Google's planned expansion of the web onto our television sets has many people wonders, "What is Google TV?" Google TV can be confusing to some because it is not a television or any specific device. Rather, Google TV is a platform for merging the web with television, and as a platform, it will run on many different devices.
Already, Logitech is planning a set top box, Sony is planning a television and Blu-Ray player and even a DISH box is in the works. And these may be the first in a long line of hardware devices that support the Google TV platform.
What is Google TV?
Still confused? Think of Google TV as a piece of software that will add to your TV's many features by giving you a bit more access to the web. Based on their Android OS -- the same operating system that runs many popular Android-based smartphones like the Google Nexus One -- Google TV will let you browse both the web and your television for specific shows to watch. So if it doesn't come up with a match on ABC, NBC, CBS or USA, it could come back with a match on YouTube or Hulu.
You'll also have access to the Android app store, so in addition to watching videos, you can be playing games or doing one of a thousand things now possible with Android-based phones. And if you already own an Android phone, you'll be able to connect it to Google TV via Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi and beam your current website directly to the TV.
...and, of course, you'll have full access to the web, which means doing everything from updating your Facebook account to playing cool Flash games.
Google TV is currently in beta, so don't expect to find it in stores just yet. Itching to find out a little bit more? Watch the official announcement video.
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