06/09, 9:20pm
Voice search main addition to Google-powered smart TV addition
Sony has announced it is adding voice search to the next generation of its Google TV set-top box. The NSZ-GS8, the updated version of the NSZ-GS7, has a relatively unchanged trackpad and keyboard-based remote design from its predecessor, but the addition of a microphone allows it to be used for the vocal control system that Google demonstrated late last year.
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05/18, 2:13pm
Model number of media streamer reference to Douglas Adams book
A filing at the FCC suggests that Google is not letting go from its television plans, with the appearance of a new device. The item, described in the filing as a "media player," has been submitted for various tests, though there is little in the way of details for the device to be found inside the multiple PDF documents on the FCC website.
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05/15, 8:58pm
New update will make future updates faster, purges Flash
Lost amidst the slew of announcements at the linktextGoogle I/O keynote today, the company has announced the upcoming update to the Google TV software, bringing Android 4.2.2 "Jelly Bean" to the device family. Google claims that changes to the core of the software for the device will speed future updates, making the process happen in "weeks rather than months."
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04/12, 7:33am
Asus Qube marks first Google TV device for Taiwanese PC maker
Asus’ first foray into the Google TV space, the Qube, is set to debut on April 23, reports GTVSource. The Qube first appeared at CES 2013 and is a relatively diminutive device that offers the full interactive Google TV experience. It ships with a complex remote control that includes a full-QWERTY keyboard found on the rear side, a microphone for voice control and gyroscope, although it can also be controlled using tailored software for the Nexus 7.
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01/10, 8:53pm
Netgear differentiates Google TV offering
Several Google TV devices appeared this week at CES in Las Vegas, where Netgear unveiled its contender: NeoTV Prime. Electronista met with the company to try out the new set-top box, which brings all of the standard Google TV features alongside a few Netgear-exclusive enhancements.
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12/23, 9:21pm
New HDTV design shown ahead of CES
LG has released some details on its oncoming Google TV hardware refresh and range extension, set for the first half of 2013. The original 47-inch and 55-inch televisions already in the range has been joined by three more size options, as well as a refreshed physical design, and an upgrade to its onboard software to Google TV 3.0.
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12/02, 5:01pm
Streaming app buttons along base, touchpad controls
Netgear's set-top box, the NeoTV Prime, has reached the FCC. Testing documents by the FCC reveals not only the Google TV system's Wi-Fi component, as seen in previous iterations, but also Bluetooth connectivity. There are also a number of photographs of the remote control's double-sided layout. Where the front performs normal remote control functions, the rear houses a QWERTY keyboard.
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11/09, 7:29am
Date of additional content launch matches Nexus 10 release
Google is expanding the number of markets that can use Google Play Movies and Music. Launched last month in the US for Google TV devices, the same service will be available on supported set-top boxes in the UK, France and Germany from November 13th onwards. An earlier post by the company claimed that it would also take place in Canada and Australia, but this has since been corrected.
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10/14, 5:26pm
Users can search, control content by voice
Google recently published a promotional video showing off voice-control and other unannounced features for Google TV. The search giant removed the video shortly after it was posted, but not before a number of observers were able to grab screen captures confirming that vocal commands will be featured in Google TV at some point in the near future. When Google's fledgling television platform sees an update, it will also feature user interface changes allowing for easier content browsing and discovery.
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07/24, 5:31am
Vizio Co-Star STB includes support for OnLive gaming
Vizio has fired its latest volley in the battle for people's lounge rooms with the launch of its Co-Star Google TV set-top box. The device is now up for pre-order on the Vizio website for $100. In addition to Google TV, it also offers users the ability to install apps like OnLive, bringing console level gaming to users with high-bandwidth Internet connections.
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06/27, 7:21am
Subscription radio service to compete with Slacker, Pandora
Sirius XM will be heading onto Google TV in the near future. The app, requiring a seperate Sirius XM subscription and will bring additional programming not receivable by standard satellite radio sets. It will also offer additional channels such as ESPN SportsCenter, a channel dedicated to the comedy of George Carlin, and headline personality Howard Stern, according to Reuters.
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06/26, 3:43pm
$99 box announced today
Vizio has announced its new Co-Star Stream Player. The new set-top box is powered by Google TV and integrates game streaming service OnLive, with extra hardware to take advantage of the gaming addition.
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06/25, 6:20am
Sony launches Google TV STB in international markets
Sony is launching its NSZ-GS7 set-top box internationally, putting it up for pre-order on in the UK and the US. The device is also slated for launch in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico and the Netherlands later in the year. A version with an integrated Blu-ray player, the NSZ-GP9 is also expected to arrive around October.
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06/06, 1:41pm
First Android 4.0-based Google TV box shows up at Computex
An ARM chip-based Google TV box from Taiwan's Honeywld Technology running on Android 4.0 has the ability to stream media files from portable Android 4.0 devices. In this regard, it's similar to Apple's AirPlay technology that can stream videos and music from iPhones and iPads through the Apple TV to HDTVs. What's more, the box will have the ability to synchronize photos, IDG reported from the Computex trade show in Taipei.
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05/14, 8:05pm
New TVs feature dual-core chipset, 3D, Google UI
LG is showing off its new line of G2 Google TV models in New York this week. The smart TVs feature redesigned user interfaces and beefed-up internals to make for a smoother Web-browsing and television experience. The new sets feature LG's new L9 dual-core chipset, which is based on ARM architecture, and a quad-core GPU.
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05/07, 5:56am
LG Internet-enabled TVs with Google TV inbound
In line with an earlier rumor, LG has announced its plan to start shipping TVs to the US pre-installed with the latest iteration of Google TV running on its in-house L9 ARM-based processors. It’s next-generation of smart TVs are expected to arrive the week beginning May 21 and carry with them the South Korean company’s hopes of grabbing increased market share from Samsung, Sony and Vizio. First previewed at CES 2012, the company has not yet specified details about which models it will ship or pricing details at this juncture.
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04/27, 3:35pm
Google TV YouTube app now much more capable
The Google TV development team has enhanced the YouTube app for users' hardware. A new My YouTube tab organizes channels and videos of users. It also sports a new Recommendations feature that will help users watch more of what they like.
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04/18, 4:20pm
Google TV video app upgraded
Google has updated the TV & Movies app for Google TV owners (Google Play) to tackle some of the problems of discovery. A new layout puts more info underneath each episode to make it much easier to tell whether it's the most recent or otherwise fill in core details at a glance. Suggestions are more important as a whole: in addition to rating directly from the expanded info, viewers are now asked to rate a handful of shows on the new version's first launch to immediately start populating a suggestion list.
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04/11, 7:40pm
Google OS paired with 3D LED TV
LG is reportedly preparing to launch its next round of Google TV devices in the US market. The company has yet to officially confirm release details, however analysts with the Korean financial firm Shinhan Investment claim the first devices are expected to arrive as early as this week.
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04/02, 2:45pm
Sony to ship Google TV gear in France this fall
French paper Les Echos has revealed that Sony will begin selling Google TV-powered hardware as early as September, marking the platform's debut overseas. Sony France marketing director Stephane Labrousse reportedly said the company will sell a set top box for about 200 euros (about $266) and a Blu-ray player that has Google TV integrated for 300 euros (about $400), both of which were on display at CES. The division lead went on to say the platform may also come to Spain, Germany, and the UK at the same time.
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03/22, 11:40pm
Google Play Movies possibly forced into full sales
Google Play's Movies section may be steered into offering full movie sales against Google's own will. Multiple movie industry contacts described a situation to CNET where Google was interested in offering the service, but primarily as it was required to get any rentals from certain studios. Movie rentals were "tiny," the informants said, hinting that Google wanted to get what it could.
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03/16, 2:20pm
Google TV gets international TV, content apps
Google on Friday detailed some new apps that are aimed at Google TV platform users of various ethnic backgrounds. Through them, users can access TV and other content from various countries and regions. Some of the apps include Al Jazeera, Euronews, and IslamBox.
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03/12, 6:25pm
Intel to try hand at TV content, hardware
Intel is in the midst of developing its own online TV streaming service and hardware to match, leaks disclosed Monday. It would create a form of virtual TV that would sell access in cable- and satellite-style bundles, the Wall Street Journal understood. While possibly a white box service that would let others put their own badge on top, Intel would sometimes run under its own name.
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03/02, 1:00pm
Sony Google TV update due Monday, closes root?
While it's currently possible to root Sony's Google TV hardware and load unofficial software onto it, an upcoming update may reverse this exploit, GTVHacker learned. The official, over-the-air security update may be arriving as soon as Monday, and no longer enable the recovery downgrade to be run. Users who root their hardware before this update, won't get it, however, and they can always go back to the stock firmware at a later date.
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02/28, 9:20pm
Google TV adoption seen very low
An investigation within Android Market stats has suggested that Google TV adoption may be so low as to be under one million users. The TV and Movies app, a core part of the OS, is listed as having between 500,000 to one million installed users, GigaOM found. More than half of them are Logitech Revue owners, while the rest are Sony's combined Internet TV and Internet Blu-ray player owners.
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02/20, 2:35pm
Software hack opens up Google TV platform
Google TV users can now enable new functionality, such as accessing Flash-based services including Hulu, thanks to a hack. The long-winded GTVHacker Sony Recovery Downgrader & Rebooter was developed by member zenofex and other developers over on the GTV Hacker forum. The hack is entirely software-based, but does require four USB sticks at least 512MB in capacity.
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02/20, 1:40pm
Google TV may get natural voice and proximity tech
Google is now known to have applied for a patent that could give Google TV natural language voice commands of its own. The method would use a smartphone or tablet as a voice remote, optionally using a technique similar to Google Translate or Apple's Siri where the commands are uploaded to a server and then deciphered. It could be used for searching both TV and local content, and could send information to more than one computer or device on the network.
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02/12, 7:05pm
YouTube Google TV gets update
Google's big Google TV news, or part of it, may have been detailed early in news on Sunday. The Android TV platform's YouTube app is being updated with a much stronger emphasis on channels ahead of original content plans. Matching up is a new discover feature that lets viewers find content by the category rather than just the channel.
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02/12, 12:45pm
Google TV gets teased update
Google made the unusual choice of a Facebook posting to hint at "big announcements" coming for Google TV on Monday. The company wouldn't give any clues as to its plans. It's unlikely to include any minor OS updates, since it recently updated to Android 3.2.
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02/02, 2:45pm
Sony Google TV brings HTTP Live Streaming, more
More details of the Google TV update that started rolling out earlier this week to compatible Sony hardware have been revealed on Thursday thanks to GigaOM. Basically Android 3.2, the update now enables hardware acceleration for apps, which should make animated titles much smoother. More importantly, HTTP Live Streaming will now be possible, making viewing HTML5 web videos better and allowing streaming local multimedia files through dedicated apps.
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01/31, 10:20pm
Sony Google TV sets, players get mid-cycle update
Google posted word of an update for Sony's Google TV devices. Both its Internet TV and Internet Blu-ray player now have a faster Chrome web browser. The Blu-ray gets an extra treat in support for 3D Blu-ray movies to catch it up to other players.
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01/26, 11:20am
Logitech takes bath in last Google TV quarter
Logitech detailed some of the fuller extent of its Google TV fallout with its fall results early Thursday. The company's profit dropped by $10 million from year-to-year to $55 million, and its revenue from $754 million to $715 million, based primarily on poor results in the Americas as well as a poor exchange rate against the Euro. An eight-point drop in Americas sales was blamed heavily in a statement (PDF) on the final sales of the Google TV-based Revue, which brought down sales to $15 million after the steep price cuts triggered by a lack of sales.
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01/24, 7:20pm
Over 2.8M in 2011 sales falls short of predictions
The latest generation of Apple TV also received a bump during Apple's record holiday season, selling as many units in the last three months of 2011 as it had in the nine months prior, for a total of "just over" 2.8 million units total in 2011, less than the million units per quarter predicted by some analysts but still making it the most popular device of its type, its main competition being the standalone Google TV units as sold by Samsung and Logitech.
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01/13, 11:40am
LG and Google may make reference Google TV device
A pair of sources claimed Friday that Google was partnering with LG to develop a refernece Google TV set. Much like the Galaxy Nexus or the Nexus One before it, the display outlined to Bloomberg would run the latest version of the Android-based interface, possibly before anyone else, and would go without any customizations. The set would be running the next major version, which Google has already said should arrive before the end of the year.
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01/11, 1:55pm
Microsoft and Google TV plans trade fortunes
Microsoft and Google made both official and unofficial plans for their TV strategies on Wednesday. A leak uncovered by Reuters had Microsoft freezing its long-rumored plans for live subscription Xbox TV. The company had decided that the rates TV channels were asking for the Internet-only service were "too expensive" for the plan it wanted to offer, industry insiders said.
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01/10, 11:30am
Vizio details 2012 TV and Stream Player roadmap
Vizio on Tuesday expanded its entire TV-focused strategy for 2012 by starting with its own equivalent to an Apple TV. The VAP430 Stream Player is dedicated solely to bringing Google TV 2.0 to sets that don't already have it. It links to the TV through HDMI, with a pass-through for other devices, and can share media on the local network through Wi-Fi and DLNA.
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01/10, 3:45am
We test Sony's 2012 Google TV hardware
Sony at CES unveiled new Google TV hardware that we had the opportunity to try. The hardware itself, a new NSZ-GS7 Network Player and a NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray player, isn't a revolution but is subtler and fits well into a home theater. The more distinctive feature for us is the remote: while Sony wouldn't let users touch the early prototypes, which we'll go into depth for along with launch details and pricing.
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01/08, 11:45pm
Lenovo avoids Google TV with K91 set
Lenovo as part of its wide-scale introductions brought out its first TV with an unusual approach to Android that we saw for ourselves. The K91 Smart TV is based on Android 4.0, not Google TV, and uses a completely new Sandwich UI that focuses on traditional TV, VOD with a viewing history, and Internet-aware apps.
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01/05, 7:20pm
LG Google TV features previewed
LG gave a quick glimpse at its first Google TVs on Thursday. The sets will work with voice commands much like Voice Actions on mobile devices. Hands-on control will get its own special treatment: a keyboard-equipped version of the Magic Motion Remote should come with a QWERTY keyboard built-in for faster text.
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01/05, 5:50pm
Google TV partners at CES 2012 already revealed
Google has removed the mystery from who its Google TV partners will be at CES with a full listing ahead of the show. Some using chips from Marvell and MediaTek, TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio will all run the Android-based TV OS. Vizio's sets will be behind closed doors, but the rest should be public.
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01/05, 9:50am
Google TV goes to ARM to lower prices
Google and Marvell together confirmed a plan to move Google TV to ARM on Thursday with a new platform launch. Marvell's Foresight platform, led by the Armada 1500 HD full system on a chip, will handle all the processing for 2D and 3D video, audio, and general tasks. Its dual-core design is fast enough to handle Flash and HD, and has power levels likened more closely to a cellphone than a set-top box.
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01/03, 5:40pm
Samsung wireless TV sets show early
The Wi-Fi Alliance's certification list may have spoiled a pair of Samsung's TVs for its CES intro next week. Both the "Echo-P Series TV" and the "X Series TV" received approval to use dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi. Either is light on detail and mentions just that they're "display devices" with media support.
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01/03, 4:20pm
Samsung SDK with paid app support due Thursday
Samsung will soon release the Software Development Kit (SDK) 3.0 for its web-connected Smart TVs that will finally let developers make money from their products. The SDK, which is due to arrive on January 5, will support in-app advertisements and payments. It will also have the ability to read inputs from remote controls and USB-connected peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and gamepads.
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01/03, 9:25am
Vizio Rose Bowl ad gives clues to CES 2012 TVs
Repeating a pattern from last year, Vizio has run a commercial (below) giving a hint as to its lineup for 2012. The Rose Bowl spot outlines the contrast between old and new in American football before giving a quick preview. Vizio's lineup may be much more distinct this year, with a chromed, arcing neck and a very minimal display.
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12/27, 10:20pm
Lenovo dips into Internet TV and cloud early
Lenovo gave a preview of its Las Vegas plans with word of an Internet-aware TV and its own cloud service. To be called the LeTV in its Chinese version, it would ship sometime in the first quarter of 2012. Most details aren't public, although more of these should be coming in January.
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12/27, 4:35pm
Authentication problem crops up during set-up
Consumers who bought or received the Logitech Revue for the holidays may have to RMA or return the device to where they bought it. The company acknowledges that a "small number" of the Android-based devices were shipped with what the company claims to be corrupted firmware. In a message on the forums, Senior Product Manager Peter McColgan advised customers that there was
"nothing that you can do to fix this" and that the only choice was to get a full replacement.
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12/27, 2:50pm
Airtight app allows AirPlay feature on Google TV
App developer Airtight has just released an Android app ($0.99, Android Market) that lets Google TV hardware devices use AirPlay to stream movies and photos from iPhones, iPod touch, and iPad devices to their HDTVs. The currently beta-stage app lets a Logitech Revue or Sony device get some of the features that would normally need an Apple TV. Some features aren't yet supported, including AirPlay mirroring, music, and the streaming of copy-protected movies.
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12/21, 2:30pm
Samsung and Sony both run unusual CES promos
Samsung and Sony together hoped to ratchet up attention for their primarily TV-focused rollouts at CES through unusual methods. Samsung has posted a teaser video (below) for the "future of Smart TV" it plans to introduce at the show by showing a retrospective of how TV has advanced, from black and white to color, to DVRs, and to 3D. The 2012 shot gives few clues other than the presences of phones and tablets, suggesting Android hardware might tie in next year.
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12/15, 2:00pm
Sling Media outs web app for Logitech Revue
Sling Media has finally released a web app that allows Logitech Revue Google TV users to access its Slingbox service. We sampled the feature nearly one year ago at CES, and a beta showed up late in May that allowed users to watch Slingbox content in other rooms via streaming. Users can access the SlingPlayer app from Google Spotlight and use it to change channels, browse the program guide, and watch or schedule recordings on a connected DVR.
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12/07, 11:25pm
Schmidt hints Google TV may be pushed by volume
Google chairman Eric Schmidt made an aggressive prediction at the Le Web conference in Paris (video below) that Google TV would dictate the TV landscape by summer 2012. He believed that the "majority of televisions you see in stores" should have the Android-based OS build inside over the course of the next several months. No indication was given of which companies were involved and how many of their models would make the leap.
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