Official GOOGLE TV Thread - Page 6

If has Android - and a million crazy programmers waiting to make programs for it.

(Not to mention Roku is only in america - this will be for the world)

And lets not forget, this is NOT "Google TV" - this is an instance of Google TV - much like there are hundreds of devices which use Android, the number of devices with contain "Google TV" is growing.

This Logitechs version. Basically a harmony remote AND Google TV.

Next week Sony will demonstrate their Blueray player with Google TV. (And their TV with Google TV in it)

I do too

for what this box is its not bad(and better than the Apple TV)
just not for $300. This box is $200 over priced IMO

I don't see this box being $240 better than a Roku. For $300 you can build a halfway decent HTPC. Google has to bring the price down for these boxes in the <$150 range for them to sell well. People will look at a AppleTV for $99 and a Logitech Revue for $300, and which one do you think they're going to get?

Hopefully the one that suits their needs. However in many ways that's an apples to oranges comparison.

I'd never buy a device that included a surrogate Harmony but that might be just the ticket for some.

Not sure what's so interesting about it. It's pretty inline with most instances of their tracking. That's how they make their money.

Pretty darn expensive for a 46 incher.

Source:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives...es_leaked.html

Sony's Google TV is definitely on its way to the market, but that doesn't mean information leaks cannot happen prior to an official release. Well, if you cannot wait until October 12th, why not check out what we managed to dig up? Sony looks set on delivering a quartet of Internet TVs in 24-inch, 32-inch, 40-inch and 46-inch sizes, also going by their model numbers of NSX-24GT1, NSX-32GT1, NSX-40GT1, and NSX-46GT1, respectively. Depending on your budget and needs, you will have to fork out anywhere from $1299.99 for the 32-inch model to $1899.99 for 46-incher. Any of these have you drooling, or are you set on the Logitech Revue already?

So, who's planning to buy one of these on Oct 12??

Tiny LCD TVs don't excite me regardless of price.

Let's not get carried away here with Android and Google as the supposed guardian of Open Source. Google is promoting what it makes its money off and that is ads. Moreover, like phones, manufacturers will seek to customize Android to suit their purposes. It all sounds like a mess, and and expensive one at that.

Most people already have a TV. I doubt people will be running out to get a Sony one ( small for that matter) just for Google TV and to get a web browser interface over searching for their 20 programs they like. It's not as though there's this massive amount of creative TV stuff out there. In the meantime my PVR already has a search method which works fine.

I am not convinced that people want the web mixed in with their TV. You never know though. Perhaps there's more on the web than meets the eye.

I do think there is a showdown coming over the ad thing. Many people are fed up with ads. They are everywhere and to the point where you have to wonder what controlling and negative effects they have.

We will see I guess. People seem to think that Google can do no wrong. They have managed to get the search and ad thing down pat. In the meantime let's see what happens once Microsoft gets its act together. They already have the tools, a really nice OS in windows 7 and a history in media. I suspect they have a far better chance at pulling off something interesting than does Google.

philip

This is an act of desperation on Sony's part. They are all over the darned map and getting marginalized in virtually everything they touch. They used to be at the every top of the electronics' industry. I don't know what happened. I used to really like Sony TV's and such. Bought them my whole life. Now, they are something to consider but for some odd reason other brands appeal more ( for TV's, home theatre components, etc...) .

Mind you, Sony owns CBS and other media companies. Perhaps that will help Google obtain more content.

philip

"People seem to think that Google can do no wrong. They have managed to get the search and ad thing down pat."

They also make a really nice phone OS that is clearly the "next best thing" to iOS in that space. And I speak from experience there.

I agree with you on the phone thing, but then they are saddled by having multiple vendors customizing it. What happened to their vision of the phone that was supposed to be the Nexus 1 I believe? I do think they are caught between wanting to make something neat and the constraints of having different manufacturing partners, each trying to distinguish itself. It's hard to not have control of the software and the hardware. That has been a strength of Apple products as well as the reason why PC's have largely been sold with Windows. I see Google as caught in a similar position to Microsoft.

Anyway clearly Google has done some really neat and important things. I just don't like the ad thing...

philip

Ok, so I've done some research on this thing, and it looks like it does everything I was hoping it would do:

- Compatible with my DVR so I can access my DVR recordings
- Can stream my music and videos from my Windows 7 PC
- Supports MKV right away, with more fromats to follow because of the app store.
- Has a Netflix app
- "Might" have Hulu support soon
- Has a great looking little keyboard remote (extra $130)
- Compatible with the rest of my gear because my Harmony remote is

I'm a little surprised at all the negative comments about this product. The only negative thing I see is that the price is a little high. But the price will eventually come down. I went ahead and ordered it, and can't wait.

This will go in my bedroom at first because I plan to eventually buy a TV for the living room with GoogleTV built in. Right now when I watch TV in the bedroom I have a second Xbox360 connected so I can stream my music and videos, and so I can stream Netflix. I also have my iPad on my night stand for random Internet surfing. The way I see it, this Revue device replaces all of those. I will probably sell my Xbox360. I'll obviously keep my iPad because, well,... it's awesome!

So, why all the hate for this device? It appears to do more than any of it's competitors, at least right now.

That's my point. They could have just said "yes" followed by the disclaimers. Not sure whats confusing about that.

During the CNET live blog they said the presenter referred to DLNA streaming using Twonky Server, which I use to stream to a BDP-83, they also mentioned that FAT 16/32 hard drives were supported but did not mention htfs, the same as the OPPO's. I have Dish and will give it a try for 179.00. ron

Just to note, Google has openly stated the device will have no extra ads on it versus what is actually contained withing websites you access. It is simply Chrome rendering the website as is.


To say Google makes their money off of ads is correct, but not quite in the way you seem to be implying. They are not directly selling ad-space on GoogleTV - they don't need to.

It was a presser, and most people aren't actually aware of such nuance


Remember, we really do not represent J6P. I can't blame Google for feeling the need to clarify the point every time they are asked - look at how much misinformation exists regarding Google's data collection? If someone is doing a publishable interview, of course they're going to give the details.

True.. I just cringe at those kind of answers. Guess that's why I would never be a good politician!

Does Google even have a say in the price of the Logitech box, or the Sony TVs?

Does Google get a royalty for licensing the (OS, firmware, name, whatever you want to call it) to Logitech, or is it free to use for any manufacturer that wants to sign an agreement with them?

To my knowledge that one android phone that they had built by HTC and you could buy direct from their website was really the only product that google offered (to consumers) and I think they learned their lesson there.

Not being sarcastic here, but I just don't understand why people keep talking as if Google is completely in control of these things like they were selling them directly.

-Suntan

Have either of you seen anything that specifically states it can control devices beyond the TV and STB? I have not, and I've been searching high and low for this information and have posted on their support forum and have not gotten a reply. They keep saying "other devices" but have yet to go so far as to mention what kind of devices. For once I'd love to see them show it controlling a DVD player. Frankly based on what's on the keyboard, and from every demo and video on their web site, I've seen no real evidence of full Harmony support, and this is a huge disappointment to me.

Also, I think the RF support, from what little they have said, has to do with their wireless devices.

I want something that will work with and supplement my 890, but I don't believe they have done that with this. I may be wrong, but if it really did support all the Harmony stuff, specifically activities, wouldn't they have demoed that by now?


The Dish DVR is the only one it can access, otherwise it just provides an overlay and the controls on the keyboard can switch over to driving your PVR, it is not true integration. The Revue box will not no anything about what shows you have on your PVR or anything that specific. It's hard to say at this point whether or not it'll know your channel mappings even, as they have not ever shown what can be done with any other PVR.

I look at this device as being intriguing, but still not all there. It's possible future software updates will change it, but nothing is guaranteed there. I may get one to tinker with, and to replace my Roku (really, the UI on that is clunky and slow), but I don't think it can replace my harmony for anything other than watching TV.

Per Logitech

It looks like the Revue will be $179 from Dish Network, but I haven't heard if they are planning an additional monthly subscription fee. I was surveyed by Dish about price points, and while I can't remember the details exactly, the survey questions hinted that the box would either have a high price without a monthly fee or a lower, subsidized price with a monthly fee.

A one-time $179 (or even more) price would be fine if it provides DLNA access to my content on my WHS (it looks like it does) plus access to specific YouTube accounts (rather than just "YouTube" and all those cat videos). Accessing specific accounts on YouTube, Flikr, etc., complete with stored logins and passwords, would make it easy to catch up on the videos and pics of the extended family.

Having all of that integrated without having to change inputs on the TV would be a plus. A lot depends on the UI, how it displays slide shows of pictures, etc.

There will be monthly fee. They have not said how much it will be.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/googletv/

*Limit one per account. Additional monthly fee will apply. Requires broadband Internet. Available with compatible DISH Network receiver models only (ViP® 622, 722, 722k). Restrictions may apply for existing customers to upgrade. Subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. © 2010, DISH Network L.L.C. All rights reserved. Google TV is a trademark of Google Inc. Logitech Revue and Logitech Alert are trademarks of Logitech in the United States and/or other countries. Android is a trademark of Google Inc. YouTube is a registered trademark of Google Inc. Twitter is a registered trademark of Twitter, Inc. Pandora is a registered trademark of Pandora Media, Inc.

bodosom, in one of their videos they show how to configure "other devices" and it looks to be based on the Harmony software. However it only shows TVs and receivers as options. That is what concerns me. Look at the second part of that quote, only one activity is mentioned. At no time have they (that I've seen) further elaborated on this and ever said anything like "and set up activities to watch movies on your DVD player".

I'd just like to see something specific and clear, not marketing speak, that states it will truly support all devices in your entertainment center like a Harmony remote does. The fact that they seem to be tiptoeing around this issue makes me suspicious.

Thanks for that. I'll have to see what the fee is, contract commitment and how much they discount the box itself. I guess there's nothing stopping you from buying the Revue and installing it without Dish Network's monthly fee, although you lose the close integration with the DVR. But it would work like it does for any other cable or satellite box (and there are dozens listed on the Logitech site).

I could swear that I heard it was $4 per month for dvr integration.

I've read the same $4.

What tends to lessen my interest is (1) the list of Dish DVR's it is said to support does not include the 922, although I suppose that could be resolved with an external slingbox and (2) Hulu has blocked it.

Interesting read about GoogleTV. GoogleTV will run Chrome, which like any browser can be subject to serious issues without protection/control (Virus, Popups, etc...). On a PC we can install AV software, what about with GoogleTV? What do you think, blown out of proportion or legitimate concern?

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2370379,00.asp

I fully agree, and it is a legitimate concern, but whether people will take the trouble to exploit the holes depends on how much it is adopted.

The more I read about Logitech Revue / Google TV (with the added knowledge about the platform inside it), the more it appears to be just a HTPC. (with the same x86 platform). There is just a software wrapper that consumers will not be able to get past / play around with results similar to playing around on a HTPC. I am really curious as to how much this would be better compared to something like the Myka ION which also has a similar software wrapper option at boot time (and can also boot Ubuntu / Windows, if necessary). And you have the option of add-ons and extensibility for core functionality with the latter (not talking about dumb add-ons like the remote or new variety of keyboard).

Edit: Sandboxing : Is there a sandbox for the browser in Android ? Remember that the GoogleTV variety of Android is not open sourced yet. And anyways, sandboxing isn't going to prevent popups from invading your TV

Edit:


I don't think just porting to Android will be useful. In GoogleTV, you are at the mercy of the HW acceleration provided by the CE4100. XBMC by default uses CPU to decode videos. So, without knowledge of the APIs to hookup to the HW acceleration, porting is not going to serve much purpose, IMHO.

Wow, throwing the Myka ION out there!!! Did that thing ever get off the ground, they seemed to have disappeared (although looks like they did just post to their site)???

I was just putting it out as a case in point.. the fact that there are HTPCs with software wrappers. Personally, I think such products are the best way to get HTPCs out of the niche that they are currently serving.. but the market sees it differently :|