Panasonic Snub Google TV: Intel CPUs "Too Expensive"

If Google thought it would be easy to get home entertainment companies to sign up to their Google TV project then they should probably think again.  Panasonic has become the latest company to turn their nose up at the idea of Android and Intel nesting in their HDTVs, claiming that the open-source OS' processing demands would require too expensive a CPU to keep prices sufficiently low.

The move follows Samsung's lead, the company having announced last month that it would be continuing with its own internet and widget platform rather than adopting one of Google's design.  Panasonic will continue to use its own proprietary system, which allows for Netflix and YouTube access, together with basic internet-sourced information widgets, but which falls short of the full browser functionality that Google TV promises.

Still, Google may also have plans to bypass HDTV manufacturers altogether and push a set-top box that would daisy-chain in-between existing cable or satellite boxes and televisions.  However, they're also rumored to be looking to work with media providers so as to reduce the cost of such a STB for end-users.