These series of guest posts are written by the teams attending the Tetuan Valley Startup School 2010 Fall edition. This post is from the betonsofa team, formed by Luis Aguilar, Ernesto Arredondo and José A. Gil.
Both companies follow with their business model. Google TV offers: the same Android mobile applications, channels and applications searches and compatibility with all your gadgets (“works with your TV, your satellite, your cable, your Internet “). Apple offers on television, what iTunes and iPod offer for the music: buy or rent TV shows and movies more easily. Apple also offers integration with music and video libraries of iTunes accounts by its Airplay system.
We propose you to valorate them by means of a detailed comparison and to decide which is better for you (A=Apple TV, G=Google TV):
Content
A: Renting and buying movies and series. YouTube videos and Flickr photos for free.
B: TV channels and online video streaming free (provided platforms: Hulu and Netflix). Direct access to Android Market where applications and games can be downloaded.
Result: 0-1
User Interface
A: Very careful, organized in six groups: Movies, TV Shows, Music, YouTube, Podcasts and Photos.
G: Personalized via the home screen.
Result: 1-0
Web browser
A: No.
G: Google Chrome.
Result: 0-1
Video Resolution
A: Max resolution is 720p at 24 frames per second or MPEG-4 at 432p and 30 frames/sec.
G: Fully HD compatible
Result: 0-1
Video recording
A: No
G: Yes
Result: 0-1
Program searching
A: Movie browsing by actor and director rented or purchased via iTunes.
G: Searchs for TV channels and web
Result: 0-1
Non-video content
A: Audio in AIFF or WAV, Photos (JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG)
G: Photos, music, websites, games, flash and Google Android Apps
Result: 0-1
Subtitles
A: Close captioning is supported but not subtitles for most Apple TV content
G: Subtitles, closed captioning and closed caption Google Translations
Result: Not relevant to us
Video Output
A: HDMI and component video
G: HDMI and other options to be available when necessary.
Result: 1-1
Flash Compatibility
A: No
G: Yes
Result: Not relevant to us
Remote Control
A: Standard or Wi-fi-based on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad.
G: Standard or remote Android Smartphone (can push web page from phone to TV), IP remote control protocol will be open sourced for apps on multiple platforms
Result: 1-1
Software
A: iTunes and iPhone Remote app.
G: Android 2.1, Google Chrome, Flash 10.1 plugin, Android Apps from Android market, Google TV SDK and web and TV APIs.
Result: 0-1
Audio
A: 7.1 Surround and some Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. Digital optical audio, RCA analog.
G: Depends on your home equipament.
Result: 1-0
Developer Friendliness
A: XCode (closed).
G: Android (open).
Result: 0-1
Performance
A: A4 chip, used by iPhone 4 and iPad. It guarantees a total fluidity of the interface.
G: New Intel Atom (unknown performance).
Result: 1-0
Hardware Specifications
A: 802.11 b/g/n, Airport, 10/100 Ethernet.
G: Wi-Fi,Ethernet, HDMI from cable/satellite box, special DishTV integration, Strong CPU and separate GPU and dedicated DSP, keyboard and pointing device.
Result: 0-1
Device
A: A settop box from Apple.
G: A settop box (Logitech) or pre-installed on some new Sony TV, both with an Intel CPU.
Result: 1-1
Hardware prize
A: 99€
G: 299 €, 399€, …
Result: 1-0
Contents prize
A: HD films rented at 3.99$ HD, SD films at 2.99$ and TV series chapters (FOX and ABC) at 0.99c. Youtube and Flickr free.
Google TV: Free
Result: 0-1
Total result: Apple TV: 7 – Google TV: 13
This is our opinion. What’s yours?
Read more:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/apple-tv-vs-google-tv-how-do-they-differ/
http://www.reelseo.com/googletv-vs-appletv-comparison/
http://gigaom.com/apple/google-tv-or-apple-tv/
http://www.huliq.com/3257/apple-tv-vs-google-tv-battle-your-living-room
Bet On Sofa Team <betsofa@gmail.com>
