Here comes Google TV

Google CEO Eric Schmidt gave the closing keynote at the IFA show in Berlin, announcing that the Google TV platform would be available on products in the U.S. this fall, and would go worldwide in 2011. Sony is on board with an HDTV and a Blu-ray player, and Logitech will also be there with Revue. There is a good write-up on Sony's Google TV product in Broadband TV News. And, Sony's not the only TV manufacturer working with the Google TV platform, as reported in the article.

Although Sony is the “official launch partner” for Google TV, there was another working Android TV set on display in Berlin. A small Scandinavian company called People of Lava from Sweden displayed a working set with apps running Facebook, YouTube, Google Maps, Mail and Twitter alongside a TV channel. Android is Open Source, so anyone can join the game. The company will bring a 42 inch set in their People of Lava Scandinavia series later on the market.

Another good article from Electricpig.co.uk provides more detail on some Google TV functionality, including using an Android phone (and potentially you iPhone) as a Google TV remote. This would include voice control. .

Samsung may be willing to consider Google TV, according to a Bloomberg article. Samsung, which uses its own Bada operating system as well as Android for its phones, is also developing an operating system that can be used for both phones and TVs, according to the company.