On Google TV (Again):
Even on vacation it was impossible to ignore the Google TV PR blitz over the last few days. But I’m still confused as to why the media enthusiastically echoes GTV’s feature set.
The Roku does nearly everything GTV does, it’s in market now, and it starts at $60. The Roku has apps, Netflix and Amazon support, and you can even use your phone as a remote (a much touted feature on the GTV webpage). It seems the only things the Roku can’t do are the ideas I thought we left in 1999: controlling a TV with a keyboard and mouse and browsing the Internet with a standard browser.
Plus the Roku is dead simple to use.
Despite this, every outlet hangs on every GTV release. For example, Engadget breathlessly updated a recent post regarding Netflix support, “Whoa, Netflix just confirmed that ‘Watch Instantly’ will be fully supported on Google TV devices launching later this month. Huzzah!”
But no one who would buy the GTV is short on Netflix support. Right now, no less than 3 boxes stashed under my TV will happily stream Netflix to me (and that’s not counting the iPhone in my pocket.) More than most outlets, Engadget should know better. I bet each writer has 3-5 Netflix streaming boxes in their entertainment center.
And then there’s the Turner, HBO, etc partnership. I’ve scoured each release and I can’t find any significant content Google gets out of the deals, beyond each site incorporating the Google TV API. But HBO only has promos and behind the scenes clips online, something that has been in the iTunes Store for years.
I applaud Google for their press stimulation. There’s great hype behind this box. But the only differentiating features it sports are unified search and Google branding. Those alone aren’t enough to warrant the high cost, especially for the masses.
