One of the stated goals for PC vendor Asus in 2013 was to close the gap between online content and live TV. The Taiwanese manufacturer has formed a partnership with Google in an attempt deliver a new experience that will not just provide YouTube videos with live broadcasts of sporting events but also games and apps.
Asus has launched a new product called the Asus Cube with Google TV. The Cube can stream on-line content from the Internet, watch live TV, play games, access apps, or just surf the Web with Chrome. It comes with a built-in microphone on the remote that will be used for Voice Search. It also has 50GB of WebStorage and 2 USB ports and the Google TV technology can playback a user’s home movies or a supplied video from another source.
The Cube’s user interface enables access to apps, which can be organized and sorted into categories such as TV & Movies, Games, Sports, Music, News, and Favorites. One of the keys to this product is the access to more than 100,000 movies and TV episodes from Netflix and YouTube. On the gaming and music front the Cube will also feature Google Play.
The Asus Cube will be judged primarily on if it will make things easier for the users to find the media they are looking for instantly. The Cube with Google TV does enable users to find what they are looking for or browse for something new while watching TV. The PrimeTime feature also allows users to get recommendations without scrolling through hundreds of channels or changing the input on the TV.
Other features include:
- Works with your existing cable or satellite TV service without switching inputs;
- Quick Guide lets you browse while watching TV or streaming from any app;
- Find your favorite episodes whether it’s live or on-demand, on your TV or on the Web;
- Filters make it easy to find free/paid, on now/soon, and HD/SD content;
- Add your favorite channels and shows and save movies to your movie queue;
- Provides real-time personalized recommendations as you watch and rate content; and
- Includes movies and shows from Google Play, Netflix, YouTube, and others.
The Cube’s dual-sided universal remote has a directional pad for cursor control on one side and on the other a QWERTY keyboard for searches, social media updates or emailing. With the built-in microphone and all-new Voice Search, just say what you want to find for movies, TV shows, TV channels or even finding your favorite application or Web site. The advanced remote control features a 3-Axis motion sensor for gaming and other applications.
The latest YouTube app also pairs Android or Apple tablet or smartphone with the Asus Cube to send YouTube videos from the device to the TV. You can even turn a supported smartphone or tablet into a remote control device with the free Media Remote app at Google Play.
