Logitech Revue (Google TV): photos
The Logitech Revue with Google TV is loaded with potentially game-changing functionality, but its high price, numerous caveats, and current assortment of bugs makes it best-suited to early adopters--at least until promised firmware fixes become available.
Logitech Revue (Google TV)
As of press time, major content providers such as Hulu, CBS, and ABC are all blocking Google TV devices from streaming video content. Google TV's omnipresent search bar is an excellent way to find content across so many different online video sources, but it currently doesn't search titles available through Netflix, arguably the most important. There aren't many apps, and the existing Netflix app is about two generations behind those for competitors such as Roku and Sony's PS3.
Google's vision for complete unfettered access to the Web in the living room is powerful, and Logitech's Revue impressively well-thought-out for a debut product, but ultimately the software needs more polish and more content deals to compete with increasingly mature competitors like Apple TV, Roku XDS and even the PS3 Slim.
Design
Built-in IR emitters
Inputs and outputs
Wireless keyboard
Excellent layout
Thin and light
Battery compartment
Home menu
Geared toward tech-savvy users
Netflix interface
Picture-in-picture
Google search bar
Universal search
Search isn't perfect
Built-in Chrome browser
The emphasis is on "technically," though. The reality, as mentioned before, is that many content providers, such as ABC, CBS, and Hulu, are currently blocking Google TV devices from streaming video from their sites. (Even the workaround hacks aren't working anymore.) The main issue is that major content providers don't mind people watching these videos for free on a computer, but don't like the idea of the same content showing up in the living room. The apparent reasons: Web advertising still doesn't pay nearly as much as traditional TV advertising, and--unlike cable and satellite companies--Web video currently doesn't offer any affiliate fees (read: revenue) for TV content providers.