Google TV, all set to launch

NEW YORK, USA: Almost five months after telling the world about its television aspirations, Internet search giant Google is providing more details on its forthcoming Google TV service.

The first devices featuring Google TV, from Sony and Logitech, will be available this month, Google said in a blog post on Monday.

Also Read: Google Instant Blacklist: What is it?

Google also listed a variety of media and technology companies whose content and services will be available on Google TV, including HBO, Netflix, Twitter and music video website Vevo.

Google’s efforts to conquer the living room represent another front in its increasing rivalry with Apple, with the two tech companies also competing in smartphones, tablets and mobile advertising.

In September, Apple announced a new, overhauled version of its struggling Apple TV product, which will allow users to rent television shows for 99 cents a pop from News Corp’s Fox and Walt Disney Co’s ABC (It probably doesn’t hurt that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is on Disney’s board of directors).

For its part, Google is pushing its partnership with HBO as one of its marquee premium content offerings.

The HBO service will allow existing HBO subscribers, who receive cable TV service from Comcast or Verizon, to watch up to 600 hours of HBO shows at their leisure. Of course, HBO already offered Verizon and Comcast customers the ability to do this on the web — now those folks can also watch the latest episode of “Boardwalk Empire” or “Bored to Death” on Google TV.

The big question, though, is how much Google TV will actually cost. Perhaps we’ll learn more later this week, when Logitech is holding a media conference to unveil its line-up of Google TV devices.