Fast-and-furious media giant Google may be telling manufacturers to pump the brakes on the new Google TV operating system.
Google is telling manufacturers to delay launches of televisions and set-top boxes running Google TV, which would mean such products are unlikely to launch at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show, according to The New York Times. Wired.com’s sources corroborate the report.
“LG is not commenting on Google TV, but LG is launching its own Smart TV platform at CES, and it’s not Google TV,” an LG spokesman told Wired.com. According to the Times, LG was one of the companies working on a Google TV product.
Google TV is a version of the Android smartphone OS modified for televisions. Google envisions that Google TV will create an all-in-one media experience that makes the television capable of delivering web-streamed video content and functionality through third-party apps, in addition to traditional TV programming offered by cable networks and satellite providers.
“Once you have Google television, you’re going to be very busy,” said Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO, in a Berlin press conference introducing Google TV. “It’s going to ruin your evening.”
A delay is unusual coming from Google, whose typical M.O. is to release new products rapidly (sometimes with the “beta” label still prominently displayed) and then iterate them on the fly with software updates. A delay could suggest that the search giant needs more time to rethink the OS, especially after TV networks prevented their content from being accessed through Google TV apps on the Logitech Revue.
Googled declined to comment on rumors and speculation regarding Google TV delays, but a Google spokeswoman said the company was happy with its current progress in the TV space.
“We are very happy with the launch of Google TV with our initial partners Sony, Logitech and Intel,” the spokeswoman said. “Our long-term goal is to collaborate with a broad community of consumer electronics manufacturers to help drive the next generation, TV-watching experience, and we look forward to working with other partners to bring more devices to market in the coming years.”
Some extra time could allow Google to work with third-party software developers on making apps for the Google TV to offer additional functionality and more content, said Ross Rubin, lead consumer electronics analyst at NPD Group.
“Right now [without TV network support], Google TV is basically a web browser on a TV,” said Rubin, explaining that third-party apps could differentiate Google TV from competing internet TV products.
Waiting a few extra months could also allow manufacturers to decrease pricing of Google TV products to make them more competitive. The Google TV-powered Logitech Revue, which launched in October, cost $300 — hefty compared to the $100 Roku and Apple TV set-top boxes.
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Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
