Logitech's Google TV device, the first of its kind, offers lots more than Apple TV. But is it worth the price?
Posted 10.06.2010 at 5:30 pm
6 Comments
Logitech Revue
Logitech
Logitech just announced the very first Google TV box, to be called the Revue. With video calling, a full QWERTY remote, and lots of apps, it's much more capable than the Apple TV (which is either "streamlined" or "barebones," depending on who you ask). But to get the full Revue package, you'd have to spend enough to buy four--yes, four--Apple TV units. Eeep.
Google TV is coming. Fundamentally different from, say, Apple TV, Google TV wants to insinuate itself into your existing media setup. It wants to work with your DVR, your cable subscription, your Netflix subscription, and your home network. It might be found built into your TV or Blu-ray player (Sony will make some of that integrated hardware), but the very first device about which we've got concrete information is a set-top box.Our sister site, Sound & Vision, was actually at the event. Click here for an exclusive gallery, and here for their coverage of the Logitech Revue.
Hardware
Logitech's Revue is the first Google TV device to get a price and a release date, and it's also the first to give us a clear idea of how Google TV is going to look. The Revue is at its core a set-top box, packing HDMI-out, two USB ports, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet, which will cost $300. But Logitech set up an exclusive partnership with Dish Network, so if you're a Dish subscriber you can snag it for $180. That $300 package also includes the Revue keyboard remote ($100 by itself), which is like a slightly smaller wireless computer keyboard with a little trackpad and some specialized buttons.
Logitech Revue: Peripherals: Logitech
The keyboard that's included is pretty big, and not everyone will want what's basically a desktop keyboard on their coffee table. So Logitech also announced a new version of their teeny DiNovo Mini keyboard, a little palm-sized QWERTY keyboard with its own tiny trackpad. That'll cost $130. Of course, there's also an Android and iPhone app that'll let you use your phone as a remote control--probably the best option, and one that also happens to be free.
The final piece of the puzzle is the webcam. Logitech says eventually all its webcams will work with Revue, but at the moment, there's only one that can handle the specific brand of compression needed for Revue video chat. The webcam is equipped with a Carl Zeiss zoom lens and dual microphones (supposedly for better sound in a living room setting) costs $150.
Assuming you can get by with either the included keyboard or a smartphone app, the total package costs $450. The Boxee Box, which does not integrate your existing cable TV subscription but does support a wider variety of web content, costs $200; the Apple TV, which supports only iTunes, Netflix, and YouTube, costs $100; and the cheapest Roku, which (starting soon) supports Netflix, Hulu, and other apps like Pandora, costs $60. Conclusion: The Revue is damned expensive.
Software
Logitech is also giving us the fullest view yet of how Google TV will actually work in your home. A lot of the Google TV experience relies on apps--Google
recently released a video showing exactly how important apps are--so it's a little bit disheartening to know that the Android Market, the central repository of Android apps, won't be coming to Google TV until 2011, well after launch. But the Revue will still launch with a ton of worthwhile apps, including Netflix, Pandora, Napster, CNBC, NBA Game Time, and the Chrome browser (rejiggered for the TV screen).The Netflix integration does not look thrilling--Engadget notes that it looks disturbingly similar to the last-gen Roku integration, which lacks such basics as search and the ability to add titles on the device. Hopefully that sees an update soon; the Apple TV's Netflix integration is excellent, and Google TV has to keep up. Hulu, too, is a no-go, at least for now. The Logitech spokesman said that Hulu currently blocks Google TV, but that the companies are discussing ways to un-block it. That, too, is a must for Google TV.
What's both curious and a little troubling is that even in this very first iteration of Google TV, it's showing signs of the splintering that's so common to Android phones. An HTC Android phone can't do everything a Motorola Android phone can do, and vice versa--a problem not shared by, say, the iPhone. In the case of the Revue, it seems Logitech's deal with Dish resulted in some solid integration with Dish DVR. But something like a Sony Google TV device might not support Dish's DVR integration. That means you can pick and choose the precise right device for you, but also could prove frustrating and complicated.
Logitech will also be using its own media app, which pulls in audio and video from computers on the network. It looks pretty solid, and supports a wide range of formats (including the pirate-friendly .MKV, yes!) but I do wonder why there isn't a built-in Google TV media player--or at least why Logitech is bypassing it.
Logitech Revue: Video Chat: Gizmodo
Video calling looks great--picture quality is very clear, and the dual-mic setup in the camera will hopefully ensure good audio quality. You can chat with other Logitech Revue users as well as anyone who has downloaded the Revue app for their computer.
Google TV looks really promising, and the Logitech Revue has a lot going for it. I do wonder whether the asking price will scare off potential customers--for the same $450, customers could buy a home theater PC and a webcam, which would be much more capable (though not as simple). Even the webcam-less package is pricey at $300. But Google TV is really something new, a way to bring the existing TV experience into the future, and I can't wait to see what developers will do with the platform.
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I am glad to see google and apple bring this stuff to the living room. For many us, this has been our life for a long time. I started doing this in college 5 years ago (but got the idea from guys who had been doing it for 5 years before that). You simple need a pc and an internet connection (and your tv). Once I started watching shows and movies on my TV through my computer, I never went back to renting DVDs or flipping through the channels. The TV set is the center of most Americans lives whether you want to admit it or not, its simply the truth. The internet connects us to the entire world instantly. It is only natural to connect these two things. My room is a media shut in mega cave. from one spot I can play games on different consoles, use the internet, watch a TV show, play a movie, CD. buy something, rent something. Its all within reach of one spot and easy to use. The next thing will be to simply plug myself in to the matrix. (I have no qualms about living in a the super lazy dungeon I have created. I go to the gym and get plenty of exercise. I travel more than most people do and get plenty of air and sunshine on my motorcycle)
lnwolf41 Google tv is just like apple tv. anything it can do your desktop or laptop can do. I guess if you never had a computer you might want to get one. Of course if your going to pay out the money get a computer and you can do what it does and more. Agan why get google tv if you have a computer already?
Why pay this much to watch 30 min of every hour filled with commercials?
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STK’s Google TV Box Named; Will Control Your Life This Summer
Google TV Box now has at least one real retail product firmed up: the STK M6, scheduled to ship this summer. This is a set-top box that’s supposed to bring the Google TV experience to your existing home entertainment center.
Google TV now has at least one real retail product firmed up: the STK M6, scheduled to ship this Summer. This is a set-top box that’s supposed to bring the Google TV experience to your existing home entertainment center.
So far so good. But I’d like to understand how this is going to happen. Oh, I get how one box would be able to search both IP TV listings and the internet for content, it works as computer. I’m more confused by how the ‘control’ aspect will work.
You’re supposed to be able to use Fly-mouse or wireless keyboard and mouse to control your home entertainment center. It uses STK’s Harmony technology to turn on components, set inputs and so on. I understand how an actual Harmony remote is going to do this; it has an IR emitter after all.
But how is the STK M6 going to accomplish this?
Let’s watch the hardware, the box size is small like palm, interface including HDMI, CVBS, YpbPr, Optical, two USB host, SD/MMC card reader, and RJ45 LAN, built-in WIFI. CUP use Amlogic ARM 8726, Cortex-A9 800MHz, we know ARM A9 is higher level solution for making media players. It’s Android 2.2 system, DDR RAM 512M, and Nand Flash 2G, support external storages via USB host and SD/MMC cards, three models network you can choose, WIFI , LAN cable, 3G, optional, support MPEG 1/2/4, 1080P etc.
It’s fantastic, such a small box make my TV as a computer, could download lots of applications, I can watch full HD video in my home theatre from internet free and smoothly, YouTube and flash 10 , no problem, browsing web and watching the TV program as I want, oh, my god, I can edit word excel and PPT, and reply my e-mail, chat in MSN, of course I can watch 3D Blu-Ray programs in my 42 inch TV
Aside from how it’ll control things, the other big question is price. Taylor Wimberly over at Android and Me hopes it’ll be under $500 and would love to see it be under $299. I’d be astonished if it was more than $299 and I think they need to aim closer to $200. Google is trying to introduce a product that no one really knows they want; the price needs to be kept low. Besides, at the end of the day Google TV isn’t doing anything we can’t already do (assuming you have some kind of box connected to the TV that has a web browser, such as a Sony PS3 or a Nintendo Wii); it’s just gathering functions into one place.
Android and Me does have a few specs for the Revue: it’ll run Android 2.2, support Flash 10.1 and comes with Chrome installed (naturally). I would like to contact STK and see if I can get something from them. Good Luck.
How much would you pay? Don’t forget we have the Boxee Box still in-bound and predicted to sell for about $200, though it’s been delayed until November. It ought to deliver most of the web content you’d want on your TV. Granted you’d have to switch between cable and Boxee inputs, but that’s not such a huge chore.
So are you interested in Google TV BOX, or are you not yet sold on it? google-tv-box.com
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