Gadgetblurb

Almost a week ago at Google I/O, the search giant announced Google TV.  For those that haven’t heard, Google TV is a modified version of the Google Chrome web browser that will allow users to access their favorite TV shows, search the web and work with Android-based apps on their TV’s.  It will either be built into a Sony TV or integrated into an HDMI connected set-top box.  They claim that it, like Android, will be built on an open platform so that developers will be free to create applications for Google TV.  Having viewed the presentation that was played for the audience at Google I/O and that which is presented on the Google Blog, certainly gives me hope that Google TV will be a better effort than what I have experienced from Apple TV (being a closed system with virtually no connection to the Internet) and many other Web TV type offerings.  While my experience with Web TV hasn’t been great, I can’t help but think that there is a common thread as to WHY the marriage of computer and TV have not taken a more mainstream hold in our society.

The Problem

A bit of history may be helpful.  I have been an avid home theater buff for many years and have been desperately trying to figure out a way to marry the Internet with my TV viewing habits.  In my opinion, pretty much all of the companies out there have failed miserably.  Microsoft has, in my opinion, the best option today with Windows Media Center.  Their ability to enable plug-in’s like the excellent My Movies 3 (which I have done a review of here) and there are plenty others, still only offers a marginally decent experience.  You must buy a PC, get a TV tuner card, hook up your cable or satellite if you can.  My point is that it is NOT user friendly, and certainly not plug-and-play.  The only real people to even attempt to have a Web TV experience at all are Geeks like me and probably you all reading this blog right now.  I can tell you it ain’t your average Joe who doesn’t understand the difference between an HDMI port and a component video port.  Not to mention, who wants a PC in their living room or bedroom?  Well, I do, but I am a techno-masochist and have one in each, much to the chagrin of my very understanding bride of 13 years, bless her.   We know that MSN (Web TV) was a failure, and even AOL made a run in early 2000 to compete with their thin client, but quickly shut it down after lack luster sales.  Apple’s “Hobby”, Apple TV is still part of their lineup and it seems, they still keep it in their lineup with semi frequent updates but no major overhauls.  Most of the opinions I have read out there believe the main problem with Apple TV is the totally closed system and the inability to interact with the web.  All data must flow through iTunes and it lacks any way of truly interacting with the Internet or any other data sources.  I have also tried software based add-on systems like Boxee and XMBC which are neat media center apps (that must be added through an unsupported hack) that provide Internet-based content on your TV, and area actually pretty decent to use, but you still either need a PC, MAC or Apple TV installed next to your TV.  Ultimately, as Google stated in their presentation and rightly so, you either are in a TV environment or a web environment; the actual integration of the two has never really been achieved.  That is the first real problem with all Web TV attempts thus far.

Having tried Web TV, Windows Media Center, Apple TV, Boxee/XMBC, one of the constant issues that dawned on me and the MAIN problems that I believe ALL of these solutions have is how I interact or more importantly, control these systems.  Let me explain by illustration.  In my personal setup, I have a PC in my living room (home theater for better or worse) and I use Windows Media Center.  I also have a Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse (I have a nearly identical setup in the bedroom, but use a miniaturized keyboard mouse combo called the Logitech DiNovo).  These must be stored away in the drawer of my coffee table and thankfully the drawer is big enough to store them.   This is a complete pain and a total eyesore when laid out on the coffee table.  The user experience is sub-optimal and not to mention uncomfortable when sitting on a couch, especially in a dark room when watching movies and trying to navigate with a separate wireless mouse and keyboard that do not light up.  Balancing a full size keyboard on your lap and using a mouse on a cloth couch or on an uneven wood table stinks!  User control and interaction with the tool, and not the actual user interface I think is going to make or break Google TV.  Don’t get me wrong, they need to implement the user interface well also.  But the best UI cannot make up for a crappy controller.  I have owned many remote controls out there from Logitech to Sony to Crestron to RTI.  It makes a BIG difference and that was just in controlling a DVD player or a DirecTV receiver!

While the details are extremely sparse, I hear that at least Logitech’s version of Google TV is going to ship with a keyboard and integrated mouse.  Ok.  Again, I see a problem here.  I guess they have to ship with something, but I really hope they have spent plenty of time figuring out the input device here.   Trying to balance a keyboard on your lap and some form of crappy trackpad built in isn’t going to cut it in my opinion.  I am trying not to pre-judge, I haven’t even seen what they keyboard will look like, but I wonder if the keyboard will light up?  Some of us like to view TV in the dark and unless it is lit up, this will be a big problem.  Of course,  I could be wrong and the keyboard/mouse could be backlit and work wonderfully.  But you still have a keyboard to store somewhere and balance.  We also saw in the demo, Android devices controlling Google TV through WiFi.  Now we are on to something here Google!  Of course, using a phone might be ok, but typing on your phone still may be a problem with such a tiny keyboard and a lack of a mouse.  Control for Google TV, will be an issue in my opinion, and I will get to this point in a minute.

The Solution

This is the meat and potatoes of where my thinking has been and my ah-ha moment for Apple.  The iPad (or Android tablet) may be the perfect controller for Apple TV or Google TV for that matter. If Apple TV were to create an interface that mimics the incredible interface they have for the iPad, allow their 150,000 applications to port to Apple TV, allow their iPad to control the Apple TV over WiFI, allow Apple TV to create apps that pull in content from Cable and Satellite and access the Internet and before you know it (like Google TV is going to, BAM!  Apple TV becomes a significant player in the control for the living room.  To be honest, the only thing that I think can help Apple TV succeed is a complete revamp.  Sorry Apple.  If Apple TV remains unchanged, and I mean a total overhaul is what is needed, then Google TV will come out on top from everything we have seen.  In addition to content however, the key in my personal opinion is how users control these devices. The iPad could be a catalyst to either Google TV or Apple TV’s success. Remote controls are pretty limiting devices and keyboards/mice are enabling devices when it comes to interacting with the web.  It sucks trying to interact with the web without a keyboard.

The iPad has a very usable keyboard.  Heck, even the iPhone would be a better controller (Yes, I am aware that you can control the current Apple TV with the iPhone).  It would be awesome to use an iPad to control a redesigned Apple TV interface that interacted with DirecTV, Comcast Cable, DishNetwork, Youtube, Etc. Etc.   If developers create Google TV apps for the iPhone/iPad to control the Google TV, I think it will seriously create a point where interacting with Web TV could be a real decent user experience.  Also if Android is released for a tablet (which should be soon), the same could hold true for a Google TV/Android tablet combo.  It is a certainty that Android apps will be designed for control for the mobile devices.  But, I wonder how well a 3-4 inch screen will really be able to create a good user experience.  I also wonder how long it will take before an Android tablet comes to market.  I know that Logitech, the makers of the set-top box for Google TV have an iPhone app for a WiFi-based mouse and it works ok.  So they are already playing heavily in this space.  Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn described having laptops in your lap while watching TV and controlling Google TV.  While I do think there will be plenty of folks who interact with Google TV and have laptops in their laps, the iPad offers a far less obtrusive and cumbersome way to interact with Google or Apple TV.  It is sleeker and more like a remote than having a heavy and in some cases 15-17 inch screen in front of you as a controller.  I really do see the iPad as a nearly perfect choice as a controller for Google or Apple TV.  Of course, Apple could hold the keys to the kingdom here and not release an iPad app for Google TV if they so choose.  But, if they decided to get serious about Apple TV and really compete and revamp and open up their platform as I have outlined above, we could really see 2011-2012 as the years in which Google v. Apple compete for our living room business.  Much as 2010-2011 are the years that they compete for our smartphone business.

There are others out there that have already begun taking advantage of the iPad as a user control for the home theather/home automation and that is Control4 corporation.  Their interface is awesome and their control systems are quite intuitive.  However, their price point is nowhere near the same as Google TV or Apple TV.  Their systems can run in the tens of thousands of dollars, but their systems are incredible.  The iPad is an incredible control device that could easily, if the right app was created, and Apple TV was revamped, allow the Mac ecosystem to expand in ways that we have yet to imagine.  Who knows, our clever friends in Cupertino may already have this in mind and it may be in the works?  This Apple fan certainly hopes so!  There is still a ton we don’t know and much to be revealed.  Watching the keynote and presentations at Google I/O got me thinking and these are some of my early thoughts.  It will be very interesting to see what both Google TV has in store and what Apple’s response will be to Google’s fall release of Google TV.  The year 2011 will be a very interesting year and I wonder if it indeed will be the year that these two tech giants battle for our living rooms?

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