Jul 28, 2011 at 1:53pm ET by Matt McGee

Is Google TV testing Larry Page's patience? With his renewed focus on streamlining Google's product roster, this news surely isn't going over well in Mountain View: Logitech has reported that its Logitech Revue console had more units returned than sold in the company's latest financial quarter (Q1 2012). Ouch. As a result, Logitech says it'll cut the unit's price from $249.99 to $99. The Revue has already had one price cut; it was $300 when launched late last year and dropped to $250 recently due to slow sales. In its prepared financial remarks (PDF, shared by GigaOM), Logitech says i [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Google: TV

YouTube Is The Real “Google TV”

Apr 7, 2011 at 10:26am ET by Greg Sterling

Google TV, the company's much-hyped "Connected TV" effort that brought together Sony, Logitech and Dish Networks, has failed to deliver on its promise -- at least so far. While sales figures haven't been released the public isn't biting, it would appear. Google TV (the product) may ultimately join the ranks of Google Wave as an ambitious failure. However it's still a bit premature to call it that. Regardless the news yesterday that YouTube is planning to spend $100 million or more on new and original content and that it will lease almost 14,000 square feet of new office space in Beverly [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Google: TV | Google: YouTube & Video

Google Wants TV Show Owners To Start Tagging Video

Mar 24, 2011 at 7:34pm ET by Matt McGee

Google is encouraging TV show owners/providers to begin tagging their online videos with several new fields that can be used in both video sitemaps and mRSS feeds. The new fields include specific data for identifying the show/series title, season and episode numbers, premiere date and more. Google's blog post explains and shows the correct code in more detail. Interestingly, that blog post also begins by saying the new fields should be used "if your website is the authoritative source for the video of a particular TV show." But there's nothing stopping other sites that post unofficial TV [...]

Why You’re Still Waiting For Hulu Plus On Google TV

Jan 10, 2011 at 1:07pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Nearly three months after Google TV hit the stores, Hulu Plus has yet to come to the service. Is the technical development really taking that much time? No. It seems more like Google and Hulu are still working out a partnership deal. Hulu Works For Samsung TVs Last week's Consumer Electronics Show got me thinking about what's up with Hulu and Google TV. I spent some time with a Samsung Smart TV and found Hulu Plus working great on that platform: In fact, Samsung told me it has had its Hulu Plus app since the middle of last year. In addition, Hulu's not blocking Samsung's built-in web [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Features: Analysis | Google: TV | Internet-To-TV | Top News

Internet-To-TV Players Compared: Roku, Apple TV, Boxee & Google TV

Jan 5, 2011 at 6:46am ET by Danny Sullivan

Looking to stream movies or television content from the internet to your TV? There are a variety of streaming media players on the market. The chart below provides an at-a-glance look at how the leaders -- Roku, Apple TV, Boxee Box and Google TV -- measure up against each other. After the chart, you'll find further details about the features listed, why they may be important to you, followed by links to our reviews of each product. Please note that this chart only covers how these players are configured and work in the United States. Unfortunately, we can't test these for other countries [...]

Report: Logitech Revue Paused, More Trouble In Google TV Land?

Dec 27, 2010 at 3:39pm ET by Greg Sterling

Last Friday a report appeared, citing the usual "anonymous sources," that asserted Logitech asked one of its suppliers to "temporarily suspend shipments of [its Google TV] Revue set-top boxes for the period from December 2010 to January 2011 waiting for Google to complete updates or to launch a new version of its software for Google TV." [caption id="attachment_59772" align="alignleft" width="218" caption="Credit: Logitech"][/caption] This is consistent with a similar article that appeared in the NY Times last weekend reporting an apparent request by Google to several TV OEM partners [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Google: TV | Top News

Programming Your DVR Made Easy: Google TV, Dish & The Logitech Revue

Dec 22, 2010 at 5:38pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Google TV has taken its share of lumps since it launched in October, but it shines bright in one particular aspect, making it simple for Dish Network subscribers to find shows and program their DVRs. Below, a look at Dish integration, as well as some hands-on with the Logitech Revue version of Google TV. Background On Google TV If you're not familiar with Google TV, it's a system that allows you to search for video content across the web and across broadcast television at the same time. Currently, it's integrated into some Sony televisions, into a standalone Sony Blu-ray player and in a stan [...]

Google TV: Snatching Failure From The Jaws Of Success?

Dec 21, 2010 at 3:27pm ET by Greg Sterling

When I first saw Google TV at the Google developer conference in May I was impressed. Google appeared to have created a powerful new combination of TV and web -- and a new market for itself -- built on the Android OS. But since that time the company has very publicly stumbled, getting blocked by the major networks and receiving very mixed reviews for the service itself. Now Google has apparently asked several TV OEM partners to delay launch of their versions of Google TV at next month's Consumer Electronics Show "so that it can refine the software," says the NY Times. A representative examp [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Features: Analysis | Google: TV

Viacom Blocks Google TV From Airing Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and Nickelodeon

Nov 22, 2010 at 2:14pm ET by Barry Schwartz

GTVHub reports that Google TV is now being blocked by Viacom. Shows such on popular networks such as Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and Nickelodeon are not viewable via the Google TV. Previously, ABC, CBS and NBC blocked Google TV and so did Fox many of those channels returned to Google TV soon after. Viacom, which has a long history with battling Google over YouTube, has surprisingly not blocked Google TV until now. Now, if you try to access any of the Viacom channels, you will see a message that reads: Sorry, this content is unavailable for your device. For more stories on this n [...]

Google TV Ads Coming To Verizon FiOS TV Customers

Nov 18, 2010 at 11:51am ET by Barry Schwartz

Google has announced a partnership with Verizon to have Google TV Ads power some of the ads on the Verizon FiOS TV network. The ads should begin showing in "early 2011" and be seen by about "35 million households, or almost one-third of all US cable and satellite homes." To learn more about Google TV Ads, see google.com/adwords/tvads. Mark Piesanen, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Google TV Ads said, "Like Google, Verizon cares deeply about the evolution and future of TV advertising. Together we're thrilled to establish this partnership to offer great inventory and access to your [...]

Hulu Plus Rides To The Rescue Of Google TV?

Nov 17, 2010 at 1:03pm ET by Greg Sterling

Hulu Plus, the ad-reduced subscription service from Hulu, just dropped its price to $7.99 from $9.99. It just launched on the Roku box as well. It's also on the iPad and a range of TVs. The company plans to push distribution to a wide range of devices, reportedly including Google TV. That would circumvent some of the problems Google has experienced with the networks blocking access to their content. The combination of Hulu Plus for $7.99 and Netflix streaming for $7.99/8.99 will be sufficient to convince some people to drop their cable. That may be more challenging if it's part of a bun [...]

Boxee Box: My First Day Review & Impressions

Nov 13, 2010 at 5:01pm ET by Danny Sullivan

As part of my Life With Google TV series, I’ve been looking at other internet-to-TV devices. Previously, I reviewed Roku. Next up? The Boxee Box. If you're already a fan of the Boxee software service, the device might be worth it. However, it left me underwhelmed. That may improve when Netflix & Hulu Plus support finally comes. My Real Life Testing Approach I know that Boxee has legions of fans who have been using the software version for ages. If you're one of those ready to scream at me about why the Boxee Box is awesome, hang on to those thoughts for a moment. My approach with th [...]

The Networks vs. Google: Fox Now Blocking Google TV Too

Nov 11, 2010 at 8:05am ET by Greg Sterling

Fox Broadcasting has become the fourth major US network to block Google TV from accessing its programing. The Rupert Murdoch-owned entity joins ABC, CBS and NBC, which all previously blocked Google TV access to their shows. Google has said it's "actively negotiating" with ABC, CBS and NBC to restore access to the programming. Add Fox to that list. I believe the programming dispute will ultimately be resolved but the networks are arguably in the stronger bargaining position; Google needs them more than they need Google here -- especially if "cord cutting" isn't happening and they don't ne [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Google: TV

Roku: My First Day Review & Impressions

Oct 28, 2010 at 6:34am ET by Danny Sullivan

Until recently, I'd never heard of Roku, a little box that makes it easy to download TV shows and movies through the internet, for viewing on your TV. But as part of my Life With Google TV series, I'm looking at other internet-to-TV devices. Roku is pretty cool, and a no brainer for anyone who often uses Netflix or Amazon rentals, I'd say. It's forthcoming Hulu support makes it even more attractive. Roku and Google TV are similar in that they bring video content from the internet to your television. But that's where the similarities end. Google TV an ambitious attempt to let you search for [...]

Life With Google TV: Watching, But Not Finding, Free Caprica Episodes On The Web

Oct 26, 2010 at 2:49pm ET by Danny Sullivan

My Life With Google TV series continues. Yesterday's test: how well could Google TV locate free (and legitimate) episodes of Caprica on the web? Answer: not very well. But once I found them the old fashioned way, Google TV did make it pretty easy to watch them on the "big" screen of my TV, versus my laptop. I always seems to be missing episodes of new TV shows when a season begins. The promise of Google TV is that wherever a TV show might exist legitimately -- be it pay-per-view, broadcast TV or on the web -- Google TV will locate it. Looking For Caprica Using Google TV Yesterday, I tried [...]

A Tour Of How Networks Have Blocked Google TV From Their Web Content

Oct 22, 2010 at 2:28am ET by Danny Sullivan

After less than a week since its release, three of America's largest television networks have started blocking Google TV users from watching video content on their web sites. Sort of. While ABC and CBS keep Google TV viewers out, as does Hulu, NBC actually still seems to let them in. Below, a visual look at the blocked world of Google TV. Google TV & Network Content Before doing the blocking tour, I think some basics are in order. For one, none of the networks are blocking Google TV users from accessing broadcast television. You can still go to ABC, CBS and NBC directly to watch over-the [...]

Optimizing For Google TV

Oct 22, 2010 at 2:17am ET by Vanessa Fox

Google TV is here! It includes a full web browser, so if you have a lot of video content, you might want to optimize for larger screens and audiences who are sitting on their couches. Fortunately, Google has published some optimization tips. In a blog post, they suggest optimizing for the "10-foot user interface" and a remote rather than a mouse, which they've done with YouTube videos with YouTube Leanback. The post links to their TV viewing design guide and recommends ensuring: The text is viewable from the "sofa-to-TV" distance Navigation can be done from the arrows of a remote rath [...]

Networks To Google TV: Talk To The Hand

Oct 21, 2010 at 9:38pm ET by Greg Sterling

TV is changing for better or worse. And perhaps sensing that their control over audiences and distribution is further slipping away and that their expensive programming is being reduced to mere "content," the major broadcast networks are blocking access from Google TV. According to a story this afternoon in the Wall Street Journal: Full-length episodes of shows like NBC's "The Office," CBS's "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and ABC's "Modern Family" can't be viewed on Google TV . . . Spokespeople for the three networks confirmed that they are blocking the episodes on their [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Video | Google: TV

Life With Google TV: My First Day Review & Impressions

Oct 21, 2010 at 1:15am ET by Danny Sullivan

Google TV has finally arrived, not just for pre-order but as an actual device you can get in a retail store. And so I did, hitting Best Buy yesterday and walking out with a Sony Blu-ray player that is Google TV-capable. Here are my impressions, after my first day -- well, first evening -- with Google TV. What Google TV Devices Are Out There? If you're interested in Google TV right now, or in the very near future, you have one of three options: Sony Internet TV (24" through 46" and $600 to $1,400) Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Player (a set-top box, not an actual TV, $400) Logitech Rev [...]

Playing With YouTube Leanback On Google TV: Nice!

Oct 16, 2010 at 1:32am ET by Danny Sullivan

Today at YouTube, I had a chance to play briefly with YouTube Leanback, best described as a way to channel surf YouTube on your regular TV. It was pretty cool. Here's my quick impressions and a short video of it in action. I tested out Leanback on one of the new Sony televisions that are equipped with Google TV. The Google TV-capable Sonys go on sale tomorrow online through the Sony web site, and YouTube has spruced up Leanback in anticipation of this. Leanback is a core part of Google TV. It's meant to bring YouTube to your television seemlessly. Leanback allows you to easily flip throu [...]

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