Google TV Based on Android Plans to go Open Next Summer
SDK will be available early 2011, compatible with Android apps that don't require phone services to function.
In addition to Android 2.2, the other major announcement at Google's I/O conference keynote was Google TV, an Android 2.1 based, Intel chip powered device that adds search and web integration to televisions and DVRs.
The device uses the proprietary Chrome browser to display Web pages and also makes use of Flash 10.1.
What's interesting for open source enthusiasts is the way Google TV interacts with the Android Marketplace. Any application that doesn't require the use of phone-specific features will work on Google TV, opening up an entirely new platform for app development.
Like Android 2.2, Google TV distributes apps through the cloud, so if an app is downloaded on a computer or mobile device, it will appear on Google TV automatically.
Google TV launches Fall 2010. An SDK for Google TV will be available Winter 2011, with the entire project expected to go open source, integrating back into the Android and Chrome source trees. Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that it was the victory of open source that made the project possible.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
CIQ Releases Security-Hardened Version of Rocky Linux
If you're looking for an enterprise-grade Linux distribution that is hardened for business use, there's a new version of Rocky Linux that's sure to make you and your company happy.
-
Gnome’s Dash to Panel Extension Gets a Massive Update
If you're a fan of the Gnome Dash to Panel extension, you'll be thrilled to hear that a new version has been released with a dock mode.
-
Blender App Makes it to the Big Screen
The animated film "Flow" won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards held on March 2, 2025 and Blender was a part of it.
-
Linux Mint Retools the Cinnamon App Launcher
The developers of Linux Mint are working on an improved Cinnamon App Launcher with a better, more accessible UI.
-
New Linux Tool for Security Issues
Seal Security is launching a new solution to automate fixing Linux vulnerabilities.
-
Ubuntu 25.04 Coming Soon
Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) has been given an April release date with many notable updates.
-
Gnome Developers Consider Dropping RPM Support
In a move that might shock a lot of users, the Gnome development team has proposed the idea of going straight up Flatpak.
-
openSUSE Tumbleweed Ditches AppArmor for SELinux
If you're an openSUSE Tumbleweed user, you can expect a major change to the distribution.
-
Plasma 6.3 Now Available
Plasma desktop v6.3 has a couple of pretty nifty tricks up its sleeve.
-
LibreOffice 25.2 Has Arrived
If you've been hoping for a release that offers more UI customizations, you're in for a treat.