Google's 'Smart TV' Platform To Be Unveiled THIS WEEK: Rumor (UPDATED)

A new report in the Financial Times suggests that Google and Intel, in partnership with Sony, will unveil their new "Smart TV" platform later this week at Google's Develop I/O conference in San Francisco.

Details on the "Google TV" platform are still thin, but according to reports in Bloomberg, the new technology, which will be used on set-top boxes, TVs, and other devices, will be powered by Google's Android operating system and run on a revamped version of Intel's Atom chip.

The FT suggests that Google may be unveiling the "Smart TV" technology at its developer conference on May 19 and 20 in order to encourage the Android developer community to "create applications for TVs."

Sony will be incorporating Intel's chip into a line of upcoming products, writes the Wall Street Journal.

Bloomberg describes the "Smart TV" experience as one where "the Internet access will be integrated with advanced television guides, personal content libraries and search."

"The revolution we're about to go through is the biggest single change in television since it went color," Intel's chief executive Paul Otellini said to analysts last week.

The companies have not officially confirmed that the web TV platform is in development.

Comments

[blogisti]

01:52 PM on 05/18/2010

Didn't Apple TV already beat Google to this invention?

[Rosario Elliot]

12:45 PM on 05/18/2010

This is going to end up being very niche, just like Direct TV and not because its not the future. Because Google will make a product that will just be to hard for the average user to understand­. Someone needs to give some attention to WhiteHatt Technologi­es, they are building something very similar without all the pay walls and restrictio­ns. They are also developing a universal, customizab­le user friendly environmen­t. (http://www­.whitehatt­.com) Understand that Google is the "BIG" player, but there are 15 companies building this same technology­. I would much rather give a shot to the company's not making 3 billion a month already.

[Rosario Elliot]

12:47 PM on 05/18/2010

www.whiteh­att.com is the proper link.

[Clinton Munkres]

11:52 AM on 05/18/2010

I don't see this as being anything new. I think a better solution would be to better integrate TV into PC's and Laptops. Streaming it via broadband in a familiar format. It has to be easy for everyone, not just the tech savvy. If you want an audience from children to retirees, then it can't be a new format that has to be re-learned if you want a broad acceptance­.

[ThatsTheTheWayItIs]

10:18 AM on 05/18/2010

I was working on "smart TV", apps and browsers running on TV, ten years ago.
The problem then was, analog TV (CRTs) were not adequate as computer monitors.
You very poor quality 640 by 480 display, useless for browsing.

The difference now is HD TV sets. They make superb computer monitors.

Right now, we're into watching YouTube video on our PCs.
The real future is using apps and the Internet on our TVs, as well as video.
I don't have an HD set yet, but when I do it will be my computer screen.

[ThatsTheTheWayItIs]

10:09 AM on 05/18/2010

This story not only "buries the lead", it totally hides it:

Android is Linux, the free open source OS.
Unlike Apple's offerings, this platform will be open to the world. This is great news.

http://en.­wikipedia.­org/wiki/A­ndroid_%28operati­ng_system%­29

[woody7]

09:28 AM on 05/18/2010

Be afraid, very afraid.We will now become super couch potatoes.

[iamvalid]

09:02 AM on 05/18/2010

I am so excited thinking of the great things in store for us from the cable companies. Let me see. Thirty more cooking shows, a hundred or so more Jesus channels. Toss in a few more Dog the bounty hunters. Yep, them folks at the cable companies have our best interests at heart. I see them suing Google early and often.

And, and did Steve jobs weigh in on this. Apple will have to file their mandatory lawsuit against Goggle as well. After all, Apple TV is such a great accomplish­ment. OK, well maybe not so much.

[Vishal Kamdar]

08:13 AM on 05/18/2010

google is everywhere

[LWilkinson315]

07:39 AM on 05/18/2010

I dont want my tv smart! keep it stupid

[NETTII]

12:50 PM on 05/18/2010

LMAO.

[racetoinfinity]

12:56 PM on 05/18/2010

Oops....I just remembered that "Big Brother" used to watch everyone via their tvs....

[MostlyModerate2]

06:37 AM on 05/18/2010

Sounds like a distractio­n. I was watching "TV" last night on one of my computer monitors. On the other monitor I had IE up and kept figgeting with it while trying to watch TV. I finally had to turn off the other monitor as I was missing some nice points of my show...

[Gronkie]

03:39 AM on 05/18/2010

I have no idea what any of that meant, but I have just one question:

When will I have my holodeck?

[wilray]

04:11 AM on 05/18/2010

The porn guys are working on it as we speak.

[eShirl]

04:49 AM on 05/18/2010

Bless them.

[iamvalid]

08:58 AM on 05/18/2010

Can't wait to see the new and improved version of DR. Crusher. Do holodeck's have time machines built in them?

[vgi m05]

02:28 AM on 05/18/2010

Ah, and Google announced it loves Flash! F-U Apple!

[rtb61]

02:22 AM on 05/18/2010

Smart TV tends to dumb down the principle behind the product. Smart 'theatre' is more accurate as it combines content from all resources, live free to air, internet and of course stored media. One step further is to use it as the family and friends, archival and interchang­e docking station for all those portable devices including smart books and smart phones. The digital connection between the family and the outside world, email, instant messaging, video messaging, family video calls, all should be part of the digital home.

[SlimPickins79]

02:13 AM on 05/18/2010

Hopefully this means networks will stop pulling the rugs out from under good shows based on flawed Nielson ratings...

[DAE]

01:27 AM on 05/18/2010

Sounds like the electric car, got to see it to believe it. Remember WebTV anyone?

[SlimPickins79]

02:13 AM on 05/18/2010

Whats wrong with WebTv? Their still in use in hotel rooms around the country.

[A Thomas]

04:34 AM on 05/18/2010

Nothing wrong with WebTV is was too limited and maybe a few years too soon. Look at Boxee, Zinc and other things that allow you to view content from the internet via streamed on-demand or download.

Look at WDTV Live which lets you do the above but also, play content from a network and to also load up external drives and flash drives with content to watch. Just like some USB flash drives are coming loaded with movies.