From the monthly archives: April 2012
Last week Google upgrated their “TV & Movies” App to offer Netflix-style reccommendations. Similar to the movie-streaming giant, the revised Google App utilizes a baseline rating tactic to generate an understanding of the user’s interest by asking the viewer to rate a series of movies and TV shows. There is also an option to receive recommendations based on identifying shows that you currently watch or for those who really don’t have a clue or are looking for something entirely different, to check out the “Trending This Week” section.
Most notable about the app is that it not only allows users to browse a selection of live TV and movies as well as offerings on pay stations and sites like HBO and HBO Go and pre-recorded options, and it will even direct users to online retailers like Amazon to purchase recently released media that is not yet available through cable or Netflix. Sounds pretty nifty!
‘[ via PCMag.com]
LG’s Google TV 2.0 was set to hit shelves as early as this past weekend. LG, which will be offering their 3D LED TV model in both 47 and 55-inch sizes, with pricing set at $1600 and $2100 respectively, is postulated to be getting a jump on the competing sales of Apple TVs, which should be released later this year. While LG also has its own smart TV software called “Netcast”, only the version carrying Google TV software will be making an appearance this week, and LG will likely cling to the combined market power of Google TV as the threat of Apple TV approaches. Will brand banding be enough to push Google TV past Apple TV? Stay tuned, we may know soon.
[via Slash Gear]
Starting in September, Google TV is tipped to finally get its shot abroad after all– the new Sony Google TV set-top box and Sony Blu-ray player integrated with Google TV, expected to retail for €200 (~$266) and €300 (~$400) respectively, will be released in France, the UK, Spain, and Germany. No word yet if other Google TV partners have confirmed plans to cross the pond.
With the next wave of Google TV products poised to hit shelves here in the US later this year, the retail costs of the Google TV products hitting Europe seem high. While the new Sony products do include improvements like Google Play buttons on the remote and Sony’s own Music Unlimited built in, the upcoming switch from Intel’s chipset to the new Marvell ARM-based system is expected to drive costs down. Will European Google TV shelves remain stocked until they too have access to the lower cost options?
[via Slash Gear]
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