Being one of the most anticipated high-tech gadgets for this year, “Google TV” is no longer a visionary invention. It finally made its debut appearance at the Google I/O Convention in May. Google TV is an integrated system which comprises the functions of a PC, Media Player and Internet Device all in one. So far, most of the details are yet to be released (including the SDK – Software Development Kit), and the actual product will not be shipped until the end of this year. Nonetheless, through previewing its design structures, we should be able to forecast how Google TV will withstand market competition with its breakthrough design concepts.
First, let’s first take a look at Google TV’s concept in design structures:
Google TV is built upon the structure of complex Hardware, Software, Technology Standards (Specifications), and Content Resources. The combinations of each structure need to work seamlessly to achieve optimum performance; the compatibility and interoperability of each device or element therefore becomes critical and essential.
Hardware
Google TV’s core structure is built upon multiple hardware devices as the operating environment; therefore, the interoperability among the connecting devices becomes significant. For example, an Android mobile phone, wireless keyboard and a mouse can all be connected to a Google TV. It is the manufacturers’ responsibility to make sure that all devices can be connected properly and operable on the Google TV platform.
Software
Google TV adopts its own Android and Chrome as its primary Operating System and Search Engine. With its strong intention to replace the functions of a PC, some key checkpoints such as OS stability, application multitasking, and the friendliness of switching between PC and TV should be thoroughly tested. The biggest challenge will remain with the release of the SDK, when a large quantity of software will start to emerge. Application testing procedures will become the key factor in determining its success.
Technology Standards
Many of the leading industry standards in wired and wireless connecting technologies are specified in the Google TV devices (i.e. HDMI, DisplayPort, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA and more). Google TV is also designed to support the playback of cutting edge video and audio in high resolution. Whether it be in 3D Graphics, MPEG4 Streaming or the proper decoding of HDCP, meeting the basic compliance test guidelines to achieve its compliance certificate should all be the minimum requirement during the QA stage.
Content Resources
Finally, streaming content should be able to be downloaded, decoded and played back smoothly at the specified quantity level. Content providers such as Hulu, YouTube and others should endeavor to streamline the test procedure in order to maintain the program and broadcasting quality.
An innovative product without quality will only remain visionary. To many people, Google TV is the first step toward the PC and TV finally integrating as one into our living room. Unlike many transitional products in the past, the Google TV adopts leading edge technologies and is aiming to revolutionize the way people watch and utilize television. It will only be meaningful when each and every feature can impeccably work to prove that Google TV is not just another flash in the pan product.
After working hard to fine-tune and crank up the speed of its offering, Google has released the latest version of the Google Chrome Browser. According to tests and technology pundits, it appears Google’s hard work has paid off, with the latest beta release giving users the fastest Chrome offering to date.
Using a series of benchmarks, Google has demonstrated a dramatic increase in Chrome’s performance. The V8 and SunSpider benchmarks show that the latest browser version has a 30-35 percent speed improvement over its predecessor, marking a 213-305 percent improvement since Google’s very first beta.
In addition to speed, the latest version of Chrome comes with a number of new features. Users can now sync their bookmarks and browser preferences, including homepage, themes and startup settings, across multiple computers. Users can also use Chrome extensions while in incognito mode, allowing a user to browse privately without recording browsing or download histories. This is also useful when borrowing a PC so as to not disturb the primary user’s browser settings, saved passwords and history.
Google also used a series of non-traditional testing methods to measure the browser’s speed capabilities. You can view the full results below:
Chrome’s speed and features have been appealing to users. According to a recent study by Net Applications, Chrome’s market share has grown steadily since its release in December 2008, nearly doubling from October 2009 to April 2010. With its combination of speed, features and customization options, Google’s Chrome is continuing to gain traction among the vast and varied browser offerings available to users.
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Last week, Google held a small event at their headquarters and outlined the company’s direction for Chrome OS. Chrome OS is Google’s entry into the operating system market, joining names like Apple OS X, Microsoft Windows and many Linux variations – Ubuntu, Suse and Moblin – to name a select few distributions. Google is promoting Google Chrome OS as a cloud service, with most applications running from the internet rather than on the local system. Examples of this include the popular Google services Google Docs, Gmail, Google Reader and others. In doing so, Google has already attracted the ire of some commentators. Michael Gartenberg in a column for Engadget disagreed with the approach, expressing that not all computer users spend 90 percent of their day in a browser doing their work, e-mail and networking.
Yet, it does seem as though the cloud holds enough promise for a broad enough group of users that Chrome OS will gain some traction when it does launch, which is anticipated for next year. Chrome OS would provide users of netbooks a lightweight, free and easy to use operating system, though the question remains – How long will netbooks be viable? As the market encounters more powerful cell phones and greater connectivity, some pundits are placing bets on smart phones being the future, and not netbooks. It is important to point out that Google has already placed a bet on smart phones with the introduction and continued uptake of the Android smart phone operating system.
Google’s efforts with Chrome OS have interesting implications for those developing hardware. The growing variety of operating system choices result in the need for increased testing across a wide array of devices. With entries like Chrome OS and Moblin gaining market traction, firms producing everything from cameras to keyboards now must consider how their customers will interact with devices. For many years, Microsoft Windows and Apple offerings combined for near market saturation – resulting in a manageable test and interoperability scenario for producers of both software and hardware. Now the picture is becoming much less clear for which operating system a consumer might be bringing their new hardware home to.
If you want to review Google Chrome OS yourself, we recommend downloading it from gdgt.com, as their hosting is the fastest way to get Chrome OS.
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