GoogleTV

Google TV: Second time's the charm?

Way back in May of 2010, I attended Google's I|O conference. One of the highlights was the unveiling of Google TV--a superambitious effort to bring the Web into the living room in a way that nobody had successfully done before. I got all excited. But when I tried the Google TV-powered Logitech Revue box that fall, it was a major disappointment.

Google TV was still ambitious, but it was also confusing, buggy, and bloated. And the major TV networks (including CBS, CNET's parent company) quickly began blocking Google TV from receiving streaming-video versions of prime-time shows, … Read more

New Google TV 2.0 hardware coming soon

The Google TV 2.0 update is almost upon is, but unfortunately there will be no new hardware to accompany it...yet.

According to Google engineers, new hardware is planned for release later in the year, and while the company was unable to go into specifics, we believe this could include the Vizio Google TV the company previewed at CES 2011. It's rumored to go on sale in December 2011.… Read more

Google TV gets major Honeycomb update

A year after Google TV first hit the market, Google has announced the first major update to the Google TV platform.

The latest update is built on Android's Honeycomb operating system and Google promises a significantly simplified user interface. The update also finally enables Google TV products to access the Android Market and Google says there will be 30 TV-optimized apps at launch.

From the released screenshots, the new interface certainly looks to be a big improvement on last year's Google TV experience. There's a new section called TV and Movies, which presents a browsing-friendly interface that … Read more

The 404 930: Where we go thermonuclear war (podcast)

Believe it or not, we still have our jobs after welcoming Jim Lanzone, CBS Interactive president, on yesterday's show. Go back an episode and listen for a rare opportunity to hear someone make fun of Jeff. Cheers, Jim!

Today we're going over some of the stories that we didn't get to talk about yesterday, including Google's latest OpenGL project. The platform that Google tested using Google Earth is once again put to use on the Google Infinite Digital Bookcase, a helix of virtual books you can browse in a 3D model.… Read more

Get a Logitech Revue with Google TV for $89.99

Google TV: doomed product or stealth Apple TV competitor? Maybe a little of both, given the recent price slashing of Logitech's high-profile Revue With Google TV. A couple months back, the $299 Internet-meets-TV appliance dropped to a much more appealing $99.

And now it's even less. Buy.com has the Logitech Revue With Google TV for $89.99 shipped. And it's new, not refurbished.

In case you're not familiar with this set-top box, it goes above and beyond Apple TV- and Roku-style media streaming by offering apps, a Web browser, and a keyboard.

When it … Read more

Facebook get groovy with music services

Kindle lets people borrow e-books from their public library, Pandora gets a site redesign in HTML5, and Facebook has some big changes in store at its F8 developers conference.

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

TBS, TNT shows coming to Google TV, report says

Although Google TV's lack of support from content providers has proven troublesome for the platform, it appears that at least one network is ready to try its luck with the service.

According to GigaOm blog NewTeeVee, Turner Broadcasting, which owns both TBS and TNT, will bring full-length episodes of its shows, including "Closer" and "Falling Skies," to Google TV. In order for people to watch the shows, they will need to verify that they are, in fact, subscribers to Turner's networks, NewTeeVee says.

Google TV launched last year to much fanfare. However, soon after … Read more

Galaxy Tab delayed Down Under

Apple is heavily rumored to be working on an HDTV with TV subscriptions, Facebook Deals is dead, and Samsung postpones releasing the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia due to patent litigation.

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 delayed in Australia Samsung ChatON message service GoogleTV in Europe next year Apple to enter TV market Facebook Deals dead Sonnet's Thunderbolt ExpressCard/34 adapater Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (HD) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS HD

Schmidt: TV makers to adopt Google TV within 5 years

Not surprisingly, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt sees a brighter future for the poorly received Google TV at this point than almost anyone else does.

Schmidt was in Great Britain the past few days once again showing off his virtuosic skills at generating headlines for the search company. He spoke about Google+ and privacy. He allegedly criticized the Brits' education system. He also made this comment, according to the Globe and Mail:

"Virtually all the television manufacturers on their very high end will eventually adopt Google TV...or perhaps one of the competitors that will emerge. We know this space … Read more

Schmidt says Google TV heading to Europe

Google TV will be launched in Europe early next year, despite its rocky start in the U.S., company Chairman Eric Schmidt told an audience in Edinburgh, Scotland, last night.

Delivering the keynote MacTaggart Lecture at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International TV Festival, one of Britain's premier television industry events, Schmidt sought to reassure broadcasters, according to a Reuters report on the speech.

"We seek to support the content industry by providing an open platform for the next generation of TV to evolve, the same way Android is an open platform for the next generation of mobile," Schmidt … Read more