Google TV is a new experience made for television that combines the TV you know and love with the freedom and power of the Internet. Watch an overview video below, sign up for updates, and learn more about how to develop for Google TV.
Coming soon to a telly near you -- GOOGLE TV! Google TV will enable your television, thru a internet-ready television or an appliance type device to watch anything on the web -- on your TV. Better yet, Google Chrome will be built-in letting you surf the web -- all while watching the latest and greatest from the web.
Your television is also no longer confined to showing just video. With the entire Internet in your living room, your TV becomes more than a TV — it can be a photo slideshow viewer, a gaming console, a music player and much more.
Do you know how stinking cool this is? We currently use our PS3 as a media server. We can surf and watch videos -- but it isn’t user friendly and the average joe would not know how to use our setup.
While this is possibly a knock-off of Tivo -- Google will prevail. And even if they don’t -- it will surely knock down the price of Tivo.
How Much Will a Google TV Device Cost?
Google TV is rumored to cost around the $200 price-point. Considering how much we blow each month on our cable bill -- I’m looking forward to purchasing a Google TV device and saying ADIOS to the cable company.
When Will Google TV Launch?
An official launch date hasn’t been announced -- but it’s looking like Google TV will be here in time for the holiday shopping season. (Adding to my Christmas list — hey it’s never to early to start that!)
Leave it to Google and it’s brillance to launch the next new new thing.
My husband was home with my daughter on President’s Day. I was at work, my phone buzzed – looked down to find an email from my daughter, who’s 6. Her daddy hooked her up with her very own gmail account. How sweet.
Until I start getting emails like this:
That evening I received 2 emails regarding Z and her new account. My sister in law emailed to inform me that Z is emailing her sales ads from Amazon, asking if she needed to buy her a tv. My friend Mel emailed, apparently Z got ahold of her son’s email address and was emailing him over and over. Who knew, my daughter was a bonafied spammer, except her intention is good and not to make money.
Something I never thought of was having to teach my children to email. With email being the new form of letter writing, it has to be taught. This includes limiting the number of bouncing icons, fonts, font sizes and colors!
Laying Down the Law
Here are some basic guidelines my husband and I laid out for our kids using the web:
We have made both kids well aware that we have access to everything they do online. We explained that whatever is viewed, emailed or typed we can see. Not that our 6 and 4 year old are all that sneaky YET – but felt it was best to lay this ground work down now because LORD only knows what we’ll be dealing with in a few years.
The kids’ computer will be in a public space. (Sorry kiddos, like our policy on no tv’s in the bedroom – you won’t have a computer in your bedroom either.)
No Googling! Yes, your Mommy googles EVERYTHING, this is exactly why we’re not exposing you to this. There are certain things you should learn from your parents, not the internet.
Any online profile has to be setup by Mom or Dad. This means Webkinz, McDonalds, Littlest Petshop, Barbie, what have you – we will setup for you.
Stranger danger – much like you tell your kids, don’t talk to strangers in public places – the internet is just as creepy. This fear is probebly from me watching one too many episodes of "To Catch a Predator".
Short-cuts and bookmarks – we’ve setup several sites as bookmarks and short-cuts and keep the kids in these urls. While their little fingers often click to find another site – we always redirect them back to our approved sites.
As much as I hate micro-managers, I’ve become a micro-managing parent when it comes to the digital space. Part of my job is working with teen girls in social media. The lack of understanding of how PUBLIC they are and how what they put online has a lasting effect does not seem to phase most teens. While I am sure my kids will make mistakes, we’re going to at least try to get them started on the right foot.
Empowering Kids for the Future
Something that I want for my kids is no fear of technology. I honestly believe they have the knowledge to do things because they don’t know they can’t. They will try, ask and learn how to do something because they just know it can be done. While my parents may have a hard time downloading pictures off of a camera or setting up a printer, teaching my children to do these things while they are young will only help leverage their knowledge and build their motivation to learn more. Hence the difference between a digital native and a digital immigrant.
There Are Somethings the Internet Shouldn’t Teach.
Yes, I’ve learned a lot of what I know (or think I know) from the internet, but somethings should be taught by parents. With Google at my kids’ fingertips they can learn things way before i’m ready. We have to be prepared for this. I don’t want to limit my kids abilities BUT – I think knowledge of certain things at a young age needs to be limited.
Because I can, I am. (story of my life, ha!). I’ve taken this flight from DFW to BNA probably 5 times in the last year, and never once have I gotten a stinkin’ plane with in-flight wi-fi.
Today my luck has changed!
Not only did the TSA escort me to the front of the security line.
Not only did I get patted down and told that I feel like a NORMAL pregnant woman.
Not only did I get a whole row to myself.
Not only have I been asked 3 times, with a look of “please do not deliver on this plane” when I was due.
Today I have wi-fi and talk about redefining the in-flight experience. Give me this over a stinkin’ movie anyday.
Woohoo – thanks GOGO In-flight Internet. And I am actually caught up on emails…. Today is a good day.
While the Internet has dramatically changed lives around the world, its full impact will only be realised when far more people and information go on-line, its founders said Wednesday. “The Web as I envisaged it, we have not seen it yet. The future is still so much bigger than the past,” said Tim Berners-Lee, one of the inventors of the World Wide Web, at a seminar on its future.
Just 23 percent of the globe’s population currently uses the Internet, according to the United Nation’s International Telecommunications Union, with use much higher in developed nations.
The Internet has a long way to go. Listening in on the Future of Social Networks panel, this became apparent to me. A few years ago, my life online went un-noticed. Today – that’s a different story. Now your online identity is your offline identity. Transperancy is becoming the norm. If you are plugged into Facebook, you know the truths to this. I know what my friend’s kids from elementary school look like (had a run in with a old friend at a restaurant and recognized her by her kids last week!). If you were to ask my sister what I did today, she could pick up her phone and tell you. I can tell you about my brother’s vacation before he even returns home.
What does the future hold? Who knows. But I can’t wait for the ride.
Here is the The Future of Social Networks panel from this year’s SXSWi. Charlene Li did a fabulous job visioning what could be.
