So, yeah, it's easy to why Google is all about these other things:  it all comes back to the company's core search advertising strengths.  The embrace of HTML5 similarly plays to its core strength while also improving the prospects of another key Google priority: YouTube (the boob tube of the 21^st century).

A key reason why HTML5 is a darling not only at Google, but also at Apple and Microsoft, is that the as-yet unratified Web development language supports, among other things, video, graphics and audio.  Which means search engine crawlers are now able to index all those bits of Web sites that were formerly unindexable (like Flash animations or Flash-enabled video.)  Moreover, because these bits can be tagged via HTML5, they can be indexed more accurately.

As search engine optimization pros struggle to understand how to optimize sites for Facebook's Open Graph, which was announced only a few weeks ago, they must now also contend with migrating to HTML5 -- and fast.  Those that lag might potentially see a diminution in search rank as more nimble sites make the transition faster. 

And what about Google TV?  First, watch the video.  Then, consider all the ways in which Google might use its expertise in marrying just-in-time ads generated from its bidding platform with all the intentions we might express when doing searches (powered by the Android OS and the Chrome browser) via Google TV.  Though I imagine the company is going to be more focused on content-network-type advertising (potentially expanded to enable the just-in-time placement of interstitials in YouTube videos), there may also be appropriate ways to include text ads from AdWords.

You will also be able to visit a favored Web site via Google TV and instantly turn that into a widget displayed on your TV screen, essentially creating a new TV channel that you can tune into any time.  Add to that all the apps from Google's app store that will accompany Google TV, and your TV will now go well beyond what your cable provider makes available.

Many of these apps have the potential of bringing social networking components to televised entertainment such as HitPost, a social app focused on sporting events which also provides the potential of highly targeted advertising.  Advertisers of all stripes will have better targeting capabilities via multiple channels (both literally and figuratively) with much -improved measurability.

For brands willing to serve as the early adopters of Google TV advertising opportunities, potentially big rewards -- and pitfalls -- await.  In terms of HTML5, however, that's a bandwagon all search marketers need to jump on sooner rather than later. 

The landscape is changing more than ever before, and it's important that search marketers move -- fast -- in order to maintain or advance competitive advantage for its brands.  And this is just the beginning.  Change just keeps on coming.