Too Much Google, Not Enough TV
That's the official word from TechRadar after they tested the Logitech Revue recently. Google TV is currently available in the US through either a Sony internet television or set-top box, such as the Logitech. TechRadar left the experience comparatively underwhelmed, though. While 3/5 stars isn’t a bad scores, they found more negatives than positives, adding to lukewarm reviews by Engadget, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
Google TV comes equipped with the Android platform and its Chrome browser, and has been designed to offer a seamless experience between watching TV and browsing the internet. TechRadar found more of the latter however, especially as users have to replace their remotes with a keyboard. They describe the interface as ‘both simplistic and confusing’, highlighting that Google TV potentially alienates its target market and ‘doesn’t deliver on its promise’.
It wasn’t all negative though, as they praised the ability to watch television in one window whilst browsing the web and searching at the same time. But that’s what it’s supposed to do, so, kudos for getting the basics right.
We haven’t tested it ourselves yet, and are interested to see what the impact is on internet marketing and if there’s any noticeable difference in search results. Google TV optimisation? Stranger things have happened, so it shouldn’t be counted out. But if the reviews continue to be so average and Google TV takes a good few years to take off, then don’t expect there to be any movement on the search front any time soon. Questions have to be asked - will it affect eCommerce web development, for instance?
Which brings us to ask, is it worth creating a system of televisions that do essentially the same thing that a PC does? Would it not have been wiser to integrate better television access online and figure something out on that front? From our perspective the keyboard issue is the most alarming. If Google TV can find a way for people to search and watch TV via a standard remote without the fuss then they’re onto a winner. Sadly though, that sounds like it’s a long, long way from happening…
