Google TV - Android Community

Tagged: Google TV

Lenovo’s Android 4.0 Smart TV reviewed in China

By Michael Crider
on 7 May, 2012

We're pretty hot on the Google TV platform here at Android Community. But we can't fault Lenovo for going its own way in China, since Google TV still isn't available outside America. The company has created its own hardware and custom ICS software to deliver a Smart TV ccompetitor to the likes of Samsung's Smart TV line, and Chinese website MICgadget got their hands on one.

Google TV updates YouTube with better playback and Google+ support

By Cory Gunther
on 27 Apr, 2012

Who has a Google TV? Do you love it and use YouTube? Today Google has just announced another update for GTV, although this is just for the YouTube app. It won't do anything revolutionary but they are claiming the video playback with be extremely smoooooth, as well as a few other improvements and new features too. Read on below for full details.

LG’s Google TV could come as soon as this week

By Michael Crider
on 11 Apr, 2012

Remember the big brouhaha that Google made over its handful of new partners for Google TV back in January, including LG? Remember how only Sony, Google's sole remaining partner from the original Google TV launch, actually showed new hardware at CES a week later? Yeah, that was a bummer. But now the Korea Herald reports that LG may finally be readying its Google TV hardware, and the shiny new TV sets could land in the US (you know, the only country that actually has Google TV service at this point) as soon as this weekend.

Sony: Google TV finally hits Europe in September

By Michael Crider
on 2 Apr, 2012

We've been hearing lament and woe from international Google fans over the lack of Google TV outside the land of the free ever since it was released. Well those of you living in Europe finally, finally have a time frame in which to expect Google TV availability: September. That's when Sony France says that it'll begin selling Google TV stand-alone hardware, according to Les Echos. A Google TV box is expected to retail at around €200, with a Blu-ray version landing at around €300. Given the time frame, this will almost certainly be the Sony Google TV box we saw at CES.

Google video service approved for Kansas City

By Michael Crider
on 19 Mar, 2012

Quick, everybody - get you Nostradamus hats on. Google has applied for a license to distribute an at-home video service in Kansas City, Missouri, which has become unofficially known as "the luckiest city in America" after the company chose it as the test site for its fiber-optic Internet service. Regulators approved their application late last month, meaning that Kansas City could well become the very first place that Google starts competing directly with cable and satellite television providers. Their internet infrastructure would almost certainly form the backbone of this video service.

Google TV adds international content channels

By Michael Crider
on 16 Mar, 2012

Google TV is still available in the US only, but if you're an immigrant or expatriate longing for the soothing TV shows of home, you're in luck. Google just announced via its Google TV blog that a host of international channels are being added to the Google Play Store, specifically designed for viewing on Google TV. All the new apps feature localized content for free... just not local to their respective nations. That's right, you still have to reside in the United States (or be pretty handy with a proxy) to get to any of it.

Less than one million Google TV devices sold so far

By Michael Crider
on 29 Feb, 2012

We had hoped that CES last month would bring better news for Google TV, but things only seem to be getting worse since Logitech abandoned the platform. According to Google's first party Google TV apps in the Android Market, no single app - including seemingly essential ones like Youtube, Photos for Google TV and the ubiquitous program guide TV & Movies, has been installed more than a million times. That would seem to imply that less than a million total Google TV units have been sold and activated worldwide, despite being available for almost 18 months.

Able Remote allows voice control for your Google TV

By Sam Koutroulakis
on 20 Feb, 2012

We just announced Google's recent application for a patent to bring voice controls to Google TV. Lo and behold, Able Remote does just that. It essentially turns your Android device into a Google TV remote control. The remote doesn't limit the user to simple touch commands either; swiping gestures as well as voice commands will offer users a more customized way to control their television.

Sony’s Google TV gets root and unsigned kernels

By Michael Crider
on 20 Feb, 2012

Now that Logitech's out of the game and Google's new partners seem more interested in promoting their own Smart TV regimes, Sony remains one of the few Google TV promoters left. And considering that the Revue still has a locked bootloader, Sony's set-top box and/or integrated TV remains the ony one that you can root, mod and generally get your hack on. The GTV Hacker (real name unknown) has released a patch and method for getting the Sony Google TV rooted and running unsigned, modified kernels.

Google applies for patent, brings voice controls to Google TV

By Cory Gunther
on 20 Feb, 2012

Google has some big plans for Android and our homes. With lots of discussion lately of a Android@Home project under way and more we are now seeing some information that Google has applied for a patent to bring Voice actions and Siri-like voice controls to our living rooms and Google TV. Put down that remote, let Google and Android do everything for you.