AndroidPIT had a chance to talk with the CEO of People Of Lava, makers of the "Scandinavia", an Android-powered television. The company refers to their television, the Scandinavia, as the first Android powered television. The Scandinavia is currently available in 3 sizes and is powered by Android 1.5, with an upgrade to Android 2.2 coming in December of this year.
The Scandinavia 42" model, which we spent most of our time looking at, features an LED full HD display (1920 x 1080) and an app market with around 30 apps.
The Scandinavia does not have the Android Market support, but the CEO told us that their company had received hundreds of requests by app developers to make apps for their televisions, so they should have more apps available on their market soon.
Some of the apps that were already on the television were YouTube, Facebook, FLixster, and Twitter, as well as a full email client with Microsoft Exchange support, and Google Maps.
Check out our video of the Scandinavia and hear what the CEO of People Of Lava had to say about it:
My impressions of the television were that the television was very well thought out and designed. The television was very responsive in apps, and in loading data from the network. The CEO attributed the television's speed to the use of two computer boards, one for the television, and one for the Android system, which made the television very fast and responsive. I do think he dodged my request for searching for a video I want to watch, but that may be able to be chalked up to a bad internet connection, and that he had some videos already preloaded onto the television.
The Scandinavia will launch with three controllers, the one shown, a full QWERTY keyboard, and a simple controller "with arrows and an OK button for basically, pointing and selecting."
The cost of the Scandinavia might be its biggest downfall, with the 42" model expected to sell at roughly 2500 Euros, with the 55" model retailing at around 4000 Euros. The Scandinavia should start selling in October, and here in Germany in November.
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