Google could become a major player in the Australian content and TV market with their new Android 4.4 KitKat OS set to incorporate features that allows Australians to tap into movies and TV content direct from the USA and Europe.
Set to be launched shortly Android 4.4 KitKat is set to take over from Google TV by offering owners of mobile devices access to TV content, Google is also working to deliver KitKat so that it scales on a TV display screen.
A recent report from ETNews says that Google will try to leverage Android’s brand strength to succeed where its earlier Google TV efforts have so far failed.
I recently reported that Google is looking to abandon the Google TV brand that is currently attached to its smart television efforts. Google TV-branded devices have greatly underperformed versus the company’s lofty ambitions for the platform, with Apple’s set-top box owning a much wider share of the streaming device market despite Google having more manufacturing partners.
There is also speculation that Google will be able to deliver Netflix content into the Australian market as opposed to Netflix setting up a separate Australian operation. During the past two years Hollywood movie houses have not been selling online access to their content to local TV stations as master content contracts are renewed. This allows to studio’s to assign content rights for the Australian market to organisations like Google and Apple who are in a position to pay large upfront fees to movie houses for content rights.
Google’s revamped effort at controlling the living room will feature a new user interface that has been dramatically improved.
One major consumer complaint regarding the Google TV experience was the convoluted interface. Whether Google has managed to simplify that is as yet unknown claims Electronista.
When Google’s newest operating system will launch is also unknown. Android 4.4 was initially expected to debut at this year’s Google I/O, but the company showed off neither a new operating system nor any new hardware. Subsequent speculation pegged the launch for mid-October, but rumored dates have come and gone. Current rumors have the reveal happening at the end of October, but Google has sent out no press invites or made any announcements.
