From The Online Reporter, January 2nd, 2011
Google has confirmed that it is sending out upgrades for its Android-based Google TV service. The big updates are increasing the function and intelligence of the Netflix app as well as support for a remote control app for Android devices and iPhones.
In October, Google launched Google TV that allows users to access the full Web as well as their traditional TV service and some apps – though it works best with Dish, not other pay-TVcompanies’ STBs. The service uses the Android OS, Chrome Web browser and an Intel processor.
Its new Google TV Remote app connects to a Google TV system through a user’s Wi-Fi network and gives a variety of control, including the ability to change channels, adjust volume, access DVR content and search for content vocal commands to a mobile device.
The Netflix app already allowed customers to watch their instant content, control it and even remove items from their queue. Actions beyond this originally required another device to achieve – such as using a PC to search for and add content – but now the upgraded app allows users to search for, browse and watch any content directly from the service.
Netflix will also add recommendations to its app as well as the ability to add items to a DVD queue directly from the Google TV device. This could be a first non-PC iteration of adding to the DVD queue by a device that plays the streaming content.
Google also added a results page that shows users all movies associated with a title they’ve searched for in Google TV. This results page crosses the divide of live TV, DVR content, Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand content and lists films being shown or available, user summaries, photos, cast lists and actor information.
CES or Bust
The first Google TV rumor of 2011 is that it might not arrive at CES for a full product launch and public demonstration. Google TV has a lot of catching up to do with its competitors in terms of content and stability, and it looks like the software and other updates needed to keep it running smoothly aren’t coming out of the pipes quick enough.
It was not an Apple-like product launch.
Unfortunately for Google and its partners, most reviewers felt the service wasn’t ready for the public when it began to hit store shelves. Complaints ranged from the price and hardware to software issues and system crashes.
Google TV hardware includes the Logitech Revue companion box at $300, Internet TVs at $1,000+ and Sony Blu-ray players selling for roughly $400. These are prices that can’t afford to be attached to a buggy product.
Google’s Own Movie Streaming May Be Coming
Google is pondering a streaming service for movies and an unnamed source has told us — as well as many other unnamed sources telling many others — that we should expect an announcement in early 2011 and that it’ll tie in strongly with Google TV.
Google’s Robert Kyncl, a former Netflix employee, is said to be negotiating deals for high-ranked movies with the company looking to build a vast library for Google TV. Google’s recent acquisition of Widevine, a video delivery company, is being called not only a precursor to the service but a requirement from some of the proposed service partners.
While the service has little information out, our source said Google is looking into content more akin to iTunes or Amazon VOD than what Netflix offers, so it’ll likely be new releases and big names that come at bigger prices.
The snafu recalls Steve Jobs’ statement to the Wall Street Journal about the state of the set-top box market. Jobs predicted Google TV’s current struggles because pay-TV operators, TV networks and studios control the market, which “pretty much squashes any opportunity for innovation because nobody’s willing to buy a set top box.”
Jobs said, “Ask Tivo, ask Replay TV, ask Roku, ask Vudu, ask us. Ask Google in a few months. The only way that’s ever going to change is if you can really go back to square one, tear up the set top box, redesign it from scratch with a consistent user interface across all these different functions, and get it to consumers in a way that they’re willing to pay for it. And right now there’s no way to do that.”
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