Chinese TV maker Hisense is set to join Sony in launching a Google TV set top box in Australia.Hisense executives have said that several countries including Australia will launch the Google TV offering this year. Called the Hisense Pulse, the new Google TV will be officially unveiled this week at the IFA show in Berlin. It is expected to retail in Australia for around $129.
Both LG and Samsung have rejected the concept of launching a Google TV offering in Australia.
Users of the new Google TV box will have access to the Android Play Store and a Chrome browser. Capable of delivering 1080p, Full HD content the device is compatible with the H.264, MPEG-4 and AVC content formats.
Users will also be able to access content from the Google Movie store as well as content from YouTube TV.
Google executives have said the new Hisense Google TV offering has been designed to intuitively search and sort through millions of channels and shows across live television, content services, home networks, apps, and the web.
A key benefit of the box is new software that allows users to easily locate content they want to play at any given moment.
Other features include picture-in-picture and picture-outside-picture, enabling simultaneous viewing while searching through content listings or engaging in social-networking activities.
“This box effectively bridges the gap to the latest in home entertainment, without the need for expensive hardware upgrades,” JoAnne Foist, a senior Hisense marketing executive said.
“Most people have at least one HDTV in their home and with the addition of a Hisense Pulse with Google TV, we deliver the capability to of access not just TV, but a host of streaming content, web surfing and TV apps that are available in Google Play. Compared to other streaming devices, the Hisense Pulse with Google TV allows consumers to experience a new level of smart content discovery and viewing recommendations.”
The Hisense Pulse with Google TV includes ports for HDMI input and output, USB, and Ethernet connections and it has built-in Wi-Fi.
The unit’s double-sided remote control features a built-in touchpad and dedicated Netflix button on one side and a QWERTY keyboard on the other side.
