Google TV

Today, many modern TVs provide Internet access, however The possibilities of working with online content in them are rather limited. Most often, users have the opportunitywatch videos from YouTube, view photos from Picasa, but on more "advanced" features the functionality of basic applications to online content does not apply.

The Google TV platform is designed to enhance the ability to access online content. So, thanks to the use of Adobe Flash andGoogle Chrome TVs with Google TV will have access to search through the Internet and watch Internet video in a manner similar to what is now used on personal computers and parts of mobile devices. TVs with Google TV system will allow users to access TV from any site, they will support such services as YouTube, Twitter, Hulu, Netflix, etc.

So, Google TV is first of all integrated into your TV access to online content, including Google services, such as YouTube Video Hosting and the Google Play Store (the former Android Market).

On Google Play, users are offered Adapted for Google TV applications to view streaming video, in particular, Air Force iPlayer, Netflix, Crackle, Guardian, Plex, Redux, etc. Also for Google TV, applications of other categories were optimized: games, life, music, news.

How does Google TV work? There are two main options: set-top box (digital TV receiver) and integration directly into the TV. Let's start with the set-top box. In 2010, at one of the exhibitions, a set-top box based on Android's OC was shown. It is capable of displaying video on demand, supports 1080p video, is equipped with a keyboard, remote control point and ThinkFree Office.

The development of the set-top box was entrusted to Logitech, new systems will work on the processor Intel Atom CE4100. According to Google, the new platform willsupport also HDTV (high-definition television) and Blu-Ray players from Sony. The set-top box is connected by an HDMI cable between the TV and the cable (satellite) receiver.

The second option - Google TV services integrated into the TV. The release of stand-alone TV models withsupport for Internet TV and Google TV was announced by Sony in 2010. Such a TV needs to be simply connected to a cable or satellite receiver, you do not need any additional set-top boxes: Google TV is already "inside" your new TV.

At the moment you can buy online Internet player NSZ-GS7 from Sony with the integration of Google TV, almost connectedto each TV with HDTV support. The player is equipped with a remote control, optimized for Google TV. The player allows you to work in Google Chrome and provides access to Google Play applications. Wi-Fi is supported. It is worth such a player about 300 US dollars.

Model NSZ-GP9 is a Blu-ray player from Sony. In addition to the features provided by the NSZ-GS7, this player allows you to watch Blu-ray movies as Full HD, 3D video is supported. And Logitech presented a console Logitech Revue with support for Google TV.

The assortment of devices that support Google TV, for the time being, is rather limited, but in due course they are likely to become more. Basically, starting with a set-top box was a reasonable enough solution: not everyone can or will want to buy a full TV with support for Google TV, but the console - a gadget more affordable.

It seems that everything is moving towards the fact that the boundaries betweendevices will be erased: firmware in gadgets are gradually replaced by almost full-fledged operating systems, TVs provide access to online content. The Internet with television is beginning to unite in a single whole, because interactivity of content is valued more and more. And the emergence of Google TV - another confirmation of this.