It’s going to be one of the biggest tech fights we’ve experienced in a long, long time and the winner will be decided by us, the consumer.

It will also change the way the majority of us consume news, music, films, local business info, games and search the web. The fact is, our tv is about to become the central hub of our lives (if it isn’t already), by opening up a portal to the world wide web.

Apple TV and Google TV are the reasons why consumers will be using their TV instead of their laptops to update their status’s one minute then stream a movie the next. But the question is, which one is the best choice for the UK public?

First things first, if you want to get into surfing’n’streaming via your TV now then there is only one option and that’s Apple TV. Apple have stolen the lead in terms of this technology through releasing their Apple TV globally first and here in the UK, although it’s not appeared in many stores yet, you can order one online and it will be with you inside two weeks.
Google on the other hand have not officially released a UK launch date as yet, with the only indication of a launch at all coming from Logitech who is building the boxes for Google in the US. They have said we will see “developments” leading to its roll-out in the UK from next January.

So, if you want one of these in the UK now, it has to be Apple TV.

However, if you are prepared to wait, then which one should you spend your hard earned monies on?

With both offerings you are going to be able to stream HD films from Netflix at the same price of approx £3.50. You’ll also be able to watch everything that’s on YouTube and flick through your holiday snaps on Flickr.
Alongside this both have good music offerings with Apple granting access to iTunes while Google loads up Napster.
Both make use of your mobile phones as remote controls, with Google allowing Androids to control the device as well as share media content to the big screen. The same goes for Apple; the iPhone or iPad can be used in exactly the same way.

Alot is on offer… but what are the differences?

Apple TV… what’s the deal?
It’s Apple. I know that will annoy some people, but in my opinion Apple’s design oozes quality and this small shiny black box will look the part in any home.
Connects to the iPad. I know Google allows their Android phones to connect to Google TV but the iPad is a bit different. You are more likely to have a lot more media content on your iPad just begging to be streamed over to the TV.
iTunes. Apple TV give you access to the proven excellent storefront that is iTunes. This may also get even better soon with the introduction of Ping. Opening up social networking on your TV.
Bound to set up very easily OK, I’m plucking at straws but I bet my bottom doller that Apple TV will be the easiest thing to set up you will ever plug into your TV.

Google TV… What’s the beef?
Open Source – Just like the difference between Apple and Google with regards to smartphones. Google are opening their TV offering up to the community to encourage them to develop apps for their black box. This could open up a whole host of possibilities.
Web browser – Google have included a version of Chrome so you can surf the web from your TV. That’s a biggie. If you want to find a local plumber your TV may now have the answer.
Power House – Googles box is full of power and can offer full 1080p rather than Apples 720p. The Intel chipset used in the Google box will also lend itself to upgrades… or a little tampering with at least! No chance of that with the tiny Apple TV box.
Apps – I really don’t know why Apple TV doesn’t have apps… but it doesn’t. (Steve – a word: It’s what made your iPhone the best selling smartphone of all time!). Yet it is only Google TV that will offer up apps, with the operating system being an Android platform.

And Finally…

It will be very interesting to see which one wins. Googles device is clearly the more powerful and encompasses all media rather than just giving you access to iTunes and a few channels like YouTube and NetFlix.
Google TV has opened itself up to developers, fully specced its device to run 1080p and included a proven web browser (Chrome) running on a proven operating system (Android).

But for all this, who would bet against Apple? They have launched a £99 device first and is the only option here in the UK. It also looks gorgeous when compared to Google lump of a device. iTunes is the comfiest jumper you’ve ever worn and that’s your arena for your content. Finally you can also be certain of a marketing campaign that will push this device like mad in the next few months. This may just steal a lead that Google TV finds too hard to claw back.

I remember working in Wilkinsons in Melton Mowbray and on my break wondering over the road to Blockbuster video for some chocolates. I remember hiring Apollo 13 and Braveheart on VHS in 1995 (maybe 96 – it’s hazy!) from the very same Blockbuster store and quite a bit later (plus many movies later) in 2001 hiring my first Playstation 2 game.

Blockbuster is a fantastic brand – from it’s very simple ticket stub logo to it’s global coverage of its stores and online websites. It may not have been the first company to offer movie rental, but it was certainly the first chain to offer it on such a scale. The Blockbuster concept of a “great night in” which seems to have been lifted shamelessly by Dominoes, altered the way we enjoyed our time infront of the TV at night. Blockbuster cunningly offered up popcorn, chocolate and sweets alongside movie rentals so everything you needed was there in one place.

The first Blockbuster store in the UK opened in March 1989 (Walworth Road, London) and rapidly expanded to it’s 650 stores and over 5,000 staff it currently has in the UK today.

Recently though, the global presence of Blockbusters has suffered, the TV campaigns have halted and stores have closed down. So what went so badly wrong, that has led Blockbuster to recently announce they are working towards bankruptcy?
In my opinion, one word sums up what went wrong for Blockbuster, Innovation.

Blockbuster probably didn’t realise it, but they operated in an area of technology. Or at least an area which has been affected so dramatically recently with the introduction of DVD, blue-Ray, games consoles and more importantly the Internet.

Blockbuster have always reacted to the market and since their launch have never ventured into markets until they are mature.

The killer nail has been the likes of LoveFilm and NetFlix, which have revolutionised the way in which we consume film. Sky Box Office was bad enough for blockbuster, but at least they could be rest-assured they would have more recent films on offer.
Blockbuster.co.uk was launched in 1996! So they were very quick to adopt online. They even offered online rentals as early as 2002, but the one thing they have not been able to master is streaming video. If they had took a risk and been the first to offer streaming, even before home broadband was really good enough for it, with the strength of their brand they would have led in a market that will generate millions in the uk alone.

Just think of the advertising revenue online video streaming will generate once it is commonplace. Blockbuster could have had a slice of that and I would be writing a very different blog.

In the UK all is not lost for Blockbuster. It is a separate company to the US Blockbuster and is not yet staring down the barrel of bankruptcy. It is however, up for sale for a mere £50m!

Problem is, a large portion of the £50m will get you the 650 stores – which to survive is the exact thing Blockbuster don’t want to retain. They want to build on the brand, offer online streaming of movies and pioneer in the integration of targeted advertising online.
To compete with the likes of Netflix is now going to be an uphill battle for the UK Blockbuster, but it’s by no means an impossible battle.

I for one hope it’s something someone somewhere takes on. It will be a real shame if the Blockbuster brand is sent to the great big branding bin in the sky.