GoogleTV being F****ed by the Networks

[hefe]

I am enjoying it a great deal.

I have the Tinycam Monitor installed, and it's so cool to be able to go picture-in-picture and pull up the IP camera I have as a baby monitor in the baby's room.

I have used it far more than I thought I would to pull up information that something I'm watching prompts me to want to know.

With the Google TV remote app on my Android phone, I have had YouTube videos that I send to the TV screen.

Not many games, but I did enjoy playing Dragon, Fly on the TV.

And watching content through the Plex media player.

I do wish the hardware was a little faster, but I really like it, and totally got more than my $99 worth.

I really think the potential for when people really start producing more apps for this thing is quite huge. If not in consumer numbers, at least in my own enjoyment of it.

[Chris Gerhard]

Originally Posted by atmuscarella

Well I said I would post back my thoughts so here goes:

The Logitech Revue with Google TV has amazing potential, however as a consumer appliance it is a failure.

The Revue is a consumer appliance failure for 2 primary reasons. The first is it violates the basic "you must be able to plug it in and use it" rule and second is because Logitech has stated they will not provide future updates so the potential of this device is limited.

I have actually enjoyed spending the time needed to figure out how to use all of this devices features. My Revue updated to the new 3.1 software at start up so my experience is only with the current and last software update. Because it tries to be many things it ends up not being the best at anything and not even good at many things.

1. Internet Streaming: You have your basics Netflix, Amazon and a few others. However both Roku and Boxee Box are easier and have more choices.
2. Universal Remote: Works to some extent but honestly you need a remote not a keyboard - you are better off with a harmony remote
3. Web browsing: Painful is the best way to describe the experience. This is not a mobile device no reason to put a mobile browser on it, there is plenty of real estate for tool bars. On a personal note I need a mouse. On the up side it has made me really appreciate my HTPC.
4. Playing "local" media: Limited but it works except as aaronwt has said the Revue messes with sound quality. I can live with it when it comes to a TV show but listening to music is really not acceptable.

The Revue is a great idea and had great potential. However it is an end of life product and is unlikely to be improved enough for me to recommend it to anyone. At $76 I am fine with my purchase but honestly you would be better off with a $99 Roku.

Google TV is however a different matter. I really do see potential and with the right hardware and feature set Google TV could still be a great product. My advise to Google is: Think; "Keep it simple stupid", consumer appliances need to be just that, a simple appliance that any person can use without thinking about it much.

Thanks,

Again, someone recommends the Roku with no keyboard and which can only access very limited internet streaming, this seems like a silly recommendation and I just don't get it. Can you get to Internet Archive.com or freemoviescinema.com with the Roku? Those are just a couple of the dozen sites I use for public domain movies and TV shows with the Revue but two that I like. When I compared what was accessible using the Roku to what is accessible using Google TV, I can't see any value with the Roku. Google TV is intended for the entire web, not just the selected few precious sites Roku is set up to handle.

If you can't use the Revue to find what you want to watch, I think you don't know how to use the device. Yes, it takes some effort but the web doesn't fit into a nice little plug and play device, there are a wide variety of different requirements to access programming, not just one simple process. I also have no problem using it for web browsing, including participation here and other forums.

[atmuscarella]

Originally Posted by Chris Gerhard

Again, someone recommends the Roku with no keyboard and which can only access very limited internet streaming, this seems like a silly recommendation and I just don't get it. Can you get to Internet Archive.com or freemoviescinema.com with the Roku? Those are just a couple of the dozen sites I use for public domain movies and TV shows with the Revue but two that I like. When I compared what was accessible using the Roku to what is accessible using Google TV, I can't see any value with the Roku. Google TV is intended for the entire web, not just the selected few precious sites Roku is set up to handle.

Availability of content versus usability is a difficult topic because both a fairly personal. I will not recommend anything I think has usability issues and, in my mind, the Revue has significant usability issues. How the Revue functions maybe acceptable to you but I don't believe it would be for someone looking for a simple streaming appliance. The last person I made a recommendation to wanted something to stream Netflix and Amazon Prime that her 5 & 7 year old sons and non-tech husband could just pick up and use. I told her to get the top Roku with the gaming remote. She thanks me every time she sees me. They love the Roku simple to setup, simple to use, and they apparently love Anger Birds on the big screen. In fact she bought several for family members for Christmas.

Originally Posted by Chris Gerhard

If you can't use the Revue to find what you want to watch, I think you don't know how to use the device. Yes, it takes some effort but the web doesn't fit into a nice little plug and play device, there are a wide variety of different requirements to access programming, not just one simple process. I also have no problem using it for web browsing, including participation here and other forums.

I am not sure I agree that you can find everything someone wants to watch as some content is still blocked that you can access on a HTPC however I do generally agree with your statement. It still all comes down to usability for me and I don't find the Chrome browser in the Revue very usable and what the Revue does to music is completely unacceptable. I have hopes that Mozilla will release a Firefox browser for Google TV/Revue that isn't crippled, but for now my HTPC is significantly easier to use for anything that requires a browser than the Revue.

The one thing I will say for the Revue is that for someone tight on money it gives them access to more content than anything other than a HTPC at a very low price point.

[BrettStah]

Anyone using the keyboard from the Revue with an HTPC?

[atmuscarella]

Well if anyone still really wants a Logitech Revue reconditioned ones are available again for $78 shipping included:

http://www.ecost.com/p/Logitech-Keyb...ource=EWB11588

With Fatwallet you can also get a 2% rebate.

[Chris Gerhard]

Originally Posted by BrettStah

Anyone using the keyboard from the Revue with an HTPC?

I am using a Revue keyboard with a laptop connected to an HDTV, primarily just to set and play PlayLater recordings. In addition to using the keyboard for browsing and search, the transport play and pause buttons work and the touchpad works with the time slider for skipping commercials, I must guess as to time point but after using it awhile, it is pretty easy. Playback is accomplished using Windows Media Player. I can also access those same recordings with any Google TV box in the house but no trick play or commercial skipping works, only play and pause using the touchpad. I installed XBMC and was going to use it to directly access my PlayOn channels but decided recording is much better, I know the program will still be available when I want it with that method.

Of course you must have the Logitech unifying receiver which comes with the keyboard when purchased separately. I can't see why it wouldn't work with a proper HTPC.

[dianebrat]

Originally Posted by BrettStah

Anyone using the keyboard from the Revue with an HTPC?

Originally Posted by Chris Gerhard

Of course you must have the Logitech unifying receiver which comes with the keyboard when purchased separately. I can't see why it wouldn't work with a proper HTPC.

Works awesome on my Acer Revo 100 HTPC I bought the unifying receiver on ebay for under $10 shipped. the Revo 100 replaced the Google TV after I had a few files the GoogleTV couldn't play, the Revo being Win7 plays all.

[Chris Gerhard]

Originally Posted by dianebrat

Works awesome on my Acer Revo 100 HTPC I bought the unifying receiver on ebay for under $10 shipped. the Revo 100 replaced the Google TV after I had a few files the GoogleTV couldn't play, the Revo being Win7 plays all.

Didn't the Revo come with a lighted touchscreen keyboard?

[dianebrat]

Originally Posted by Chris Gerhard

Didn't the Revo come with a lighted touchscreen keyboard?

the cool but weird little touchpad/keyboard combo, yes.. but you're always jumping between keyboard and touchpad mode. For a lot of things I like the bigger Logitech keyboard with real keys.

[Chris Gerhard]

A couple of apps I hadn't noticed before in the Spotlight section.

Vanguard - Independent films provided by ads. Pretty good for my tastes.

iHeart Radio - Another audio service like Pandora but adding actual radio stations from many cities. The custom station channels can be individual artists and there are some preset channels. I don't really care about the type of services and although I signed up for Spotify and Pandora, I rarely ever use them. The real radio stations mostly didn't work for me, audio cuts out but I would expect that to be fixed.