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Google TV Details Revealed

Posted by Soulskill on from the searching-imdb-with-my-remote-control-will-change-my-life dept.

Today Google provided new information about their upcoming Google TV platform for set-top boxes. Using a video and a demonstration site, they show how apps will look and function, and stressed that users wouldn't be limited in their ability to browse the web on their TV. Google also announced content partners, which include Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal, HBO, Netflix and Amazon Video. "We have also been working with some leading technology and media companies to optimize their content for Google TV, including news sites like The New York Times and USA Today; music sites like VEVO, Pandora and Napster; information networks like Twitter; and online networks like blip.tv. And with YouTube Leanback, we can offer the best experience for you to watch your favorite viral videos and personalized channels on the television." For developers, they put up a guide to optimize websites for Google TV.

5 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Roku + media streaming by yodleboy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    well that's where it falls apart, $200 per room. ouch. I got my roku for $99. that's what i'd consider cheap.

  2. Re:1995 called... by icebike · · Score: 2, Insightful

    For nearly any successful product there is a long string of failures ahead of it that "did the same thing".

    True, but still the point remains that this device is quite poorly conceived, and the target audience is even less understood.

    We all know there is not enough bandwidth for every person to be pulling TV across the internet. All of these have to stream on discrete IPs and you can't take advantage of multicast and still provide people with on-demand start times for every program in your video vault.

    There is even less demand to browse the web while watching TV unless you live alone in your parents basement. Can you imagine trying to follow a football game with you S.O. surfing lol-cats and getting tweets every few seconds.

    The concept of Google TV is foisting much of what is personal and private activities best destined for that device in your pocket to the Family TV set.

    As such, it seems destined for singles or dorm rooms, and useless for families.

    It seems like a failure to understand the lesson of the huge stereo systems we all abandoned as soon as we could don high quality earbuds, and have our collection in our pocket.

    When everyone in the house has a personal iPad or Android Tablet, Google TV might make sense, but it will also be irrelevant, as the tablets themselves will do all of this.

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    Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  3. No content by StubNewellsFarm · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Lest you be deceived by the article summary, let's run down the content:
    • Turner Broadcasting and NBC Universal: No, they're not providing shows. They're just updating their websites, so that you can view them on your TV.
    • HBO: Yes, you get HBO shows on demand. If you already subscribe to HBO. This is perfect for all 10 people who went for the high-end cable package but who don't have a DVR.
    • Netflix and Amazon on demand: Just like pretty much every internet-connected box produced in the last 3 years.

    I don't want a web browser on my TV. I do want a way to ditch my cable TV and still get access to shows on demand. So far, at least, this doesn't get us any closer than Apple TV, Roku, Boxee or anyone else.

  4. Re:Who watches TV anyway? by justinlindh · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I bet you're a blast at parties.

  5. Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Does anyone have an official link to Google TV's support (or lack thereof) of streaming content off a local machine on my home network?