Google Giving Google TV Another Shot 199
MrSeb writes with a piece on Google's renewed push for Google TV adoption. From the article: "In spite of a mediocre launch caused by an overpriced device and low consumer adoption, Mountain View is attempting to breathe life into Google TV in the way of a major marketing push at CES 2012. By announcing partnerships with companies like Marvell and LG, and an effort to cut costs by switching to ARM architecture, Google is hoping to finally achieve the mass adoption it has been hoping for with the service. Is this a case of too little, too late?"
Re:The real challenge... (Score:5, Interesting)
Bingo. Google needs content, and a lot more than they have now. YouTube rentals only fill a very narrow part of the spectrum; they need partnerships with Comcast, Verizon, and other cable operators like Microsoft has for their Xbox 360 media initiative to get access to their streaming libraries. Not to mention the major networks, Hulu, Major League Baseball, Amazon, and a bunch of smaller operators.
Without content their box is just a useless hunk of plastic and silicon. Throwing it in a bunch of TVs won't change the status quo.
In other words, the AppleTV device is coming. (Score:4, Interesting)
I guess this is in response to the supposed Apple TV (as in, the physical device with a screen rather than the little streaming box they currently have) that Apple is allegedly working on, and Google sees the chance for some collateral sales when the inevitable marketing tsunami from Apple arrives.
Nothing wrong with that I think, but it's going to live or die on content. As someone has already pointed out, the TV (and TV peripheral - DVR/online box/streaming device) market is hard to get into so you need a compelling reason for people to want to get your particular device.
Android (Score:4, Interesting)
I've been seeing a lot of Android-based mediatanks and mediaplayers lately, complete with TV guides, dedicated apps and, ofcourse, access to the entire Android market.
What's the benefit of GoogleTV over these Android-based alternative?
I've got one arriving Wednesday (Score:4, Interesting)
Over the holidays, I got a chance to give Google TV a serious tryout at my parents' house. They bought the Sony Blu Ray player with Google TV built in.
I liked it so much that I ordered one for my living room. It arrives tomorrow.
The Netflix/Amazon/web integration works very well and there's even an app store. I'm planning to use it for all my TV viewing and getting rid of cable.
Re:The field is still wide open (Score:5, Interesting)
"They're the only box that has the silky-smooth, easy to use interface that makes it easy for a non-techie to use."
I dont know I never use it unless I needed to reboot the Atv box to get bac kto the XBMC install on it.
The latest XBMC makes the apple TV interface look like a complete turd. having a 2tb NAS full of bluRay and DVD rips delivers an experience at home that apple on their own refuse to give me.
Re:Needs PVR Ability (Score:4, Interesting)
The simpler solution is to buy a Tivo.
Yes, it is simpler, but Tivo requires a subscription. That disqualifies it, in my book.
Re:The field is still wide open (Score:4, Interesting)
ONly a techie does the initial jailbreak. My grandma maintains the XBMC install on hers just fine. It's self updating.