14 DAY TRIAL // Google TV has had a rough start, if you can call more than a year after launch a 'start,' but Google is still at it. While there are no signs that Google TV is the hot new thing, the big update from last fall did help and more people are buying devices than ever.
Still, the future didn't look too bright for Google TV, but it seems that the company has managed to convince quite a lot more partners to start building Google TV-powered devices.
It started out with Logitech and the Logitech Revue as well as a few Sony TVs. Logitech got burned with the Revue, has discontinued the device and has no plans to make another at least not for now.
But others are taking its place, Google has said that LG, Samsung as well as existing partners Sony and Vizio will have something to show at CES this year.
What's more, Google is also switching chip makers. When Google TV launched, it had the full support of Intel behind it. The chip maker was eager to enter a new market, but since Google TV didn't sell as everyone had hoped, it seems that Intel lost faith. Either that, or Google got a better deal with other partners.
Google TV will now start running on ARM chips and Google has partnered with Marvell as well as MediaTek use their chipsets in Google TV devices.
"As we’ve said before, Google TV is about bringing new entertainment and innovation from the Web to TV and our team along with our partners are pleased to bring more Google TV powered products to more people, across more devices in more countries in 2012," Google boasted.
One interesting part about Google's announcement is that Google TV is going international. It's been available in the US only so far, but it seems that devices are going to start being available elsewhere this year.