First off, Google TV:
http://google.com/tv

Short summary:

A companion settop box that connects to your TV and cable box, and overlays an Atom-powered PC running Android + Chrome. It can do various things including browsing the internet, changing channels, viewing show times and setting up recording (works with your existing DVR), etc. Most importantly is the close integration between the two. Using a "quick search" box, allows you to, for instance, search for a TV show, and it will give you times that it is on TV, allow you to set recordings, search the web for it, or even view it in Google's special guide, which does something new: it will not only show the episodes of the show, it will show all the locations you can watch it. This includes off of TV stations, sites like FOX (and other broadcasting websites), Amazon or Hulu, and more.

The box is controlled using a "keyboard and pointing device" which is apparently still in development (they demonstrated using a diNovo keyboard). It also works with a special Android phone app, allow you to control your TV with your phone.

It also integrates in other ways. To summarize quickly, some things shown in the demos were: Voice search via the phone app, sending links/shows to the TV from a Chrome browser on a PC, Youtube/Netflix/etc access, and will even run the same Android apps already in the marketplace. Note that the browser is mentioned to be "fully featured" (it is Chrome), including Flash 10.1.



I think it's really interesting, and if it truly merges well with the DVRs as they say it does, it will be awesome. But it must make those controls of the DVR perfect, or it will lose a lot of less tech-savvy people.



Other things announced was Android 2.2, Froyo.

Major highlights are:

1. Much faster performance for the java apps, using JIT.
2. Much faster browser performance, now using V8 from Chrome.
3. Built-in tethering (carrier restrictions apply :P) via wifi.
4. Marketplace improvements.
5. Built in Flash 10.1 beta. Note that this will be the FIRST Android version to support Flash. Nothing before 2.2 will be getting Flash.

I guess I don't get it. What's wrong with the controller I already have for my DVR? And I already know where else I can watch a show, why do I need an overlay to tell me I can also watch it on hulu? Or are you saying it will let me stream from hulu right to my tv? Do I have to have a dvr/cable box or can it connect to the tv only?

I would do more research but they only have a stupid video which I can't watch at work.

WANT.

A. You can continue to use your existing controllers if you want. It doesn't block that. But it does offer better control (better guide, better settings etc)
B. It will open the Hulu site directly on your TV. It contains a web browser on your TV. Everything it does opens directly on your TV. You can even view/search websites while watching a TV station in picture-in-picture (so you can search for something while watching a show, for instance).
C. I don't think you would /have/ to have a DVR box, if you don't want one. Nothing I saw seems to insist you need one. You just obviously wouldn't have normal TV recording, only the web.

Eh doesn't really excite me too much, hoping it would however.

I'll just stick with XBMC!

That sounds like sex.

Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webtv

XBMC really isn't the same thing. XBMC is mostly focused about bringing your downloaded videos/music/pics to the TV screen. It doesn't really have any integration with television broadcasts. And plus, no real browser to speak of.

Don't get me wrong, I love XBMC, but I think this is exciting for whole new reasons.

Nifty I suppose, but nothing that will get me to ditch my WMC based HTPC for it.

What's the status of the unofficial tethering? I want an Evo but I'm not paying Sprint for tethering.

I don't think anyone's had problems with it on any current phone, as long as you're up for rooting. Of course there's always the risk of your phone carrier getting hissy.

It's good to see Google taking advantage of an area where Apple (Apple TV) & Microsoft (WebTV) have failed. I've long thought that a device like this would be ideal for those of us that don't like our media being separate (e.g: internet versus television). However, I must admit that in my quest to be a bit more "off the grid" (except for internet which to me is a necessity) I no longer see cable/satellite television as significant or useful & that merge isn't as important for me as it once was. For me to consider purchasing this device, they'll have to set themselves apart from the other devices & software in the internet department.