Barcelona: Logitech, which lost tens of millions of dollars building set-top boxes for Google TV, would back the project again, but would be much more cautious, its chief executive said.
Google TV, which comes built in on certain Sony Corp TV models and on Logitech set-top boxes, allows consumers to access online videos and websites on their TVs, as well as to play specialised apps such as video games.
Google does not disclose how many users it has for Google TV, which was launched with great fanfare last year, but some analysts say that version 1.0 of the product was a flop.
"Google TV is a great concept, but the product was not mature at the launch," Logitech CEO Guerrino de Luca told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of an investor conference in Barcelona.
"Embracing the platform was a good idea," De Luca said, adding the company had, however, overinvested in making set-top boxes for the platform, causing it major losses.
He said set-top boxes for Google TV, coupled with a failed revamp of European retail operations, in total cost the company around USD 100 million.
"On the bottom line they are of a similar size," he said.
Last month Google said it was making another push to bring its Web savvy to television sets, hoping to tap into a vast new market, despite consumers' lukewarm reaction to one of its initial offerings.
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.