Google said right from the beginning (Google I/O in May) that Google TV would be available in time for the holidays. They were never specific about the when, however. A week ago, Eric Schmidt confirmed that Google TV would be out this fall. A day or two later, Intel CEO Paul Otellini reportedly said that Google TV devices should start shipping as soon as this month. 

 

Now, Engadget has received a tip about an internal Best Buy document (Best Buy being a launch partner) saying that the original planned date for launch was October 3, but that it had been pushed back two weeks, which would mean October 17. 

 

"Let's not forget that schedule would also place its release a little more than two weeks after the suggested ship date of Cupertino's new hobby," notes Engadget's Ben Bowers. 

 

According to various reports, Google handed out Google TV bundles to 600 attendees at today's Google Zeitgeist event. John Paczkowski writes, "Quite an Oprah moment at Google (GOOG) Zeitgeist today. A source who’s attending the event–which is being held in Paradise Valley, Arizona this year–tells me that the 600 attendees got a doozy of a parting gift: A Google TV/Bravia/Dish bundle and complimentary Best Buy Geek Squad installation."

 

 

On an interesting side note, AndroidHeadlines is reporting that "Currently Samsung and Sony are going to be fully integrating the Android OS into their 3D TVs.  This is a big deal because Samsung is currently holding an 80% market share in the 3D TV category."