The time is right

Just over one week ago, Google officially debuted Ice Cream Sandwich, the then version of the Android mobile operating system, which for the first time unifies smartphones and mobile tablets pursuant to this agreement the same operating system.

Android 4.0 adds support for cursor hover events, stylus distance/tilt/orientation, and mouse button events. However the most exciting new HID support was highlighted in a tweet from Google framework engineer Romain Guy last Friday:

Wave of speculation about Android gaming

This tweet set off a wave of speculation about Android gaming, nevertheless the idea of a mobile OS-powered TV game console has seemed like an inevitability for quite some time. This is because of the increasing popularity of lightweight media set top boxes, advances in wireless communication, and innovative streaming services just as OnLive and the continuing success of centralized multiplayer gaming services like Xbox Live.

Via the new AirPlay feature, Apple TV now has a multi-device multiplayer game called Real Racing 2 HD, which after a fashion turns Apple TV into a game console, so this "inevitability" has already sort of become a reality.

And with the impending update to Google TV that will allow the installation of Android apps happening alongside the Ice Cream Sandwich OS update, which brings HDMI support and USB game controller support, Android actually looks primed for a video game console.

We asked Sony and Logitech about the Google TV update, and how it might affect their products just as the Revue set top box and Sony Internet TV, nevertheless neither company was willing to speculate on future platform developments.