The infiltration of the Internet into our living-rooms is right around the corner. The two biggest consumer options are Google TV and Apple TV (to a certain extent).
Now, Apple TV got it right. It's a cheap device ($100) and is focused around content sharing in the home.
We've all said that content is king, so why not make it easier to share it, view it, digest it, etc. in your own home more easier than having to rely on cables, SD cards, etc.
Apple TV is a simple hub for content whereas Google TV tries to bring the entire information superhighway into your couch command center. This, of course, is not a new idea with gaming consoles doing it now as well -- Wii, Playstation, XBox, etc. However, where Google TV will fail is on the technology side. They are relying on other manufacturers to create devices that will pimp their software.
Now, this of course is working on the mobile front, but it'll be a long time before it succeeds -- if at all -- with the home entertainment market.
The products are so varying in terms of quality that the Google-one-size-fits-all-Android strategy might not work. One could argue that the same thing could be said for the mobile market, but if you really look at the build of smart-phones, they are all in the same sandbox.
I'm not the smartest tech guy in the world, but I just don't see this taking off until Google pony's up for their own device. While they failed with the NexusOne, they might fare pretty well if they partner with a manufacturer that can build a relatively inexpensive device that connects consumers with their content AND the web -- which might push Google TV past Apple TV.
How do you think the home entertainment market will play out in terms of Google's and Apple's products and services?