Google is shutting down Google TV to focus more on Android TV. The software for smart TVs has been in service for only three years.
According to GigaOM, Google will be phasing out its Google TV brand. However, manufacturers can still use the Android operating system with their smart TV sets. The information was from an unidentified executive at an anonymous consumer electronics manufacturer. The decision about Google TV’s shutdown didn’t come in as shocking as it can be.
In three years of service, Google TV remarkably failed to attract consumers especially in the West where the most number of viewers are noted.
Now that a great number of smartphones offer many features and services like what Google TV offers, its transformation as an “Android TV” will just be apt and relevant. Associating the TV service to the popular Android name would surely make the brand memorable and appealing to the average consumer.
When asked for any words about the issue, a spokesman for Google refused to give statements. However, it has been obvious in the recent days that products that use Google’s smart TV platform, the name “Google TV” is hardly heard or seen. For instance, before, consumers would most like hear or see, “Sony’s Bravia TV uses the most recent version of Google TV,” now, Jamie Marsh, TV marketing manager for Sony Electronics, will say the TV stick “brings the full power of Google services to your TV."
The Mountain View, California-based tech giant mentioned earlier this year that its smart TV platform, Google TV, will be updated with the most recent version of Android – an important update for developers who are still stuck on its Android 3.2 version. App developers for smart TV sets, with no access to the new operating systems, can’t keep up which also affects Google’s business. Thus the decision is believed to be a win-win for Google and the developers as well.
