It was reported late last year by Bloomberg that Samsung would be making Google TVs with the use of Intel chips. The idea itself made little sense as Samsung makes its own chips based on the ARM architecture that run the same Android on which Google TV is based.
The ARM chips have a clear advantage in terms of power consumption, and production price. Samsung’s recently announced dual core Exynos processors would seem a much better fit in almost every way.
The advantage Google TV has over its competition by using the larger and more expensive Intel chips are that it can play flash video and 1080p but at a premium of $300 compared to the average set-top box price of $100. The current ARM designs can now match the performance.
Google had initially agreed to a Google TV and Intel exclusivity deal making this impossible, but the deal has been lifted however Intel was Google’s launch partner. With the change Samsung along with other TV manufacturers that produce ARM based mobile products will also apparently make the switch. Intel is working hard on making lower power. lower heat designs but it may be too late at this point.
Source: CNN