Leslie D'Monte recently covered Google's linking of TV and the Web. She notes that Google believes there is a huge market opportunity in this space with
around 4 billion people across the world watching TV. But also notes the
not-so-successful forays of Apple and Microsoft to bring the internet to TV
with Apple TV and MSN TV.
The browser on Google TV is simply the Linux version of Google Chrome.
The user interface will have to be modified for TV. The same Android software
that powers Google's mobile devices is being used with Google TV. With the
browser built in, Google TV is expected to help you access all of your favorite
websites and easily move between TV and the web. The open platforms of Andriod
and Chrome open up room for developers to add to the initial functionality.
Leslie notes that many other players have been in this market for a while.
TiVO had many fo the features in 2003. Other TV hardware providers that are
competitive to Google’s partner, SONY, have other means to access the Web.
Moreover, one could view content from Amazon Video-On Demand, YouTube and
Netflix even in 2007. Then there are competing set-top box products like Boxee,
PopBox and Roku.
Sean Portnoy looks at a different set of competitors for Google TV and
asks on ZDNet, Will Google TV Threaten Cable Providers? He begins by also noting that despite the buzz surrounding its launch,
Apple TV never gave cable companies much to worry about. Now it is Google’s
turn. Perhaps to no surprise he
notes that Google’s approach is far more insidious with its more open approach.
First, Sean notes that by buying a Google TV box for a one-time fee or
a new HDTV with Google TV built in, you are then not resigned to pay an extra
monthly fee when pay TV providers decide to add new features like Web
integration to their packages.
And we all know that this Web convergence is coming. In fact this
convergence tees up Sean’s second and potentially bigger issue. With Google TV
more subscribers will no longer see the need to continue being cable customers,
since much of their viewing needs could be met with online video they could
watch through the Google TV platform.
However, the battle is far from over as there are still plenty of
people who are perfectly satisfied continuing to order on-demand movies from
their cable box instead of streaming them online from Netflix or Amazon. I am
one of them so far and just paid to see two new movies through Comcast this
afternoon.. Perhaps I am just lazy but ease of access is a big factor with
entertainment and I am not a gadget person like many others.
Google TV may urge on more innovation or reform by the cable
providers. I have seen a great increase in Comcast’s on-demand since options
like Netflicks became more prominent. Hopefully this will result in a win for
consumers regardless of the outcome. All this competition does seem to ensure one thing, the Web and TV are
becoming more connected to the benefit of viewers regardless of which vendors
win.
Goals determine what you are going to be.—Julius Erving
All human wisdom is summed up in two words ?C wait and hope.—Alexandre Dumas Pére
Posted by: jordan retro 11 | July 08, 2010 at 04:27 AM