Google unveils ‘GOOGLE FIBER’, a f**king insane BROADBAND and TV Service.
Good glorious Jesus Christ, Google’s latest venture seems insane. Dubbed “Google Fiber”, it’s all sorts of lightning-quick internet and ridiculous TV options. I have a boner.
The Verge:
Google compared the growth in processing power and storage to internet speed, pointing out that the latter hasn’t kept up with the former. Google believes that its fiber will put data access speeds on the same exponential growth curve, saying that a Gigabit is only the beginning of its plans. Google also pointed out that the US is well behind other countries in terms of both speed and pricing.
Google says there will be no monthly bandwidth caps, and no overages. It even comes with 1TB of cloud storage through Google Drive. But Google Fiber is more than just internet — it will also be a “great new TV experience.” Google Fiber TV comes with a Bluetooth remote and a search interface that looks a bit like Google TV, but cleaned up and much simpler. It can record up to 500 hours of HD shows onto its 2TB drive, and allows for powerful search and discovery. Google is also making a remote app for both Android and iOS, which will allow for voice search, in a custom interface, but the app will also do video streaming “in an upcoming version.”
Google detailed the Network box, which offers gigabit routing, Wi-Fi, four ethernet ports, and “simple network management.” An identical-looking “Storage Box” wil have 2TB of storage that will act as the DVR for all devices in the house. Every TV will need a small TV box to interface with the other two pieces of hardware — it will work with Netflix and YouTube as well. It will also act as a Wi-Fi access point — “We’re turning every TV into a Wi-Fi hotspot,” Google says.
The Nexus 7 is the remote for this service, and will be included at no extra charge with every TV package.
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Alongside its new super-fast internet in Kansas City, Google announced Fiber TV today, an entirely redesigned experience for how you watch TV. It’s part-DVR part-cable box, with the ability to watch and record all the channels you expect, via Google’s new network. Unfortunately, Fiber’s listings don’t currently include ESPN, AMC, and a few others, but we’re hoping that changes soon. You’ll be able to record 500 hours of TV, and can record a ridiculous eight shows all at once.
There are a couple of different packages for the Fiber TV service, which basically mirror what we’ve seen from cable boxes. There’s a basic version with network channels and some basic cable, on up to the movie channels like Starz.
Google also announced apps for iOS and Android that let you search for things to watch (by text or by voice), and control both live TV and DVR. The Nexus 7, for instance, will come with a Fiber TV app — and there’s a free Nexus 7 included in the TV package. There’s a lot more coming for the apps, too: you’ll be able to tune automatically from your Google+ stream, for instance. “Fiber TV will integrate with all popular social networks, making live TV more relevant than ever,” Google execs said during the presentation. You’ll also be able to watch different shows, on different TVs and devices, in the same house all at the same time. There will be “tens of thousands” of movies and shows on demand, all of which you’ll be able to watch on multiple devices.
The Fiber TV plan (as part of Google’s whole Fiber plan) costs $120 / month, plus a $300 construction fee. But if you sign a two-year contract, the construction fee is waived. “You don’t have to settle for old-time television anymore,” execs said. We’re into that idea.
Skynet is going to offer fast internet and ridiculous service. All it demands is your integration into the Monolith. I accept.