We’re days away from CES 2012 and new Android devices are already coming out of the woodwork. Just check out the TelyHD from Tely Labs. The TelyHD is part HD webcam, part Android powered set top box with full Skype functionality built right in for your HD television. Despite having some impressive specs out the gate like a powerful Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor 512MB of RAM and 2GB of internal memory, the Tely HD stumbles mostly due in part to the device running on a modified version of Android 2.2 (why the need for dual-cores then?) and not Google TV 2.0/Android 3.2 Honeycomb.
Besides video chatting and sharing photos through Skype (the device includes a USB slot and SD card slot) the TelyHD packs more functionality with apps or “channels” that can access additional content very similar to a Ruku box. But whereas the Roku can step toe-toe with Apple TV thanks to it’s affordable the $99 price tag, the TelyHD falls flat with its much steeper $250 launch price. Throw in a future update to Android 4.0 and maybe then we’ll talk.
[Via Cnet]
I just don’t get developers who take the time, effort and money to create something, but build it on old versions of android. Really guys, nice product potentially, but a complete fail due to not being on Honeycomb, with ICS promised within weeks…
I think if you’re making a device that’s a one trick pony, or just using Android as a base and replacing/removing the launcher, Google Apps, and Market; using an old version of Android isn’t a big deal. I doubt this thing has the Market on it, and only does a couple of things to begin with.
Similar to B&N using Froyo to develop the Nook E-Reader. The device was marketed and sold as an e-reader, having Android on it was just to make development for the manufacturer easier.
If this thing is marketed to be an Android device (i.e. Marketplace or app store) then the lack of ICS would be a failure.
If only my Logitech Revue worked with Skype, we would be gravy!
does apple TV have a camera? no? I prefer this.
I would rather wait for GoogleTV to be open sourced (once it’s upgraded from Android 3.0 to 4.0).
Then we’ll see a lot of new devices that are dirt cheap, have access to the Android Marketplace, and will have a lot more features than this over priced toy.
You could even start building your own GoogleTV devices with a Raspberry Pi board.