Google TV software update with Android apps

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The long awaited software update for Google TV is finally arriving according to the Google TV blog. The update will be rolling out to Sony devices early next week and Logitech devices soon thereafter.

The main features of the update include:

  • Simpler user interface
  • Improved search across content
  • Improved YouTube interface
  • Android App Market for Google TV
It hasn’t been mentioned whether there will be improvement in video codec support.

Here’s the “What is Google TV” release video:

Visions of the future

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On Tuesday Microsoft released this cool video titled, Productivity Future Vision (2011). It’s a nicely produced video and worth the watch; however, from a technological point of view it does not bring any new to the table.

Here are a few of the technologies included in the video:

  • Real-time speech translation
  • Ultra thin touch phones which work with gesture recognition
  • Transparent screens technology
  • Devices augmenting reality
  • Flexible screen technology
  • Stereoscopic displays
  • Fridges which keeps track of its contents

Get ready for some Ice Cream Sandwich

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Googlers putting up an Ice Cream Sandwich statue in the build up to the Android 4.0 launch event

Google and Samsung’s launch event of the Nexus Prime running the next iteration of Android, code named Ice Cream Sandwich, is set to happen at 10am, 19th October Hong Kong time, which is less than 5 hours away.

You can follow the event live at the Android Developer channel on YouTube.

Google TV releases emulation add-on for Android SDK

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On Tuesday Google TV released a new add-on for the Android SDK. The add-on contains support for Google TV emulation and additional configuration options not available in the previous SDK as well additional layout templates.

The developer website provides a list of system requirements for running the add-on, this includes only running on Linux OS with KVM. Below is a screenshot of the Google TV emulator:


The Android 3.1 Honeycomb update has long been anticipated since its announcement at Google IO earlier this year. Some of the features to be included are, access to the Android App market with customized apps based on the Google TV Android SDK, an updated user interface and support for additional video codecs.

Up until now Google TV has not met the high expectations place on it. The forthcoming update has the potential to move Google TV from a cheap gimmick into a serious contender which could disrupt the TV business.

Here’s some key dates in the history of Google TV:

Google TV level of interest

Chart of world wide level of interest in Google TV from Google Insights

March 18, 2010 – News reports that Google, Intel, Sony were planning a Android TV based platform. [article Information Week]

May 20, 2010 – Google TV introduced at Google I/O [watch video keynote]

October 6, 2010 – Google TV officially launched with devices from Sony and Logitech. The Logitech Revue a set top box running Google TV which was launched had a recommended retail price of $299

December 15, 2010 – Google TV pushed out an update with some additional features and fixes. Features include improved Netflix searching, NTFS support for USB sources, search by channel number on quick search and resizing of the “Dual View” screens. [Logitech forum] Also released is the Google TV remote app in the Android market place.

March 17, 2011 – Google TV release remote app for iPhone [Official Google TV Blog]

May 11, 2011 – Google show’s off Google TV and app development at Google I/O and say’s the Android 3.1 Honeycomb update will be coming to Google TV this summer. [article Ubergizmo]

May 13, 2011 - Logitech drops prices of Revue from $299 to $200 [article Inquisitr]

July 28, 2011 – Logitech drops prices of Revue from $200 to $99. At the new price point the Logitech Revue became the top selling product on Amazon’s “TV & Video” section and was a top 10 product in Amazon’s electronics category. [Anandtech]

August 22, 2011 – Google TV releases preview of the Android SDK add-on. [Official Google TV blog]

September 15, 2011 – Logitech freezes production of Logitech revue ahead of the Google TV platform update. [Digitimes article]

October 15, 2011 – Google TV releases emulation add-on for Android SDK [Official Google TV blog]

A brief history of multi-touch computing

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Minority Report a 2002 science-fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg was the one of the first times multi-touch and gesture recognition was exposed to a wider audience. The film has precipitated many technologies which have now become common place.Minority Report at Internet Movie Database.

Minority Report (2002)

Minority Report a 2002 science-fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg was the one of the first times multi-touch and gesture recognition was exposed to a wider audience. The film has precipitated many technologies which have now become common place.

Minority Report at Internet Movie Database.

Jeff Han is a research scientist for NYU's Courant Institute. In February 2006 he presented his work on Multi-Touch Interaction at the TED Conference in Monterey, CA. Jeff Han's TED talk on YouTube

TED : Jeff Han (2006) Ideas Worth Sharing

Jeff Han is a research scientist for NYU's Courant Institute. In February 2006 he presented his work on Multi-Touch Interaction at the TED Conference in Monterey, CA.

Jeff Han's TED talk on YouTube

Steve Jobs announcing the original iPhone at the Macworld convention in January 2007. This was the first consumer device to incorporate a multi-touch interface.In March 2, 2011, Apple announced that more than 100 million iPhones had been sold to date.iPhone introduced by Steve Jobs at Mac World event in January 2007.

iPhone (January 9, 2007)

Steve Jobs announcing the original iPhone at the Macworld convention in January 2007. This was the first consumer device to incorporate a multi-touch interface.

In March 2, 2011, Apple announced that more than 100 million iPhones had been sold to date.

iPhone introduced by Steve Jobs at Mac World event in January 2007.

According to Wikipedia Microsoft Surface (codename Milan) is a multi-touch product from Microsoft which is developed as a software and hardware combination technology that allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of gesture recognition. The Microsoft Surface was targeted at retail and commercial applications.Original Microsoft Surface video ad "The Possibilities" on YouTube.

Microsoft Surface (April 2008)

According to Wikipedia Microsoft Surface (codename Milan) is a multi-touch product from Microsoft which is developed as a software and hardware combination technology that allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of gesture recognition. The Microsoft Surface was targeted at retail and commercial applications.

Original Microsoft Surface video ad "The Possibilities" on YouTube.

Nexus One was Google's flagship smartphone running the Android operating system. An update in February 2, 2010 gave the Nexus One support for multi-touch gestures. On the 1st of August, this year, Android's market share exceeded 50% of the smartphone market worldwide.Nexus One original launch ad, "Web meets phone" on YouTube.

Nexus One (January 2010)

Nexus One was Google's flagship smartphone running the Android operating system. An update in February 2, 2010 gave the Nexus One support for multi-touch gestures. On the 1st of August, this year, Android's market share exceeded 50% of the smartphone market worldwide.

Nexus One original launch ad, "Web meets phone" on YouTube.

Apple Inc. CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs unveils the much anticipated iPad during an Apple event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, California, USA, 27 January 2010. Apple has sold more than 15 million original iPads representing 75% of tablet sales in 2010.Official iPad ad on YouTube.

iPad (January 2010)

Apple Inc. CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs unveils the much anticipated iPad during an Apple event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, California, USA, 27 January 2010.

Apple has sold more than 15 million original iPads representing 75% of tablet sales in 2010.

Official iPad ad on YouTube.

The proliferation of Android based multi-touch devices has shown phenomenal uptake. Multi-touch is now reaching a point of maturity and market saturation. See "Technology life cycle"

Success of the Android platform

The proliferation of Android based multi-touch devices has shown phenomenal uptake. Multi-touch is now reaching a point of maturity and market saturation.

See "Technology life cycle"

Google releases Dart web programming language

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Dart programming website

Dart is a class based programming language for web programming. The language is designed to be structured and offer high performance on “modern” web browsers.

Dart can currently be used in Chrome, Safari 5+, Firefox 4+. Read the official announcement here or visit the Dart language website for documentation and examples.

Google also released the Go programming language in November 2009 and Google’s Android operating system supports apps developed in Java programming language and compiled into Dalvik executables.