom Chips. This chip and ATOM processor are some of Intel's smallest ever built. However do not underestimate the technology behind it as big things tend to come in small packages with Intel. The Atom is still arguably one of the best processors from Intel available for mobile and non-mobile devices. Logitech, according to the NYTimes, will also have a hand in the making of the peripherals for the television/PC. Since Logitech's specialties in this business include making some of the best mice, keyboards computer speakers and remote controls, they were the "Locitecal" choice.

Speculation

All of this "web application development and access makes a person wonder if the television will also have access to the over 30,000 apps available for smartphones. It also makes a person wonder if, because of the perceived abilities it will have allowing those access to the Internet, will it also allow tweeting form the TV? Will a person have the ability to use Buzz and Gmail as well? How about streaming website videos such as Hulu and YouTube? Also, with the perceived remote control capabilities supposedly having a full QWERTY keyboard built into it as well as the Bluetooth capabilities, what other amazing abilities will this "Set-top-box" have?

What Google Already Has a Hand In

While it did not make much of a splash in the media, in 2007 an auction style network was developed by Google to run for the Dish Network. While virtually all of the major cable networks laughed and said "...uh, no." It does in fact still exist and Google still to this day will not reveal it's sales percentages from the DRTV sales platform, or the "Direct Response Tele-Vision." This is better known as the Home Shopping Network, or QVC. Google has its own version and they refuse to talk about it. Yes, that's right folks, this means that Google has been selling items and services auction-style, on television for years.

Over the last several weeks the media hammers us with the news of Google's Broadband initiative as well as the FCC announcement of the ITS broadband initiative. Of course, it is purely coincidental. Then, the Apple vs. Google Wars as well as the murmurs of Mac TV are constantly surfacing. Of course we cannot forget about Google's "Failed" battle at the FCC's spectrum auction. The battle for the TV broadcast spectrum, the analogue spectrum no one uses because of the shift to DTV (Digital Television) June of 2009.

Googele's Still Not Done

The biggest "OH" of all, Google is now licensed to generate and distribute electricity. There is a video floating on, yeah, yeah... Google Video that shows Dr. Robert Bussard pitching the idea of Google investing in Fusion Energy and even more recently, there is another Google Tech Talks video of Eric Learner pitching the same thing. As a matter of fact, they do happen to own and operate their own private, Hydroelectric Dam. Finally, we now have Google TV. When taken together, there is far more to the story than we are aware of. What will Google buy and control next?

References & Resources
PC World: Google TV: Five Burning Questions
PC World: Report: Google TV is Coming to Your Living Room
Gizmodo: A Google TV Set Top Box is Coming
NY Times Technology: Google & Partners Seek a Foothold in the Living Room
Wall Street Journal: Google Tests TV Search Service
Intel: Intel Atom Processor
Google AdWords: Google TV Ads Easy & Affordable
MediaWeek: Behind the Bust