14 DAY TRIAL // Although Google TV encountered all sort of setbacks since its introduction, Sony, one of the four companies involved in its development, remains upbeat about the platform, a senior executive recently stating that Google TV sales are “in line with expectations.”
The Google TV platform was officially launched on October 6, 2010 when the first devices built by Sony and Logitech reached the market, the search giant wanting to take over the home entertainment market with its solution.
However, Google's expectations were cut short when the first reviews of the platform deemed it a bit too geekish for its own good, some major American networks such as NBC, CBS, ABC and Hulu, being reluctant to provide their programming on this platform.
All this made Google ask its hardware partners to delay the introduction of STBs and HDTVs featuring the system, companies such as Toshiba, LG Electronics and Sharp planning to showcase such products at CES 2011 next month.
However, as SlashGear reports, Hiroshi Yoshioka, head of Sony’s TV business, is not discouraged by this latest news, as it said that Google TV sales as “in line with expectations,” despite agreeing that “some reviews have been good, some have been bad.”
Furthermore, Mr. Yoshioka thinks it is only a matter of time for consumers to warp up to Google TV, as “it might take a little longer for users to really start having fun.”
Back in October, the Japanese company launched a line of Google TV equipped HDTVs, which ranged in size from 24 to 46 inches, as well as Google TV-enabled Blu-ray players, some of these being the subject of a Black Friday promotion that cut as much as 25% off from the list price.
According to the company official, right now Sony has 15 to 16 engineers working alongside the Google TV team in order to further develop the platform.