Google TV Creation: The Tour

Google continues to evolve releasing their latest creation. “Google TV”. Announced May 20, 2010, Google TV integrates the Android operating system and the Google Chrome browser, optimizing the later for accessing television content. The venture was officially launched in October 2010 and now is in its infancy stages. Understanding the popularity of television to the average American, Google is attempting to corner a portion of the television market. Google TV will operate similarly to the way Apple offers media content for download through its iTunes store, as on demand. This allows the user control over the content they want to view and removes the common sales tactics associated with cables companies and their packaging popular TV content with filler.

How it Works

Interestingly enough, the project relies on set-top box, similar to cable boxes, however these are to be exclusively produced by Sony and Logitech (at the moment). Each box will be based on android software; yet will come pre-installed with ThinkFree Office software, a browser and keyboard interface. Modeled after their popular search engine, the browser program scours the Internet for media content and television shows to access.

A list of available content is downloaded to the box, based on the initial search perimeters and the user can send a request for a particular title. Available 24-hours a day, customers will eventually have access to almost a limitless supply of content.

Cool Features

Have an android phone or iPhone ? Well, Google TV has made it possible to use your phone as a remote control. You can make voice commands through your phone to find video content and even use multiple phones to control the same TV. Another feature is “Fling”, which allows you to transfer whatever you are watching on your phone or looking at on to the television screen to share with others. One of the most important features is its entry to Netflix, providing acess to over 40,000 shows and movies you want ($8.99/month membership). The platform also gives you control over the youtube.com network and has a customer interface to make playback more of a cinematic experience.

You can customize the box by creating a TV playlist of your favorite episodes and create a homepage with your favorite links. For the muti-tasker in the family, you can watch TV, while browsing the Internet or adding your latest Twitter post.

The Partnership

What makes this new venture so appealing is the partnership that has developed between two of the biggest media conglomerates, Sony and Google. Sony is the exclusive rights holder for movies using the Blu-ray high-definition technology. This suggests that as long as this partnership exists, there is potential for access to a tremendous amount of HD movie content.

Google TV Thus Far

The October release of the product means that we won’t be able to truly see the potential of the venture yet. Most people understand that there is enormous potential here in terms of entertainment and the streamlining of a few different services into one. In terms of simplicity and convenience, customers can access content from their living room without having to head to the video store. You can spontaneously decide to watch an episode of your favorite show when it is convenient for you. We are all too familiar with the common scenario that takes us rushing home to from work to catch that season finale.

The Issues

Many companies have been skeptical of supporting the TV venture and large corporations like CBS, ABC, NBC, Hulu and Viacom have blocked Google TV from accessing their online web content. The only network that currently supports the new platform is the Dish Network.

To complicate matters further, there are already a number of competitors in the Internet TV market, such as Apple TV, Web TV, Smart TV, Tivoization and Roku. Some of these companies provide more comprehensive television coverage, simply because they have been established for a longer period of time.