An aura of mystique has surroundedGoogle goggle box , and Logitech ’s Google TV gimmick — theLogitech Revue — since they first became public noesis . On Wednesday , Logitech unveil the Revue — and we get our first in - depth look at what Google TV can do .
Make no misapprehension : Today was a Logitech event , not a Google TV event , and what was usher here was pore around the Logitech Revue , which bechance to take advantage of Logitech ’s Harmony distant control political program . The Harmony political program alone supports more than 5000 brand and 225,000 devices , which think you ’ll be capable to control your audio - visual peripheral machine via the Revue organisation . And with those capabilities enabled in the $ 300 Revue , it adds to the equipment ’s potential solicitation , as opposed to another scenario where , perhaps , the Google TV platform could be integrated into other devices .
However , at $ 300 , Logitech present a voiceless sell . After all , the current trend in streaming set - top boxes are to advertise price down ; to wit the up-to-the-minute Apple telly , Roku XDS , and WD TV Live Plus are all $ 100 or less . Sure , the Revue cost include one keyboard controller , and can to babble to audio - visual peripherals through cabinets , just as the $ 350 Harmony 9000 remote control . And if you bribe the added $ 150 tv set television camera peripheral , the Revue has the potential drop to grow the market to migrate telecasting visit off of the laptop screen , and onto your goggle box screen .
Plug-in box vs. new TV
Logitech ’s approach path does make good sense to a degree ; after all , with some 60 million HDTVs in the market today , consumers who just bought a shiny , fresh TV in the past five years may not be rushing the gates to get the latest tv set lineament , no matter how much the CE industry might like to think that will be the shell . That makes the prognosis for a TV with integrated Google TV ( Sony will show theirs next hebdomad ) , or a boob tube with mix Skype ( like Panasonic ’s manakin ) , less influential in the myopic term .
But Logitech ’s Revue has other limitations . For one , it will only exercise with HDMI - enabled coiffure - top boxes . OK , sound modern enough . But hold back : That leaves out my Comcast Motorola DVR box and set - top boxful . And even if those did have HDMI out , the communicating would only be one - way , not two - way , as was showcased today in confessedly nifty demonstration with Logitech ’s launch pardner , Dish web . ( That means on average determine - top boxful , you’re able to search and get at the electronic computer programme usher , but not the lookup the DVR , for example . )
The trick here , as Logitech president Gerald Quindlen observe , is seamless integrating among subject matter . Revue , take Quindlen , is the “ first platform that integrates the Web , program idiot box , and apps seamlessly . And as the developer community and documentation get , the potency for Google TV is unlimited . ”
Potential is the key Bible here . And it ’s potential for a new program , and potential for a intersection running that platform .
The Google TV prospect
Conceptually , what Google is up to is very intriguing . allow ’s face it : Microsoft has tried , on numerous occasion , to rule the sustenance elbow room , first with its WebTV weapons platform , and later its early coif - top box package initiatives . But even with Windows ’ mastery of PCs everywhere , Microsoft did n’t reach the scale with those products postulate to create a new , feasible television receiver platform that could be adopted widely .
Enter Google . Google TV is build on the Android operating system , and flop now , Android is ride a Brobdingnagian crest of maturation in the smartphone food market , and is poised to make a alike impact in tablets , too . With a vibrant and growing developer community already behind it , Android apps gear for use on an HDTV could make Google TV a star — but for now , Android developers are having enough of a challenge getting message to scale from a sound handset to a 7 - inch or 10 - inch pill , let alone scale up to a 50 - in 1080p television set .
Logitech said that its twist wo n’t get the Android Market until early 2011 , and the caller say it was too early to answer inquiry about how its machine will scale Android apps . Knowing this , I discover it too early to declare Google TV a achiever just because of the app ecosystem potential .
With what trivial is get laid about it the right way now , I would n’t be surprised if it take a year or more for a levelheaded Google TV app ecosystem to develop .
That you may use your Anrdoid smartphone to control a Google goggle box twist seems enticing , too . There are already hack and apps to bend a phone French telephone into a remote ; Google TV takes that construct even farther .
In time , I can see Google TV supplement or replace the live , often kludgy and inelegant on - screen port of other gimmick , such as Blu - ray of light Disc instrumentalist , and even electronic internet - attached hard drives and existing put - top boxes .
The Logitech Revue prospect
But without the ability to interact with other devices , as Logitech ’s Revue has , Google TV ’s prospects appear limited . The core differentiator with Logitech ’s Revue will be its power to interface with other machine on your entertainment shelf . And that ’s a capability that other maker will be firmly iron to reach .
Still , what I saw today from Logitech was less groundbreaking than the hype would have you consider . So many other devices today , from Blu - ray Disc players to determine - top boxes to gaming consoles have leave you to do components of what Logitech has shown here . And the Netflix app shown here was sadly not as militant as it is on Roku and others ; on the Revue you may get at your Netflix Instant Queue , but you ca n’t add items to it from your sofa .
Even though I ’m not grease one’s palms into the hype , I do see voltage . The Revue is DLNA manifest , so it should act as nicely with other DLNA - certified devices in your support room . It has two USB ports , and those ports will endure laborious drives and flash drives . And it should puzzle out with your NAS boxwood , so if you have a medium server , you’re able to well out content from that ( but , today , there ’s no Apple iTunes host support ; but you should be able to access non - DRM - protect content ) .
Looking ahead
In the death , what Logitech unveiled is just a beginning . These are babe steps , and early adopters will bear for being first on the bandwagon . Yes , there ’s a need for unite the disparate contentedness root . The question still remains , though , how well that disparate cognitive content can be unite . This may be a tougher challenge than even Google can take on . After all , even 20 years after reunification , Germany keep back some of its long - standing divisions . The chaos in the life room may prove to insurmountable barriers , too .
