CES 2012: The Year Of Google TV's Comeback

To some, Google TV is already a dead platform that failed to deliver on its promises. But after a year of garnering almost no significant news, the platform may be coming back in a big way at next week's CES.

The TV operating system - that is, software designed to be built into the TV hardware itself - has only been integrated into one product line so far. Sony's Internet TV sets were the launching pad for Google TV but due to various concerns no other Google TV-powered set has launched.

The problem is that Google was unable to strongly differentiate Google TV from the myriad other Internet-connected TV offerings. There was a lot of buzz about being able to use apps and surf the Web, but Google restricted apps such that only the major ones like Netflix and CNN - apps that exist on every other Internet-connected TV - were available.

Google recently revamped its TV platform and now offers dozens of apps ported directly from the mobile Android Market, but there still isn't a strong, compelling reason to buy a Google TV. Nothing makes it extraordinary.

What would be cool is if Google TV allowed you to chat with others in real-time while you're watching a show, or analyzed your watching habits such that it could intelligently guess when to change the channel for you. Those kinds of features would be exciting. What it currently offers is not so much.

That will soon change. Google rolled out a firmware update for the platform last year, giving users a much more user-friendly experience as well as access to a TV-optimized version of the Android Market, making it possible to run everything from social games to instant messaging apps from the TV.

Now, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio will all have Google TV products to announce at CES, which kicks off next week. We're excited to see what the future holds for Google TV.

Via ZDNet

Updates

ENERGY:: Reality Check: Obama’s Clean Coal Claims – IER

Source: Snow Report Blog

According to White House energy adviser Heather Zichal, the Obama administration still sees a future for coal. She also said that the administration wasn’t “singing ‘Kumbaya’” with the natural gas industry and was committed to seeing coal burned “in a mo ...
Full article at: Snow Report Blog  More like this  2 hours ago

Internet usage patterns may signify depression

Source: Jerusalem Post

ROLLA, Mo. – In a new study analyzing Internet usage among college students, researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology have found that students who show signs of depression tend to use the Internet differently ...
Full article at: Jerusalem Post  More like this  8 hours ago

Nokia and X-Prize put medical sensors on the spot for next challenge

Source: Engadget

NOKIA SENSING X CHALLENGE - SEARCHING THE WORLD FOR THE MOST POWERFUL DIGITAL HEALTH SENSORS TO TRANSFORM THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY inShare Share on emailShare on print X PRIZE Foundation and Nokia Introduce $2.25 Millio ...
Full article at: Engadget  More like this  8 hours ago

Don't miss ...

• More CES Stories
• I4U News Homepage