Google unsuccessfully launched Google TV in 2010 but their announcement of Android TV at Google io yesterday looks more promising. Content will be paramount with access to the Google Play store as well as Netflix, Hulu and more. It will also have “Chromecast-like” functionality to cast other devices to your TV as well as some gaming from Google Play Games network similar to Amazon’s Fire TV.
In an increasingly cluttered space, Google’s point of differentiation may be their search which leverages their Knowledge Graph to offer recommendations and aid discovery. With such a breadth of content across multiple providers, an intuitive interface and easy search will be key in the battle for the living room.