News and rumours about Google TV – an open-source software platform developed together by some of the world’s most influential technology companies including Google, Sony, Intel and Logitech – have been circulating aplenty since it was officially unveiled back in May this year. Very soon many of the questions will be answered, because the first HDTV to be powered by Google TV is set to be launched in less than 3 weeks’ time.
Sony has sent out an invitation to the press for an international launch of the company’s first-ever Google TV set, which is scheduled to take place in New York on the 12th of October. Never one to shy away from controversial marketing, Sony has billed its Google TV display as the “world’s first internet television”. Of course, rival TV makers like Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Philips might take exception to that, since for some time now most of their HDTV offerings have boasted internet connectivity (albeit in a more limited fashion).
Based on the Google Android operating system (most commonly found on smartphones), and powered by Intel’s Atom microprocessor (which underpins most netbooks), Google TV has been designed to deliver a seamless experience between conventional TV viewing and internet browsing/ Flash video streaming. Showcased among other products at Sony’s stand at the IFA 2010 expo in Berlin, the Sony Google-TV-powered television now has an official launch date, confirming earlier rumours suggesting that it would be launched during the first half of October.
Hopefully pricing and availability details will be revealed at the Sony Google TV launch press conference. Logitech, a partner also in the Google TV project, is rushing to release its Logitech Revue set-top box sporting the Google TV platform, which may prove more popular with users who are not willing to splash out on a new (Sony) HDTV just to get the Google TV experience.