I am actually using Dish Network, and Google TV is designed to specifically work with it (there is specific integration built into the box).
Google TV would be fine as a stand along box, as watching regular TV, and Internet video feel like 2 distinct, and separate activities (ie. I haven't done the use case, where I am watching the game, and have a separate window open with stats from the Internet). I wouldn't say the Dish Network integration is a killer feature. I can search my DVR through Google TV, and then watch videos, but it isn't particularly wonderful. There is definitely value in using Google TV without cable. Especially if you are interested in watching Internet content. On Dec 29, 5:11 pm, Kent Loobey <[email protected]> wrote: > It sounds like you are not using the cable functionality all that much. I > don't have cable and I thought Google TV wouldn't have much value without it. > > Do you think this is correct or is it functional enough with just over-the-air > and the Internet? > > On Wednesday 29 December 2010 15:19:02 Mike Wolfson wrote: > > > There has been a lot of press lately, about Google asking > > manufacturers to delay showing their TV products at CES, and asking > > Logitech to stop production (which turned out to be false). The > > general feeling (in the press at least) is that Google TV is not ready > > for prime time, and basically, just a bad product. > > > My experience with this product has been very positive so far. I > > didn't have internet access on my TV (a Tivo, Blueray, Roku, etc) > > before, so maybe I don't have much to go on. I also received the > > Google TV for free from Google through a seeding program, which may > > make me more forgiving (as opposed to if I had spent $300 of my hard > > earned bucks on it). > > > Setup was a breeze. I just plugged it in, put the HDMI out from my > > Satellite box into it, then connected it to my TV, and turned it on. > > Of course, it immediately downloaded new software (which I knew was > > going to happen). I have heard different experiences from Roku users > > (for instance, you need to physically plug the box into Ethernet to > > get the initial software update). > > > The software is pretty good. I was able to connect it to my network > > quickly, and can stream media directly from my Windows 7 computer. I > > also tried plugging a USB drive into the back, and was able to play a > > movie from that. I wouldn't say it is completely intuitive (I did > > have to do some searching to figure out how to do some things), but > > once I found them, everything just works. I guess, this is consistent > > with the Android experience in general - not completely brain dead to > > use, but powerful, once you figure it out. I was able to teach my > > wife, and father-in-law (neither of them are super technical) how to > > use the device pretty easily, so I guess the learning curve isn't too > > steep. I find the UI to be responsive, which is very important in a > > TV (any sort of lag would be problematic on this sort of device). I > > am happy with the amount of content available (basically, all I need > > is Netflix and the Internet, I don't care about Hulu or the other > > services that are blocked). > > > I have a pretty fast Internet connection, and have had flawless > > streaming from Netflix, and when watching online video (mostly CNET > > and YouTube). I am surprised that I don't have more problems, because > > my Wifi is a little spotty (due to the construction of my house, and > > the location of the router, etc). The box must do a good job of > > caching, because I haven't seen many video glitches. > > > Of course, all is not well in Google TV-land. The hardware is pretty > > awful. The Logitech keyboard is very awkward to use (and way too > > big), and it is necessary to switch between buttons and mouse > > navigation fairly often to get things done. The UI certainly is in > > need of some refinement. There are a variety of main categories on > > the left (ie. Applications, Spotlight, Most Used, etc) that are pretty > > much all the same thing. The picture in a picture functionality isn't > > implemented real well (although, the recent update was supposed to > > address some of this stuff). As with a lot of early Google products, > > the UI is fairly un-refined. Some of the apps aren't implemented real > > well (for instance, Pandora continues to play, even after you have > > navigate away from it, and launched another video stream), and the > > early Netflix didn't allow you to add videos to your instant Que (but > > the newest release fixed that). > > > It probably isn't clear to the average user, but I can very clearly > > tell that Android is running behind the scenes. I end up using the > > Home, Back, Menu, and Search buttons a lot (although it took me a > > while to even find the menu button, on the keyboard). I look forward > > to getting an SDK for this, so I start developing apps (as far as I > > know, it hasn't been announced yet) - although, I haven't really come > > up with a killer app idea yet. > > > Bottom line, I am confused about all the negative press about the > > Google TV. I really love it. I found it easy to setup, fairly easy > > to use (after a small learning curve), and pretty robust (it hasn't > > crashed on me). I am super excited to have Internet on my TV for the > > first time, and can't imagine ever living without this product again. > > The current Google TV is clearly an early product, but is far more > > polished than the media and general reviews are making it out to be. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en.
