Google buys Motorola Mobility, the division that makes Shaw's HDTV set-top boxes among other things [yes, I'm right]. How will this affect delivery of programming? Recall that Google TV is out there lurking around as an IP-based programming source.

Fascinating thoughts.

so true. knowing that google has Google TV. but every source i hear about this keeps saying apple is just buying moto mobility just for the patents. also i seen on CNBC they showed a stament from samsung backing there support on the deal

Om is a pretty good source and knows what he is saying in this space.

Google has drastically changed the face of mobile, but can they suceed is anyone's guess.

I would have liked to see them buy RIM.

IMO RIM would not be the best route anyway because RIM has its own OS for its phones. there would not be any way google would be able to switch blackberries to android without upsetting the billions of business customers they have

A fascinating set of editorials at Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/editorial-engadget-on-googles-motorola-mobility-acquisition/) surrounding this. They seem to agree patents are the big get here for Google, but I've selected some choice quotes which talked about things I hadn't even thought of.
The last two points....enterprise and carrier....are certainly interesting.

And I think people will still buy HTC Androids. A Motorola brand will just be another Nexus. I wanted to want a Nexus S, but I chose an HTC.

Yes, enterprise would be an issue with RIM. However they can interface the BES with anything as long as they set it up. Currently OS 7 will not work with the Current version of BES, so Android would be a change just the same.

But in saying all that, my wish was purely emotional, it would give RIM the lifeline it needs.

Today RIM stock is uP only because of the Motorola buy and the value of RIM's patents.

Typing all this on my Galaxy, wishing BB would catch up.

Firetruk

there would not be any way google would be able to switch blackberries to android without upsetting the billions of business customers they have

I agree, but I think you may have overestimated a little on how many business customers RIM has.

Not much gonna happen, says opinionater.

http://www.slate.com/id/2301856/pagenum/all

Google's purchase of Motorola Mobility made a lot of headlines this morning, with everyone asking what this will mean for Android phones. But that leaves a very important issue almost untouched: what the deal will mean for HDTVs and home theaters.

Besides phones, Motorola Mobility also develops set-top boxes and DVRs. You can't go to Best Buy and pick them up, but if you get a digital cable box from any cable provider, there's a good chance it will be running on Motorola hardware. That means, as cable companies get new set-top boxes in, they won't just run on Motorola hardware. They'll run on Google hardware and software. (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391089,00.asp)

This really isn't even a done deal yet. What about anti-trust issues if there is some? Has Motorola actually accepted the amount offered?

If the deal goes thru they may keep it a separate company and nothing may change other than ownership.
Time will tell I guess.

Both boards approved the deal so only regulatory hurdles would be in place.

There should be no anti-trust since Google does not currently build any of the products Motorola does.

On Google/Motorola an STBs:

If Google has bough that busines, it means nothing, at least to the boxes provided through providers, since most of them contract their own Middleware from 3rd party companies, or do their own.

Now, it may mean that a Google powered Cablecard STB (available retail and through providers), can be a closer reality.