Hello, has anyone attempted this setup.  With all the horrible press that the Google TV has received, I wouldn't be surprised if no one had one to talk about :)  I signed up for the Google TV developer lottery, and luckily was selected to receive a free Logitech Revue unit ($299 value).  When it arrived in the mail, I put it under the tree as a Christmas present from Google.

So far, I am impressed.  I can see why people would complain about the immature software, but it does add functionality that my Media Center PC does not offer.  For example, awareness of my TV, so that their remote can power off the TV or change the volume.  I know Media Center could do this, but instead, I have to purchase a Harmony remote to accomplish this.   Since the keyboard has Harmony functionality, it makes it much easier to program functions to keys that aren't built in.  The Google TV doesn't play WTV files or some video formats, so you are unable to search for and play most content.

But, seriously, it is really nice to be sitting there with a keyboard, type in "dog training" and instantly be able to watch youtube videos on the subject.  Or search wikipedia for information on an actor, while the movie is playing in a small window.

The #1 issue is the fact that most web content providers are blocking the Google TV.  Without all the content on the web, this technology is destined for the junk pile.  Let's hope this gets worked out at some time in the future.

 Anybody else have impressions or tips to offer?

I've been intrigued by this device after seeing it at CES. Any other thoughts about how it works with Windows Media Center?

 At this point there are so many negatives to the Google TV, I wouldn't waste my money.  Just off the top of my head, here are the issues I have run into:

 

1. The sound is 2.1.  They don't have the ability in the hardware (supposedly) to do 5.1 or 7.1.  5.1 sound in on HDMI, will go out as 2.1.

2. There is no video support in Google TV.  Logitech built a very clunky software to use DLNA to play local or USB content, but it only offers a handful of codecs.  No WTV or H.264, which is 90% of my local content.

3. All of the major network are blocking their online content from Google TV, so you can't watch online content.

4. The SDK for builidng TV apps is still unpublished, so nothing new has arrived on the box yet to fix these oversights.

 

I'll give a little more time, then put it in the kids play room, for watching youtube videos, which is the one thing it is good at.

 

Richard

I appreciate the thoughtful write-up. It definitely is missing some major pieces. It looks like it could be good, but without your #1 and #2 items it is a nonstarter for me as well.

 Thanks,

Bertram

I had to respond to this as to how WRONG it is...see below:

1. The sound is 2.1. They don't have the ability in the hardware (supposedly) to do 5.1 or 7.1. 5.1 sound in on HDMI, will go out as 2.1.

5.1 will absolutely go out with Google TV. There was an update over a month ago that enabled DD as an option.

2. There is no video support in Google TV. Logitech built a very clunky software to use DLNA to play local or USB content, but it only offers a handful of codecs. No WTV or H.264, which is 90% of my local content.

Quoted straight from Logitech's Website: "Audio MP3 - MPEG-1 Layer 3 MP4 - AAC M4A - AAC OGG - Vorbis (Only when a USB device is connected to Revue) Video (Currently in Beta) MKV - H.264/AVC FLV - H.264/AVC, H.263 MTS/MT2S/TS - H.264/AVC AVI - H.264/AVC, DivX MPEG4, XVid MPEG4 MOV - H.264/AVC MP42 Images JPG PNG GIF BMP"

3. All of the major network are blocking their online content from Google TV, so you can't watch online content.

This is true to an extent, HOWEVER, there are many way to get this content. Sidereel.com being one of the best. Also, aren't all of the MAJOR networks available for free Over The Air.

4. The SDK for builidng TV apps is still unpublished, so nothing new has arrived on the box yet to fix these oversights.

The App Market WILL open and should be opening soon. Rumored to be in the Spring.

I guess I incensed the wrong Google TV engineer :)

2. The interface is still very clunky for the Logitech app and even with all those AUDIO codecs listed, a majority of my videos will not play on the Google TV.  In addition, I feel that WMV/WTV is a major oversight if you are going to use DLNA to play networked content.  Plus you listed a number of items that were beta or "only with a USB device".

3. No, I commonly watch content on MTV and Bravo TV, which are not available over-the-air.  In addition, my DVR missed recording a show last week and I attempted to watch it on abc.com, but was unable to with my Google TV.

 4. It's going to be too little too late, people will probably have given up by the time the SDK is published.  They should have been able to do it at the same time they released the OS and the devices, 4 months ago.  RUMORED?  Seriously you are clinging to that.  I am a developer and will be glad to work with this device, if Google doesn't give up first.  As you might have noticed, there hasn't been much hype around the device in the last few months.  Maybe it will go the way of Wave and Nexus One as failed Google projects.

Are you a Google TV user?  Do you believe that this device is worth the $299 price tag for a videophile type person to purchase?  And why?

Richard

I do own the Logitech Revue, and although I realize it has some downfalls at this point (biggest for me in all honesty is that the keyboard is not back lit and that the market has not yet been opened)....it is still the only device that can do everything it does. Many devices do bit's and pieces of what it does (outside of a full fledged home theater pc which would cost much more than $300 and be incredibly cumbersome). There are many articles by uniformed people and people who seemed to have had unrealistic expectations. Even with the app market not being open (which could lead to endless possibilities) I already have the ability to use a full fledged browser (btw there is A LOT of 480p and above quality programming available out there --- almost any show I would want to watch), stream all my downloaded video content (of which I have not ran into any issues with as of yet), use the harmony universal remote, and all of the other basic things many units do (netflix, youtube, etc...)

I guess I really don't understand what many of these "reviewers" were expecting. They all seem to complain about HULU which charges you money for a plus account (unlike sidereel) and has less content than sidereel. All the bad press which stems from some of these initial reviews seems somewhat unwarranted. The XBox (or PS3 to an extent) might be the closest device but that costs just as much, has no browser and charges for a live account (although it does obviusly have the games). Why should Google TV be the same price as all of the other devices such as Apple TV, Roku, etc... when it obviously does so much more. Also....I was able to obtain mine for under $250 which is fairly easy to do if you look around a bit.

The only things that makes me feel bad about spending my money is all the "bad press" leading to a possible downfall (which hopefully does not happen)

Also (in regards to my two comments above about downfalls) the Revue (or any Google TV product) has universal acceptance of all remotes/keyboards/mice etc... Logitech makes a mini remote that is backlit and will work on the Sony devices as well. As for the app market, it is inevitable that it will happen and when it does the options are endless considering the OS built in, the browser and the USB ports on the devices.

I would love to see it succeed based on my first impressions at CES. I have to agree with Richard though on .wtv. I use windows media center exclusively for all my DVRing. I have no sat/cable set top box and don't want one. I can accept that logitech revue may not ship with support for searching the guide within windows media center, but it is important to me that it be able to play my recorded shows which are .wtv. This may certainly be added later and I hope that it is.

 Okay, four months into the experience,my opinions haven't changed too much. I have moved the Google TV to be an extender for the network on a 27"LCD in my bedroom. Happily, MTV shows are now available.  My wife fights through the bad Logitech video player interface to watch some of her shows (downloaded videos).  Otherwise it is still a paperweight.  Any chance the API will ever come out or there will be any software updates???  Come on, I thought Google had it together.

So.. old thread...but I have new interest in Google TV use with my Media Center setup.

My justification: With the Logitech Revue down to $99 and the announcement that the Revue will get Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) and access to the Android Marketplace "This Summer"...the value of the Revue has gone way up for me. At $99 it only has to be marginally useful to be worth it...and access to the Marketplace is enough (even if limited to TV only apps). Even if I resell on eBay.. I probably stand to lose no more than $40

That said... If I were to set one up in line with my Media Center... what type of experience could I expect? I have a Ceton card and use MCE as my only DVR etc. I'm ok not using GTV to search for shows or play my recorded content etc. But I also don't want to have to switch inputs on the TV to use it. I'd like to use MCE like I always do for TV...but with the same remote/keyboard access one of the GTV apps like HBO Go etc. In my mind, GTV would form a wrapper around my MCE experience. I want to know if I can still directly interact with MCE without GTV getting in the way (until I want it too).

Without focussing too much on all the things Google TV can't do...Any thoughts on ways to use this relatively cheap device to enhance our Media  Center experience?  

I use Windows MCE with a Ceton card too.  I have XBOX 360s in every room in the house with a TV running as Media Extenders.  What will the Revue do for me?

For what its worth. I have a 50" Plasma TV that is WiFi capable That plus the Revue and Nero Media Home 4 essentials allows me to connect to the internet through my home network. Now I can sit in the living room and use the plasma as a monitor. I am still learning as I go along so at this time I only have limited access to my network. Movies are the only thing I am having trouble viewing.

I am late to the game - just got a logitec revue with HDMI cable for $69.  The guy at TIger Direct said no problem using as media extender...but I cannot get any 8 digit code to come up.  I reached out to android market support and Logitec -my market account doesnt list my revue as a device. Funny thing is there is a Pandora app on my Revue and it sees all my radio stations that I set up on my mobile device...  I also find it funny that I do not have the Android market app on the Revue  I saw some other thread attached to this one with a response from google in Nov 2011 saying they know and are working on it - has anybody had success yet?  My goal with this has been to use my main TV to veiw my home videos that reside on my network.  THought it woudl be easy, but cant get it going...the browser, Utube and Pandora are nice, but getting frustrated.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Just want to watch home movies on the big screen from my couch without getting up... 

i don't think the revue can be used as a true extender in the way a linksys DMA or xBox does. I think it just attaches to the network and plays local and online media.

load of rubbish product imo