While Yahoo's trying to bring sexy email back, Google's busy continuing to diversify into every realm possible. Having begun the mobile phone journey, it's now onto televisions. Google is working with Japan's Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., one of the largest consumer electronics manufacturers, to commercialize flat panel television sets that let you access online videos. Instead of relying on Apple to encourage users to buy a set top in order to get YouTube on their TVs, Google's going straight for the TV manufacturer, and straight to th consumer.
[img src="" caption="" credit="" alt=""]This is Google's first deal with a Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer for television-related purposes, and the literal iterations of an Internet TV are scheduled to be available in U.S. stores as early as this spring. And while this is somewhat of a big step for television, consumer media and GooTube, this isn't the first time we've seen efforts to bring web media to our home television screens, which are all so big and shiny. Several companies out there, from Apple to Dish Network to Netflix are hoping to provide more direct ways in which to get their content onto your television screen, thanks to Internet-connected set top boxes.