Google TV Take Two Launches Next Week with Streamlined Interface, Android Apps

[69650]

Apple Television

Could Apple bypass the US cable operators and internet TV problems by going down the satellite route? Add a satellite receiver integrated into any Apple TV and you get access to all the channels you want in good quality. Add sat broadband for iCloud streaming, iTunes rentals, internet streaming (eg sports results) and away you go. One Apple Television, one remote, no boxes. I don't know about the US but in the UK sat tv is more popular than cable tv.

 

[TWSS37]

I don't think the new interface will help with the lag issues. Watching flash on that that thing was terrible. The hardware is not up to par. I bought one when they dropped to $99 and returned it within an hour after setup

...the first thing you did was use flash and based your entire experience off of that? In an hour?

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Google:
Your living room TV will be more or less like a big-screen PC.
Video + internet complexity + apps with an external keyboard for typing.

WebTV:
Your living room TV was more or less like a big-screen PC.
Video + internet complexity with an external keyboard for typing.



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No. Did you ever use a web TV? It was designed for people who wanted the Internet but didn't want the complexity of a computer in the late 90's/early 00's. It had nothing to do with trying to turn your TV into a computer. In fact, it was the exact opposite.

 

[Drunken Master]

How is that? They recreated a UI to look and feel clean, but they definitely didn't copy Apple. See people now a days are confusing competition for copying. I blame that on steve jobs obsession for being one of a kind. See I understand google copied many of apple's ideas when it comes to the smartphone segment but the TV, it was fair play. They both came up with their concepts of a setup box, each had their own approach and thats that. By your argument, sony and samsung should sue each other because their tv's look the same? Maybe even because they use the same sizes? (46" 52" etc.). I don't get the argument? you can't design a tv that isn't rectangular and thin without violating the company's rights who came up with it first?

I think they way to be the best, is to come up with it first and continue to innovate, similar to what apple is doing. Let google copy them who cares, they can't make the same identical product because people won't buy it. And google Tv isn't identical to apple tv in many ways. The approach to integrating google tv with cable tv, versus a stand alone device such as the apple tv, tells you that its already a different product. Google is integrating their search capabilities and THEIR youtube channel and giving you another experience to choose from really.

And to end this, I'm an apple fan because of their commitment to simple and elegant products that meet my needs, but calling everything copying is stupid and senseless.

Thanks
AE

You know, I was talking about the user interface, but OK.

Google managed to copy the color scheme and layout down to a "T" but they still managed to make it uglier.

Google TV:

Apple TV:

 

[marcusj0015]

An Apple TV will NOT use a damn keyboard. it will use siri dictation, or number keys on a remote.

 

[guch20]

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Oh boy, I can't wait to be completely underwhelmed by Google TV all over again!

 

[thenerdal]

You know, I was talking about the user interface, but OK.

Google managed to copy the color scheme and layout down to a "T" but they still managed to make it uglier.

Google TV:

Image

Apple TV:

Image

That's the android market......

This is what the new Google TV looks like

 

[ThanksSteve]

We knew this was coming. Apple vs Google on a lot of fronts: television, mobile operating system and apps. I think Apple is on better footing than they were went the Microsoft battles took place both in cash and learning lessons about pricing.

The Google television looks a lot like the Apple set up. Shocker!

 

[Drunken Master]

That's the android market......

This is what the new Google TV looks like

Hm, let's see...black background? Check.

The exact same tint of blue for selections with a slight haziness? Check.

Silver fonts for section titles with a grey gradient? Check.

 

[flottenheimer]

Great. Competition in this area is a healthy thing.
Glad to see that Google hasn't given up. Same goes for Apple.

Apple and Google are my favorite tech companies.

 

[thenerdal]

Hm, let's see...black background? Check.

The exact same tint of blue for selections with a slight haziness? Check.

Silver fonts for section titles with a grey gradient? Check.

Do they look the same? That's the question. Answer it please. Do they look the same?

That's like saying a Big mac is the same as a whopper because both have buns, and meat and are served with fries.

 

[guch20]

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Great. Competition in this area is a healthy thing.
Glad to see that Google hasn't given up. Same goes for Apple.

Apple and Google are my favorite tech companies.

Why is it that whenever something like this comes up and people start pointing out how similar Google's or Samsung's or HTC's stuff looks to Apple's, someone inevitably starts talking about how it's no big deal because it's great to have competition.

Yes, competition is fantastic. But the point is that Google and these others aren't competing fairly. They let Apple do the hard work of finding out what interface and what design works beat, then they just rip that off wholesale. That's not competition; it's theft, and it's pathetic.

 

[marksman]

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How about Google hires some people to make Android less butt ugly? Worry about TV products after you figure out how to not suck at what you already do.

Google's interface aesthetic is subpar for the modern world. Everything they make is too cluttered and busy. Oddly their core product, search , revolutionized simple interface and still to this day holds up. The problem is you go one level deep and everything quickly becomes convoluted. That now carries across all their products. I think google as a company needs to reinforce their roots of simplicity across their company.

A lot of people don't remember what search engines were like before google. They were an offered cluttered mess and an eyesight disaster. Googles introduction shocked the world. While their back end search helped it was this minimalist design that allowed google to take over the search engine market.

 

[KevinN206]

Hm, let's see...black background? Check.

The exact same tint of blue for selections with a slight haziness? Check.

Silver fonts for section titles with a grey gradient? Check.

Next thing you know, everyone will be copying Apple for using English.

 

[something3153]

Hm, let's see...black background? Check.

The exact same tint of blue for selections with a slight haziness? Check.

Silver fonts for section titles with a grey gradient? Check.

"Black background"? Seriously?

 

[zetsurin]

There you have it folks, according to the fanboys, Apple invented the colour "black".

 

[peppermonkey]

Next thing you know, everyone will be copying Apple for using English.

Lol, too funny.

 

[Kaibelf]

Hmm

Google TV's new interface:

PBS App on iPad (note the left side):

Netflix interface on Apple TV:

 

[something3153]

Google TV's new interface:

Image

PBS App on iPad (note the left side):

Image

Netflix interface on Apple TV:

Image

Are you implying that horizontally scrolling images of the movie covers on a widescreen display is Apple innovation now? That's basically the common theme there.

 

[Kaibelf]

Are you implying that horizontally scrolling images of the movie covers on a widescreen display is Apple innovation now? That's basically the common theme there.

Actually, considering these interfaces are from PBS's devs and Netflix, no, I'm not implying anything about Apple. Incredibly, they don't write all the apps on their devices. I AM, however, implying that it's interesting that the left panel is VERY familiar-looking, as well as the specific breakdown of categories and identical glowing blue box just like the Netflix interface. At least they don't have a "Donate" button in the upper right corner. After WebOS, Mango, and MeeGo (hell, even the Xbox dashboard), I really REALLY don't want to hear more nonsense from Google fans about how "there's only one way to do it."

 

[kuwxman]

but has so far failed to catch on with consumers.

That is far from the truth. Google TV is the much better bang for the buck vs AppleTV. I'm a HUGE Apple fan, but there is no denying that GoogleTV is the superior product.

Just from personal experience as well, I know more people with GoogleTV vs AppleTV.

 

[something3153]

Actually, considering these interfaces are from PBS's devs and Netflix, no, I'm not implying anything about Apple. Incredibly, they don't write all the apps on their devices. I AM, however, implying that it's interesting that the left panel is VERY familiar-looking, as well as the specific breakdown of categories and identical glowing blue box just like the Netflix interface. At least they don't have a "Donate" button in the upper right corner. After WebOS, Mango, and MeeGo (hell, even the Xbox dashboard), I really REALLY don't want to hear more nonsense from Google fans about how "there's only one way to do it."

So several other developers use a certain layout because it's very effective and suddenly it's bad for Google to use the same layout people are used to? And you're complaining that Google uses... genres? And blue? Blue is the "it" color right now. Looking up from my laptop, I see blue power indicators on my HTPC and cable box. If I plugged in my external hard drive, it would be shining blue too. This is the same reason the default accent color in WP7 is blue. It's been in fashion for a while in technology. This is ridiculous...

 

[adder7712]

wt* What a rip-off of Apple TV..


Every time when Apple brings something news... than other companies MUST follow -.-.-.-.

*facepalm*

The world does not revolve around Apple!

Why does people (mainly here) always have the mindset everyone else (regardless whether it's Google, Samsung, HTC etc.) ripped off Apple? What now? Apple innovated the row of movie posters? I've seen that waaaay before Apple TV, in a movie theatre.

 

[Kaibelf]

So several other developers use a certain layout because it's very effective and suddenly it's bad for Google to use the same layout people are used to? And you're complaining that Google uses... genres? And blue? Blue is the "it" color right now. Looking up from my laptop, I see blue power indicators on my HTPC and cable box. If I plugged in my external hard drive, it would be shining blue too. This is the same reason the default accent color in WP7 is blue. It's been in fashion for a while in technology. This is ridiculous...

There's only so many times Google can put out something that is completely derivative of others before it reaches the point of being stupid. With that much money, and ALL of those employees, they couldn't find ONE person capable of designing an original interface? Anyone with marketing exposure knows that you have to have SOMETHING that sets you apart from others. As it is, they seem to naturally fall into the Taco Bell model: grab some ingredients that exist, pile them up in a different way, and unveil their "new creation." Even the PROGRESS bars for the items that are partially watched are the same as ABC's app. There's like... NO effort here, and it's downright embarrassing because it looks like they are just incapable of pushing the envelope at all. THAT is why people don't get excited about them. Their interfaces are usually ugly, boxy, and cheap-looking, or knock-offs of others' work. At least with ICS they SEEM to be going in their own direction.

That is far from the truth. Google TV is the much better bang for the buck vs AppleTV. I'm a HUGE Apple fan, but there is no denying that GoogleTV is the superior product.

Just from personal experience as well, I know more people with GoogleTV vs AppleTV.

That's great, but it still hasn't caught on with consumers, as in people didn't buy them. They couldn't give the units away. It was a complete disaster, and caused huge problems for Logitech.

 

[kuwxman]

That's great, but it still hasn't caught on with consumers, as in people didn't buy them. They couldn't give the units away. It was a complete disaster, and caused huge problems for Logitech.

Thats why Google TV is selling better on Amazon than Apple TV, huh? lol. Again, it is the better device for the money.

 

[something3153]

There's only so many times Google can put out something that is completely derivative of others before it reaches the point of being stupid. With that much money, and ALL of those employees, they couldn't find ONE person capable of designing an original interface? Anyone with marketing exposure knows that you have to have SOMETHING that sets you apart from others. As it is, they seem to naturally fall into the Taco Bell model: grab some ingredients that exist, pile them up in a different way, and unveil their "new creation." Even the PROGRESS bars for the items that are partially watched are the same as ABC's app. There's like... NO effort here, and it's downright embarrassing because it looks like they are just incapable of pushing the envelope at all. THAT is why people don't get excited about them. Their interfaces are usually ugly, boxy, and cheap-looking, or knock-offs of others' work. At least with ICS they SEEM to be going in their own direction.

So it bothers you when Google does the same overall interface as everyone else, but not when all the other developers used it? I'm seriously confused. Does it bother you that Chrome has the address bar at the top, too?