Report: Google working on Google TV devices
Google has apparently decided on the next place to extend its reach: the living room.
Google, Intel, and Sony are working on a set-top box running Google's Android software called Google TV, according to a report from The New York Times. They are also collaborating on televisions with technology from the three companies, with Google software serving as the interface on the devices.
Google declined to comment on what it called "rumor and speculation."
The television has been the holy grail for the PC and Internet industries for years, with little success. Intel tried mightily over the last decade to get its silicon inside PCs and set-top boxes that controlled televisions, with very little success. Apple, of course, has pursued this field as a "hobby," while gaming console companies and devices like the Roxu and Boxee products have had more modest success.
More recently, Yahoo has worked on technology for connected televisions, but that effort as well has not turned into the kind of mainstream breakthrough that the industry seeks. Google's focus on the television has mainly been confined to Google TV Ads, a partnership with Dish Network to gather better data on television ad-viewing habits.
Google partners are already building set-top boxes using the Android software, but this new effort appears to be more comprehensive. Google Chrome will reportedly be used on the devices, and Google will design the user interface. The devices will be designed to access Internet content alongside traditional television programming, according to the report.
No time frame was given for the project. Intel will contribute Atom processors for the devices while Sony designs the hardware, the report said.
AppleTV shows content you have on drives (downloaded or streamed movies for example), but not channels like Discovery or Fox, which is where I see Google improving.
way to copy someone's expertise/products. Way to go Google!!
google----oh my god I am pulling out my wallet
sony- OH GOD DON'T TOUCH IT
yea sony will do something stupid like make it so only a bravia will work with it
oh and hmmmm apple stops using intel chips (I think they will use apple chips in net mac's) apple denies google on voice app. apple takes sony's music players...... the three take away aples T.V. wants ha
Think about it: Google needs more real estate to display ads as it has the web mostly to itself, it's working on taking over the mobile game, it's going to have a low cost computer out (ooh the metrics they will get on usage from that product) and next up - your living room.
- by ColinABQ March 17, 2010 8:34 PM PDT
- So, I was laying in bed, channel surfing, and decided to check out the late night talk shows. I like Craig Ferguson, but when I went to that channel, it was just a blank white screen. Then, my TV asks me, "Did you mean Jay Leno?"
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