Makers of Google TV’s hardware cut prices for the new devices by as much as 25% over the weekend, which is either a sign that the service is in trouble just a month after its debut or merely a marketing strategy to keep up with Black Friday price cutting, reports the New York Post.
Some experts say the price cut suggests that the market is responding to weak sales for Google TV hardware, the story notes.
"Price cuts never speak well to a product’s success and so Google TV may be in some serious trouble here," wrote TechCrunch’s Matt Burns.
Sony cut its 46-inch Google TV to $1,000 from $1,200, while Sony’s $400 Internet TV Blu-ray disc player dropped to $299 from $400, the Post notes.
The top broadcast networks have blocked their Web sites from being picked up by Google TV, the article adds, leaving Google TV with Google-owned YouTube as its primary source of video content.
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.