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At the Consumer Electronics Show next month in Las Vegas, Google was all set to brag and flaunt Google TV with the likes of Sony, Toshiba, LG and Sharp.
However, in a surprise move Google has just informed the TV makers that Google TV will not be there. For months when asked about Google TV, the response was that at the Consumer Electronics Show everything would be explained. In fact last week, Google issued a lengthy blog post boasting how its TV platform is better for watching movies and TV shows. Now Google is a no show.
The TV manufacturers have known that the reception to Google TV was lukewarm, 19 percent of consumers gave it a low rating of one star. The main complaints were that it was slow and did not offer more features than other, less expensive set-top boxes. However, the sudden “no show” announcement has caught the manufacturers off guard and has put them in an awkward position.
Industry analysts told the NYT that Google’s sudden change of plans reflects a weakness in the company’s business culture around managing relationships with partners.
“Google as a company is not a particularly partner-friendly or partner-focused company,” said James L. McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester, who added that because of the delay, it might take another year before Google TV has a chance to catch fire.
Although executives at the television makers played down the incident they were none the less taken by surprise and completely embarrassed. Sony, Logitech, Samsung have built special appliances and gadgets for the Google TV, a product that may never see light. Apparently, Vizio will be the only TV maker showing demonstrations of Google TV, but will do so in private demonstrations off the show floor.
Source: New York Times
Channels: apple tv, google: tv, sony
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Pingback by Tweets that mention Google TV Dead Leaving Partners Embarrassed And Humiliated. -- Topsy.com — December 20, 2010 @ 12:25 PM
"Google’s sudden change of plans reflects a weakness in the company’s business culture around managing relationships with partners"
Business culture? It is a company dominated by an engineering culture. They truly are horrid at business, which is why they buy companies for their successful business models instead of developing their own.
Comment by random observer — December 22, 2010 @ 12:07 PM
I'm not a fan of GoogleTV, but your comments are grossly inaccurate. Do you understand the difference between "delayed" and "dead"? I applaud that Google is (for once) waiting until s/w is ready before rolling out an immature, underwhelming Beta… this is a sign that they're evolving into a more mature company.
Comment by Jay Diamond — December 22, 2010 @ 1:04 PM
I too see Google TV as a work-in-progress (to be polite). As an android developer, Google TV finally bridges the convergence gap everybody has been waiting for since people have been promising TV over the internet. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Google has taken on a big challenge here, and it is (conceptually if nothing else) and great concept and I for one will be right here with my keyboard, Android phone, tablet and Google TV device ready and willing to move this platform forward because, as an enthusiast, it is exactly what I have been waiting for.
As a business, I think Google might just have a little more on the ball than they are given credit for. Let's not forget what they have done for the mobile platform – PARTNERING with all the cell phone carriers to create nothing short of a revolution (imho).
Comment by Frank Johnson — December 30, 2010 @ 7:42 AM