GoogleTV - What I’d Like To See
Lots of talk recently about GoogleTV. Apparently Google is working with Sony, Intel, Echostar and others to create a new set-top box that will compete with AppleTV and Boxee. Many of the blogs are asking the question “What do you want GoogleTV to be?” Here is my answer.
I want GoogleTV to be based on Chrome not Android. To be truly disruptive, Google must open this up to web developers, not Java developers. Here is a neat little trick. Head over to YouTube XL — YouTube’s 10ft interface — and put Chrome into Full Screen mode. Pretty impressive right? Well guess what? That is pretty easy to build for web developers. Especially using HTML5. The only thing needed will be an easy API to translate remote control pushes to clicks.
I’ve said for a while that once AppleTV creates an app store it will really take off. They have yet to do that although I suspect this push from Google may speed up their plans. Boxee has moved quickly to try and own this space. They certainly have a ton of apps but those still require python and their own special XML GUI markup, similar to how AppleTV with require Cocoa. I’d rather not have to learn a new API and GUI markup. HTML5, CSS3 and javascript are all I need. I believe that the company that gets this right is going to find themselves with the most apps - thus putting themselves in a great position to own this space. Let’s see if Google gets this right.
