For some time, Apple has viewed its Apple TV product as a ‘hobby.’ While the device has been updated occasionally, the streaming video gadget has not been seen as a weapon in Cupertino’s battle with Google for media supremacy. However, that may change as word leaks that Google, Intel and Sony have teamed-up for GoogleTV.
A GoogleTV prototype already exists, according to the New York Times. The device employs Google’s Android operating system, Google’s Chrome Web browser and Intel’s Atom processor. The project has been underway for several months and plans to get a toolkit to developer over the next two months, with products introduced possibly this summer. Google has begun limiting testing of its set-top box with Dish Network, according to the NYT.
Logitech has been added to the project for their knowledge of peripheral devices such as remotes and keyboards, the report adds.
Although others have tried to refine Apple TV, such as Boxee TV,
“Google wants to be everywhere the Internet is so they can put ads there,” the newspaper quotes a person with knowledge of the project. According to the report, Google plans software allowing TV viewers to do Internet searches, watch YouTube videos or check out Hulu content. Also part of the plan: games or other Web apps could be downloaded and run on the GoogleTV device.
[via New York Times and Computerworld]
