科技英语新闻:Logitech halts production of Google TV: report

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Logitech, a provider of personal peripherals for computers and other digital platforms, said its production of Google TV was a "big mistake," giving a major blow to Google's aspiration to change the traditional TV experience, U.S. media reported on Friday.

According to technology news site The Verge, at a recent analyst and investor meeting, Logitech chief executive officer Guerrino De Luca said the launch of Logitech Revue (with Google TV set-top box) last year was "a mistake of implementation of a gigantic nature."

The project cost the company more than 100 million U.S. dollars in operating profit.

He said the company had "brought closure to the Logitech Revue saga" and has "no plans to introduce another box to replace Revue" after the inventory runs out this quarter.

The CEO also predicted that Google TV will have a chance sometime in the future, but it would be a "grandchild of Google TV " that would do it. Logitech has no plans to help make that happen.

Launched during the holiday shopping season last year, the Logitech Revue with Google TV system was criticized for being pricey and unpolished although it gives consumers a streamlined experience of traditional TV content and online media. In August, Logitech slashed the price from 249 dollars to 99 dollars.

Last month, Google introduced a redesigned Google TV after sales of the first version did not meet expectations.

In April, Logitech reported that Revue with Google TV set-top box and related gear only brought five million dollars in sales during the first quarter of this year, 72 percent less than the company had expected.

However, support from some leading TV manufacturers may still help Google fulfill its TV plan. A Bloomberg report said Friday that Google and LG Electronics, world's second-largest TV manufacturer, may unveil a television using the search giant's software at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Samsung, world's largest TV manufacturer, said in February that it was in discussions with Google to develop a TV product.