A second wave of Google TV
devices are coming, and Vizio's $100 Co-Star aims to be the cheapest. Like
other Google TV devices, the Vizio
Co-Star can run apps
from Google Play, and has the Chrome Web browser on board, though several major
networks block Google TV from streaming their website content.
The device can work on its own input, or as an overlay for existing cable or
satellite TV services, so users can browse for Internet content and apps
without switching inputs away from live TV. But Vizio's Co-Star isn't just
about Google TV. It also has OnLive's streaming
game service built-in,
so users can play modern video games on the big screen without a dedicated game
console. Keep in mind, though, that OnLive's universal controller is sold
separately for $50, and you need a fast Internet connection to avoid
atrocious input lag. The Co-Star hardware is a small box, roughly the size of
an Apple TV or Roku. The included remote has a trackpad and various buttons on
one side -- including one-click access to Netflix, Amazon and M-Go -- and a
full QWERTY keyboard on the underside. The box supports remote control through
the Google TV app for Android as well. Vizio's Co-Star is the least-expensive
piece of Google TV hardware yet, unless you count the Logitech Revue, which
started at $300 but later dropped to $100 because sales were abysmal. Vizio's low price, small
stature and OnLive support may help, but Google has yet to show that it can get
people interested in its TV platform. Reviews of another second-generation
Google TV box, Sony's NSZ-GS7, have been negative so far. We'll see whether Google can spruce up
the platform this week, during its Google I/O developers conference. Vizio will
start taking pre-orders for the Co-Star in July, but hasn't announced a release
date.
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