Connected TV Revisited
Last year this time the tech world’s attention was drawn to the Connected TV platform. This was due to the release of Apple and Google TV. This year the same thing has happen but this time the tone has changed. Notable partners such as Intel, Adobe and Logitech have made announcements saying they are changing their strategy around the Connected TV platform - which mainly affects Google TV.
Intel is in the inner circle of those developing connected TV solutions. They were one of Google’s key partner is developing the Google TV platform with the CE4100 Atom SoC chipset. However, they were the first say they are re-focusing their Digital Home Group in house team, from digital TV processors to mobile CE (Consumer Electronic) devices, such as smart phones and tablets.
Adobe has done a lot in extending Flash onto the connected TV and mobile platform through the Open Screen Project; is also changing strategy. They said they will not be focusing on porting Flash plugins into CE web browsers and mobile devices. Instead, they are leaving it up to developers to use HTML5 and Adobe AIR as their Apps development platform.
In an article on Gigaom, they quoted saying “Adobe will continue to support existing licensees who are planning on supporting Flash Player for web browsing on digital home devices and are using the Flash Player Porting Kit to do so. However we believe the right approach to deliver content on televisions is through applications, not a web browsing experience, and we will continue to encourage the device and content publishing community down that path.”
Another Google TV key partner Logitech is stopping the development and manufacturing of its Logitech Revue products for Google TV. They said they will not be releasing any new products and they will let whatever stock they have they will sell off. However, they will release the new version of Google TV software, due before the end of this year.
However, CES 2012 visitors will not be left disappointed, because it is rumoured that LG is Launching its Google base TV at the show, featuring the latest Google TV software, Google TV 2.0. This means in terms of CEs LG and Sony are the only ones flying to banner for Google TV.
The announcements have been a mixture of good and bad – depending how you look at it. For me, I think situations like these are inevitable with new technologies, because the connected TV platform is relatively new. Therefore, everyone one is trying to find their feet and watching consumer response to the products and services.
One thing for sure connected TV is not going away, it just needs to find its feet, but in the mean time content developers need to know which horse to bet on.