Logitech Names Its Google TV Box ‘Revue’

Google TV will be here in the fall and hardware partners are hard at work on their own set-top boxes. Logitech’s box has just been officially named “Revue,” though few details beyond the name have been revealed.

The idea is that you’ll purchase the Revue box and then use your Android phone or iPhone to run a remote controller app with similar features to Logitech’s line of Harmony universal remotes. It looks like an actual remote control will be included with the box, too, “combining a compact keyboard, remote control, and touchpad.” Logitech’s also planning an HD video conferencing camera that can be used with Google TV as well.

While the release date’s been given a loose “fall” timeframe, the price tag has remained much more elusive. It doesn’t appear that Logitech’s box has any internal storage, so assuming it’s little more than a box that provides the user interface and internet connection, I’d venture a guess that it might (should) cost under $50 if they want to sell the things. The fancy remote that’s going to come with the Revue actually sounds like it might add a bit to the price but, who knows, maybe they’ll sell a version without a remote for people with compatible smartphones.

Here’s a quick video explaining Google TV, if you’re interested:

via AndroidCentral.com

More on Techland:

Google Brings The Web To TV With Google TV

Google’s Rumored Music Store and Why It Just Might Work

Apple Working on Cloud Based AppleTV With $99 Price Tag?

gum0nshoe

I just want to know how the utility aspect of this is supposed to work…

Basically, this assumes you have internet, but we all know that companies like Comcast and Warner shut of bandwidth if you “exceed” your limits. As soon as TV is counted as part of that, this looks a lot less appealing.

Now, I stream movies and shows with netflix, and I’m beginning to enjoy it. If I want news though, that’s not an option through Netflix. Will it be through this? What about the newest thing? Everything is delayed on Netflix to increase profits. Do I have to wait till the stuff goes to DVD before I can stream it? And what if my favorite television show uses a song that doesn’t have streaming rights?

Do I now have to have two 2 TV subscriptions. One to watch things when I want and the other to watch things when they come out? I don’t really want to pay for that, especially since I would expect to pay for more than just the box, but also the continuing service.

I think we all have a perfect image of what we’d want this to be, but what would it really be? If you could get answers to some of those questions, I’d read that article… or if it is already out there somewhere.
http://www.aamoth.com/ Doug Aamoth

Google TV basically sits in between your cable connection and your TV as a menu overlay on your TV screen when you want to use it. Television programs come in through your cable connection and don’t use your internet bandwidth.

But let’s say you’re watching a new show you like and you want to learn more about it. You’d use Google TV to search for that particular show and it would pull in search results, YouTube clips, and other information from the internet PLUS upcoming episodes of that show through your cable provider with the option to record it to your TiVo or DVR box, for instance. If you streamed YouTube clips of the show, it’d use your internet connection. If you watch episodes of the show on your TV either live or ones you’ve recorded to your cable box or TiVo, it doesn’t use up any of your internet bandwidth.

Netflix streaming would use your internet connection and you wouldn’t get movies any earlier this way. That’s an issue between the movie companies and Netflix that has nothing to do with Google TV right now.

You don’t have to have two TV subscriptions. Just one TV subscription and one internet subscription like you have now. The name “Google TV” is a bit confusing because it’s not actually “TV” but more like Google on your TV.

Check out the video up above for more info. There are no subscription costs. You just buy the box and hook it up to your TV. It basically adds an internet connection to your TV and uses Google as the search engine. It does other stuff too but that’s the basic idea behind it.