Newsletter 
About a month ago, Eric Schmidt said 50% of all new TV’s will be powered by Google TV. Then we heard rumors of Samsung, LG, Vizion and Sony all joining them to make smart TV’s powered by nothing else than Google TV. From a partner point of view, I believe this is a great win for Google.
They also improved the interface quite a lot when they switched to Honeycomb, although I wish they would’ve just used Android 4.0 by now, but I guess not enough time to do that for the TV, since the interface seems to be a lot different than what tablets have.The point is it should also be easier for the user to use it.
Now, the question is, will it be enough? I’ve been pretty critical of Google’s decision in the past to use a full blown PC keyboard to control what is still just a TV. The TV is not really a PC, and even if you connect it to the Internet, it shouldn’t work exactly like a PC. The experience should be vastly more intuitive and vastly faster to access your videos. It remains to be seen how much they’ve improved in this area.
Another big news is that they’re finally moving away from Intel Atom CE, which draw too much power, and it also made the set top boxes at least $100 more expensive at retail. Google is rumored to use a Marvell Armada ARM chip now, which is something they should’ve done from the beginning. ARM can be used in anything Atom can be used now, and they’re a much better choice. There’s nothing and no market where Atom can exist, that couldn’t be completely overtaken by ARM chips, even the “netbook” market ultimately. Just wait until there are more Asus Transformer alternatives.
But back to the LG Google TV, I really like the design. It looks very modern, and it makes Google TV look nice, too, by association. Anyone interested in buying one soon?
SEOUL, Jan. 6, 2012 — LG Electronics (LG) will introduce its highly anticipated Google TV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. LG Smart TV with Google TV combines the familiarity of Google’s Android OS with the convenience and comfort of LG’s 3D and Smart TV technologies, offering consumers a new and attractive home entertainment option.
“LG has constantly strived to provide consumers with wider choices in home entertainment that bring the highest level of sophistication and convenience,” said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. “Through Google TV, LG has merged Google’s established Android operating system with LG’s proven 3D and Smart TV technologies, offering consumers a new and enthralling TV experience.”
LG’s Google TV’s most attractive feature is its ease of use, thanks to the combination of its Android-based user interface and the Magic Remote Qwerty designed by LG. LG’s Google TV’s user interface and main screen have been designed for convenient browsing and content selection. Multi-tasking is also possible, as the search, social networking and TV functions can be run simultaneously. The user interface can be accessed using the Magic Remote Qwerty which combine the user-friendly benefits of LG’s Magic Remote with a QWERTY keyboard.
Equipped with LG’s own CINEMA 3D technology, Google TV provides a home entertainment experience that is immersive, comfortable and convenient. Based on LG’s own Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology, CINEMA 3D glasses are battery-free, comfortable and lightweight. The glasses are also very affordable, making LG’s Google TV ideal for viewing by a large group of family and friends when used in 3D mode. And with a single click of the remote, any 2D program or movie can be viewed in 3D, thanks to the built-in 2D to 3D conversion engine.
Alongside Google TV, LG will continue to advance its own Smart TV platform based on NetCast, which will be available in more than 60 percent of LG’s flat panel TVs scheduled for introduction over the coming year. With a growing collection of content and services, LG’s Smart TV platform will continue to provide consumers with a unique user experience.
The first demonstration of LG’s Google TV will take place at the LG Electronics Press Conference on January 9.