14 DAY TRIAL // It seems like all the troubles that have been plaguing Google TV ever since its launch have finally caught up with Logitech, one of Google's closest supporters, insiders stating the Swiss company has instructed its Revue contractor, Gigabyte, to stop production from sometime in December through January.
According to the same sources, cited by DigiTimes, production will be restarted when Google has updated its platform or when a new version of Google TV will be available.
At the moment, it isn't quite clear when this happens, but it seems like this is scheduled for February or March, at the same time with the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) launch, although the two are not directly linked with each other.
Strange about this decision is that Goolge TV devices (Logitech's Revue included) support over-the-air updates so the system could be upgraded by the users or at the factory, leading up to believe that other causes are behind this decision.
Most likely, poor sales numbers have lead to overstock, forcing Logitech to suspend production until current shipments are sold.
As DigiTimes reports, market watchers originally estimated that shipments of Revue STBs would top 500,000 units by the end of 2010, the company accounting for half the number of Google TV-enabled devices being sold in 2010 (together with Google's other hardware partner – Sony).
Recently, Google encountered all sort of problems with its TV platform, the search giant asking multiple partners to delay their Google TV device introductions, scheduled to take place at CES 2011.
This latest setback encountered by Google TV added to the mixed reviews received by the platform at launch and to the block imposed by many major Hollywood studios.
Meanwhile, its main rival, Apple, sold one million Apple TVs to end users and has seen demand increase over the last couple of months. (via Electronista)