Google TV
Google TV will be partnering with Android phones according to
the Mountain View, CA search giant. When a sneak preview was given
in May 2010 about Google TV there was little to display but a
few cartoons. Now things are different.
Google TV has reemerged and early reports are that this will
be really big. With 5 billion television sets in the world (more
than computers and cell phones combined) Google TV is going after
the largest set of viewers who spend, on average around 5 hours
a day watching the tube.
And one of the coolest features about Google TV besides it working
on any television set is that it is based on the open source Android
operating system (OS). In addition, any Android phone will be
able to operate it.
So, imagine if you will, sitting on your couch or in your easy
chair, Android phone in hand, watching Google
TV. By either pressing buttons on your Android phone or by
voice command you'll be able to change television channels or
connect to the Internet.
While on the Internet, you can go to your favorite social media
sites such as Facebook or Twitter and talk about the television
shows you're watching (or other subjects). You'll also be able
to go to Youtube, Hulu or other video places and switch back and
forth between television and Internet as desired.
You'll also have the capability to do this split screen (picture-in-picture)
as well. So, suppose your sports team is playing for the championship
and for whatever reason you can't make it to the party (perhaps
your ill, have to work or have another reason).
You'll still be able to watch it on Google TV and chat with friends
in real time all on your television set. Need to do an Internet
search? You don't have to get off the couch. Need to find a local
business on a map. You don't have to get off the couch.
Of course this may mean that the amount of couch potatoes will
bloom exponentially and that will need to be dealt with by other
means.
Now suppose your cat is doing cute things in your living room.
You can take a picture or video with your Android phone and fling
it upon your Google TV. Or you can find a video online with your
phone and fling it up on the TV for your friends and family to
see.
Need to do a little shopping? No, wait, you don't need to get
up. You can order products from your TV set. Similar to your computer,
your Google TV will now have a homepage.
Want to record a TV program on a DVR, you can do this as well.
You can even record Web events like podcasts and play them back
later.
And because this is an Open Source OS there will be plenty of
apps for your TV. And, in fact, according to Google, the most
exciting part about Google TV is all of the apps that haven't
been invented yet.
The search giant is expecting to do for television what mobile
phones did for the telephone industry, which is take the industry
to a whole new level. By integrating television, internet and
cell phone this means many households will soon be wired for entertainment,
education and socialization with few boundaries connecting families,
friends and media.
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