Sony, Adobe, Intel Back Flash Game-Friendly Google TV

At the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco Thursday, the web development company introduced Google TV, a web-for-TV platform that could make Flash-based gaming friendlier for the living room. Adobe Flash Player 10.1 will be directly integrated into the Google Chrome browser on Google TV, allowing users to access the web's vast library of Flash-based games on their televisions. While Google did say that Google TV will support Flash-based games, the company did not demonstrate any examples. At the conference, the company used keyboards as an input device. Reports also said users will be able to dictate words via their smart phones instead of using a keyboard. Google TV is based on the company's Android operating system, currently found in cell phones. Flash game site Kongregate today also announced it partnered with Adobe to bring over 100 of its games to Google's Android mobile platform. Intel, Sony and Logitech also confirmed support of Google TV. Sony and Logitech said that they will be introducing consumer electronics products based on Google TV and Intel's Atom processor this year. Via their TV sets, web-goers will be able to use one of these Google TV-enabled devices to search and view over-the-air and pay-TV listings, DVR and the internet. Users can add channels and webpages to their Google TV home site for easier access. Google TV will also support viewing multiple windows simultaneously. (A demo is available here.) Sony said that it will introduce Google TV-based Sony Internet TV hardware this fall. The hardware line will include TVs with Google TV built in, as well as standalone set-top boxes that include Google TV and a Blu-ray drive. Logitech will release a "companion box" that will integrate with a user's existing HDTV and set-top box. Along with the box, Logitech will release a remote that combines keyboard and remote control capabilities. Google added that it would introduce other methods of navigation and control, but did not offer specific examples. Google said Google TV is "designed to work with any TV operator," but at launch it is "fully optimized when paired with DISH Network," and some features will be limited only to DISH Network. The company also said that it would soon release a set of TV-specific APIs for web applications so developers can tailor software for television use. An upcoming Android SDK will also support apps built for Google TV. Google added that it plans to open-source the Google TV platform "to help spur innovation in the industry." This week during Google's I/O Conference, the company also announced the Chrome Web Store, a new online application storefront exclusively dedicated to web-based programs, including games.