Intro to Google TV - Your Living Room Won't Be The Same Any More
For a long time now, companies have been looking for a way to transform
the way we view television. Some time back, I decided to buy Dlink's set
top media box. This only gave me the ability to listen to web-based
radio and create some elementary photo slideshows. Unfortunately, things
haven't advanced much since then. You can get Netflix videos streamed
to your home via the Roku box, and with Apple TV, you can relax in your
living room and view your favorite iTunes. The way in which we watch
television may soon change dramatically, however, if a recent Google
announcement bears fruit. Google TV may very well be the new technology
we've been waiting for.
Sony and Logitech developed this system
which is designed to enable anyone to use a television to access the
Internet. The Chrome browser and the Android operating system will be
integral components of this new technology. It means that you will have
the ability to use your television set just like you use your computer
to browse and search the Internet. Sony TVs, Blu-ray players and
Logitech set top boxes will be the first devices to have this technology
installed. Fall 2010 is the time when we can expect the first devices
to be shipped.
There are several reasons why the installation of
Google TV on these first machines won't have a major impact on the
television industry, despite the fact that it is definitely a step in
the right direction. The fact that these initial Google-TV-enabled
machines won't be open source is the first reason. And there won't be an
Android market for these devices when they are first shipped, even
though developers will be given a Software Developmet Kit or SDK soon
after shipment takes place. The result is that these Google-TV devices
will only come with the "approved" applications that are installed at
the time of manufacture. Google TV simply isn't a breakthrough
technology when these facts are taken into consideration.
On the
other hand, by 2011, things could be significantly different. According
to Google, their television platform will definitely be open source at
some point in the future. It won't be just the devices manufactured by
Sony, Blu-ray and Logitech that will be able to support Google TV; any
device manufacturer will have access to the platform. When this happens,
you could very well be using your television set like your smartphone.
As
a matter of fact, in 2011, application developers will be able to
create apps for set up boxes and television sets when Google releases
its promised update to the the Android SDK. This means that all content
publishers will be able to offer applications, not just a few. A much
broader audience will be available to individuals who produce
Internet-based video programs. It will be easy to use a television in
much the same way that one uses an Android phone. It's at this point
that Google TV becomes the breakthrough technology its makers have
claimed it to be. Simply put, you won't need an Internet service
provider to access the Internet. Cable tv stations will no longer be
able to control what you are able to view. Televison helper devices will
also be a thing of the past. The ability to browse the web, enjoy game
playing without having to use a separate console, and listen to their
favorite tunes will be available to Android users via their television
sets.
It is quite a bold and potentially revolutionary step that
Google is taking with the announcement of its TV platform. Time will
tell whether Google will be able to deliver on what it has promised. If
users embrace it in the same way that they have Android phones, then the
sky is the limit. Google will become an even bigger giant than it
already is if the public supports this new technology. Not satisfied
with its status of "King of the Internet," Google may soon usurp our TV
sets, as well.
Google TV Demo
The Potential Benefits of Google TV for Photographers
One of the best things about Google TV is that it is custom tailored for
television viewers. There is nothing particularly special about a
manufacturer offering customers the ability to surf the internet via the
television set. Indeed, this has been widely available for quite some
time. Google TV's innovation lies in its ability to provide programming
information for particular channels via its search bar. The ways in
which such data can be used are what truly differentiates Google from
competitors, and the accompanying applications are proof of the interest
brands such as Napster, Amazon and Twitter have in this new technology.
It is simple to download other applications so that you can
create a truly specialized platform, and you will consistently receive
updates directly from Google. Flicker, Picasa and other applications are
also available for installation, permitting users complete access to
personal photo galleries. Since Google TV is almost universally
adaptable, users who own HDTV sets have the ability to see their
personal photos in high definition. This can be a tremendous thing for
photography mavens, because it effectively raises the resolution level
of their photos. The new technology offers photographers the chance to
display their work to its very best advantage. Google places no
restrictions on what can be viewed via the browser function. Paired with
the Adobe Flash Player, it is possible to view Flash content through
one's television screen. Thus, it is possible to view YouTube or other
online content on large screen, high definition sets.