An article by Brooke Crothers
Google TV products from Sony and Logitech pack a potent brew of software and hardware that could animate even the most inveterate couch potatoes. But will they sit up and take notice?
Google TV products from Sony and Logitech pack a potent brew of software and hardware that could animate even the most inveterate couch potatoes. But will they sit up and take notice?
TVs are quickly on the way to becoming hybrids that can switch freely between passive TV and PC-like interactive modes, according to Intel. Will consumers finally begin to lean forward more and lean back less? After all, this has been tried before.
"The reason we feel very confident this time around is it's less of a leap now because consumers are used to consuming Internet content," Wilfred Martis, general manager of Intel's Retail Consumer Electronics business, said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Intel is a key player in the Sony Internet TV and Logitech Revue set-top box, which was introduced yesterday, because it supplies the Atom CE4100 processor that powers the interactive side of the Google TV platform. And this is no ordinary Atom. It squeezes a lot of processing into a tiny system-on-a-chip.
"The CE 4100 combines dual 1080p video decoders, dual audio DSPs (digital signal processors), 3D graphics, display processing, and security infrastructure," said Martis. "That allows you to consume broadcast or Blu-ray content as well as all the content and applications on the Internet."
All very convincing on paper but some consumers, at least, may have beaten Google TV to the punch. Many people already use their laptop or smartphone while watching TV. And being connected to the Web on a separate device like a laptop doesn't interrupt what's being viewed on the TV screen. Martis points out, however, that viewers can use their phone to interact with a Google TV and that may tempt a number of consumers to defer to the TV for interactivity.
"The reason we feel very confident this time around is it's less of a leap now because consumers are used to consuming Internet content," Wilfred Martis, general manager of Intel's Retail Consumer Electronics business, said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Intel is a key player in the Sony Internet TV and Logitech Revue set-top box, which was introduced yesterday, because it supplies the Atom CE4100 processor that powers the interactive side of the Google TV platform. And this is no ordinary Atom. It squeezes a lot of processing into a tiny system-on-a-chip.
"The CE 4100 combines dual 1080p video decoders, dual audio DSPs (digital signal processors), 3D graphics, display processing, and security infrastructure," said Martis. "That allows you to consume broadcast or Blu-ray content as well as all the content and applications on the Internet."
All very convincing on paper but some consumers, at least, may have beaten Google TV to the punch. Many people already use their laptop or smartphone while watching TV. And being connected to the Web on a separate device like a laptop doesn't interrupt what's being viewed on the TV screen. Martis points out, however, that viewers can use their phone to interact with a Google TV and that may tempt a number of consumers to defer to the TV for interactivity.
Or, that is, defer to the computer inside the TV. When Martis describes what the processor is doing it sounds eerily like a PC or tablet. "When you're in interactive mode, the Atom processor is handling the Android stack as well as the Google Chrome browser with a Flash plug-in in some cases," he said.
And why stop at Facebook updates or fact checking. Intel is closely watching another potential hot spot: gaming.
"If gaming becomes a killer app on these smart TV products, we'll look seriously at beefing up our graphics solutions," he said. Currently, the CE4100 uses graphics technology from Imagination Technologies. "We have alternate paths that we're exploring internally."
Intel will also bring out dual-core Atom processors and widen the data paths inside the chip in the future to address what it expects to be an explosion in Android applications for the Google TV.
"We're beefing up our interconnect speed inside the chip because at some point you'll be bringing in 1080p video, you'll be decoding another 1080p stream, you'll be generating 1080p graphics at the same time, then 3D. Imagine all of those workloads kicking in at the same time and the consumer is playing a game on top of it. It requires a lot of processing power, a lot of graphics, a lot of internal interconnect speeds, and high memory bandwidth," he said.
Will Google take over every aspect of our digital life?
And why stop at Facebook updates or fact checking. Intel is closely watching another potential hot spot: gaming.
"If gaming becomes a killer app on these smart TV products, we'll look seriously at beefing up our graphics solutions," he said. Currently, the CE4100 uses graphics technology from Imagination Technologies. "We have alternate paths that we're exploring internally."
Intel will also bring out dual-core Atom processors and widen the data paths inside the chip in the future to address what it expects to be an explosion in Android applications for the Google TV.
"We're beefing up our interconnect speed inside the chip because at some point you'll be bringing in 1080p video, you'll be decoding another 1080p stream, you'll be generating 1080p graphics at the same time, then 3D. Imagine all of those workloads kicking in at the same time and the consumer is playing a game on top of it. It requires a lot of processing power, a lot of graphics, a lot of internal interconnect speeds, and high memory bandwidth," he said.
Will Google take over every aspect of our digital life?
Will Google take over every aspect of our digital life?
ReplyDeleteat this rate, yes...
damn! google is really conquering everything!
ReplyDeletewe have to be careful, google might become skynet... or worse! umbrella corporation! lol
*sigh*
ReplyDeleteyes and this will be 100% secure and safe and nobody will take advantage of this.
also, android? sooo, java right?
*opens java programming book*
brb
Sounds interesting, i'll keep it in mind.
ReplyDeleteWho knows, maybe someday i'll have a google TV...
Google basically own all the information in the world, and so far they're terrible at being evil, so they're one of my favorite multinationals.
even if they take over tv who cares i never watch it anymore everyone i know just uses justintv or downloads the progrom from the networks on demand thing
ReplyDeleteGoogle is going to take over the world.
ReplyDeleteCars and TVs, now there has to be a tablet with Google reader, and thats it. Google finally knows everything about you.
ReplyDeleteGoogle has the potential to capture and hold the world on the tip of their fingers. Whats stopping them? Seriously. Trips me out man.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be the goal, yep.
ReplyDeletehasn't google already taken over everything? they even have pictures of all our houses lol
ReplyDeletegoogle is big brother. and people belived there dont be evil motto lol
ReplyDeleteIf not Google, then some amalgamation of sites. I already forgo TV service in leiu of stuff on the webs.
ReplyDeleteTV is dying, just like newspapers - people haven't figured it out yet.
I fear google's power at this time
ReplyDeleteGoogle is going to own the world soon XD
ReplyDeleteGoogle is like a monster that just keeps eating, and hunger is never satisfied. It wont surprise me one bit if they take over the TV market.
ReplyDeleteGoogle will take over the world
ReplyDeletegoogles mission is world domination
ReplyDeleteGoogle are a giant that can't be stopped, autonomous cars are already here thanks to them.
ReplyDeletemmawillgrow.blogspot.com
Hello there my dear fellow,
ReplyDeleteI am currently a new follower of this blog,
I would much appreciate it if you could maybe, follow me back
Google taking over the world!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind that :p
ReplyDeleteThe internet already has taken over tv, it's only a matter of time
ReplyDeleteI can't track the steps of the technology, it always something new every day. Thank for the info, we're being here waiting for more to keep us informed ^_^
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I wouldn't mind.
ReplyDeletecool post bro!!:)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Italy!
yeah, all it needs it time.
ReplyDeleteGoogle tv would dominate hulu and other major online content providers.
ReplyDeleteYep they sure will
ReplyDeletei think tvs are fine the way they are... i dont really want apps and stuff on my tv... i can have those on my phone
ReplyDeleteGoogle wants to take over our thoughts too
ReplyDeleteIf I could sync up my phone and use it as a remote, that would be fuckwin.
ReplyDeleteProlly. Things are just moving in that direction.
ReplyDeleteGreat read! Looking forward to reading your next post.
ReplyDeletesounds like how we watch tv very well may be changing drastically. With google you can be sure something will change, only time will tell how much it actually changes how we watch tv.
ReplyDeletethe answer is simple, kill the google.
ReplyDeletegoogle=skynet
ReplyDeletei Think it looks great!, lookin foreward to this comming to Norway!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what GoogleTV had to offer over something like an HTPC.
ReplyDeleteSounds like apple tv, which imo flopped
ReplyDeleteawesome =D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments on my blog :)
ReplyDeleteI have new bubbles on Enhanced by MS Paint!
My TV already hooks up to the net.....
ReplyDeletedisgusting...google is just disgusting
ReplyDeleteCould be them or apple.
ReplyDeleteGoogle is going to rock the world
ReplyDeletegoogle is getting a huge market share of everything, its crazy!
ReplyDeleteGoogle on my tv with search for shows...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't buy that even if they threatened me with kicking my balls
ReplyDeletegoogle will take over fast food in the future. you heard it from me man you heard it from me
ReplyDeleteThis is actually kinda scary. But then again, google does own blogger as well, so I am probably not allowed to say this here ;)
ReplyDeletewe are doomed.
ReplyDeleteHehe i guess so XD
ReplyDeleteGoogle has renamed the planet earth. It is now called Google Earth.
ReplyDeleteWant to see something hilarious?
The frog and the chimp
Well.. not sure if want though
ReplyDeletegoogle tv hah
ReplyDeletenext theres going to be a google game console
I like google a hell of a lot more than my cable company or sony
ReplyDeleteno company can stretch itself to cover everything, even google has its limits. Not like all the tv companies will give up just like that.
ReplyDeleteYeah I've been trying Google alternatives lately. Competition is always good for the consumer.
ReplyDeleteawesome info here... good job!
ReplyDeletewow this is cool :)
ReplyDeleteWhat is this google you speak of? :)
ReplyDeleteI fear Google and you all should too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I want this to succeed or not. Google...
ReplyDeletenice post
ReplyDeleteThat'd be awesome if they would take over TV!
ReplyDeletedude i want google on my TV so badly
ReplyDelete