From the monthly archives: January 2011
Google I/O is still a few months away, but we’re already starting to get notice of some of the events and sessions that will be happening at this year’s event. One of these events, currently being hosted by Andres Ferrate and Daniels Lee, is titled “Building Web Apps for Google TV” and will focus on building web apps using HTML5 and Flash.
Now, this does not make any mention of the development of Android apps for Google TV, which is puzzling seeing as we are (supposedly) getting the Android Market later this year. Perhaps this session will be amended to include a discussion about Android apps, or perhaps an entirely new session will be announced dedicated to developing Android apps for Google TV. You can find a full list of the currently announced Google I/O 2011 sessions here.
[via AC]
We know that the Android Market is (hopefully) dropping for Google TV this year, and now there’s some new evidence which may confirm this. One observant developer noticed that a recent Android Market server update now includes a filtering option which checks whether or not an app needs a touchscreen or not.
Google has yet to comment as to whether or not this update pertains to Google TV, but I think the theory has some definite logic behind it. Obviously a Google TV device like the Logitech Revue does not have a touchscreen, which is causing some to believe that this update is in fact Google TV related. Only time will tell, so stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
[via ReadWriteWeb]
Way back in August, we wrote about the multiple benefits of an ARM powered Google TV device, and in November it was reported that Google and ARM were holding talks over such a venture. Reports are coming in that an ARM powered Google TV device is coming very soon, although no specifics about pricing, hardware specs, or a release date are known at this time.
An ARM powered Google TV device would be cheaper, and would simply make more sense for developers given the fact that the vast majority of Android phones run on ARM chips. We spoke with ARM at CES, and they were unwilling to make any kind of official statement at this time. However, I am still fairly confident that we will see this come to light sometime in 2011, so stay tuned.
[via ARMDevices]
Where there’s a geek, there’s a way, I always say. And it looks like, this time, the geeks have found a way – to jailbreak Google TV. A group by the name of GTVHacker Dev Team has cracked into Google TV, partially utilizing a hardware hack, wherein they actually broke the system apart and soldered some wires together.
There was a bounty of sorts up for grabs, which was initially worth $1000, but that was for a software-only hack. According to Howard Harte, the man who offered the bounty:
The actual bounty paid was $500, since the rooting process involved a hardware hack. The $1000 bounty was for a software-only hack, which unfortunately did not happen. The original terms of the bounty stated that ‘a partial consideration of $500 will be given for a hardware hack’ and that a hardware hack is defined as any hack which involves opening the Google TV device.
Too bad, but worth the time. Now hackers and developers can have their way with GTV, and hopefully we can see the same great development for Google TV that we do for Android. Hit the break for the video proof, and let us know what you think in the comments.
We’ve received a few questions in our inbox regarding a Google TV update that has been going out for Sony Google TV users. The biggest question has been about the changes one should expect after the update, so we will do our best to piece together all the details for you. Continue after the break for a rundown of these new changes.
Sony and Google TV were honored as a CES 2011 “Best Innovation” for the Sony Internet TV and Blu-ray Player. Sony joins such products as the HP Photosmart eStation, Microsoft’s Kinect, and the HTC EVO 4G.
It is certainly nice to see Sony and Google receive this award for Google TV, and here’s to hoping that this is just one of many such honors we’ll be seeing in 2011. You can check out the full list of honorees here.
[via Twitter]
GTVhacker has posted instructions on how to hack a Logitech Revue to run the Android Market. The hack is seemingly complicated, and requires both software and physical hardware modifications of an unpatched Logitech Revue. Even after the hack most applications do not function properly, and the amount of work required for this hack is likely not worth the risk.
Via [Talk Android]
Earlier today, we told you that Samsung was showing off two unannounced Google TV devices here at CES. Well, they are no longer unannounced, as Sammy has issued a press release formally announcing their foray into Google TV. No real concrete information has been released, other than the fact that it will be available sometime before the end of the 1st half of this year.
Continue after the break for the press release and for our photo gallery of Samsung’s Google TV set-top box and Blu-ray players.
While Samsung has yet to give out any official word on releasing any Google TV devices, the Samsung booth on the show floor at CES is telling the world that they’re heading in that direction. Samsung is currently showing off two yet-unannounced devices running Google TV, and the company is saying that they’re “experiments” that are made to gauge feedback from their partners concerning their interest. The devices being shown off were a standalone set top box and a Blu-ray player.
Although Samsung had a press conference yesterday, they declined announcing these devices, or any other Google TV related devices. Seems Samsung is taking some serious consideration before making any type of move into the GTV market, which is understandable at this point. Hopefully, once CES is over and done, they’ll have the feedback they were looking for, and can start into the announcement and manufacturing stages.
Be sure to check out the pictures after the break, and let us know what you think in the comments.
Earlier today we had the opportunity to check out Vizio’s private CES showroom to get a look at the new Vizio VIA Plus with Google TV. We already uploaded our image gallery, but we also shot a brief video demo in the short time we had to check out the device, which you can check out after the break.
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