AfterDawn: News

Sony to announce HDTVs with Android, Intel chips

Sony, the former #1 TV maker that has seen recent declines in sales, will begin launching new HDTVs with Intel processors and running the Android operating system, say sources cited by Bloomberg.

The electronics giant will unveil the products at an event in San Francisco on May 19th, a conference sponsored by Google, the company behind Android.



The sources say the Intel chip will be a customized Atom chip, and the OS will be a customized Android dubbed "Dragonpoint."

All three companies are also working with Logitech to create a keyboard that will work as a remote and would allow for easier typing when using a browser via the TV.

Sony has recently fallen to third place in the TV market, behind Samsung and LG globally, and behind Samsung and Vizio in the United States.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Apr 2010 12:16

• Previous article

• Microsoft scraps plan for Courier tablet

• Next article

• Valve confirms Steam for Mac release date

• 8 comments

• Mrguss

  All that; plus Video Chat and 75" or more....then I'm in !
  

  +4000

  1.5.2010 01:07 #1

• KillerBug

  Android is linux based. If recent history has tought us anything, it is the FACT that sony hates linux, and will remove it from the devices that they sell at a later date (it will be an "optional" upgrade that is required to keep doing the things that you were doing before the upgrade).
  
  Sorry Sony...you tricked me into buying a PS3 with promises of Linux support, why would I ever buy ANYTHING from you simply on the merrits that it has linux, when you are just going to remove it later?
  
  BTW...this is not an exageration. I stongly believe that they will remove Android at a future date, as it could be used for piracy if it is rooted; and all android devices get root availability very quickly. Sony WILL remove Android from these TVs, or simply dissable them somehow.
  
  BTW2...Android does not boot fast enough for a TV...I expect a TV to be up and running within 10 seconds of turning it on...I doubt that android will be able to meet that goal.

  1.5.2010 01:35 #2

• Mrguss

  Well:
  The Cell Chip on the TV will drop the need for a Cable or Satellite signal and the TV OS eventually will work like on 4G's.
  The Keyboard + Remote is just a bonus.
  

  +4000

  1.5.2010 02:43 #3

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by Mrguss: Well:
  The Cell Chip on the TV will drop the need for a Cable or Satellite signal and the TV OS eventually will work like on 4G's.
  The Keyboard + Remote is just a bonus. What? This TV does not have a cell processor, nor would that deliver streaming media anyway.

  1.5.2010 04:00 #4

• Mrguss

  Provably not the first Model....though !
  Just let pass 6 or 12 months latter.
  
  http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/30/...n-may/?hpt=Sbin
  
  Electronics are merging together !
  

  +4000

  1.5.2010 05:07 #5

• Mr-Movies

  Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by Mrguss: Well:
  The Cell Chip on the TV will drop the need for a Cable or Satellite signal and the TV OS eventually will work like on 4G's.
  The Keyboard + Remote is just a bonus. What? This TV does not have a cell processor, nor would that deliver streaming media anyway. No it has an Atom cpu customized for the Android OS and yes it could/or does support streaming like any other smart OS does.
  
  Just becuase Sony has ticked you off over the PS3 security issues with enabling Linux doesn't mean that this is a bad product, in fact it sounds very good and is a smart move by Sony. I would really like to see their remote keyboard as well.
  

  1.5.2010 17:00 #6

• Mr_Bill06

  This sounds very cool but on another note its only a matter of time before all tvs are full blown computers i cant wait just imagine having 1 piece of tech to record your live tv, game on, and browse the web and watch movies all on a 40''-60'' screen.

  1.5.2010 22:03 #7

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by Mr_Bill06: This sounds very cool but on another note its only a matter of time before all tvs are full blown computers i cant wait just imagine having 1 piece of tech to record your live tv, game on, and browse the web and watch movies all on a 40''-60'' screen. Heh, I have to laugh. I'm typing this on a atom CPU netbook in Linux right now.
  
  @Mr_Bill I often surf with my homebuilt HTS on my 50" (2.4GHz wireless keyboard & mouse) too. It might be nice to have it in one unit but if you knew the specs of my HTS you appreciate that it's nice to have something that's upgradeable too.
  
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  4.5.2010 11:54 #8