Google updating its TV service

PanARMENIAN.Net - Google is updating its Google TV service this weekend adding support for Android apps optimized big HDTV screens and polished how is discovered through the software. The new version of Google TV is expected to be automatically downloaded users next week.

The Google TV update not only adds features, but also addresses some pesky problems users griped about, according to Vincent Dureau, director of engineering, said in a blog post.

According to the post, Sony Internet TVs will receive the update next week and Logitech Revue Internet TV devices will follow.

On the interface front, the new Google TV uses a menu bar that appears at the bottom of the screen as it main navigation tool. The old version had a full screen interface with giant icons scattered everywhere.

Accessing apps through the software has been spruced up, too. The apps screen appears as it does in the tablet version of Android, "Honeycomb." What's more, a set of "optimized" apps will be offered that will play nice with the larger screens that Goggle TV runs on.

The YouTube experience has also been improved for the software. Moving from video to video is very fast, according to Phillips, as fast as moving from channel to channel on a cable or satellite system.

Google TV was introduced about a year ago as an offering in set-top boxes and in TV sets made by Sony and Logitech. Streaming of the upgrade to Sony TVs is scheduled to start on Sunday and upgrades for Logitech devices will come shortly after that, PC World reported.