Google TV

Google TV
Developer Google and others
OS family Android
Working state Discontinued (Google TV's SDK was removed in June 2014)
Source model Open source with proprietary components
Initial release 6 October 2010 (2010-10-06)
Marketing target Smart TV platform
Succeeded by Android TV
Official website www.google.com/tv/

Google TV was a smart TV platform from Google co-developed by Intel, Sony, and Logitech that was launched in October 2010[1] with official devices initially made by Sony and Logitech.[2] Google TV integrates the Android operating system and the Google Chrome web browser to create an interactive television overlay on top of existing online video sites to add a 10-foot user interface, for a smart TV experience.

Google TV's first generation devices were all based on x86 architecture processors and were created and commercialized by Sony and Logitech. The second generation of devices are all based on ARM architecture processors and with additional partners including LG, Samsung,[3] Vizio and Hisense. In 2013, more second generation Google TV-supported devices were announced by new partners, including Hisense, Netgear, TCL, and Asus, some of which including 3D video support.

Google TV was succeeded in June 2014 by Android TV, a new platform which shares closer ties with the Android platform (in particular, Android 5.0) and has a revamped user experience integrating with Knowledge Graph, and providing casting support from mobile devices.[4] While a "small subset" of Google TV devices will be upgraded to the Android TV platform, the majority will not. In June 2014, the Google TV SDK was pulled, ending any future software development for existing devices and effectively deprecating the platform.[5]

Features

Google TV leveraged many of Google’s existing products. Google TV’s operating system, a customized version of Android, provided the underlying foundation, allowing developers to create applications that extended the system’s functionality. Google’s Chrome browser provided a gateway to the Internet, allowing consumers to browse web sites and watch television in tandem. Consumers could access HBO, CNBC, and content from other providers through the Chrome browser. Android and Apple smartphones and tablet computers could be used as remote controls for Google TV. Google TV products shipped with wireless remote controls with a full QWERTY keypad. An update in November 2011 allowed access to Google Play and enabled search to find content from live TV, Netflix, YouTube, HBO GO, Amazon, and more.[6]

Apps

Xyologic has compiled a list of the early Google TV apps with the largest number of installations.[7] As of November 2012, the most installed apps are Napster, Pandora Radio and CNBC.

Sony Internet TV

Partners

The Google TV platform was provided by Google to OEMs for incorporation into their consumer products. The first generation of consumer devices were produced by Logitech and Sony. The second generation of consumer devices were produced by Sony,[8] LG (see LG L9 SoC), Vizio,[9] Hisense, NetGear and Asus. The third generation of consumer devices was announced by LG at 2013 International CES, with the announcement of their TV models.

Devices

First Generation

Brand/Name Model Android version Status Announcement date US release date Discontinued date
Sony Internet TV – 24", 32", 40" and 46" NSX-24GT1, NSX-32GT1, NSX-40GT1 and NSX-46GT1[10][11] 3.2 Discontinued October 12, 2010[12] October 2010 February 2012
Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc[13] NSZ-GT1[14] 3.2 Discontinued October 12, 2010[12] October 2010 February 2012[15]
Logitech Revue M/N: D-R0001, Y-R0014 – PN 970-000001[16] 3.2 Discontinued June 18, 2010[17] October 2010[18] November 2011[19][19][20]

Second Generation

Brand/Name Model Android version Processor[21] RAM[21] Flash[21] USB ports[21] IR Blaster[21] Status Announcement date US release date Discontinued date
Sony Internet Player with Google TV[22] NSZ-GS7[23] 3.2 Marvell Armada 1500(88de3100) 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, with a 750 MHz GPU 1 GB DDR3 Memory 8 GB Samsung Flash NAND – KLM8G2FEJA-A002 2 Yes Discontinued January 9, 2012[24] July 22, 2012[25]
LG SmartTV with GoogleTV (47" and 55")[26] 47G2[27] and 55G2[28] 4.2.2 LG L9 Discontinued May 2012 May 30, 2012
Vizio Co-Star[29] VAP430[30] 3.2 Marvell Armada 1500(88de3100) 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, with a 750 MHz GPU 1 GB DDR3 Memory 4 GB Samsung Flash NAND – K9GBG08U0A-SCBO 1 Yes Discontinued June 26, 2012[31] August 22, 2012[32]
Hisense Pulse[33] gx1200v 3.2 Marvell Armada 1500(88de3100) 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, with a 750 MHz GPU 1 GB DDR3 Memory 4 GB Flash NAND 1 Yes Discontinued September 2012[34][35] December 20, 2012
ASUS Cube[36][37] Cube[37] 3.2 Marvell Armada 1500(88DE3100) 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, with a 750 MHz GPU 1 GB DDR3 Memory 4 GB Flash NAND 2 Yes Discontinued January 7, 2013[36] April 24, 2013[37]
NETGEAR NeoTV Prime[38] GTV100[38] 3.2 Marvell Armada 1500(88DE3100) 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, with a 750 MHz GPU 1 GB DDR3 Memory 4 GB Flash NAND 1 Yes Discontinued January 7, 2013[39] January 9, 2013[40]

Reviews

Date Author Publisher Device Generation Comments
2010 October 29 Nilay Patel Engadget Blog First Generation Remarked, "Google TV feels like an incomplete jumble of good ideas only half-realized, an unoptimized box of possibility that suffers under the weight of its own ambition and seemingly rushed holiday deadline."[41]
2010 November 13 Kevin Sintumuang Wall Street Journal First Generation review that "The potential is as big as, well, the Internet, but right now Google TV is a bit of a tease."[42]
2010 November 17 David Pogue The New York Times First Generation Said "This much is clear: Google TV may be interesting to technophiles, but it's not for average people." Concentrating more on the product's usefulness for finding and watching television shows than on its capabilities as an Internet appliance, he also expressed concern about the inconsistencies throughout the user interface as well as the fragmentation of Google TV.[43]
2011 July 28 Matt Burns TechCrunch First Generation Commentators were saying "Google TV is sinking" and that it was "on its last legs" as launch partner Logitech slashed the price of its Revue (from $249 to $99) to clear unsold inventory.[44]
2011 November 3 Matt Burns Techcrunch First Generation Some of the same commentators praised Google TV 2.0 as having a "brilliant interface" but still lacking "substance." Said "The latest Google TV, referred to as Google TV 2.0 throughout the rest of this review, is a star performer. It runs like a champ and it’s clear that Google engineers paid close attention to criticism of version 1.0."[45]
2011 November 22 Russell Holly Geek.com First Generation [46]
2011 November 22 Brid-Aine Parnell Theregister.co.uk Second Generation [47]
2012 January 9 Jung-ah Lee WSJ Second Generation This article says that Samsung had plans to release Google TV based devices on the second half of 2012. Their target was high-end customers in the U.S. first.[48]
2012 June 26 Ben Drawbaugh Engadget Blog Second Generation [49]
2012 June 27 Marshal Rosenthal Gadget Review Second Generation It says: "The advantage of the Google experience is that much of what is going on is happening online — as you’re accessing video, photos, looking at stuff that is not just locally based." The LG 55G2 product was rated in general as excellent.[50]
2012 August 19 Antony Williams blog.antonywilliams.com Second Generation "Vizio's $99 launch price is a big improvement .... Unfortunately the software, which runs atop the antiquated Android Honeycomb release, is no better than before."[51]
2012 August 21 Dan Rayburn streamingmedia.com Second Generation It says: "Overall, Vizio’s Co-Star device will please most consumers and Vizio’s made a really nice device, considering this is their first entry into the $99 streaming box market."[52]

Competitors and controversies

Cable providers as well as content providers have been slow to warm to Google TV. NBC, ABC, Fox,[53] CBS and Hulu have blocked Google TV enabled devices from accessing their web content since Google TV's launch.[54] As of November 22, 2010, Google TV devices are blocked from accessing any programs offered by Viacom’s subsidiaries.[55] Of the cable and satellite providers, only Dish Network (formerly Echostar), had embraced Google TV and promoted it by offering customers a discount on the Logitech Revue.[56]

In January 2014, Google filed a UDRP case against the owner of domain names androidtv.com and xbmcandroidtv.com. The domain names were owned Exo Level, Inc. and were registered with GoDaddy in November 2006. In March 2014, Google’s case was denied.[57][58]

Version history

Development

See also

References

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