Google publishes additional Google TV details

Nearly five months after the original announcement at this year's Google I/O developer conference, Google has published additional details about its upcoming Google TV platform. Based on the company's open source Android operating system, Google TV provides internet access and streamed video via a set-top box connected to a conventional television. Google TV is aimed at bringing the best of the web to the "high-quality viewing experience that TV offers", allowing for "a single, seamless entertainment experience".

As previously confirmed by Google, Android-powered Google TV devices will run the Chrome web browser, allowing users access to the web along with a plethora of other entertainment content options. Additionally, support for many existing Android applications will be built-in and other custom apps specifically for the TV experience are already being developed, including remote control applications using Android and iPhone devices as the Google TV remote.

In addition to launching a new web site with screen-shots and more information about apps and other Google TV platform features, Google has announced that it has already formed several partnerships with a number of content providers. Notable partners include Turner Broadcasting, which consists of US TV channels TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, NBC Universal, HBO and the NBA.

According to Google TV Developer Product Manager Ambarish Kenghe, other partnerships include premium content providers like Amazon with its Video On Demand service and DVD rental and online streaming service Netflix. With services like Netflix, users can instantly stream thousands of TV shows and movies to their TVs.

More details about Google TV can be found in Kenghe's post on the Official Google TV Blog. A sneak preview video of apps for Google TV is also available on YouTube. Current builds of Google TV are reportedly based on version 2.1 of Android, however upgrades to the latest version are planned.

See also:

• Logitech's Google TV box to be called Revue, a report from The H.

(crve)