Google TV

[Nooomoto]

So I'm a pretty hardcore nerd, and I've been following Google TV for a while now. I'm itching to pull the trigger and pick up the Logitech Revue box after watching a bunch of demonstrations and what not on youtube. Has anyone here bought one yet?

UPDATE: Bought the Logitech Revue box...see below for review

[calgarian]

So I'm a pretty hardcore nerd, and I've been following Google TV for a while now. I'm itching to pull the trigger and pick up the Logitech Revue box after watching a bunch of demonstrations and what not on youtube. Has anyone here bought one yet?

i was looking forward to it ...but i didnt know there was something out.....can you post the link from you tube?

[Nooomoto]

Here...

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...ech+revue&aq=f

Sony also released a series of TVs with Google TV built in, but I'm more after the Logitech Revue box as I already have a sweet TV

[calgarian]

ok so let me get this str8(and correct me if I am wrong)
Its will just bundle all the hardware you have and you have to pay for service provider like "Dish". Is it possible to watch free TV (and I mean live TV) without paying for the subscription like "dish tv"?

[MACHINE5150]

can't you just plug your laptop into your television and access google TV that way?

[D7M]

Here...

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...ech+revue&aq=f

Sony also released a series of TVs with Google TV built in, but I'm more after the Logitech Revue box as I already have a sweet TV

wow.

I had no idea something like that existed.

I kinda want one, but I'm not in front of my TV that much.

[calgarian]

Canadians cant get it I will wait and see how it works cause all I am seeing is really sophisticated remote with you can access the internet. But if you can see the Live TV for free or not no one is answering that....Where in Manicc when I need him?

[Nooomoto]

Ok, the Revue box goes inbetween your TV and your set-top box. They are daisy-chained via HDMI. So HDMI out from your set top box to the Revue box, the HDMI out from the to your TV. It gathers information via your set-top box. The difference between having a laptop plugged into your TV and this is mainly that you don't have to switch between inputs. Everything (google search, internet browsing, applications, etc) is all run on the same input. The Google TV system acts as a UI for all content provided from your cable/sat provider and the internet. So say you search for a TV show using the provided keyboard, it will search your guide as provided by your content provider, and the internet, and deliver to you all the results. There's also picture-in-picture and a lot of other features. Your TV becomes an all-in-one information/entertainment center without having to switch between inputs, and it is all integrated.

As for your question of "free tv"...some cable network websites (ABC, NBC and one other which I can't remember) have blocked the Google TV units from accessing their sites. They figure you'll just go to the website and stream content instead of watching it live via your cable/sat provider.

But there is a demonstration done live by Engadget of it streaming 1080p content from the internet. A lot of computers have problems doing this.

[Nooomoto]

You can download this episode of the Engadget Show.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/25/t...hone-7-google/

Towards the end (I think around 40 minutes) they start using and messing with the Google TV unit from Logitech. It's pretty damn sweet.

EDIT: They start demonstrating Google TV right at 40:00

[calgarian]

Ok, the Revue box goes inbetween your TV and your set-top box. They are daisy-chained via HDMI. So HDMI out from your set top box to the Revue box, the HDMI out from the to your TV. It gathers information via your set-top box. The difference between having a laptop plugged into your TV and this is mainly that you don't have to switch between inputs. Everything (google search, internet browsing, applications, etc) is all run on the same input. The Google TV system acts as a UI for all content provided from your cable/sat provider and the internet. So say you search for a TV show using the provided keyboard, it will search your guide as provided by your content provider, and the internet, and deliver to you all the results. There's also picture-in-picture and a lot of other features. Your TV becomes an all-in-one information/entertainment center without having to switch between inputs, and it is all integrated.

As for your question of "free tv"...some cable network websites (ABC, NBC and one other which I can't remember) have blocked the Google TV units from accessing their sites. They figure you'll just go to the website and stream content instead of watching it live via your cable/sat provider.

But there is a demonstration done live by Engadget of it streaming 1080p content from the internet. A lot of computers have problems doing this.

Good to know....but how can i find out which websites stream live content on their sites? Plus it sucks Canada wont have it for 299 its not a bad deal IMO.

[Nooomoto]

Good to know....but how can i find out which websites stream live content on their sites? Plus it sucks Canada wont have it for 299 its not a bad deal IMO.

Most TV networks stream content from their websites. There's also youtube, break, etc...

And thats the thing...you don't need to know. Google TV will find it for you and present it to you as an option for viewing depending on your search parameters.

[calgarian]

Most TV networks stream content from their websites. There's also youtube, break, etc...

And thats the thing...you don't need to know. Google TV will find it for you and present it to you as an option for viewing depending on your search parameters.

so does this

http://jadootv.com/
the difference it that it doesnt have the cool feature of controlling all the devices

[Nooomoto]

so does this

http://jadootv.com/
the difference it that it doesnt have the cool feature of controlling all the devices

Dude...all that content is Asian. Plus, it doesn't integrate with your cable/sat service and provide everything on ONE input. Plus, you have to pay extra for the keyboard???

So you're looking at $269 for the box that only does half of what the Logitech Revue does, and then you have to pay another $50 for the keyboard. You're already over the $299 price point for Google TV with half the functionality.

[calgarian]

Dude...all that content is Asian. Plus, it doesn't integrate with your cable/sat service and provide everything on ONE input. Plus, you have to pay extra for the keyboard???

So you're looking at $269 for the box that only does half of what the Logitech Revue does, and then you have to pay another $50 for the keyboard. You're already over the $299 price point for Google TV with half the functionality.

it doesnt need the cable box and keypad(i got older version)......the ONLY reason I got it cause East indians channels arent cheap in Canada and my wife is hooked on those but all the contents that you can get are free including live streaming so it basically goes "what you need" as I said its a cool gadget I love to have it but again ur needs may be different then mine.

[Nooomoto]

Ok, so Saturday night I made quite a good amount of money while working security at a major event here in Miami...I figured...why not buy myself something nice? I went to Best Buy and picked up the Logitech Revue box.

Setup is simple. It comes with an HDMI Cable, the keyboard/trackpad, Revue box and an IR blaster (optional use). So you plug everything in, turn everything on and it takes you to the setup screen. Connecting to your network, downloading updates, setting up your cable service and devices. All in all setup took about 20 minutes. The box controls the major components of your entertainment system. Mine is simple as I just have a large LCD TV, and my set top box. I skipped the part where you set up the A/V receiver as I don't have one.

With the keyboard I can control the tv, my AT&T U-Verse set top box, and the Revue box. They are all integrated now and the usability of the U-Verse box in particular has been enhanced greatly. For some reason the U-Verse box is really slow to respond and often misses commands with the included remote and even with a universal remote, but with the Logitech keyboard that comes with the Revue, it works great.

So when you hit the search button, which is the fastest way to find something, you type in whatever you are searching for and it searches across all mediums of content delivery and returns the results in a list instantly. So if I search for "masquerade motel miami" it will return youtube results, web results, and results from the guide if any. From there you select one and and it takes you there instantly.

There is a menu/home screen, but I don't find myself using that to often..although I've only had it for one day and as of right now the number of applications available is extremely limited. There is no market as of yet, but I'm sure it's coming. There is Netflix, which is eh...I like the Netflix software on the Xbox 360 or PS3 better, but it is nice to not have to switch inputs to use it. There's also Pandora which I don't really need either. Amazon On-Demand, CBS News, ESPN...couple other things. It also has the ability to get content from a networked PC, but I haven't messed with that yet and probably won't as I don't need my girlfriend trying to get content off my computer via my TV. The Google Chrome browser works pretty well. It's a bit choppy on heavy-content websites, but I haven't experienced any issues yet.

All in all, if you're a hardcore gadget head like I am, and have an extra $300 you won't miss then I highly recommend the product. It makes TV more interesting and fun, and it's cool to be able to watch internet porn on a 47" screen while in bed. Can you do without this? Of course. Is it cool? You bet!

[D7M]

Does it have the capability to have an internet browser open while you watch TV?

So, like could I lay in bed and surf this board, and watch TV?

That would be sweeet.

[charliemurphy229]

It would be nice if you could do both at the same time

[Nooomoto]

Does it have the capability to have an internet browser open while you watch TV?

So, like could I lay in bed and surf this board, and watch TV?

That would be sweeet.

Yes, you can. You hit the search button while watching live TV...the search bar comes up, you type in what you're looking for and hit ENTER. It will bring up a browser window, then you can hit the PIP button and have live TV playing in the box and the browser full-screen, or vice-versa. It's pretty sweet.

[lovbyts]

Interesting toy but I already have a dedicated laptop hooked to my 45" sony plasma in my room with wireless keyboard and mouse for all my internet needs (porn, chat, porn, email, porn etc) and all I do is swap my input on my remote to go to DVD player or cable. Laptop screen connection died but the laptop is 100% otherwise and fairly new.

[supersetman]

yea I have a laptop hooked up to my tv as well, works good for now.