Google, Intel, Sony, Logitech, Adobe, Best Buy and DISH Network Launch Google TV

By Calvin Azuri, TMCnet Contributor

A direct-to-TV video called Google (News - Alert) TV was announced at the Google I/O Conference in San Francisco by Google in collaboration with Intel, Sony, Logitech (News - Alert), Adobe, Best Buy and DISH Network.

According to Gerry Kaufhold, principal analyst, In-Stat the launch signals a brave new world of video service. Google will be able to combine content with intelligent search with Android (News - Alert) and Chrome as the underpinning platform. User experience will be compelled with innovative services that spans High Definition TV sets and in-home devices, and eventually connect to everything, added Kaufhold.

YouTube, owned by Google, will be expanded beyond PCs and mobile handsets into living rooms with Google TV. YouTube content will be re-purposed at different video resolutions with the new free WebM-project video Coder/Decoder or CODEC, VP8 from Google. Any WebM-capable browser can be used for viewing these video and audio files.

Most people want both high-quality HDTV programs and convenient access to content from the Internet; according to the latest consumer research from In-Stat (News - Alert). Simultaneous search for content across DISH Network, the Internet, and their DVRs using a single remote control will be possible for DISH Network subscribers using Google TV.

With more than 1,400 stores in the United States and Canada, and 2,600 in Europe, Best Buy is perfectly positioned to benefit by supporting Google TV. A substantial amount of compelling content packaged and presented for demonstrations at the point of sale should be available with the launch of Google TV.

Mobile phones running Android 2.2; and Google TV devices will be able to run Adobe's new Flash Player 10.1. Flash Player 10.1 will give mobile devices access and display to the videos and applications available on web browsers.

Sony TV sets with Intel's (News - Alert) Consumer Electronic series of high-performance devices and the Google TV software are planned for launch later in the year. Being a partner of Google TV, Sony will gain access to YouTube video "channels" that will differentiate Sony's TV sets in the highly competitive consumer TV retail marketplace.

Existing set top boxes in a consumer's home will interoperate with Logitech's Harmony remote control technology to provide them with the use one remote control to tune-in broadcast and Pay-TV content.

(source: http://iptv.tmcnet.com/topics/iptv/articles/86125-google-intel-sony-logitech-adobe-best-buy-dish.htm)