Google targeting Web-TV market

Few could have failed to notice that two certain giants of the technology world are butting heads more and more lately. Following an I/O event which was riddled with direct digs at Apple, Google have used their official blog this Thursday to announce the latest of many offerings; Google TV. Naturally, comparisons with the similarly named product from Apple were rife.

Discussion and speculation has divided certain web communities, blogs, and even our own office! The premise of the video certainly appeals to many: ‘If the TV is so fun to watch, and the internet is so smart, why must we choose?’ However, certain aspects of the video rang hollow. Who reschedules a meal for a TV show – have the folks at Google not heard of TiVo, digital recorders, Sky+? Also, using one’s television to browse photos and play games or music – touted here as nothing short of revolutionary – as anybody with a Playstation or a HDMI cable knows, it is really anything but!

It is probably about time the TV industry got a huge kick. Satellite subscriptions have remained just as expensive and the TV Guide UIs just as ugly for far too long. Computer makers have been trying to get into the TV market for years, and current solutions in use include the Roku box, Apple TV and Boxee, amongst others. Far from innovative, it is actually nothing particularly new or original – with its integrated or set-top box format and backing from major companies it is in fact rather reminiscent of a terrible flop from Microsoft, the MSN TV:

However, this is one of the last frontiers which has not been optimally capitalised on. More developers getting into this arena can only push things forwards – and it only takes one company to make the breakthrough. There are some concerns regarding the concept itself – for instance, concerns regarding the quality of most web videos. With TVs getting larger and larger, and the rise of HD satellite and Blu-ray, is this content really able to compete? Additionally, TV is a mostly passive experience, whereas using a computer, iPad or iPhone is mostly interactive. Integrating these two ‘modes’ will be difficult – and it doesn’t seem to have been done right yet.

Do we have reason to believe that the ‘revolution’ will happen at the hands of Google? Critics say that they are just too sterile a company to develop something which is part of a home entertainment system, lacking the user-friendly nature and flash designs of competitors. Indeed, it would be fair to say that, aside from their legendary ‘endless’ beta periods, the other main criticism of Google’s operations is that though they frequently announce intriguing new projects, the final offering rarely turns out to be as remarkable as originally touted. They do, as a brand, lack the ‘wow’ factor of their main rival.

Further nay-sayers have focused on the long, almost whimsical line of products from the house of Google. “They should improve their own subpar/ugly products before they move on to new areas of the market!”, a web user declared. “They are obviously trying to be dominant in every area they can. How many damn products do they release each year, always something new? Even if they are great concepts, they always fail because they don’t spend enough time refining them.”, another wrote. Indeed, for a product which is due to launch in a few short months, a cartoon demo with no hint of the actual product does not fill one to the brim with confidence. It would be nice, in addition, if Google could unveil a logo that doesn’t look like ‘a guy in IT concocted it in Microsoft Publisher’ (another blog quotation).

For our own part, we’d love to see this take off, whether it be through Google, Apple, or somebody else. Google, in consensus with Microsoft here regarding Apple’s total control over the user experience, is once again staying out of the hardware domain, with Logitech manufacturing the units. An announcement several months ahead of the launch certainly gives Apple time to react, and many of us are waiting eagerly to see if this will mean an update to the AppleTV, which, generally regarded as a ‘hobby’ project for Apple, has gone for several years now without any major changes.

Frequent requests appear to be for a fully functional remote app, enabling users to use their iPhone or iPod Touch as a remote control (Apple does currently offer a free remote app of sorts), and for the addition of more features. General consensus seems to be that if Apple were to relaunch the AppleTV as compatible with apps, it would be a competition killer. Google also seem be thinking along these lines, including the following encouragement for developers in their blog post:

In our announcement today at Google I/O, we challenged web developers to start coming up with the next great web and Android apps designed specifically for the TV experience. Developers can start optimizing their websites for Google TV today. Soon after launch, we’ll release the Google TV SDK and web APIs for TV so that developers can build even richer applications and distribute them through Android Market.

As developers, we are always happy and excited at the prospect of new platforms to be working with, and we are reserving final judgement at this point – so watch this space for any Foreminds^TM innovation coming to your TV!

A look at Apple’s new OS 4

Last Thursday, Apple unveiled the latest major update to their mobile operating system, OS 4. There are few who would contract that since it for whatever reasons, the iPhone has been lacking several commonly found smartphone features. Some, such as MMS, have been added in previous OS updates; with the latest launch, Apple have filled yet more of what some have described as the ‘missing pieces’.

More than 100 new user features have been planned, with seven that the company are referring to as ‘tentpole’ features – those of particular importance. These are: multitasking, folders, enhanced email, iBooks, enterprise features, a game centre and iAds.

Multitasking, easily one of the most anticipated additions to the OS functionality, naturally grabbed all of the headlines. Making reference to the wait for this implementation, Steve Jobs remarked at the launch event: “we weren’t first to the party, but we’re gonna be the best.” The key selling point with iPhone multitasking is that it will purportedly operate in a way that doesnt hinder performance or battery life. This was achieved by analysis of thousands of apps and identifying what services were needed in the background. Apple have subsequently released APIs for seven services identified: audio, voice over IP, location services, push notifications, local notifications, task completion and fast app switching.

My personal favourite from the update is the realisation of folders. Aside from the obvious organisational benefits, this enables the management of up to 2160 apps – a huge increase from the current limit of 180.There’s no limit to the number of folders; they are even able to be placed in the dock!

Apple continues to push their new iBooks software (see our previous blog!) by bringing it to the iPhone. Thankfully, we will be able to sync our places and bookmarks between devices, allowing us to begin reading Pride and Prejudice on our iPhones, and seamlessly catch up with Mr. Darcy on the iPad later that day.

OS 4 will reportedly work with both the iPhone 3G and 3GS, as well as second and third generation iPod Touches – however, not all features, including multitasking, will be available for all devices. The update is available for developers now (in beta form), with the general release for the iPhone and iPod Touch set for this summer, followed by a version for the iPad in autumn.

Ails.

Deal done for the first two “iPhone” apps

Following a few weeks in the pre-beta stage and planning, today a private investor (not named here by his request) signed a contract with Bottosso Limited for the construction and commercial operations of the first two iPhone & iPod-Touch applications.

These apps (with an estimated release date of 05/2009) will provide a cost-effective, quick, easy and enjoyable way to study and pass all tests required for the Full UK Car Driving License and Full UK Motorbike License using ONLY the mobile device.
In a comment to our device team, director Haroldo Oliveira has said:
“…As this project has been “formalised” today but was in the labs way before that, I’m confident that the delivery schedule together with high quality content will be achieved even better than planned. That is our golden rule: always deliver more and better results than expected.”
The next stage is to set up the collection of data and the video production for the content!