Big effort to boost Internet TV by Google

The TV is undergoing another big change now. It can now display the Internet content more easily. The new Google TV platform enables TV designers and manufacturers to design Internet integrated Televisions. The top TV brand Sony has announced launch of world's first "Sony Internet TV" based on the Google TV platform. Intel, Logitech, Best Buy, DISH Network and Adobe are also supporting Google TV. Sony's Internet TV is scheduled to first launch in the U.S. in the Fall of 2010, with the lineup featuring both a standalone TV model and set top box-type unit incorporating a Blu-ray Disc drive. These TVs allow users to watch streaming video from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, and YouTube on TV. Google TV will also have the capability to run apps from the Android Market.

Google TV is based on the Android platform and runs the Google Chrome web browser allowing users to access all of their usual TV channels as well as a world of Internet and cloud-based information and applications, including Adobe Flash based content.
The semiconductor chip made for this application is Atom processor based CE4100, Intel's SoC designed specifically for consumer electronics running Google TV. The Google TV is designed to work with any TV operator.

To navigate the array of content that will now be available through a single device and on a single screen, Google TV introduces an integrated search experience to help viewers easily find relevant content across over-the-air and pay-TV channel listings, DVR, and the Internet, as well as a picture-in-picture layout to access multiple windows simultaneously. Google TV also features an innovative home screen to help viewers quickly organize their favorite content and personalize their TV viewing experience. Some of these features are only available with advanced integration from DISH Network.

Logitech will introduce a companion box that brings Google TV to existing HDTV home entertainment systems, easily integrating with any brand of HDTV and set-top box. The companion box will incorporate Logitech's Harmony remote control technology, and will include a controller that combines keyboard and remote control capabilities. The company also has plans to introduce an HDTV camera and video chat for Google TV, along with additional choices for navigation and control, including apps to turn a smart phone into an advanced controller for Google TV and home-entertainment systems.

Opportunity for Developers
The demonstration at I/O highlighted the unique opportunity developers have to help shape the future of Google TV. Today Google announced that they would soon release a set of TV specific APIs for web applications, encouraging web developers to begin building unique web applications for use on television sets. Later this year Google will also release an updated Android SDK, which will support applications built for Google TV.

Google also plans to open source the Google TV platform to help spur innovation in the industry and so that other developers can benefit from the project. The long term goal is to collaborate with the entire developer community to help drive entertainment in the living room forward and to introduce the next generation of TV-watching experience.