Google partnering with Sony on a new television service

Google is looking to leverage its foothold in the online video realm by partnering with Sony on a new television service to be called Google TV. The new service will be an Android-based solution that will hook into online video repositories like YouTube and Hulu and serve up online content either through a set-top box or directly by embedding the software into your flashy new Sony HDTV. With Android at its core and Chrome as the browser, the service will provide access to online websites such as Twitter and Picasa and will open up a new arena for television-based application development. Google and Sony have also reached out to Logitech who will be developing a line of peripherals to control your new Google TV. Last but not least, a fourth heavy hitter known as Intel may also be joining this venture as the new TV media platform will reportedly run on the Intel Atom chipset. More than just a concept, the set-top box is reportedly at an advanced stage of development and is being tested by Dish Network. With four major players involved with this new Google TV service, should Roku, Boxee, and everyone else be a bit nervous?

Read