Google TV has seen better days. After an exciting start, the HTPC platform has been largely ignored by mainstream consumers, and the two hardware launch partners remain the only makers of Google TV devices to date. Logitech’s Google TV users remain a small but dedicated lot, and they’re growing increasingly frustrated over a lack of support and late updates. In order to have full access to the Revue hardware, a group of owners have petitioned the company to unlock the boootloader, in order to easily and effectively create custom ROMs and other mods.

Logitech Revue owners are probably much more dedicated to Google TV than Logitech at the moment: the company has decided to stop producing hardware after crushing losses on the expensive set-top box. The Google TV Honeycomb update has been available for Sony’s various Google TV devices for weeks, but some Revue users are still having trouble updating their equipment. The slow update is certainly at least partly to blame for the frustration of advanced users, many of whom would rather “roll their own” as far as software goes, in the same way that Android smartphone owners can do with custom ROMs.

Advanced Revue users have been able to root the device since just after its release, but jut like some Motorola an HTC smartphones, a locked bootloader makes more intense customization almost impossible. Rudimentary custom ROMs can be loaded onto devices with locked bootloaders, but modified kernels can’t, making significant updates to Android (for example, a modified Google TV OS based on Ice Cream Sandwich) basically impossible. Logitech has not responded to the users’ request, but the petition is currently sitting with nearly 800 digital signatures. While Logitech has very little to lose by granting the request, since they’re ending production on the Revue anyway, such petitions are rarely successful.

5 COMMENTS

  1. Logitech missed a great opportunity with the Revue.  The more I used it, the more I liked the integration of TV and the Internet.  Things like looking up movie reviews online while choosing a movie to watch, or casually checking out someone or some subject on wikipedia while watching them on some show, was very cool.  Also being able to search movies available on cable, along with online sources, such as NetFlix, is something to behold if you have never tried it before.  All these kinds of similar features made it an enjoyable experience because you no longer just sat there, a passive observer — watching television had become  interactive.
    That was the good part.  The bad part was that despite all these new tools at your fingertips, Logitech decided to skimp on the browsing side of things.  Of course this was never their main selling point, but once you begin using a browser, you tend to expect it to do all the things a regular desktop or laptop based browser does, and this one does not.  You cannot download 3rd party software, or update players or file managers or download anything, for that manner.  Only Logitech can perform such rudimentary tasks.  This made for constant crashes or freezes when it could not handle certain content at various websites.  (EHow comes to mind.)Even after the 3.1 update, it still will not let you view PDF file or activate email links on sites like Craigslist — actions you take for granted on even the most ancient of PC’s.
    The main complaint though, was the lack of of online media content from the various network giants such as, NBC, or streaming media sites like Hulu, but  I won’t hold this against Logitech since it was basically Google TV’s department. 
    Another complaint often heard was that it’s user interface was too complicated for the average consumer.  If this is true, I have little hope for our future.  These people were probably equally challenged by the advent of VCR’s and programmable microwave ovens.  

    I feel bad that Logitech dumped the Revue because I could see its potential.  They priced it too high and rushed it to market.  Too bad they didn’t have a CEO like Steve Jobs.  Someone who takes great pride in developing good products.  Despite all its bugs and drawbacks, I am convinced that a device similar to the Revue will eventually become a “must have” device for most consumers.

  2. I was thinkink to buy but I change my mind, ALL ANDROI.D PLATFORM SHOULD BE UNLOCK.If I buy it well be ONE to have freedom with IT

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