Google TV update adds Android Market

With access to the Android Market, Google TV users can now install apps
Source: Google Google has announced that it soon plans to release an update for its Google TV platform that will improve the underlying OS and provide several new features. Originally announced in May 2010, Google TV is the company's open source Android platform for TVs and set-top boxes. Since first being introduced, however, it has received considerable criticism for the features it initially lacked: notably, access to the Android Market and support for installing additional applications.

As expected, the new software update for Google TV is based on the 3.x "Honeycomb" branch of Android and addresses a number of complaints from users. Once installed, the update will allow users to officially access the Android Market for the first time and install a variety of apps, including games, and apps for music and video streaming services.

The Google TV user interface has received an overhaul to make it "much simpler". Google says that the changes are designed to help users access their favourite content quickly. Built-in support for Live TV and YouTube, as well as US streaming services Netflix and HBO GO, have also been improved.

More details about this software update can be found in a post on the Google TV blog and on the new Google TV web site. According to the company, the software update will start rolling out to Sony devices starting early next week, after which Logitech Revue devices will also receive the update.

See also:

• Google TV brings Android apps to the big screen, a report from The H.

(crve)