Apple TV vs. Google TV: How do they differ?

September 10, 2010 By Nick Mokey

The smartphone brawl between Apple and Google just crashed through a fence and onto your television set. But is Apple TV vs. Google TV a fair fight? Here’s why Apple TV and Google TV are significantly different approaches to digital entertainment.

The surging interest set-top media boxes such as Roku, Apple TV and the Boxee Box is starting to look a lot like the sudden buzz around tablets: Microsoft was puttering around with the same concepts ages ago, but nobody really cared. Now that Apple and Google have focused their laser-like engineering teams on the problem, years of antiquated GUI design are searing off in months as both companies work their magic on the long-neglected “ten-foot interface.”

While Apple TV has kicked around in various iterations since 2007 and Google TV hasn’t even hit the market officially, enquiring TV addicts want to know: Which will you be kicking back and watching this fall? In truth, despite the similar names and cutthroat competitors, they’re two different beasts entirely. Here’s how Google TV is different from Apple TV.

Apple TV is one box, Google TV is an ecosystem.

Google and Apple have both carried their smartphone strategies directly over to the television: Apple won’t let anybody else touch its proprietary Apple TV interface, and Google wants to staple Google TV onto as many boxes as it can. Google TV will be built right in to new TVs from Sony, available on separate set-top boxes from Logitech, and those are just launch partners, with many more to come. Just as it does with smartphones, this rainbow of vendors will translate to more choice for Google TV users, while Apple TV users have one box to do it all. Need composite video outputs, 1080p decoding or some other, yet unknown feature on Apple TV? Tough luck, wait for next year. Need it on Google TV? Just wait for some manufacturer to pump out a deluxe box.

Google TV has more power.

Apple recently redesigned the Apple TV to run on the same A4 processor powering the iPhone and iPad. Essentially, it’s a smartphone, without a screen, in a box. While that will make it a quiet, ultra-efficient power miser, it doesn’t leave much headroom for upgrades, either. By contrast, Google TV will run on Intel’s Atom processor – the same chip powering virtually every netbook on the market. Besides giving it the additional horsepower to pump up full 1080p video, rather than 720p as the Apple TV caps out at, it should leave room for additional upgrades, and maybe even the possibility of hacking hardware to run other desktop software. MythTV or Boxee, anyone?

Apple TV acts as a storefront.

Apple makes a killing off of iTunes. Conveniently, Apple TV conveniently plants a storefront for iTunes in the middle of your living room, allowing you to buy Apple content from Apple. Besides the existing option to purchase both TV shows and movies through iTunes, Apple has also introduced 99-cent TV show rentals with the latest iteration. Google, meanwhile, has said nothing of opening a store for content. Every source will either come for free through the Web, from a cable box, or third-party providers. This might make the selection of popular shows smaller out of the box, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see providers like Amazon on Demand, Vudu and Hulu Plus lining up to hop aboard Google TV, broadening its appeal past what Apple alone can deliver.

Google TV has a Web browser.

Not everything you want to put on the big screen comes wrapped up as a movie. Sometimes, you want to show off photos from a Picasa gallery. Sometimes, you want to give directions to a friend on Google Maps. Sometimes, you just want to read your favorite site without squinting. Google TV will integrate a browser based on Chrome to do all the above – plus play all of your favorite Web-based videos. Apple only offers YouTube and Flickr.

Google TV has apps.

Ironically, Apple TV lacks the holy grail of expandability that rocketed the iPhone to success, while Google managed to cram it in. Google TV runs on Android, and it will run Android apps. Details remain somewhat scarce on Google TV’s app support, but Google claims that existing Android apps should eventually be able to run on Google TV, as long as they don’t use smartphone-only features (a labyrinth game that relies on tilt sensors, for instance, wouldn’t make much sense on your TV). More importantly, developers will be able to code Google TV specific apps after an SDK comes out, so anything a developer dreams up should – theoretically – become possible.

Google TV works with cable boxes.

Sure, we cut the cable and never looked back a long time ago. But the fact remains: Many casual TV watchers remain roped into existing cable service, and there are buckets of content that come through cable still unavailable from the Web. Google TV solves the issue by integrating with cable boxes and essentially acting as a DVR. Sure, you can watch back episodes of The Office online, but if you want to watch the latest one an hour after it airs on Thursday at nine o’clock, you can do that too.

Wrapping Up

Apple TV and Google TV will both pull the same trick that even the most basic media streamers have pulled off for years now – playing music, video and photos across a home network. Where they diverge the is on the extras.

Google TV attempts to pop an umbrella over every single source of content you might ever want to plaster across a 42-inch screen. Web browsing? Check. Cable TV? Check. Apps? Check.

Apple TV attempts to sell you content from Apple. And hey, you can watch Netflix this year, too.

Even without full specs or hands on experience with Google TV, it’s obviously entering the market as the better-equipped contender. But the details lie in execution. Devious as Apple’s storefront approach sounds, Apple has proven to make this closed shopping experience feel cozy and convenient in the past, and we wouldn’t surprised to see the ease of use combined with a $99 price point sell the more capable Google TV under the table. Google’s ambitious approach to interconnectivity with cable boxes and other hardware could also cause setup nightmares that negate all of its potential capabilities. After all – a home theater PC can already do pretty much everything Google TV will – but how many people do you know with computers under their TV sets?

Apple has already launched the latest version of Apple TV, and Google TV should be appearing later this month. May the best media center win.

Showing 68 comments

GNS at 4:54pm 26th August 2011 I really prefer to Roku box because its s easy to operate plus I mainly needed Netflix. If I were to switch I'd go to Boxee so I could stream everything from the internet on to my TV.http://cordcutterguide.com/
Miranda_DISH at 10:45am 3rd January 2011 I use Google TV in my home. I think it is very near to the coolest thing ever! I cant speak for everyone obviously but I think that it is what we have needed and it was only a matter of time. I am sure you have heard that 'trends' tend to circle back round; well first it was being able to watch TV on your computer (i.e HULU and Fancast). Now we get to watch TV on our TV's and have equal use of our internet as well. Working at DISH I got to play around with it before I purchased it and I have to say it wasn't really needed because it was so easy to set up and super easy to use. I love it!
list101 at 6:28pm 27th December 2010 check the cellphone market iPhone got hit badly. Google will beat the $hit out of any apple product they decide is worth beating. Whoever bought appleTV is a sucker.
@dinidu01 at 1:14pm 24th October 2010 I don't think for browsing a TV would do much good.But for watching videos,pics and online games it's a treat.
Vishal at 8:34am 13th October 2010 A DLNA compliant bluray player like LG BD 390 or Samsung BDC5500, or a media player like Patriot Box office plus Playon from mediamall Equals 95 % of all this functionality at sub 200 price point.
ore masta at 1:17pm 7th October 2010 Im starting to get sick of apple and their ways, but i love my ipod. what to do...
ore masta at 1:16pm 7th October 2010 I would like this, as it seems to be moving along the "wave of the future", and it doesnt really seem to be missing anything. now if only i could be registered for free :>
Systems at 7:50pm 4th October 2010 No doubt, this article is less about Apple TV vs Google TV and more about the author pitching Google vaporware, just like the "Google Phone" of a decade ago. Just another fanboy, tarnishing an otherwise decent site.
John at 10:38am 4th October 2010 Unlike a lot of these posts, I'm in neither camp. I like Apple and Google. I'm annoyed by this article, though, for its biased conclusions. You're comparing an existing Apple device to what is promised in the Google device. If you want an even comparison, at least do Google vs. Apple iOS 4.2, which is slated for November. I don't know much about it other than it is supposed to address a lot of the shortcomings you cite.
thirteenburn at 7:08pm 26th September 2010 Sorry but I'll go with the lesser of two evils: Google TV. And judging by the way Google TV blows Apple TV out of the water; Apple TV being nothing more than a selling vehicle, I find it "interesting" how the article's author intimates that Apple will sell better. With all of the extras that AREN'T being sold to you 24/7 via Apple TV, I wonder how he came up with that conclusion? Apple homerism at it's finest? Naw; couldn't be...
1. kykyrackum at 8:06pm 1st October 2010 Most likely Apple will sell Google under the table. Why hate on a company that is out to perfect the user experience??
Marco M at 1:28am 22nd September 2010 According to MacRumors, Jobs told Bloomberg Businessweek "that when the time is right, Apple could open an App Store for the TV that could do for television sets what all those apps have done for the iPhone." If that new AppleTV receives an update to include an app store, it will become a huge hit and dominate that market just like the ipod touch did for the "mp3 player market" and the iphone did for the smartphone market. You can't deny that there are a number of developers that work on apps for iOS devices. I'm just happy that "AirPlay" will be able to work with my iPhone. Screw renting movies. I torrent my HD TV shows and Movies (mkv) instead and simply play them using AirVideo (3rd party app) on my iPhone or iPad. With this new "AirPlay" thing I can probably even stream that converted movie from iPhone to my HD TV.
Khaled at 2:02am 17th September 2010 Could Apple TV do a HD Video Calling on the big TV without PC? Could Apple TV have Flash Internet gaming without PC? Could Apple TV Browse the Internet for Shopping, Twitter , Facebook, , etc without PC? Does Apple TV got a advance Wireless TV keyboard/Remote without PC? Does Apple TV be accessed by both Iphone and Google Android Phones without PC? Logitech Revue and Google TV could do all that + Media Streaming, Videos, Photos, Music and many more i think will be announced
1. Charles at 8:04pm 1st October 2010 Yes, but the Apple TV will let you watch TV. If you wanted a computer attached to your tv, get a computer... It blows them both away. But Apple TV will undoubtedly be a streamlined device compared to its Google counterpart, as ALL iOS devices are so much more refined and user-friendly than their Android or Windows counterparts. Google cant touch Apple in refinement and the flawless operation of their devices.
Tara at 8:59am 16th September 2010 << posting this from my pc, connected to a 32 inch lcd tv...also streaming the latest episode of weeds on the adjacent 24 inch monitor. No extra box. No fancy set up. Just a computer with a little bit of ram and an upgraded graphics card. My electric company rates my homes energy usage as $40 below their average costomer. What would a product like these provide that I don't already have?
Paul at 9:10am 14th September 2010 Interesting box from Apple, doubles as a video version of their air tunes box, pity it only has HDMI output as this limits it to use only on later generation LCD/plasma sets. I had a look for a HDMI converter, they are more expensive than the apple tv box - eek, next version apple - please
Googly at 1:46pm 13th September 2010 GoogleTV will be $300 for everything you already get with your laptop. GoogleTV will be included in your next tv or bluray player and be subsidized by the player, meaning almost free. Atom processors cannot smoothly do 1080p.
Khaled at 3:04am 13th September 2010 Google TV about the New Digital Home Trend 1-Full Internet with Chrome Browser and Flash - Shopping, Gaming, Social networking, Browsing. 2-Media Streaming and Searching, cable boxes, DVR 3-HD TV-PC or TV-TV Video calling 4-Apps 5-All without A PC
homecomputersdiy.com at 8:42pm 12th September 2010 Fascinating insight.
bourne at 12:31pm 12th September 2010 You do not need a computer on to stream rented movies or TV shows or netflix shows through Apple TV. You need your computer on with iTunes running to stream movies you've ripped from DVD or purchased through iTunes. You also need your computer on to view photos from your computer... the photos are not stored on the AppleTV, they're streamed from the computer.
1. Erwin at 11:11pm 3rd October 2010 I generally like the idea of apple TV, its so easy and very convenient accessing your favorites in itunes and in your own computer. This is really a big dammn good Idea for a busy people. And so with google TV.... We can manage our time efficiently now. The thing I worried much is the internet provider companies. I've known last week when I called them that they capped the streaming volume now and we have to pay over the consumption limit, cause thy're slowly loosing subscribers. Maybe one day we will realize the price of it will be closer or over to what we paid the cable company... I don't know how they control the possible imbalanced changes... they have to find the way to continue leveraging on it anyway, I hope consumers won't be the loosers this time again... Government should make something favorable to consumers by setting up the rules...LOL...
bourne at 12:31pm 12th September 2010 You do not need a computer on to stream rented movies or TV shows or netflix shows through Apple TV. You need your computer on with iTunes running to stream movies you've ripped from DVD or purchased through iTunes. You also need your computer on to view photos from your computer... the photos are not stored on the AppleTV, they're streamed from the computer.
ReturnediPhone4 at 1:27pm 11th September 2010 Yeah, it's ridiculous that these companies are trying to make a profit. I mean, cable doesn't put "ADS" on my tv!!! Anything free is good. There's tons of free stuff out there if you know where to look. The average consumer doesn't, so the most convenient device will win. That used to be apple, but Google has clearly shown they're capable of doing the same and better.
chris at 11:21am 11th September 2010 i'm confused about that too lols. do you need the pc to be on or let's say ITUNES to be opened to stream it onto Apple TV? i mean what's the use then if you have to open both?
ESS at 6:11pm 10th September 2010 Apple TV is an "ultra-efficient power miser"? Are you serious? If you want to get to your music, photos or other content purchased from iTunes you have to have your power guzzling computer on. What were they thinking in designing a product that relies on another power hungry component to be fully operational? Apple is made an environmentally irresponsible decision here.
1. chris at 6:32pm 10th September 2010 apple tv doesn't have a fan which means the device does not 'heat" up. apple tv is all about streaming. no running hard drive etc... it is all in the "cloud" as they call it.
  1. Erik at 8:14pm 10th September 2010 Half true, your computer needs to be on to stream its content to AppleTV.
    joe at 9:10pm 10th September 2010 True, but if all you need is streaming Netflix/iTunes/YouTube/MobileMe/Fliker/Internet Radio content from the cloud than you don't need a computer at all. This is the only apple non computer device that can operate without ever be connected to a computer. Still for me it's not a problem since I have an iMac that is always on anyway that holds my music, pictures, and videos. This way there is no need for an ongoing syncing of data to the box. You stream from your computer only the data you want to access.
2. ioman at 8:28am 11th September 2010 You sure you still need your PC to be on? I thought Apple TV worked independently.
3. Rick at 7:59pm 1st October 2010 They want you to buy their energy-efficient computers.. Duh... Mac-Mini, most energy efficient computer ever made.
metoo at 5:46pm 10th September 2010 at least it's free, pay for cable and you still get ads!!! Welcome to the future, pay for ads-free or let ads pay your freedom!!!!
chris at 5:40pm 10th September 2010 knowing google? they will surely puts tons of ADS on your TV. it makes no difference to the cable or free tv hahahaha. P.S youtube used to be good before google takes over
chris at 5:37pm 10th September 2010 so basically, you would need a mouse to enjoy all those internet capabilities on your tv right? who would want to surf using remote or some sort?
chris at 5:35pm 10th September 2010 at the end of the day, Americans are no.1! at least the competition isbetween google vs apple which are both US made lols. i have a nintendo wii but i barely use the browser. i hate surfing the net on TV! it just doesn't make sense for me. i have pc too but recently though, i barely use it now. i use my ipodtouch more maybe because it is more convenient. just grab and go! microsoft <Apple in terms of portable devices apple < microsoft (pc vs mac) google vs apple? wait for a little bit. at least wait for the nex gen ipod and apple tv lols
Khaled at 3:30pm 10th September 2010 most important feature for Google TV and Logitech Revue the ability of HD Video calling from TV-TV TV-PC, , Full browser & Flash means Internet gaming & Face book, Twitter , etc & e-mail & online shopping All without the need for a PC. The Logitech Revue Box got Intel processor
Andre Richards at 2:16pm 10th September 2010 What's the price on the Google TV as a stand-alone box? Also, does Google disclose what information they will be collecting about our viewing habits and to whom they will be selling/sharing it?
Rob at 1:48pm 10th September 2010 Hello open Android/Google tv goodness goodbye closed apple crap!
Nikkio at 1:33pm 10th September 2010 Why buy either? Just get Boxee: http://www.boxee.tv/ Seriously, it offers the same sort of functionality as google tv, and is free and open source.
opie at 12:23pm 10th September 2010 ps3, tv-tuner and orb
Ian Bell at 10:38am 10th September 2010 I fail to see what either can do that my Xbox 360 or PS3 cannot do? Add TVersity to your PC and you can do everything either one of these can do, and for free. No need to buy extra equipment etc.
Eeyore at 10:08am 10th September 2010 I have a computer under my TV for online programming and movie rentals as well as for home video and photo viewing. I am waiting for a box that will do all of the above as well as have access to an app market for any current or future apps so I can ditch the computer. I want a device that has an open platform so that I have more choices not less.
1. Andre Richards at 2:17pm 10th September 2010 Then what are you waiting for? Go make it yourself. I doubt anyone else will.
2. Erik at 8:12pm 10th September 2010 For the brave, there is MythTV, a linux application suite (and distro) which squarely kicks both Apple and Google TV right in the crotch. Setup is a bitch but once configured it does not disappoint.
3. Gunner at 7:26am 17th September 2010 GoogleTV should eventually meet all of these needs. Especially when the Boxee app for GTV hits the Market.
4. daniel rodriguez at 7:50pm 15th January 2011 BOXEE!!!!
Davegan at 7:13am 10th September 2010 Google wins on paper...loses in real life! With AirPlay we don't know if all of the apps in the App Store will stream through our iDevices to our AppleTV, I think you jumped the gun before knowing all the facts. Neither are even out and you have already made a decision. Just like every most competitors they look great on paper, but in real use the AppleTV will be what we want and use along with the features apple is lining up with their new AirPlay technology.
1. Rob at 1:46pm 10th September 2010 Do you seriously believe that. I don't think you read the article carefully or have all the facts. Seeing the majority of smart phones out there are soon to be Android and not iphones the majority of people wont be streaming apple apps. And as the article says Google tv will have apps except for the motion controlled one which I am sure will be addressed by a convenient device sold separately. I doubt apple will allow you to stream many apps if any from your idevice to your apple tv (beswides who cares if you can stream a fart app) . Apple looses on paper and real life, just like anyone who decides to stick with their closed system
  1. dperez82 at 2:09pm 10th September 2010 Do you seriously believe what you wrote that "Apple loses on paper and real life"? I would say that their performance in the market says otherwise. The truth of the matter is that Google TV and Apple TV are really directed towards different sectors of the market. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses. The thing Google has going against them is that the average person does not want their TV to be a computer. If they can convince the customer otherwise, then Google TV will be successful. Airplay can be a huge game changer too, don't forget that it is not just iPhones - iPod Touch and iPads would also be able to utilize this technology. Regardless of which company does better, it definitely is an exciting time - lot of cool technology coming out.
    deshawn22 at 9:26am 11th September 2010 What's so impressive about airplay? All my devices at home already stream content, all you need is hardware or software that's DLNA compatible.
    dperez82 at 9:35am 11th September 2010 The average person knows nothing about DLNA, nor do they stream content in their homes. Airplay can change that.
    Gunner at 7:19am 17th September 2010 In other words, Apple will throw tens of millions in advertising behind Airplay, so that people know about it. That's really the only difference between Airplay and DLNA.
  2. Andre Richards at 2:22pm 10th September 2010 "Seeing the majority of smart phones out there are soon to be Android and not iphones..." Beyond the shadow the Oracle lawsuit casts on Android's future, the latest consumer surveys show 24% of Android users want an iPhone as their next phone and 6% of iPhone users want Android as their next phone. What does that tell you? I suspect a lot of that is Verizon customers, but regardless, it appears that Android owners get tired of it quickly. If Apple releases a Verizon iPhone, your prediction will be vaporized.
    Garrik at 4:34pm 10th September 2010 Google isn't going anywhere, nor is Android....Apple is well postitioned as well. Consumers are the best positioned ultimately because we will benefit from the innovation
    
    ioman at 8:27am 11th September 2010 Where are you getting those numbers from? Can you cite your source? So 24% of the Android users out there are not happy with their phones and want an iPhone? That sounds awfully high.
    Andre Richards at 5:52pm 11th September 2010 It was a ChangeWave report that came out about a month ago. CW doesn't give those away for free but I saw it in a few articles referencing those figures on some tech sites. I can't find any articles with the numbers that I saw but CW's latest smartphone report reflects it (see link below). Look at the chart of what people planning to buy smartphones are leaning toward. Apple is making giant leaps on that metric while all but one Android maker (HTC) is falling--and even then HTC's jump is tiny compared to Apple's. It's pretty clear that people are not fleeing iPhones and going to Android. It's the other way around. People apparently fall out of love with Android once they have it in their daily life. (Anecdotally, I know 3 people who own Android phones and are less than pleased with it and are now checking out the iPhone.) http://www.changewaveresearch.com/articles/2010/0...
    Matt at 8:47am 27th September 2010 http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/09/27/idc-androi...
    
    Hans at 9:12am 11th September 2010 Actually, according to Gartner Apple's iPhone marketshare is declining and is expected to end at 11% in 2014. Android on smartphones is expected to climb to almost 30%. ATM Android holds a 17,7% piece of the pie against 15,4% for Apple. For a rookie, that's not a bad marketshare. But really, it's your personal choice. Ford sells more cars then Ferrari, but owning either car won't make you a better person. Nor will your smartphone.
  3. Alan at 7:55pm 1st October 2010 As a person who switched from an Android device to an iOS device... Google tries to be everything to everyone, and does a mediocre job at it. Their OS is glitchy at best, and the experience is less than desirable. Apple's devices don't DO everything, but they excel at what they do. You are all missing the point. Apple delivers a refined user experience free of the glitches that plague Android, or a Windows based PC. That is the allure of an Apple device. Im sure most could care less if its an open platform. I want my device to work right, every time, out of the box. I want it to do so for its entire life. Enter Apple.
Tim at 5:23am 10th September 2010 I'm really curious to see google's approach to people who don't want to pay for cable. This is what apple addressed (and that's about it) with their iTV. As a college kid i can see google tv being an awesome contender for me, but i'm still very uncertain if it would be worth it. I guess it depends on the what secrets roll out at the release and how cheap the prices get when many manufacturers get onboard.
1. ioman at 10:51am 10th September 2010 There will still be money involved somehow. If you are not paying for Cable, you are paying for Netflix, Hulu or some other service. There just isn't enough good free content out there to replace TV.
  1. Matt at 4:50am 11th September 2010 You are paying now with cable.Getting all those channels and only watch a select few. drop cable and whach what you want and when you want with google tv.
    ioman at 8:25am 11th September 2010 Have you seen the Google TV ala carte menu? No, because it's not out. Netflix is a minimum of $10/mo. Hulu would be another $10/mo. Plus you need to pay for the hardware, and you would still be missing some channels that are not affiliated with Hulu or Netflix. Yes it will be cheaper, but you will get what you pay for. Non-HD content and fewer channels to watch. And before you tell me that the Google TV does display HD content, it's not "true" HD. Its massively compressed MPEG that you are watching, not the same you would get from Comcast or better yet, FiOS for example.
    Matt at 2:29pm 11th September 2010 http://www.vudu.com/ I seen movies on vudu and let me tell you. It blows fios away. Don't need to spend all that money to get the HD. You don't need net flicks. When you watch a tv show it about 99 cents up $6 for a HD movies. I have Fios and yes I spend a lot of money for HD movies I don't watch. The picture is very clear but on demand is very sluggish. If you don'y pay for the premium channels your selection goes down a lot. When I get it I will tell you about how much i'm saving.
    ioman at 3:36pm 11th September 2010 How much is the Vudu hardware? Is it .99 per show or for unlimited access? I have heard Vudu is pretty cool. But if it's .99 per show, then that will add up pretty darn fast. $6 for HD movies is expensive, more than through Netflix or Blockbuster.
Cye at 5:09am 10th September 2010 I'm just going to purchase them both because I can't make up my mind because they both have there strong points.
1. robert at 6:54pm 10th September 2010 Life doesn't begin and end with the boob tube. Try to think a little more outside the box sometimes.
  1. Cye at 2:19am 14th September 2010 This is thinking outside of the box by using something other then traditional TV. If you do not like TV then why are you commenting on a box that play's video from the TV & else where, go read a book & before you say it I am an engineer that read's all the time & I am also a Tech Geek & a movie & TV Show Addict & proud of it. So why don't you get in the boob Tube & relax a little bit because us Video Lovers are having a ball watching this video revolution.
    Phil at 3:43pm 4th October 2010 Good on ya, mate!