Google is set to launch its much-anticipated TV service in the US over the next few weeks, while UK viewers will have to wait until next year. The service will let viewers in the US search and view content from TV providers, the Internet, mobile apps and their own personal content library via their TV […]
Google is set to launch its much-anticipated TV service in the US over the next few weeks, while UK viewers will have to wait until next year. The service will let viewers in the US search and view content from TV providers, the Internet, mobile apps and their own personal content library via their TV sets.
Google TV will initially be incorporated into television sets and Blu-ray players manufactured by Sony. Announcing its launch, Google CEO Eric Schmidt told delegates at the IFA technology show in Berlin that Google TV would go live in the US this autumn, and would launch worldwide next year.
09/09/2010
Google TV, which was unveiled at the company’s annual I/O developer conference in May, aims to integrate content from the interent with traditional broadcast television.
Schmidt confirmed that the service, which will enable users to access the web through their TV set, would be free, and would rely on shows produced by groups such as TV studios and production companies.
”We will work with content providers, but it is very unlikely that [Google] will get into actual content production,” said Schmidt.
Sony has already agreed to embed Google TV in to its television sets, and Samsung is exploring a similar deal.
The platform is built on Google’s own Android operating system, and runs the Google Chrome Web-browser on specially enable Digital TVs. Sony, will be selling TVs in the US with Google TV built-in.
Google has also teamed up with Logitech to develop a set-top box that plugs into existing sets at around the same time later this year.
Both Sony’s Internet TV and Logitech’s companion box will be running on Intel’s Atom CE4100 CPU. Both devices will be sold at Best Buy stores in the US. Pricing information was not revealed.
Google TV will be running in Adobe Flash, the same platform YouTube uses.
How it works
Using a “special universal remote”, a search bar will pop up on top of the TV screen. Searching for the show “House,” for example, will show you the next time the show is on TV, allowing you to program it to your DVR.
It will also display results from the Web. Search returns will also provide Internet options – if there are no scheduled airings of “House,” users can switch to streaming episodes available on Amazon or Hulu.
One of the more interesting features is the ability to use your Android-based phone as a remote, and to speak your commands. Pairing the phone to Google TV over Wi-Fi, users can talk into the phone and get results on the TV screen. Multiple phones can be used at the same time, and users can send content from their phones to the TV.
Google also demonstrated a translation tool that will let users select a language and receive translated captions for whatever program is playing on live TV.
A YouTube executive also showed off YouTube Lean Back, a YouTube TV channel of sorts that will automatically start playing a personalized feed of videos when you click to it.
Schmidt also used his keynote speech to provide a few more details about Google’s computing ambitions. He said that Google would soon be announcing partnerships with several electronics manufacturers who are building tablet-style computers based on Google’s forthcoming Chrome operating system.
However, he refused to be drawn on claims that Google is on the verge of launch a music streaming and download service to rival Apple’s iTunes store.
