The much anticipated Google TV has made an appearance.
Google has partnered with hardware providers (notably Sony) to deliver a panel that runs their Android operating system, as well as having a built-in set-top box for normal digital TV reception/timeshifting. You will also be able to buy a Google TV box to connect to your existing panel. Delivery is anticipated in the northern autumn.
To the consumer, this will look like a TV with the functionality of a web browser, with wireless keyboard input provided by Logitech.
First impression? It certainly is a step towards the convergence of TV and the Web that has been talked about for a decade. The pitch is built around the convenience of integrating the two screens into one, and the convenience of search-based viewing.
This is certainly a step towards unbundled content- the future of media consumption.
Whether consumers will accept having to buy a specific piece of hardware to get this convergence remains to be seen. My feeling is that Google will have to offer something additional, perhaps an extraordinary content library, to make this a really attractive offering.
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