YOUTUBE LAUNCHING STREAMING WITH OVER 3,000 MOVIES FROM ALL MAJOR STUDIOS

In the midst of a blog post welcoming us to "the future of video" head of YouTube Salar Kamangar confirms that starting today it will add around 3,000 new movie titles for rental in the US, along with reviews and behind the scenes extras.

NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. are the new studios YouTube is partnering with to add the 3,000 new and catalog releases, doubling the amount previously available. The pricing is $2.99/$3.99 for movies viewable via PC or Google TV (no other devices support mentioned) and the FAQ notes that YouTube supports resolutions up to 4K but "most" of the new additions are sadly in SD, which is up to its partners.

ANDROID MARKETPLACE GETTING READY FOR GOOGLE TV

Google has stated that the Android Market would become available on Google TV-enabled products some time in early 2011, and it looks as though a launch is now imminent. In an update pushed through this morning, Google has added a new filtering option that checks whether or not the device accessing the Market has a touchscreen. As all currently available Android devices are equipped with touch-friendly panels, we’re likely looking at one of the first steps in the process that will bring Market access to Google TV devices. Google has not yet confirmed that the new “android.hardware.touchscreen” filter is directly related to Google TV, but the writing is certainly on the wall — or screen, as it may be. Hit the break for a screen shot showing the filter in question and if you’re a Google TV user, get ready for the nearly endless possibilities third-party development affords.

VIZIO UNVEILS VIA LINEUP AHEAD OF CES

Vizio built its name on low-end HDTVs. Now, it is expanding into other areas and using the same business philosophy...make it cheap enough and people will buy it. Just ahead of CES, Vizio has announced they will be jumping into the tablet, phone and media TV sectors with their new VIA lineup.

The Vizio tablet will be 8-inches while the phone will be 4-inches. Both will run Android and have WiFi N, GPS, MicroSD slot, dual cameras and HDMI output. The tablet, at least at this time, will not have 3G capabilities and it is unknown if the phone will be GSM or CDMA.

In addition, Vizio will be launching a line of TVs and Blu-ray players with Google TV built in. This won't be the standard Google TV either, apparently Vizio is creating its own interface built on top of the standard Google TV interface. It remains to be seen(at CES later this week) if Vizio will be able to pull it off.

GOOGLE TV TO BE DELAYED

According to The New York Times Google has asked Toshiba, LG and Sharp to hold off on their presentations of Google TV at CES to give Google more time to refine and tweek the software.

Google TV is suppose to be the next generation of television viewing. It will allow viewers to access the internet and watch TV at the same time. Want more facts on something a character said in your favorite TV show? Launch the in frame browser. Sign into Twitter and tweet about what you are watching right this minute.

The New York Times article does not say of the companies have agreed to give delay the launch of their products until Google can get its product right, so plans can change rapidly as CES approaches or even during CES. [Gizmodo]

VIACOM BLOCKS GOOGLE TV DEVICES

Google TV started out with such promise. However, over the past few weeks ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox have blocked all access. Now, Viacom is blocking all their properties from Google TV devices. Viacom is the owner of MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Spike, Logo and CMT along with other lesser known media. Hopefully, Google will soon get agreements from these media companies so Google TV will realize its full potential. [Engadget]

BROADCAST NETWORKS BLOCK GOOGLE TV

ABC, NBC and CBS have blocked Google TV from accessing online content of their shows.  According to the Wall Street Journal all 3 networks have confirmed the ban and Fox hasn't reached a decision yet.  Google says "ultimately the content owners' choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content on the platform," but Reuters is now reporting the Google is in active negotiations with the networks to get access back.

Google TV can be found in select Sony televisions and also in a Logitech set-top box.  It allows users to view live television as well as the internet at the same time. [Engadget]

HOW GOOGLE TV WORKS

Wonder how Google TV works or even what it is?  Check out the video below for a great demonstration of the service at the Sony event held yesterday.

In a nutshell, Google TV is the full internet experience on your TV (hopefully it's an HDTV), without having to leave the program you are watching.  It allows you to access the internet, twitter, Google maps and any other website without hooking up a PC or changing inputs.  Google TV will be directly integrated into some Sony TV models as well as set-top boxes from Logitech and others and some Sony Blu-ray players. [Geek]

GOOGLE ANNOUNCES 10 MORE PARTNERS FOR GOOGLE TV

Google has announced more partners for it's soon to be released Google TV streaming service. Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal, HBO, the NBA, Amazon, Pandora, Napster, Netflix, The New York Times, and USA Today will all have content that is optimized for viewing via Google’s internet connected set-top box.  Like all streaming services currently available, not all the providers content will be made available.

Want to know what Google TV will look like?  Check out the video below.

SONY SHOWS OFF VIDEO OF GOOGLE TV

Sony has dedicated part of its IFA 2010 booth to showing off some of the capabilities its Google TV enabled televisions will have when they launch by the end of the year,  in teh US.  A video loop, running about 2 minutes, shows off web search, Google Maps, which has been reported to look really awesome, YouTube and Picasa functionality, app favorites and picture-in-picture.  The picture-in-picture allows you to continue to watch TV while you surf the internet.  Engadget has a nice slide show up.  [Engadget]

PREVIEW: GOOGLE TV

The fine folks over at StuffWeLike.com have a video up showing a preview of the Google TV interface. This was recorded at Comic Con 2010.  Head on over and take a look.