With the introduction of Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich Android software less than 12 hours away, I can’t help but wonder whatever happened to the prior Honeycomb edition destined for Google TV. Back in May, we were promised a summer Google TV 2.0 reboot. And the struggling platform could certainly use a lift. The new app-centric approach with refreshed lean back UI looked quite promising, offering an open software marketplace to take on the invite-only Apple TV. But “summer” concluded without a peep from Google or their hardware partners. So I queried Logitech on the first day of fall (9/23) for a status update… they responded with:
We are working closely with Google and aiming to launch the product in the weeks ahead.
While Google had no updates to offer at their earnings call, they recently reiterated the above at MIPCOM:
What I can tell you about what’s coming up with Google TV, is version two is about to launch probably within the next three or four weeks. -Donagh O’Malley, Director of Content, Google TV
Hopefully, Google hits that revised target… as holiday shopping is already gearing up. Both Logitech and Sony previously indicated they’d offer new Google TV television and set-top box hardware, but will there be others? At prices competitive with the Apple TV and Roku? Not to mention us early adopters would like to see our original Google TV hardware gain new capabilities.
I am feeling somewhat hopeful that Google TV 2.0 will be available soon… But, keep in mind, this very same team prevously announced plans in November, 2010 to “open the Android Market on Google TV in early 2011.” Maybe they mean it this time.
UPDATE: A Google TV 2.0 sneak peak running on first generation Logitech Revue hardware.