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Google Working On Wireless Home Entertainment System

Thursday February 9, 2012 1:44 pm PST by Jordan Golson

Google is developing a wireless home entertainment system designed to stream music throughout the home, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The system would be marketed under Google's brand and would be based on Google's Android platform. Google has sold a few items under its own name, but has never designed consumer electronics hardware itself. The Google Nexus phone, for example, was made by HTC.

Google's Android unit has led a multi-year effort to develop the new entertainment device, which may possibly stream other digital media besides music and is expected to be unveiled later this year, people familiar with the matter said.

The new device, along with Google's pending purchase of device maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc., shows how serious the Internet giant is about wanting to control both the software and hardware process, a formula used by rival Apple Inc.

The system would allow users to download music and stream it to Google-branded wireless speakers or other compatible devices. The system sounds somewhat similar to those made by Sonos, which the New York Times examined in a recent article.

The WSJ gave no indication as to a time-frame for the public announcement or on-sale date for the Google home entertainment products. Apple has a somewhat similar living room strategy, though the company no longer makes any home speaker products -- instead, Apple uses its AirPlay, Airport Express and Apple TV products as part of its push into the living room. However, in recent months the company has been rumored to be working on a full-fledged television set.

Top Rated Comments

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*LTD*

32 months ago

Whatev. Seen this movie before.

Rating: 23 Votes

rmwebs

32 months ago

Google should stick to Search and Maps. The only areas they excel in. The rest of their portfolio is just derivative junk.

Someones got a narrow mind...

[LIST]
[*]Search
[*]Maps
[*]Mail
[*]YouTube
[*]Docs
[*]Android
[*]Adsense
[*]Adwords
[*]Picasa
[*]Chrome
[/LIST]

Those are just the 'frontline' ones.

Reading through this thread its funny to see how many brainwashed people we have here. It seems that once Apple has a 'fall-out' with a company, everyone suddenly declares that said company is crap, has never done anything good, and should effectively die.

I love Apple as much as the next guy but this is bordering on insane now. Google do what they do well. If Google has decided to attempt to enter a new market, then big whop. When Apple announced the iPhone did you start moaning that they should stick to Macs? :rolleyes:

Rating: 22 Votes

notjustjay

32 months ago

Wait for the Google toilet.

That's the one that shows you ads for foods similar to the ones that you've just expelled, right? :D

Rating: 22 Votes

*LTD*

32 months ago

Now fAndroids will be able to see and hear how badly their stuff sucks in high definition and 7.1 surround sound.

HD malware.

----------

oh boi google wireless stuff. yay googles *plugs my nose to sound like a fandroid* is it open is it open!?!!1!

:rolleyes:

Lmao. I hear you can install Touchwiz on it or Motoblur or whatever to make the UI suck somewhat less.

Just how many of these UI layers are there? Touchwiz, Motoblurry, what else?

Rating: 15 Votes

rdowns

32 months ago

****ers will probably insert ads between songs. :D

Rating: 15 Votes

Lone Deranger

32 months ago

Google should stick to Search and Maps. The only areas they excel in. The rest of their portfolio is just derivative junk.

Rating: 13 Votes

macrumors12345

32 months ago

Double meh.

Translation: We can't get suckers like Logitech to lose money building this crap anymore, so we'll have to build the crap ourselves.

Rating: 12 Votes

GuitarDTO

32 months ago

I feel like at some point these companies need to stick with what they are good at.

Rating: 12 Votes

HiRez

32 months ago

Google speakers? LOL, thanks but no...

Rating: 11 Votes

dashiel

32 months ago

I sense yet another half-baked, me-too product that brings very little to the space. Google is quickly turning in to 90’s era Microsoft, flush with cash and desperate to have their fingers in as many pies as possible.

Maybe they’re bored having so thoroughly sewn up search.

Rating: 10 Votes

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