Google I/O 2010 - Google TV, Android 2.2 & WebM
0
Well, that was simply fantastic. Just when you thought Google can’t outdo I/O 2009 with the introduction of the revolutionary Google Wave, they blow us all away again with what is undoubtedly the most impressive I/O to date. Here is my take on the major announcements.
Google TV
In my opinion, this is the biggest announcement of the lot. There are more households with TVs in the World than there are households with computers, but let’s face it – TVs are boring. They can only show the things the station shows at an allocated date. You can plug in a gaming console, but that’s pretty much as far as they go without plugging a computer in. However, even that is a hassle.
You guessed it. Google TV is a OS that is designed for TVs. Sony will be starting to use Google TV as the OS of their TVs starting soon, and I expect many manufacturers to follow. Google TV will bring the Internet to your TV, and will support Android apps (most likely rewritten for the higher resolution, similar to iPad apps).
For existing TV owners, you can purchase a box manufactured by Logitech that works in the same way as Apple TV. You plug it into your TV, and boom, your TV is suddenly a Internet-connected computer with a UI specifically designed for the couch and the TV remote. New Sony TVs will come with this built in.
While the Apple TV is really the inventor of this type of concept, Google TV is what truly makes it a revolution. The Google TV to the Apple TV is what the iPhone was to all mobile phones. This is something I can confirm I will get as soon as it releases. I can see incredible potential in this concept. Brilliant work! Below is a video introducing what it is:
Android 2.2
Android 2.2 is huge update. With built-in tethering and native Flash 10.1 support, it looks like the mobile operating system of choice now for phones if you disregard the lack of apps. Chrome’s god-like V8 JavaScript engine will be built into the browser, and will increase speed dramatically. Also, the Music Store will be built-in, another attempt to take down the behemoth that is the iTunes store.
Despite these new feature additions, It will also suffer the same problem as previous releases – not supporting old handsets. This is a problem that Google really had no choice in, since there are so many Android phones in the wild, it’s not as easy as the iPhone OS, where there are only that many different iPhones out there.
In conclusion, I wouldn’t say that Android 2.2 on a Nexus One will be the iPhone killer we are waiting for, especially with Apple’s WWDC just around the corner. However, I think this is very healthy competition for Apple. I welcome it fullheartedly.
Also, I’d love to test how the Nexus One’s battery will last when Flash is eating into it. xD
WebM & VP8
Unfortunately, the only bad thing I have to say about I/O this year is this. I have nothing to compliment VP8 for. Google, attempting to leapfrog the whole HTML5 VS Flash debate, comes in with their own attempt – the VP8 video codec.
On the surface, it seems good. It’s not a resource hog like Flash, and seems to decode video just fine. But on a closer look – how is it different to H.264? It would have been OK if Google actually came up with something on their own, but any close observer can see that VP8 copies H.264 closely enough to all but guarantee patent problems.
Now Google, who owns YouTube (accounting for 40% of the web’s video), will push VP8 onto it. This is not what we call an “Open Web”. If you want a detailed analysis, there is a very good one here.
Via. My Blog.
Google TV
In my opinion, this is the biggest announcement of the lot. There are more households with TVs in the World than there are households with computers, but let’s face it – TVs are boring. They can only show the things the station shows at an allocated date. You can plug in a gaming console, but that’s pretty much as far as they go without plugging a computer in. However, even that is a hassle.
You guessed it. Google TV is a OS that is designed for TVs. Sony will be starting to use Google TV as the OS of their TVs starting soon, and I expect many manufacturers to follow. Google TV will bring the Internet to your TV, and will support Android apps (most likely rewritten for the higher resolution, similar to iPad apps).
For existing TV owners, you can purchase a box manufactured by Logitech that works in the same way as Apple TV. You plug it into your TV, and boom, your TV is suddenly a Internet-connected computer with a UI specifically designed for the couch and the TV remote. New Sony TVs will come with this built in.
While the Apple TV is really the inventor of this type of concept, Google TV is what truly makes it a revolution. The Google TV to the Apple TV is what the iPhone was to all mobile phones. This is something I can confirm I will get as soon as it releases. I can see incredible potential in this concept. Brilliant work! Below is a video introducing what it is:
Android 2.2
Android 2.2 is huge update. With built-in tethering and native Flash 10.1 support, it looks like the mobile operating system of choice now for phones if you disregard the lack of apps. Chrome’s god-like V8 JavaScript engine will be built into the browser, and will increase speed dramatically. Also, the Music Store will be built-in, another attempt to take down the behemoth that is the iTunes store.
Despite these new feature additions, It will also suffer the same problem as previous releases – not supporting old handsets. This is a problem that Google really had no choice in, since there are so many Android phones in the wild, it’s not as easy as the iPhone OS, where there are only that many different iPhones out there.
In conclusion, I wouldn’t say that Android 2.2 on a Nexus One will be the iPhone killer we are waiting for, especially with Apple’s WWDC just around the corner. However, I think this is very healthy competition for Apple. I welcome it fullheartedly.
Also, I’d love to test how the Nexus One’s battery will last when Flash is eating into it. xD
WebM & VP8
Unfortunately, the only bad thing I have to say about I/O this year is this. I have nothing to compliment VP8 for. Google, attempting to leapfrog the whole HTML5 VS Flash debate, comes in with their own attempt – the VP8 video codec.
On the surface, it seems good. It’s not a resource hog like Flash, and seems to decode video just fine. But on a closer look – how is it different to H.264? It would have been OK if Google actually came up with something on their own, but any close observer can see that VP8 copies H.264 closely enough to all but guarantee patent problems.
Now Google, who owns YouTube (accounting for 40% of the web’s video), will push VP8 onto it. This is not what we call an “Open Web”. If you want a detailed analysis, there is a very good one here.
Via. My Blog.
0
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only unique aspect I see GoogleTV bringing to the market is the ability to search for shows on your television. Taking into regards Apple TV's failure, I wonder if Google made the wrong decision in trying to bust into the market with their product. Me personally, I feel like Google has simply been trying to play a "catch up" game with Apple, more so than concentrating on innovation from within and rolling out unique products. Apple has really slowed down in terms of introduction of new products in contrast to the early 2000's... It would be smart for Google to take advantage of this opportunity and remove itself from Apple's shadow. Certainly curious though to see how GoogleTV fares though, and whether the TV&Internet combination will ever gain movement amongst consumers.
0
It's true thar Apple TV is the inventor of this concept, but what's wrong with taking a failed attempt and improving it like the Google TV is doing? So what if the mobile phone has been invented already? The iPhone still revolutionised the industry. Google TV will be the first to provide an open OS for TVs, and will open up a whole new platform for Developers. If the iPad is a symbol of anything, its that we are approaching the age of Post-PC devices, and the Google TV will allow our big screens to do so much more than what they're capable of doing now.
0
Sindalf
Used to do stuff
Rather interesting to see someone finally taking the TV and doing so much more with it. I have always wondered myself just what would happen if we put the something like an internet browser on a TV. What I am guessing will eventually come from such a situation is a more on demand type of service, possibly a decent solution to internet piracy of TV shows or atleast better legal alternatives.
0
Of course, Netflix being associated with Google TV is already somewhat of a solution to this "on demand" type of service you talk about.
As for the Internet Piracy of TV shows, a lot of them are available on Netflix. The pirates will still pirate the shows though, and Google TV actually helps them. Since Google TV can run Android apps, it's only a matter of days (literally) before we get an app that streams movies stored on the computers on the network over Wi-Fi to play on Google TV, a remote control client for uTorrent, and an IRC client for all those Anime. After all, all these apps are already on the iPhone OS. In no way is Android any less powerful than the iPhone OS, and we don't even need to start on its open nature for developers.
I watch a lot of Anime stored on my Mac on the iPad, streamed wirelessly in full resolution. The Google TV will take this idea to the next level. No more will there be the hassle of plugging in your laptop every time you want to watch something on the 50" display.
As for the Internet Piracy of TV shows, a lot of them are available on Netflix. The pirates will still pirate the shows though, and Google TV actually helps them. Since Google TV can run Android apps, it's only a matter of days (literally) before we get an app that streams movies stored on the computers on the network over Wi-Fi to play on Google TV, a remote control client for uTorrent, and an IRC client for all those Anime. After all, all these apps are already on the iPhone OS. In no way is Android any less powerful than the iPhone OS, and we don't even need to start on its open nature for developers.
I watch a lot of Anime stored on my Mac on the iPad, streamed wirelessly in full resolution. The Google TV will take this idea to the next level. No more will there be the hassle of plugging in your laptop every time you want to watch something on the 50" display.
0
I guess I'm just looking at this more from a business point of view, rather than from an industry's perspective. Yes, for the television industry itself, it is exciting that companies are finally looking to expand upon the technology of TV's beyond how it actually displays.
There's certainly nothing wrong with taking concepts and improving upon them, but I wonder if this is a smart move for Google in the business sense. Don't get me wrong, I love Google and own an Android phone myself, but I personally wouldn't call GoogleTV revolutionary from what they've announced so far. It is interesting that they are taking an OS approach to televisions, but I wonder if that in itself is a game changer. In the best case scenario, Google will be able to pull the "next generation TV" product outside of a niche market and into the focus of everyday consumers... But I just can't see that happening with what features they've announced so far. I understand that they've only just made this announcement though, and I certainly look forward to reading more details about it as they are released.
There's certainly nothing wrong with taking concepts and improving upon them, but I wonder if this is a smart move for Google in the business sense. Don't get me wrong, I love Google and own an Android phone myself, but I personally wouldn't call GoogleTV revolutionary from what they've announced so far. It is interesting that they are taking an OS approach to televisions, but I wonder if that in itself is a game changer. In the best case scenario, Google will be able to pull the "next generation TV" product outside of a niche market and into the focus of everyday consumers... But I just can't see that happening with what features they've announced so far. I understand that they've only just made this announcement though, and I certainly look forward to reading more details about it as they are released.