Google TV to launch in Europe early next year

Google TV, which allows viewers to mix Web and television content on a TV screen via a browser, was launched in the United States in October but received mixed reviews and was swiftly blocked by three of the top U.S. broadcast networks.

Large parts of the television industry, like the news and telecoms industries, view Google with suspicion and accuse it of stealing their advertising revenues without contributing to the costs of making programmes.

Schmidt sought to allay the fears of Britain’s broadcasting elite in a speech to the Edinburgh television festival, the first time a non-TV executive had been invited to give the keynote MacTaggart lecture at Britain’s premier industry event.

“Some in the US feared we aimed to compete with broadcasters or content creators. Actually our intent is the opposite,” he told an audience who quickly warmed to his friendly style and liberal compliments to the quality of British television.

“We seek to support the content industry by providing an open platform for the next generation of TV to evolve, the same way Android is an open platform for the next generation of mobile,” he said.

“We expect Google TV to launch in Europe early next year, and of course the UK will be among the top priorities.” Google TV has gained little traction so far in the United States, and its set top box provider Logitech International SA slashed prices to $99 in July from an initial price of $299.

Schmidt also included a warning to British television regulators, who he said were far more stringent than their US counterparts and threatened to throttle the development of British television companies in an increasingly global market.

“Stifling the Internet – whether by filtering or blocking or just plain turning the ‘off’ switch – appeals to policy makers the world over,” he said. “Instead, policy makers should work with the grain of the Internet rather than against it.” OPPORTUNISTIC Google has long held ambitions in the television arena, hoping to extend its online advertising business, which made $28 billion for the company last year, to the big screens that still command the lion’s share of global advertising budgets.

“If his ambition was to go there and convince the TV people he wasn’t a big threat, I don’t think he achieved it,” said Keith McMahon, an analyst at research firm Telco 2.0/STL Partners.

“The message I got was that TV is such a big market that Google can’t ignore it. They’re never going to give it up.” So far, Google has had little success breaking into the TV market, despite its ownership of the world’s most popular online video site, YouTube.

Last week, however, Google agreed a deal to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc for $12.5 billion, handing it the world’s leading set top box business which delivers content for many of the top cable TV companies in the United States.

The headline attraction of the deal was Motorola’s huge portfolio of wireless patents but the set top box business could help Google transform its TV project by giving it insights into pay-TV.

Google has not spelled out its plans for the set top box business, and many analysts expect it to divest the unit at the first opportunity, having no experience or previous interest in running a hardware business.

Others believe Google could change tack under CEO Larry Page, Google’s co-founder who took back the reins from Schmidt in April and has already started a social network to compete with Facebook while ditching other projects.

“Google describes itself as an opportunistic company. So while it may not have wanted to buy Motorola’s operations, it may now assess whether retaining these assets can compensate for the risk of owning them,” New York-based Nomura analyst Stuart Jeffrey wrote in a note this week.

Schmidt made no mention of the Motorola acquisition or its implications on Friday, but will hold a question and answer session in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Judge tells Dougherty gang more charges could be coming

A judge on Friday advised three Florida siblings accused in a sensational multi-state crime spree that they could face attempted murder charges in a second Colorado county for firing on police during a high-speed chase, court documents show.

Huerfano District Court Judge Claude Appel ruled that there was enough evidence to hold Ryan and Lee Grace Dougherty and Dylan Dougherty Stanley on suspicion of attempted murder and first-degree assault "pending the filing of criminal charges."

The two brothers and their sister were advised of the possible charges Friday via a video hook-up from the jail in neighboring Pueblo County where they are being held on $1.25 million bond each.

Friday's action mirrors the attempted murder and first-degree assault on a peace officer charges prosecutors in Pueblo, Colorado, said on Thursday they are contemplating against the Doughertys there.

The siblings were wanted for allegedly shooting at a Florida police officer and robbing a Georgia bank when they fled the Southeast, and became the target of a nationwide manhunt that captured the attention of much of the country.

The trio was arrested on Wednesday in southern Colorado after a high-speed chase and shootout with police from multiple law enforcement agencies.

An arrest warrant affidavit filed in the latest case said a pursuing police officer heard "the distinct sound of gun fire" and saw one of the suspects firing out the right side of a speeding Subaru Impreza.

Investigators said they believe Ryan Dougherty was driving the car while Dylan Dougherty Stanley fired at pursuing officers with an AK-47.

The three fugitives were captured when their vehicle crashed while trying to avoid stop strips deployed on the highway, police said.

Dylan Dougherty Stanley was arrested inside the wrecked car and Lee Grace and Ryan Dougherty were apprehended following a foot chase, police said.

Lee Grace Dougherty was shot and wounded by a police officer after she leveled a weapon at him. The former topless dancer admitted that she "pointed a gun at the cop," according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Appel also issued a gag order prohibiting any attorneys, police or others involved in the investigation from making "extrajudicial" statements about the case.

Darius Miles arrested with gun at airport

Former NBA player Darius Miles was arrested at the St. Louis airport for allegedly trying to bring a loaded firearm through security, authorities said.

Miles, who played for the Los Angeles Clippers and in Cleveland and Portland, was arrested Wednesday at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport after Transportation Security Administration personnel discovered the weapon during an X-ray screening, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The East St. Louis native was arrested by airport police and booked into the St. Louis County jail.

Miles was booked on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon then released pending application of a warrant on a formal criminal charge, the Post-Dispatch reported.

The St. Louis County prosecutor's office said it would review the incident and decide whether charges will be filed against Miles, who last played in the NBA in 2009 with the Memphis Grizzlies.