Sunday, June 19, 2011

Google acquires SageTV in likely push to rekindle Google TV

The open-source home theater software developer said it signed onboard because of a "shared vision for open technology" that would move their Internet-focused experience. They hoped to reach an "even larger audience" on different products, platforms, and services, hinting it wouldn't necessarily be limited to Android.The takeover has angered some users since it has already pulled its store and most other links aside from the company forums, making it difficult to get a copy of SageTV itself. Google hasn't commented on what its intentions would be, although most already suspect the company is being bought to improve the struggling Google TV platform. A revival of the platform is already planned with an Android 3.1 upgrade that will give it heavily requested third-party app support along with new hardware from Samsung and Vizio. SageTV's experience in the field, particularly with DVR-like recording, may signal an intent to add recording to Google TV and work it into cable and satellite set-top boxes, not just stand-alone hardware that needs a separate set-top to integrate with regular TV. While game consoles like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have often been considered the leaders in media hubs just through their ubiquity, the newer Apple TV has often trumped Google TV at stores with over a million sold in its first three months and likely many more since. Its $99 price and emphasis on readily available Internet content have made it a faster seller than the frequently $299-plus Google TV hardware. Logitech, one of the two core Google TV partners, has had to admit falling short of expectations and is counting on the reboot of the platform in the fall to get back in shape.

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