Google TV
Eric Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of Google Inc announced the company’s release of Google TV will occur as scheduled this fall in the United States.
Google has partnered with the top electronic streaming companies in the world to bring “Web TV” to homes all across the United States by the end of fall. Sony Corp, Intel and Samsung are among those collaborating to push Google TV into homes.
Based on the Android operating system, Google TV will give viewers the capability to navigate both channels and websites on their television. Google TV is not hardware but actually a platform or software. Through the Google TV platform and Google’s Chrome Web browser, the internet and television can coexist on the same unit.
When Google TV is started, viewers are greeted by the simplicity of the familiar Google search bar. The viewer types what they would like to watch, including television channels, websites, subscriptions or cable channels. The results are displayed and the viewer chooses a program.
Google TV boasts features that resemble technology only seen on Jetsons’ cartoons years earlier, such as the ability to talk to your television or even through your television. Logitech is supplying the peripheral companion for Google. One of the peripherals includes a high-definition video calling service much like Skype provides for computers. Another attribute of Google TV is the translating component. Closed Caption is unnecessary because words are translated in real time in any official language by Google Translate.
Schmidt has not revealed the base cost of the new Google TV. However, he did mention that via the television, internet browsing will be free. Brittany Bohnet, a product marketing representative at Google, said “There are no plans to monetize Google Web TV.” Cost could be the greatest distinguishing factor between Google TV and Apple TV.
On September 1, Google TV’s direct Competition Apple TV was introduced along with the rest of Apple Inc’s upgraded line at a press conference. Steve Jobs, Apple CEO also announced the price reduction of the Apple TV device starting at $99.