Google has long been the internet’s top search engine provider and has subsequently grown to be worth more than $70 billion.  The company’s overwhelming success has allowed Google to delve into other bold, and somewhat risky, projects.

On this day, May 31st, in 2010, Google announced the launch of Google TV.  Google’s Smart TV platform was developed with a combined effort from Google, Intel, Sony and Logitech.  Google TV was designed to offer users a variety of features, including an Android operating  system/applications and the ability to browse websites and watch television simultaneously.  Google TV was officially launched on October 6, 2010.  Despite Google TV’s ambitious concept, reviews of the product were not particularly positive.  The success of Google TV was also limited by third parties unwilling to accept the platform.  Several important web content providers, such as NBC, ABC, CBS, and Hulu, have blocked Google TV enabled devices.

Unfortunately, competing Smart TV products have been more successful than Google TV in terms of sales and reviews. Both Sony and Logitech have announced that they will discontinue production of Google TV products.  Logitech reportedly lost more than $100 million on the project.