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When Google TV first launched about a year ago, traditional television ran for the hills: major networks blocked Google TV users from accessing web-based content in the fear that free online episodes would eventually make live, paid television obsolete. Now, Google TV is marrying catch-up streaming with paid traditional television by offering Google TV apps for major networks like TNT and TBS that require pay TV authentication. These apps, which showed up on the Android Market briefly a few weeks ago and have since been taken down (presumably for further tweaking), have an option for paid TV subscribers to log in with their cable subscription credentials so that they can then access full episodes the day after they air and play older episodes from an extended catalog.
Network apps requiring pay TV authentication will likely smooth over relations and encourage other networks to embrace Google TV, but its a bit contradictory to what most consumers expect when they think of an internet enabled TV. Stay tuned to see if Google TV has succeeded in playing nice with traditional TV, or if this new relationship with major networks scares off consumers.
[via gigaom]
It’s official: Google isn’t ready to give up on Google TV. In fact, additional footwork is presently being laid to more widely implement and distribute Google TV—in Europe. Google chairman Eric Schmidt has very recently been in Scotland, where Google TV may be released next year, at the Edinburgh International Television Festival where he is giving attendees there a limited peek at what the next generation may hold for Google TV. Schmidt said that Google TV has yet to find the widespread success they had hoped for because it is integrated with a limited selection of TV’s, an appliance which we don’t tend to update more than once or twice a decade, and he suggested that more hardware and content partners will be coming soon, including the possibility of Google TV showing up on Motorola cable boxes as a result of the recent Google-Motorola buy-out. However with major networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS still unwilling to allow Google TV access to web- based content, a great deal of doubt still exists as to Google TV’s potential. We will keep you updated as to whether Google TV makes waves when crossing the Atlantic.
[via engadget]
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.
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.
We’ve been expecting some info from Vizio for a little while on a Google TV product, and it looks like the company has made good on it. This morning, Vizio announced a new line of televisions and Blu-ray players, all with Google TV goodness included. The company also announced an Android phone and Android tablet, and all the devices go hand-in-hand in what Visio is calling the “Vizio Via Plus Ecosystem”. All the products work together; for example, you’ll be able to use the tablet and phone as a remote for the TV.
Matthew McRae, Chief Technology Officer at VIZIO, said:
“As part of the VIA Plus ecosystem, the VIA phone and tablet are natural extensions of the HD entertainment experience that historically has centered around the TV. Whether consumers are looking to enjoy content on the big screen, on their tablet or on a mobile phone, VIA Plus delivers on the promise of Entertainment Freedom for All by creating a rich and consistent user experience across all devices that’s accessible to everyone, from the power user to the casual browser.”
Be sure to hit the break for the full press release.
If you’ve got a smartphone, chances are, you’re familiar with the hacking and modding site, xda-developers.com. Now, it looks like some Google TV loving members over at xda have started a new site, dedicated solely to the hacking of Google TV, gtvhacker.com. As of right now, there isn’t a whole lot to the site, save for some info on the Logitech Revue (which we recently gave you a run-down on here), and some information on rooting news. The site is a wiki, so it’s sure to fill up with information soon.
What do you think? Will Google TV be able to hang in there long enough to get the rooting and hacking love we would all love to see? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
So, Google TV fans, the year 2011 is now here. Who has some New Year’s resolutions? I know I do, and a lot of you out there probably do, too. Thankfully, the marketing team over at Google has some pointers on how to keep those resolutions – with the help of Google TV. The article sums up how Google TV can help you better yourself this year by:
- Picking up a musical instrument
- Learning a foreign language
- Get in some daily exercise, including fitness and yoga
There’s some great pointers to get you started in your new year’s list, so be sure to hit up the source link below to find out how. If you’ve got Google TV, this can be a great resource. If you don’t, however, why not make it part of your resolution list to get hooked up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
[via googletv]
Sources are saying that Netflix is looking to buddy up with studios to offer users prime time TV shows. The most interesting part? The fact that Netflix is willing to pay a huge chunk of change – up to $100,000 per episode – to bring their users this content, according to the New York Post.
The main drive behind this decision has to be competition. What with Google TV and Apple TV being so in the face of the entertainment industry, Netflix is going to have to be willing to pay out to bring the content that their competitors might not.
When Google TV was first announced at Google’s I/O developer conference, I immediately saw the potential. Google TV’s Product Manager Rishi Chandra gave the first Google TV keynote address, where he outlined the potential for developers to reach a market of over four billion users, and the chance to revolutionize the way people use television around the world.
Almost six months later, and Google TV is finally here.
Has Google TV been able to live up to the hype? Has Google built a platform which will continue to expand well into the future? Is the average consumer ready to cut the cord? Or, will Google TV succumb to the fact that traditional cable and satellite is not going away?
Continue reading after the break to find out as we review the Google TV platform.
We’ve already hashed over the fact that the project Lead for Google TV – Rishi Chandra – will be giving a keynote at the Streaming Media West Show next month. Now, according to a press release, Google TV will be showcased at the conference, along with Apple TV, Roku, XBox, PS3, and TiVo, and more. A sepcial hands-on demonstartion will be presented by Dan Rayburn, Executive VP of StreamingMedia.com, and the organizer of the conference.
According to Rayburn, “with so many broadband-enabled devices in the market, trying to determine what each one offers in the way of streaming quality and content inventory can be quite confusing. In this special session, attendees can see the latest devices in action, learn which platforms they run, and get their questions answered in a Q&A session.”
The Streaming Media West Conference is set to start rolling on Tuesday, November 2 at 4 PM in Los Angeles, CA. You can register for free at https://secure.infotoday.com/forms/default.aspx?form=smw2010commstrat. Be sure to check out the full presser after the break, and let us know what you think in the comments.
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