The battle for TV: New tech war brewing as Google and Apple race to bring out internet sets


They have been locked in combat over mobile devices - and now Google and Apple are set to do battle in a technology war over 'smart' TVs.

LG Electronics will next week unveil its first internet-connected TV to run on the Android interface next week.

Samsung is making its first set using Google software later this year, while Sony and Vizio have produced Android models already.

Siding with Google: LG is to unveil its new internet TV at the giant Consumer Electronics Show

Siding with Google: LG is to unveil its new internet TV at the giant Consumer Electronics Show

Apple look certain to bring in the iTV set this year.

The company transformed the music and mobile phone markets, but it seems Google is trying to stay one step ahead of them with TVs, guardian.co.uk reports.

Google said that chipmaker Marvell Technology Group and chip designer MediaTek were already on board as new partners in the venture.

In a sluggish economy, TV manufacturers hope moving into the Internet TV market will help pick up business as consumer demand contines to slow.

Gearing up: Google already have top chip makers, LG, Sony and Samsung on board

Gearing up: Google already have top chip makers, LG, Sony and Samsung on board

Could they come second: Apple won the phone war, but it will conquer TVs

Could they come second: Apple won the phone war, but it will conquer TVs

Google's chairman Eric Schmidt ended 2011 by saying that 'by the summer of 2012, the majority of the televisions you see in stores will have Google TV embedded.'

LG's Android set is being unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Own one and you can watch a programme, search the internet and communicate with friends over a social network such as Facebook at the same time, or almost.

Then there's the 3D glasses that will be launched this year.

Google has already boasted it has 150 apps for its TV service – which is actually nothing compared to the thousands already available for phones.

Mickey Kim, Google's TV partnerships head, said: 'Google TV is about bringing new entertainment and innovation from the web to TV and our team along with our partners are pleased to bring more Google-TV-powered products to more people, across more devices in more countries in 2012.'

However, it is rumoured Apple could have more tricks up its sleeve.
A former employee claims he has seen the set in the fortified studio of Apple's head of industrial design Sir Jonathan Ive.

It is said Apple's set will have a LCD flatscreen with built-in Wi-Fi connection.

It may be voice controlled, using the Siri voice-recognition technology on the iPhone 4GS.

The sets would have access to the iTunes shop with its vast library of films and TV shows.