I have noticed a lot of talk in recent weeks about the patent wars between Google and Apple/Microsoft in regards to Android. I won’t be getting into that here, but that is another example of how patent trolls can destroy good competition in the marketplace. Here is a good video if you have the time and want to learn how stupid patents have become.
Today I am much more interested in actual innovation and speculation on future technologies coming to the marketplace. Right now the biggest thing out are smart phones and tablets. Google is winning the mobile war with it’s Android. Apple is winning with the iPad. The next big battle? The TV and your living room.
Google is always making moves
I first started thinking about this with Google’s purchase of Motorola. (On top of all the patents they just acquired with the Motorola purchase; I hate this patent war). So, why is this purchase important? I used to have Comcast, then I switched to Time Warner. Now I am on Verizon FIOS. What does the neat DVR/set-top box say on the front of all of them? Motorola. In other words, Motorola has relationships with a ton of cable companies around the world through its set-top box arm (and, if I’m reading the press releases properly Motorola’s set-top-box arm is included in the mobile division that Google acquired today).
Take a look at the logo on the front of your box. I am willing to bet the majority have the same as mine. How long until these boxes have Android on them?
What should we expect?
The Motorola purchase just made GoogleTV vs. AppleTV a must watch fight in technology. The sales for these products have been miserable compared to the companies other products, but that doesn’t mean either one of these heavyweights will throw in the towel. The real question is what is Apple cooking up? I have heard rumors that Apple is cooking something that looks like DirectTV, without the dish of course. Imagine this time next year you are watching all your TV through an AppleTV, iPad, or iPhone. Granted, some of you are savvy enough to stream your television through various hardware and software setups you’ve created. That isn’t mainstream, that is too much of a pain for the general public. If you are an electronics buff, you probably have quite a few devices creating a cabling nightmare in your entertainment center.
What I am talking about is one box that handles everything for you. Plug it in and your DVR, subscribed channels, whatever, are available to you on whichever device you have handy. That’s pretty damn cool and I’m sure it’s part of the motivation for Google to get Motorola.
Sony and Microsoft will have to step up their game though if this battle does take off. Playstation doesn’t have a chance in a world where Google and Apple own your living room. Same with Microsoft. These two need to make sure they don’t get muscled out of your living room. Watch out when deals are made with OnLive to go with their TV service. Their proven ability to provide quality gaming via the cloud is outstanding. I envision either company partnering up with OnLive, or Playstation/GoogleTV vs. XBox/Apple. Whatever happens, when this competition heats up, the consumer will win. 
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