Google TV undergoes a trial by partisans

Four hundred Google employees have been testing Google's latest venture, GoogleTV. The real test of the Internet giant's high-stakes gamble to bring the Web to TV comes this fall when the first Logitech Inter

national set-top boxes and Sony high-definition television sets and Blu-ray players that run Google TV software land on store shelves. Google will have to persuade the television audience that so far has shown little interest that they should hook up another set-top box to their televisions or pay a premium to buy a new TV set that runs on Google's software. The technology company better known for its ubiquitous search engine will also have to entice manufacturers other than Sony to make Google televisions and retail chains other than Best Buy to sell them. And it must succeed where others have struggled. Boxee Inc., Roku Inc. and TiVo Inc. all make devices that offer Internet video on TV and have yet to gain mainstream traction.

Google TV gives you a home screen that you can personalize with your favorite shows, channels or websites. It includes a browser and search box to explore the Web and the TV programming lineup.