Google to release Honeycomb update for Google TV

20 Sep 2011

Any ideas that Google might be stepping back from the digital TV world may be put to rest by the news that the internet giant is planning a major update to its Google TV operating system that will see integration with Google’s Honeycomb mobile OS.

The move may see greater integration between Android tablet and smartphone devices and Wi-Fi-enabled television sets. The new update is expected later this month.

Sony has put Google TV inside three Bravia TV models while Logitech has created a Revue set top box.

However, the decision by Logitech to reduce the price of the Revue from US$249 down to US$99 led to speculation that Google’s digital TV strategy was not going according to plan.

However, according to reports in Neowin.net and GigaOM, a whole slew of apps are currently available for download in Google’s Android Marketplace that are specifically made for Google TV.

Apps available in the market that are compatible with Google TV include the Wall Street Journal, CNN and CNBC.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com