Today, at Google I/O, the GOOG's annual developer conference, the search giant pulled the wraps off of its solution for Internet video in the living room--Google TV. Here's Google's animated video that kind of explains what Google TV is, complete with twee indie music backing.
Doesn't really answer that many questions, does it? We've got everything we know so far on the next page. Hit it, then tell us what you think.
Every web video stream is now a TV channel
Google TV is an Android-based IPTV (that's Internet Protocol TV) device designed to be integrated into set-top boxes, like Blu-ray players, as well as TVs. Google is bringing the search metaphor to your living room--instead of browsing a schedule grid or bopping from channel to channel, you'll simply search for what you want to watch, whether it's NBA basketball or Spongebob--and Google will poll both TV listings and web video and present you with your viewing options. Google is advertising this as "millions of channels", if you see something you like, you click the listing and Google TV will open up either the web browser or the switch your TV and cable box to the appropriate channel using IR blasters. I'm not sure I'm interested in millions of channels, but I am interested in bringing web video into the living room in a better, more consistent, easier way than I do today.
You will need to buy new hardware
Google isn't making the hardware, but it has laid out some minimum specs for third-party vendors. Google TV will support Flash-based web video, and will be equipped with an Intel Atom (or better) CPU, some sort of dedicated GPU for video decode assist, the aforementioned IR blasters, and a network connection. Interestingly, Google TV will require TVs with HDMI support. Google has announced that Logitech, Sony, and DISH network are signed on as partners already, and there will be apps from Netflix, Pandora, and
Last.fm. The existing library of third-party apps already available on the Android Market will also work with Google TV, as long as the apps don't require specific cellular hardware. This is reminiscent of the way Apple's iPad can run scaled-up versions of iPhone apps--an implementation that was more of a placeholder until platform-specific apps could be developed. In the same vein, we'll reserve judgment of apps in Google TV until we see some that are designed just for that format.
Android phones are now also remotes
I am intrigued by the promise of tight integration with other Android devices--Google demoed voice control using an Android phone on stage, but I'm not entirely certain why the Google TV itself isn't voice controlled. Frankly, I'm not very interested in bringing a keyboard into my living room, but including a microphone on the Google TV remote, which wasn't shown today, should be trivial. The other thing you can do with Android phones is send content to Google TV, whether it's a webpage link or a video you're currently watching on your phone. Google is banking on the fact that many people carry their phones with them at all times, and this is one way to leverage that shared Android technology. The idea of
using a phone as a remote is not new, and Google is smart to allow phones, universal remotes, and keyboards to complement each other in the Google TV ecosystem instead of choosing just one method of input.
Your cable box is safe. Boxee box, not so much
Google TV isn't going to replace your cable box and it doesn't seem like something you'll buy or rent from your cable TV provider. From this first glimpse, it seems like a competitor for the Boxee box, as an easy-to-use way to bring Internet video into your living room. Microsoft and Apple will also have to adjust their IPTV plans to compete.
With a tentative release date of Fall 2010, we won't have to wait long to see if what Google has in store for the living room is something couch potatoes want or even need.
Image credits: Gizmodo
