(In the US)
Google will launch a new service to bring the web to TV screens this autumn.
The company's CEO Eric Schmidt said the Google TV service, which will allow full internet browsing via the television, will follow the Android model of being free to manufacturers. Apps from the Android Market will be supported from early next year.
Google will work with a variety of programme makers and electronics manufacturers to bring it to consumers, with the first devices arriving in the US this autumn. The service will be available in other countries from 2011.
Sony will offer a Blu-ray player as well as an HD TV running Google's software, while Logitech will sell a box to connect the system to existing TVs.
Google isn't looking to get into film, TV or other content production, however. "We will work with content providers but it is very unlikely that we will get into actual content production," Schmidt told journalists after a keynote speech at the IFA show in Berlin.
The announcement came less than a week after rival Apple unveiled its latest Apple TV product, and heats up a battle for consumers' attention and potentially the $180 billion global TV advertising market.
Chrome OS
Schmidt also said Google would announce partnerships later this year with makers of tablet computers that would use Google's new Chrome OS, due to be launched soon, rather than its Android phone software that has been used for mobile devices until now.
"It's targeted at the netbook space, but because it's free and open source, people will also use it for tablets," Schmidt said. "But it's too early to say exactly how it will play out and we're looking forward to the partnership announcement's later this year."
Read more: Google TV to launch this year | News | PC Pro
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/360949/goog ... z0yyMmFPjBCan't say I'm that excited, but there you go
