The Official Google TV Blog

Bringing more entertainment to your TV, Las Vegas style

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Last November, we updated Google TV to make it faster and easier to access your favorite entertainment and Google services on your TV. At the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, you’ll see more Google TV partners, updates from existing partners, and more content coming to the platform.

Asus, Hisense, TCL and others will show products with Google TV launching in the coming weeks. Existing partners like LG, Vizio, Sony, and others will show off the newest Google TV platform that makes finding what you want faster and easier. Combined, these set-top boxes, integrated TVs, and IPTV boxes with Google TV are available from 9 partners across 10 countries around the world.
You’ll also see recently launched apps on Google TV like Amazon, France24, Dramafever and more. These add to the hundreds of TV-optimized apps and thousands of supported mobile apps available on Google TV.

We hope to see you again at CES, and we look forward to an exciting 2013.

Posted by Suveer Kothari and Mickey Kim, Google TV Partnerships

Amazon Instant Video brings a new app to LG TVs with Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Elisa Humphrey, Director, Amazon Instant Video shares how you can enjoy more movies and tv shows with Amazon Instant Video now available on Google Play.

Today Amazon Instant Video launched its Google TV application on 2012 LG models with Google TV. While all Google TV devices can access Amazon Instant Video through Chrome, this new application on LG models with Google TV gives you a richer Amazon Instant Video experience, with HD playback, Closed Captioning, Your Video Library, Your Watchlist, and Recommendations.

2012 LG models with Google TV (LG 47G2 and LG 55G2) are the first supported by this new application which includes all the Amazon Instant Video features in a redesigned experience. More Google TV devices will be supported soon.

If you own an LG TV with Google TV, you can install the Amazon Instant Video app from Google Play to access the Amazon Instant Video library of more than 140,000 movies and TV episodes. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can access more than 30,000 movies and TV episodes to stream at no additional cost. If you are already using the current Amazon Instant Video application, make sure you go to Google Play on your TV to download the update.

We are excited to bring this new Amazon Instant Video experience to LG TV with Google TV customers. Amazon Instant Video is now available on over 500 Televisions, Blu-ray players, game consoles, tablets including iPad and Kindle Fire, and set-top boxes.

Download Amazon Instant Video from Google Play.

Posted by Elisa Humphrey, Director, Amazon Instant Video

Enjoy the latest European films, TV shows, and music with Eurochannel on Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:14:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Joseph de Monvallier, Director, Marketing & Advertising for Eurochannel shares his insights on European entertainment available on Eurochannel
Are you a fan of European films, documentaries, music and more? Then check out Eurochannel for Google TV. With over 11 million viewers, Eurochannel offers an extensive collection of content with more than 150 programs available covering the latest entertainment and cultural trends straight from the source including A-list European stars, multiple award-winning actors, directors, and music artists like Italian Isabella Ferrari and sensational British boy band, One Direction.

Exclusive European programming at your disposal
At Eurochannel, we try to preserve content in its original language but we also include subtitles in English for foreign and non-native speakers to enjoy. If you’re new to European films, we’ve got you covered with a list of suggestions for how to get started. We have genres that range from psychological suspense movies from Northern Europe like Deadly Cell to Polish comedies The Wedding and French dramas like Noble Art to tantalize your senses and keep you at the edge of your seat.

Staff picks to get you started
When it comes to TV shows, Eurochannel has a selection of handpicked series available, including social and family dramas like Welsh Home/Work or the Estonian The Class.
But if you are into something more action-packed like Homeland or Dexter, then check out Icelandic The Cliff, the Dutch Medea, or the Danish Lulu & Leon to get your heart palpitating.

Enjoy European Content 24/7
If that wasn’t enough, Eurochannel also offers a live 24/7 TV stream of its channel so you can tune into the latest monthly series and movie premieres.
For a limited time after you download Eurochannel, you’ll be entered into Eurochannel’s sweepstakes to win a brand new Nexus 7 tablet and receive an exclusive collection of digitally mastered pictures from Europe: the Eurochannel Deluxe Pictures Platinum Edition which will be sent to the email address associated with your Eurochannel account.
So enjoy the best European programming available with Eurochannel for your Google TV, and download Eurochannel from Google Play.

To find out more about Google TV, visit our Google+ Page, website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Joseph de Monvallier, Director, Marketing & Advertising for Eurochannel

This Thanksgiving, entertain your family with Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:52:00 +0000

To help avoid the last minute panic of what to prepare for the relatives and family friends this Thanksgiving, put Google TV to work for you.

Bring on the turkey with all the fixin’s
To help you sift through the millions of recipe suggestions, access The New York Times YouTube playlist to get tips on How To Carve a Turkey amongst other delicious treats.

Turn to the experts in the kitchen
Want Iron Chef Bobby Flay or Michael Symon on your side? Then visit the The Food Network using the Chrome browser to access the latest clips on some of the most simple and delectable dishes that will surely impress your family. Try Prosciutto-Wrapped Crudites or Brie En Croute - the names themselves make your mouth water.

If you’re not sure what to do with all the leftovers in the fridge, check out Emeril Lagasse’s Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas for some unique concoctions only the pros would think of.

With the new YouTube app update, you can play videos you find on your Android smartphone or tablet on your Google TV. Put together your own Thanksgiving 2012 playlist featuring recipes like Pear-Cranberry Pie and Roasted Sweet Potatoes (our favorite).

Kickstart your shopping a bit early
As you recover from the food coma, why not let your Google TV help you get a jump start on holiday shopping with the whole family? Using Chrome, look for all the latest deals online by searching for “Black Friday 2012” to see a list of stores and shops that you can buy from without having to rush to the store like everyone else.

If you’re more visual, tune into ABC’s Thanksgiving Shopping Deals Before Black Friday to get an idea of what’s hot and worth waiting in line for —including how to plan your route in stores if you plan on braving the crowds.

So sit back, relax and put Google TV to work for you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

To find out more about Google TV, visit our Google+ Page, website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Gavin Leung, Product Marketing Manager, Google TV

Google TV: Now faster and easier

noreply@blogger.com (A Googler) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Last year, your Google TV received an update which added Google Play and simplified the entertainment discovery experience. Our next update makes finding whatever you want on Google TV even faster and easier. The update starts to roll out this week to LG devices and to other devices thereafter.

Voice Search: Simply speak to watch anything

Instantly access the power of Google TV, simply by using your voice. Just speak to watch TV shows and movies, start playing a YouTube video, open applications, go to websites, do a Google search, and much more. Say “CNN” to go right to the channel, or say “Homeland” to see all the live and streaming options to watch the show. You can even say “how to tie a bow tie” to watch an instructional YouTube video. Try “search movies with Jeff Bridges” and see results in our new, more visual search results page.

PrimeTime: A guide that works for you

Last year your Google TV added the TV & Movies app to help you browse 100,000+ movies and TV episodes available to watch. Now called PrimeTime, the app makes it even easier to find your favorite content. Easily access PrimeTime anywhere in Google TV and browse for something new while you watch. You can quickly flip through the best stuff on live TV, access your favorite channels, see TV shows you recently watched, and find other suggestions based on what you enjoy watching. Here’s how both of these features work:

YouTube: Making it easier to watch on Google TV

The world watches 4 billion hours of YouTube per month, but it’s not yet as easy to watch YouTube on your TV as it is on your computers, phones, and tablets. YouTube and Google TV are changing that. With the updated YouTube app for Android and Google TV, your devices automatically pair so you can play any YouTube video from your Android phone or tablet on your TV with just one button. What’s playing on your mobile device looks even better on your Google TV.

Look for all these updates first on LG devices with Google TV over the coming weeks, and to other second generation hardware with Google TV in the coming months. First generation devices will see the updates to PrimeTime and YouTube. For more information, check out our updated Google TV overview.

Posted by Greg Funk and Eric Liu, Product Managers

Making it easier to watch YouTube videos on TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:00:00 +0000

What if you could send YouTube videos from your phone to your TV with a click of a button? It’s an idea we’ve been working on since 2010, and today we’re taking the next step.

We’re making it even easier to play videos from your phone or tablet on your TV, with a YouTube app update for Android and Google TV that automatically pairs your devices on the same WiFi. Just find a video on your YouTube app for Android — like the latest video from GoPro or H+ The Digital Series — click the TV icon that appears, and the video will play instantly on your Google TV.

Like a remote control, you can pause, scroll or skip to the next video with your mobile device as it plays on your TV. Since your devices are connected in the cloud, you can also do things like find the next video to watch from your tablet or browse around the web on your phone, all while the video plays on TV. You can even connect multiple devices to the TV to have your friends add to the playlist.

Stay tuned to see this feature coming to more devices and screens in the future. The next evolution of TV is in your hands.

Timbo Drayson, Product Manager, recently watched all of H+ The Digital Series on his TV.

Bring popular global entertainment to your living room with Viki and Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:31:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Karmela Angela Cortez, Product Manager, Viki shares some great music, tv shows, and movies from around the world.

Have you caught the entertainment craze from Asia? You know the K-dramas, K-pop, Bollywood, and international indie films you’ve heard about online? Then check out Viki for Google TV, a recent winner of a Google TV Hackathon that offers free TV shows, music videos, and more from around the globe (especially from Asia).

Breaking Language Barriers
Not only is our content free, but Viki will subtitle everything in your language of choice thanks to the many volunteers that are willing to help us. So whether you want to watch a K-drama like City Hunter or Anime thriller like Leiji Matsumoto’s Ozma, we got you covered.

Discover New Things To Watch
Our interface makes it easy for you to quickly find and discover new things to watch by checking the Recently Watched or Recently Updated queues. Feeling social? Then check out the Timed Comments feature which allows you to read running comments written by viewers like you.

If you’re casually browsing and not sure what to check out, then tune into the full-length shows, movies, and music videos available in normal viewing or HD. A couple staff picks include Korean movies like Sex is Zero or music videos from K-Pop stars like Super Junior, IU and T-ara. If you want to take your music listening to the next level, grab some friends and sing along with our Karaoke feature without having to leave the comfort of your home.

So whether you love K-Dramas, Anime, Bollywood, international indie films, K-Pop or videos from any other country in the world, Viki has you covered with hundreds of subtitled videos available at your disposal.

Download Viki from Google Play.

To find out more about Google TV, visit our Google+ Page, website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Karmela Angela Cortez, Product Manager, Viki

Get out your cauldron and broomsticks because it’s party time with your Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:39:00 +0000

Google TV is prepped and ready to bring you everything you need to throw the spookiest Halloween Party on the block.

Bust a move in your costume
Every Halloween party needs the right jams to set the vibe. Google TV has you covered with a great selection of music choices. Hop onto your Pandora account and be sure to stream Halloween Party Radio which includes songs like Monster Mash and Thriller from Michael Jackson.

Want to get your guests to get groovy in your living room? Just search for “halloween music” on YouTube and check out playlists like Ultimate Halloween Music Dance Remix or Halloween Songs.

Surprising snacks for your daring guests
Serve your guests some healthy alternatives to popular halloween treats with iFood.tv which features recipes like Halloween Spooktacular Punch, perfect for the adults in your life.

But if you’re looking to entertain and creep out your friends, check out Recipe Search and put together Puff Pastry Intestines or Carrot-Finger Food (made to look like real human fingers!) to get their hearts palpitating and the conversation started.

Movie Fright Fest
When the party is winding down, sit around your TV and watch a few classic or new horror films with the TV & Movies app. If you simply want to have access to the most recent flicks, check out New Releases in Horror directly from the Google Play store on your Google TV.

Download Pandora, iFood.tv, and Recipe Search from Google Play.

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the Google TV Google+ Page, our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Post created by Gavin Leung, Google TV Marketing Manager

LG Uplus bringing IPTV with Google TV to Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:30:00 +0000

If you’ve ever considered moving to Korea to enjoy its kimchi and K-pop — starting today we have another reason for you. Korean IPTV provider LG Uplus will offer an integrated Google TV set-top box, combining its TV subscription service with Google TV.

With Google TV in the u+tv G, you get more content to watch than ever before, and an easier way to find whatever you’re looking for. New and existing LG Uplus subscribers can get the u+tv G starting today, bringing live TV and 50,000 on demand titles, now integrated with Google TV apps like Search, YouTube, Google Play and Chrome.

With this launch, LG Uplus becomes the first IPTV provider to offer an integrated Google TV box for its subscribers, and Korea becomes the tenth country in which Google TV is available. To help us kick this off in style, keep an eye out for superstar Psy of Gangnam Style fame who’ll be appearing in an LG Uplus campaign around Korea.

We’ll continue to work with cable, satellite, and IPTV partners around the world to make consumers’ TV experience even better through Google TV.

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the Google TV Google+ Page, our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Mickey Kim, Google TV partnerships, & Andrew Jeon, Google TV engineering

Google Play Movies, TV shows, and Music now on Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Starting today more of the Google Play experience will come to your Google TV. Google Play Movies, TV shows, and Music will be rolling out to your Google TV over the next few weeks. You’ll be able to buy or rent content directly through the Google Play Store on Google TV, and purchases you’ve made on other devices will also be automatically available on Google TV. Google Play titles will also be discoverable through our TV & Movies app, which brings recommendations for shows and movies available on live TV and apps like Netflix, Amazon, and now Google Play.

For developers, this update also enables many other Google Play features including auto-updates, subscription billing, and smart app updates.

Google Play gives you one place to find, enjoy and share your favorite entertainment with millions of songs and thousands of movies and TV shows for sale, and adds to the millions of entertainment options available for you on Google TV through YouTube, TV & Movies, Search and the full web through Chrome.

And you’ll be able to buy or rent content directly through the Google Play Store on Google TV, and purchases you’ve made on other devices will also be automatically available on Google TV.

Ambarish Kenghe, Google TV Product Manager

The Washington Post is reinventing the nightly newscast one broadcast at a time, with PostTV for Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Andrew Pergam, Director of Video at The Washington Post shares how you can get straight to the top stories faster with PostTV for Google TV.

If you're looking for insight from The Washington Post’s experts from DC and around the globe, check out the new PostTV app for Google TV. It features smart, sophisticated, segmented and shareable journalism about the stories and people shaping your world.

Get access to the latest news with The Fold
Get straight to the top stories and headlines going on around the world on The Fold, The Washington Post’s own nightly newscast available on PostTV. The Fold breaks down complex issues and delivers original journalism the way only The Washington Post can.

In addition to The Fold, PostTV also brings you:

News in 59 Seconds, a mid-morning primer on what’s happening in Washington, the Nation and the World—all with a Washington bend
Trail Mix, an on-going political series featuring analysis from top reporters out on the Campaign 2012 trail

With the PostTV app, The Washington Post newsroom is bringing its trusted editorial voice right ot your Google TV. You can also watch The Fold from Chrome by visiting the WashingtonPost.com.

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the Google TV Google+ Page, our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Andrew Pergam, Director of Video at The Washington Post

Satisfy your drama addiction with DramaFever for Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Rosally Sapla, VP of Communications at DramaFever shares what’s coming next from around the world via DramaFever on Google TV

Do you wish you could keep up-to-date on all the latest Asian dramas straight from the motherland, just hours after they’ve aired? Then check out DramaFever, which offers over 11,000 hours of primetime entertainment from Korea, China, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Satisfy your drama addiction with DramaFever for Google TV
Guest to the Google TV blog, Rosally Sapla, VP of Communications at DramaFever shares what’s coming next from around the world via DramaFever on Google TV

Do you wish you could keep up-to-date on all the latest Asian dramas straight from the motherland, just hours after they’ve aired? Then check out DramaFever, which offers over 11,000 hours of primetime entertainment from Korea, China, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Access hundreds of titles featuring A-List Stars
Browse through hundreds of international TV hits in the “Featured” or “Recently Added” section to find dozens of new episodes added, including brand new series’ just aired overseas. DramaFever features content from Korea’s hottest young A-listers including Lee Min Ho, K-Pop superstar Rain, 2NE1, Big Bang, and also recent trend setters like hip hop rapper Psy whose video, Gangman Style drew in millions of fans worldwide on YouTube and MTV.

Sign in to stay connected
When you sign into DramaFever you’ll automatically be able to sync your viewing history and preferences across multiple devices. So, whether you’re on your Google TV, Android smartphone or tablet, you won’t have to deal with losing your place or missing your favorite show. Plus, when you’re logged in on your Google TV, you’ll automatically have fewer ads show up.

Staff picks to get you started
Combine Dexter with True Blood and you’d get Vampire Prosecutor, a prosecutor turned vampire who upholds the law. Try Running Man for your reality TV fix, where celebrities compete against each other in wacky competitions. Need some more sci-fi? Check out Faith, following Lee Min Ho as a warrior finding his own way across time through power struggles and challenges.

DramaFever has got you covered with the the largest collection of licensed and translated Asian TV shows, all available for free on demand on your Google TV.

Download DramaFever from Google Play.

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the Google TV Google+ Page, our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Rosally Sapla, VP of Communications at DramaFever

Save the bugs from Greedy Spiders on your Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:05:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Guadalupe Calabró, Director of PR & Content Manager, Blyts shares how you can enjoy more game time with Greedy Spiders 2 for Google TV

Do you hate spiders as much as we do? Then check out Greedy Spiders 2 for Google TV as you take turns battling it out against these creepy crawlies. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is simple: free all the bugs on the spider web before they get eaten.

More features = better game time

Greedy Spiders 2 is a turn by turn puzzle game that brings you 144 new levels (previously only 75) with high quality graphics, new music selections and sound effects, and 4 new weapons at your disposal so that you’re always on the edge of your seat planning your next move. If this isn’t enough, every time you play and win a level, you’ll rack up achievements giving you more hints and tips to help you advance in the game.

Go farther to test your mental endurance with easy or hard difficulty modes. But don’t get too confident - you may find yourself casually killing your foe at one moment and at the next scrambling to save your bug friends. Take, for example, the new intelligent spiders like Midas or Smarty that make it even harder to maneuver the spider web and avoid these 8 legged freaks. Rule of thumb? Never underestimate these creepy spiders.

Heighten your anxiety with group play

If you thought the anxiety levels were high in solo play, get ready to partner up with your friends in epic group mode. Bring your friends and family into the mix as you battle your way through intense levels and fight off crazy spiders that are trying to stop you.

Group play forces you to strategize and bring your experience, and your anxiety, to the next level. But watch out, the person next to you may want to get their hands on that remote sooner than you are ready to give it up!

So grab some tasty munchies, take a load off and enjoy a couple of hours of intense group entertainment with your friends and family. Thought you were afraid of the spiders in your home? Think again with Greedy Spiders 2 on your Google TV.

Download Greedy Spiders 2 from Google Play.

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the our Google+ Page, our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Guadalupe Calabró, Director of PR & Content Manager, Blyts

Kick off college football season with your Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Put on your favorite jersey and invite your pals over because college football is back, and Google TV has everything you need to make the most out of this season. Here’s how:

1. Set up real time game alerts
Install Are You Watching This?! and select your favorite college football teams to receive game time notifications directly to your Google TV. Aggregate all of your teams into a comprehensive month-to-month calendar allowing you to see when and where your team is playing. The app will also let you know what games to tune into according to what is “GOOD”, “HOT” or “EPIC” with its own rating system.

2. Create your own library of content
If you’re looking for full games past and present, check out the XOS College Sports app for Google TV. Browse the gallery by recent or most popular to find the top college football content and make browsing easier by searching according to team, sport, or year. Curious about where your favorite college players go after their alma maters? Purchase the “NFL Draft Preview” to see where the experts believe your favorite players will play professional ball.

3. See game day buzz on YouTube
Footage of media days, head coach interviews, and pre-season training camp are all on YouTube:

Pac-12 Conference channel has interviews with some of this year's brightest athletes including Heisman hopeful Matt Barkley (USC - QB). Also, keep your eye out for personal web chats hosted by Pac 12 Networks and join the conversation!
Big 10 Networks has fall tour interviews with their talented athletes to get you juiced for game day.
The Big 12 Conference has extended coverage of media days and in-depth interviews with some of their head coaches.
ESPN College GameDay features FanPredictions, GameDay interviews with head coaches, players and fans. It also spotlights team traditions across conferences. If you want to learn more about LSU coach, Les Miles, and his habit of eating grass, or why push ups are so powerful for Oregon Duck fans, this is where you will find your answers.
The Bleacher Report offers a comprehensive look at all your favorite teams and topics throughout the season. Get access to the latest news stories so you never miss a beat.

So, no matter what your team of choice, tune into all of the college football content with Google TV.

Download Are You Watching This?! and XOS College Sports directly from Google Play.

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the Google TV Google+ Page, our website, and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Catherine Liang, Google TV Product Marketing Manager

Hisense, Samsung, and Sony bringing more Google TV choices to the world

noreply@blogger.com (Google TV team) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:15:00 +0000

At CES 2012, Google TV partners announced new products for consumers around the world. At IFA 2012, the growth of the Google TV ecosystem continues to gather momentum. As a quarter of a million people descend on Berlin to see the latest technology coming to Europe and to the world, several Google TV partners will be on hand to launch products:

Hisense joins the Google TV family: Hisense will be giving the first view of the Hisense Pulse with Google TV, launching in the US later this year.

Samsung will be previewing its first Google TV device: Later this year, Samsung will introduce a Samsung Smart TV with Google TV, expanding the premium content and services available through Samsung Apps.

Sony will showcase its Internet Player NSZ-GS7: The device will soon be hitting shelves in Germany, France, and the Netherlands following its launch in the UK earlier this summer.

And we’re just getting started, with new products, features, updates, apps and partners coming all the time.

Posted by Suveer Kothari, Google TV head of global distribution

Crackle brings free Hollywood movies to your Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:32:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Samuel Notowitz, Director of Partner Marketing at Crackle, shares some great Hollywood movie ideas to watch on Crackle.

Imagine hundreds of Hollywood movies and TV shows available for free and on-demand. Sound interesting? Then, check out Crackle on your Google TV.

The Crackle web app features the best full-length Hollywood movies in the most popular genres that you crave: Action, Comedy, and Drama. You’ll find plenty of pretty girls taking out zombies, guys chasing ghosts, and tons of people kicking butt and blowing stuff up. Or, if you’d rather have a few laughs, we’ve got you covered there, too.

You’ll always find something different as we bring fresh movies and TV episodes every month. Among the few hundred titles we’ve selected this month, the most popular is PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. We also have Brad Pitt, Jason Statham and Benicio Del Toro starring in SNATCH – an edgy and hilarious flick about a diamond heist gone horribly wrong. Or, if you like TV shows like SEINFELD, you’re in luck as we serve up ten different episodes every month.

If anime is more your speed, Crackle is the official US home to Animax, the largest anime network in the world with 60 anime titles and more than 1,000 episodes – straight from Japan. You’ll find titles like BLOOD+ and BLUE EXORCIST among others.

Another way to browse Crackle content is to open the TV & Movies app and select the “Free” filter in the top left corner. So grab some popcorn, sit on the couch and fire up Crackle on your Google TV. It’s show time.

If you’re in the US, you can find Crackle in the Spotlight section of Google TV.

To find out more about Google TV, visit our Google+ Page, website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Guest post created by Samuel Notowitz, Director of Partner Marketing, Crackle

SnagFilms brings you hundreds of indie movies, on demand, for free on Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:18:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Gary Hahn, EVP of Marketing at SnagFilms, shares why their app is a great place to check out indie films.

What do you associate with “indie” movies? Unique? Free-spirited? Artsy? The word itself can mean different things to different people. Yet no matter what your association, Snagfilms is here to bring the independent films you want to watch straight to your living room through our new Google TV app (available only in the US).

Visit Snagfilms for Google TV and let us do what we do best - find you outstanding movies and compelling stories told by truly independent filmmakers. The vast library contains thousands of award-winners, festival favorites, and cult classics, most of which are difficult to find outside of festivals and art-house cinemas. Snagfilms is intuitive and easy to navigate as you browse our archives by genre or subject to find exactly what you love.

For example, check out A Fighting Chance, the incredible story of congenital amputee and athlete Kyle Maynard, who faces his greatest challenge in Mixed Martial Arts. Or Gamers, as you get to know the inside story of MMO Video games from players, critics, super fans and game designers. Krisis captures the Greek economic crisis from the perspective of 14 photojournalists and videographers. And in Biggie & Tupac, filmmaker Nick Broomfield takes an in-depth look at the death of two music icons.

So, regardless of what you like, Snagfilms will have something for you. Let the app take you beyond Hollywood blockbusters into a world of entertaining, passionate, and truly independent film.

If you’re in the US, you can find Snagfilms in the Spotlight section of Google TV.

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the Google TV Google+ Page, our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by Gary Hahn, EVP of Marketing at SnagFilms

OnLive: console-class gaming on Google TV without the console

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Steve Perlman, Founder & CEO, OnLive talks about console-class cloud gaming on Google TV devices.

With Google TV, a vast world of entertainment is always at your fingertips. Movies, TV shows, YouTube channels, music, apps—through live TV or streamed to your living room. OnLive is proud to bring yet another popular form of entertainment from the Internet to you: console-class gaming.
From family-friendly titles like MLB 2K12 to favorites such as Batman: Arkham City, Darksiders II and more, OnLive delivers hundreds of top-tier video games from more than 80 of the world’s best publishers directly to select Google TV devices, with more devices on the way.

Grab your remote, a Google TV-compatible controller or, better yet, the Universal OnLive Wireless Controller and in just a few taps, you’re gaming. Play the first 30 minutes of nearly any game free. Subscribe to the OnLive PlayPack for unlimited access to 200+ select titles, or purchase the latest hit games a la carte for play on your TV and all your favorite displays. (With OnLive, you can start a game on your TV and continue playing it anywhere, on nearly any PC or Mac, Android tablet or phone.)

You can also take advantage of free cloud-based social features, such as watching other gamers play live in OnLive’s massive worldwide spectating Arena, voice chatting with friends and spectators, or combining everything in the forthcoming OnLive MultiView, which lets you watch and chat with three friends or teammates as you play.

OnLive is integrated into the VIZIO Co-Star and will also be pre-installed on the LG Smart TV with Google TV (G2 Series) via a future software update. For other Google TV devices, an OnLive app is on its way to Google Play, making console-quality top-tier gaming a standard capability for any Google TV device.

Just as Google TV has reimagined how people watch television, OnLive has reimagined the way people game—making playing the latest top-tier titles as simple and as instantaneous as streaming a movie. Welcome to the future of video games.

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the Google+ page, our website and subscribe to our newsletter.

Guest post created by Steve Perlman, Founder & CEO, OnLive

Celebrate Comic-Con from the comfort of your couch

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:38:00 +0000

Comic-Con is upon us, and anime fans are ready for the action. But if you can’t make the trek out to San Diego this year, you can still enjoy the comics and anime on your Google TV with YouTube, Crackle and Crunchyroll.

YouTube
If you’re eagerly awaiting the latest news, cosplay outfits, and show debuts straight from Comic-Con, then check out the great lineup of YouTube personalities including:

Stan Lee’s World of Heroes featuring Stan Lee himself, Jace Hall (The Jace Hall Show), Bonnie Burton(Author, Star Wars Craft Book), Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model) and more.
Blackbox TV featuring Tony E. Valenzuela (creator of Blackbox TV), actor Brea Grant & Zane Grant, and more.
Nerdist featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Tournament of Nerds with Justin Donaldson and Hal Rudnick.
Machinima Prime featuring Anna Popplewell (The Chronicles of Narnia), Tom Green (Dance Academy),Daniel Cudmore (X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Twilight Saga) and more.
Geek & Sundry featuring Felicia Day, Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt.
Warner Brothers debuts H+ The Digital Series – a riveting, futuristic series from producer Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects / X-Men: First Class) – followed by a Q&A with Alexis Denisof (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), David Clayton Rogers (Jane by Design), Sean Gunn (Gilmore Girls), and more.
Plus other exciting programming from Shut Up! Cartoons, Mondo, MyDamnChannel, and LOUD, and learn more on the YouTube blog.

To find any of these on YouTube, just open the YouTube app on your Google TV, search for the channel name (i.e. World of Heroes), click “channel” in the top right-hand corner, and sit back and enjoy all the latest videos.

Crackle
Ikki Tousen. Blue Exorcist. Blood+. Crackle has full episodes of over 50 popular anime series including some previously not available in the US, like Kurozuka, and others that we know you’ll love like Marvel’s Wolverine and Iron Man.

The best part? They’re on demand… full-length… and absolutely, positively free. Sound interesting? Then check out Crackle on your Google TV. You may even find Queen’s Blade, that series you thought was your little secret. (We knew.)

Crunchyroll
The Crunchyroll app is sure to keep you entertained for hours as you browse and watch from their large selection of your favorite Japanese Anime and Drama series on your big screen. Will Gon uncover the clue from the tape recorder? Will Ichigo and Gingo finally settle the score?

Nearly all the episodes are free, and if you want to watch new episodes just an hour after they air in Japan, you can sign up for the paid membership. Take a peek at Naruto Shippuden or indulge in a Shugo Chara episode.

Find Crackle in the Spotlight section of Google TV and download Crunchyroll from the Google Play Store today.

Tell us what you think on our Google+ Page. Share your Comic-Con experience with us. And if you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends.

Posted by Catherine Liang, Google TV Product Marketing Manager

Don your red, white and blue and show off those stars and stripes with Google TV this Fourth of July

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:31:00 +0000

If you’re celebrating July 4th in the U.S., here are a few ways Google TV can help you get into the freedom spirit:

Spice Up Your BBQ Cookout
There’s no denying that one of the best parts of the Fourth of July is the food. Sitting out, enjoying the summer heat, and popping some burgers and hotdogs on the grill spells out the recipe for a marvelous Independence Day. But your menu doesn’t have to be the same old BBQ fare this year. Take a look at iFood.tv on Google TV for some inspiration. iFood.tv has more than 40,000 food and recipe videos to choose from and is easy to navigate on your TV to find the exact recipe you are looking for!

Celebrate our Country
Interested in finding out the history of America’s birth? Then use the TV & Movies app to find all your favorite channels and movie titles that have to do with this special day. You might stumble upon something cool like a History channel documentary on the Fourth of July or the next showing of the classic film Independence Day with Will Smith.

Watch the Fireworks
But just in case that wasn’t enough, use Google TV Search to find fireworks shows and videos you can share with the family. For example, type in July Fourth as the search term and you’ll get several YouTube videos like the World of Color and the Macy’s Fireworks Show. Plenty of entertainment to entertain your family and friends as you settle down after a family meal.

Decorate with Stars and Stripes
Prepare for the festivities with a little arts and crafts time. Kayli from the HeyKayli YouTube Channel teaches you how to create a fun American Flag out of wood in this video. Watch the video on your big screen as you build the craft with your little ones.

Entertain Your Friends
If you’re having your friends over for to celebrate, entertain them with some games on your Google TV. You don’t need a full size pool table to enjoy a game of pool, just bring one up on your TV. Check out Pool Break and challenge your friends to a game. We guarantee you’ll have a great time. And if pool is not your cup of tea, no worries. Check out Gem Miner 2. Grab your pickaxes and dig your way through temples, crevices, and more to find fame and fortune. It’s even better on the big screen with full HD. And the best part is, you can play a quick game in between flipping burgers and hotdogs.

Tell us what you think on our Google+ Page. How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth? And if you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends.

Posted by Catherine Liang, Google TV Product Marketing Manager

More entertainment choices with Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (A Googler) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:00:00 +0000

With Google TV, that big screen in your living room is an endless opportunity for entertainment. Live TV and the web are bringing you more options than ever before, and today, we’re adding a few more.

More entertainment options with Google Play
You already have access to a variety of apps on Google Play, and soon you’ll be able to find movies, TV shows, and music from Google Play to stream on Google TV. Google Play works across devices, so you can rent and start watching a movie on your Google TV, keep watching on your tablet on the move, and finish watching on Google TV. The TV & Movies app will also show Google Play content, adding to the more than 100,000 TV episodes and movies available in the app. The full power of Google Play will be available later this summer on all Google TV devices.

More choice for consumers, now with Sony and Vizio
We’re partnering with four of the top TV manufacturers in the world to bring you new products in various form factors. This week, Sony and Vizio joined LG in launching a new generation of Google TV-powered products. You’ll also find Sony Google TV products in nine countries over the coming months, and more partners and products are on the way.

More tools for you to get on TV
For all our developers out there, we’ve got new APIs, libraries, and code to create whole new experiences for Google TV. Build the killer second screen app, take advantage of improved media playback and digital rights management, and integrate devices directly to Google TV. Developers around the world have created hundreds of apps optimized for TV like SiriusXM, Revision3 and Thuuz, and you can see some of them at Google I/O this week. Visit our Google TV Developers site to find all kinds of tools, and keep in touch with us on our Google TV Developer +Page.

As more Google TV’s come to consumers around the world this year, we want to bring you more ways to get involved with the big screen, whichever side of the screen you’re on.

Posted by Catherine Liang, Product Marketing Manager and Ossama Alami, Developer Relations Manager

Google TV lands in the UK

noreply@blogger.com (A Googler) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Two years ago, we launched Google TV in the U.S. to bring the best of Google and the Web to your TV, and we’ve been improving it ever since. YouTube’s been tailored for the big screen; Google Play now offers thousands of mobile apps and hundreds optimized for TV; the Web is now at your fingertips with Chrome; and you can search whatever you want—all on top of enjoying the great entertainment available on TV.

Starting today, Google TV devices will be available for pre-order in the U.K. and the U.S., from our partner Sony with its Internet Player with Google TV. Sony's 2012 plans include bringing the Internet Player with Google TV to Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico and Netherlands.

For example, in the U.K. you’ll be able to pop live TV into the background while you read up on The Guardian’s website with Chrome, catch up on the latest episode of EastEnders on the BBC iPlayer, view Lauren Luke’s latest make-up tips on YouTube, and choose from the hundreds of apps optimized for TV in Google Play. To get a better sense of the benefits of Google TV, check out this video.

You can learn more about Google TV at Google I/O this week, where you’ll see the latest from our partners and developers. Follow the action live online at developers.google.com/io.

We’re at the beginning of a journey of transformation for TV, and we hope you’ll join us for the ride.

Posted by Suveer Kothari, Google TV head of global distribution

A world of learning and adventure for your kids to enjoy, thanks to Ameba on Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog, Kim Lachance Shandrow, Ameba’s Digital Content Manager shares all the great content your kids can enjoy on Ameba.

Ever wish you could let your kids watch TV without having to sit right over their shoulders to make sure everything’s kosher? I’m talking about younger kids, ages 2 to 12. Curious little explorers who still like to watch fun, innocent -- and, yes, even educational -- shows, like The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, BusyTown Mysteries, and WordWorld.

Where can your kiddos get all those great shows? On Ameba’s new Google TV app, where you’ll never, ever have to helicopter parent what your kids watch. In fact, Ameba is so family-friendly and easy for kids to use, you won’t even have to help them choose what to watch. They’ll love being in charge.

Ameba’s visually intuitive Google TV app was designed specifically to put younger kids in the driver’s seat of their viewing experience. It’s bright, fun, and easy to navigate. Plus, there’s no inappropriate content or commercials for kids to accidentally crash into.

In two clicks or less, even preschool-aged kids can easily find and play their favorite Ameba shows and discover new ones. Finally, you can sit back, relax, and let the kids watch what they want. Better yet, they’ll laugh and learn the whole time.

If your little sleuth likes unraveling mysteries, she’ll love solving cliffhangers with Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, and friends on BusyTown Mysteries. Or, if your little one’s a fan of Dr. Seuss, bring them along for a wild Thinga-ma-jigger ride with Sally, Nick, and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That.

Have a tween? They’ll dig Ruby Skye P.I., a hilarious indie mystery series starring a quirky teen detective. Without spoiling it, let’s just say it’s about a girl trying to make sense of a nutty neighbor with fake pets, missing brownies, and a disappearing best friend. It’s all in a day’s work for Ruby Skye, P.I.!

As a mom of three, I totally get that kids are always hungry for new stuff to watch. That why we’re always adding fresh, new shows to our library. Stay tuned for lots more soon.

It’s easy to add our new Ameba app to your Google TV device for free. You’ll get instant access to thousands of hours of all the latest Ameba TV shows and videos – streamed directly to your big screen for fast, convenient, and anytime viewing from the comfort your home. Trust me, your kids will thank you.

Download Ameba’s New Google TV app in the Google Play Store today. Check it out and let us know what you think below. We’d love to hear from you!

To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit the Google TV Google+ Page.
Posted by Kim Lachance Shandrow, Ameba’s Digitial Content Manager, and mom to Aiden, 11, Kade, 8, and Solenne, 7

This Father’s Day, help Dad enjoy all his favorite past times on his Google TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:34:00 +0000

Whether your Dad is a sports enthusiast, game geek, news junkie or movie buff, we’ve got you covered with these four awesome apps on Google TV.

For the Sports Enthusiast
Make sure Dad never misses a good game with Are You Watching This!?. The app lets you program alerts to notify you when your favorite games are playing or if there is a must-see finish. You can also go right to the channel with just one click. Get it on your big screen with Google TV and your phone and tablet.

For the Game Geek

If your Dad likes puzzle games, tell him to give Brain Cube a whirl. Challenge Dad to roll the block along the many different paths to reach the square hole. Things heat up as you progress through the levels. Take turns playing and see if you can beat Dad’s score.

For the News Junkie
News 360 is sure to satisfy any news junkie, bringing all sides of the story from over 10,000 news sources around the web. Between watching live news streams and reading the latest news on the big screen, this app will help Dad stay in the know. It can even filter for the news that matters to him most by connecting to his social networking accounts and learning what interests him.

For the Movie Buff
If your Dad loves movies, he will love Flixster. Flixster has movie reviews, trailers, and showtimes all in one place on your big screen. You can check out the latest box office releases, get reviews from Rotten Tomatoes, stream and download full length movies, and even connect to your Netflix queue! If you want to check out That’s my Boy or The Avengers with Dad, use Flixster to look up showtimes at a nearby theater.

If you found this post helpful, share it with your friends. To find out the latest info about Google TV, visit our Google+ Page.

To download Are You watching This?!, Brain Cube, News 360, and Flixster, visit the Google Play Store.

Posted by Jennifer Wasson, Google TV Content Partnerships

Media management made simple on Google TV with aVia Media Player

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 20:43:00 +0000

Guest to the Google TV blog Michael Daulerio, VP of Business Development at Videon, shares why the aVia app is an excellent all-in-one media resource for Google TV.

Imagine a world without complicated cords and wires. Shoot a video with your smartphone and quickly share it with friends on your big screen. Then queue up your music collection from your laptop on your TV. Now with the aVia Media Player from Videon, you can have all of your media at your fingertips no matter what Android device you’re on.

All-in-one media resource
Use the aVia Media Player for all your media playback and sharing needs. With aVia, you can:

Play music
Watch videos
View photos

Having all of your media in one place means less time trying to learn how multiple apps work and more time enjoying the content you love.

Your Devices Working In Harmony
If you love intuitive and easy-to-use apps, aVia will not disappoint. Use your tablet to browse the movies you have stored on your network or home computer, and then fling an old favorite to your Google TV to watch it on the big screen.

You can choose different layouts for each of your devices so aVia is sure to look sleek whether you are using your Google TV or your tablet. And for all the social media and photo sharing enthusiasts out there, you can access personal media content from sites like Facebook and Picasa.

Download aVia from the Google Play Store. As always, visit Google+ for more of the latest news, tips and tricks for Google TV.

Post by Michael Daulerio, VP of Business Development, Videon