Google TV Graphics to Rival Apple TV, Tivo, Boxee Box, Roku, DVRs

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Google TV to Rival Apple TV, Tivo, Set-Top Boxes and DVRs

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Google is rumoured to be working on Google TV, a television platform that would allow users to browse the Internet from their living room.

Similar to Apple TV, Google TV set-top box would display online videos in an Android-like interface and would support other web-based Google software like Picasa, as well as social networking sites such as Twitter.

Google TV Set-Top Box to Support Internet Content on Television

The rising interest in set-top boxes seem to have prompted the development of Google TV, which is said to have more features than previous media players that hook up to TVs.

Google has reportedly been working with Dish Network, Intel and Sony on the technology for the last few months, and Logitech is developing accessories for it, such as a remote control and keyboard.

Google TV to Create Market Competition

 Google TV has garnered a reaction from  the competition, ie Internet-supported DVRs and set-top boxes.

In the last few years, streaming Internet video has grown in popularity with sites like YouTube and Hulu.  TiVo has allowed users to download video programs to their DVRs and Roku offers access to Netflix.

Google TV would likely be open-source and would rival other media players already on the market by supporting more sites than limited players such as Boxee Box. 

Google TV vs Apple TV

With the Android operating system, Google would likely have third-party developers make applications for Google TV, unlike Apple, who doesn’t allow others to modify Apple TV.

Apple has the potential to port iPhone apps to Apple TV, but problems with resolution seem to have slowed that development. Graphics from applications have only been stretched to twice their size on the iPad and Apple TV could have issues stretching them even further on screens of varying sizes.