Samsung is about to conclude talks with Google to develop and launch smart TV based on Google software next year.

The new TV should allow consumers to surf the web, check their emails and social network feeds, but we believe many will use it to torrent stuff and play Angry Birds, too. Samsung hopes the advent of smart TVs will allow it to maintain higher prices and avoid price erosion in the increasingly contested TV market.

The new TV won’t appear anytime soon and Samsung says it won’t show it at CES. However, LG is also working on a Google TV and it should be ready in time for CES.

With relatively low component prices, new Android TVs should not cost a fortune, at least not compared to current high-end sets. So, 2012 could be the year of Android TV, which could open a lot of integration possibilities for app developers and phone vendors alike. Controlling your new smart TV via smartphone could be just an app away.

More here.