Google has asked Toshiba, LG Electronics and Sharp to postpone launches of Google TV-based products, which had been planned for next month's Consumer Electronics Show, as the Internet giant needs more time to improve the software.
The setback comes after negative reviews of the initial Google TV products from Sony and Logitech complaining of the platform's complexity and other hard-to-use features, the New York Times reported Sunday. Another major problem for Google TV is that major broadcasters and some cable programmers have blocked its software from accessing their online episodes.
Google's request to its consumer electronics partners comes less than a month before the 2011 International CES in Las Vegas, which runs Jan. 6-9.
Samsung Electronics, meanwhile, is prepped to introduce two Google TV-based products similar to the Sony and Logitech devices at CES, while Vizio will privately demo a model, the Times reported.
Last week Best Buy -- another key launch partner for Google TV -- reported weaker-than-expected sales for the quarter ended Nov. 27, blaming in part disappointing sales of Internet-connected TVs.
Dish Network is offering Logitech's Revue set-top box at a 40% discount from the $300 retail price, but charges $4 per month to connect it to satellite receivers. via: multichannel
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