Gear

Google TV Likely to Launch at Best Buy on October 17

It’s been four months since Google first revealed its Android powered set-top box called Google TV at the company’s developer conference. Google had promised to make the box available in fall. Now, a leaked internal document from Best Buy shows October 17 as the date when Google TV will hit retail shelves. A part of […]

It's been four months since Google first revealed its Android powered set-top box called Google TV at the company's developer conference. Google had promised to make the box available in fall.

Now, a leaked internal document from Best Buy shows October 17 as the date when Google TV will hit retail shelves. A part of the document posted on Engadget also says the launch date has been pushed back from October 3.

The October 17 date would put Google TV a little behind Apple's planned introduction of the new $100 Apple TV later this month.

Google's attention to the streaming media signals a renewed interest in the category. Google TV combines access to Flickr, gaming sites, music sites and, most importantly, connects all this to traditional cable programming. Google has formed partnerships with Sony, Logitech and Intel to create hardware that will run this “smart TV” Android platform. Separately, Veebeam, a wireless USB-based streaming media player, launched Tuesday. Veebeam's media player will cost $100 or $140 depending on the model.

While Logitech has offered a preview of the Google TV box, so far it hasn't disclosed pricing for the product. That leaves the field clear for the bookmakers to place the odds.

Google TV will cost more than the Apple TV but will exceed Apple’s initial launch sales, predicts YouWager.com, a site that usually looks at odds in sports games.

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Photo: Logitech Google TV box/Logitech