I am going to be honest with all of you: I love Android. As a writer, I try very hard to leave bias at the door and not let personal preference influence the stories I choose to cover or how they are delivered. With that being said, I will do my best to remain as objective as possible and to not allow my love for the little green robot to completely drive this piece. Those of you who follow tech news might have heard the recent announcement (and ensuing controversy) regarding this year’s second quarter (Q2) smartphone OS numbers which placed Android at the top with 33% of the market share. Some are not convinced by these figures, citing they did not fully consider the massive influx of iPhone 4 sales and that the Q3 numbers will tell an entirely different story. Be that as it may, flagship devices like the HTC Incredible/ Evo 4, Motorola Droid X, and the new Samsung Galaxy line are propelling Android to the next level, which will ultimately drive the success of other Android based platforms like Google TV.

When someone likes a product, regardless of what it is, their likelihood of buying something similar based on that particular product increases greatly. Let’s use Apple and the overwhelming success of the iPad as an example. A recent Nielsen survey reveals that 51% of new iPad owners who do not currently own an iPhone were planning on one for their next device. When you take into consideration the volume of iPad sales, this figure is quite astounding.

This same concept, although in varying degrees, should translate into more consumer interest in Google TV among those who currently own or are planning to own an Android smartphone. As more people become familiar with the differences among the various smarphones and are able to differentiate between RIM, iOS and Android, brand loyalty will increase among those less likely to be considered tech enthusiasts.

As Android continues to trend, Google and its partners should be focused on emphasizing the OS as being at the core of Google TV. This will allow current and potential Android phone users to begin associating the things they love about the platform, such as apps and Flash compatibility, with Google TV as well. By plugging the Android OS as much as GTV’s Internet capability, a large percentage of individuals who otherwise may have expressed little to no interest in Google TV could be swayed to purchase a Google TV device.

Associating Android with Google TV can be beneficial to smartphone makers as well. By implementing Logitech’s Harmony Link technology and turning an Android phone into a remote for Google TV, the potential is there for Google TV customers who do not already own an Android phone to seriously consider buying one to accompany their GTV device.

As previously mentioned, the Q2 data we referenced is subject to change, especially when the full amount of iPhone 4 sales, as well as the recently announced Blackberry 6, is factored into the equation. Still, Android is expected to keep growing at a fairly steady rate as new devices like the Droid 2 and the expected Motorola Android tablet continue to drive consumer interest.

It is also important to remember that Google TV on its own is an impressive platform, allowing individuals access to all their favorite online content, as well as letting them search for what they want to watch instead of wading through endless menus and content descriptions. Associating it with Android will only help to further increase consumer awareness, and help drive what could potentially be a game-changer in the world of television.