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Logitech denies Google asked it to stop producing Google TV box Revue

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Logitech has denied rumors that have spread across blogs and news websites Monday that Google has asked it to suspend production of its Google TV set-top box, the Revue.

But while the Swiss tech firm was fighting one set of rumors, it stopped short of dispelling other rumors circulating online that it had decided to halt production of the Revue on its own.

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‘Contrary to recent speculation, Logitech has not been asked by Google to suspend production of its Google TV products,’ wrote Nancy Morrison, a Logitech spokeswoman, in a statement e-mailed to The Times. ‘Suggestions that production of the Logitech Revue companion box might need to be halted to address software issues are unfounded.’

Google officials were unavailable for comment on Monday evening.

The DigiTimes was among the first of many tech news websites to report that unnamed sources had said Logitech was unhappy with the Google TV software and had halted its efforts to produce the Revue.

Logitech’s Morrison said the company ‘does not discuss the specific production plans for any of its products. As a high-volume manufacturer of electronic products, Logitech’s use of its own factories, as well as those of its manufacturing partners, provides the company with flexibility in how and when it produces products to accommodate customer demand.’

She noted that Logitech was having no problems meeting consumer demand for the Revue.

The Revue, a small, black plastic box with hardware that stores and runs Google TV software, comes paired with a wireless keyboard to search the Internet for programming and to navigate various Google TV apps, such as Netflix and Twitter.

Logitech’s support of the Revue and Google TV has not been insignificant since the device launched in October.

The company has been frequently airing commercials featuring actor Kevin Bacon playing a fan of his who uses Google TV to connect to the Internet and find content online.

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Ashish Arora, vice president of Logitech’s Digital Home Group, which developed the Revue with Google, wrote a blog post Monday titled ‘All’s Well With Logitech Revue.’

‘At Logitech we usually refrain from commenting on rumors and speculation,’ Arora wrote. ‘But I can’t ignore the recent puzzling speculation that Google has asked Logitech to suspend production of Logitech Revue to address software issues.’

He pointed out that the Google TV software on the Revue could be modified over an Internet connection and the Revue box itself wouldn’t need an update.

‘Each of our customers will receive periodic over-the-air updates whenever Google and Logitech release changes to the Google TV platform,’ Arora wrote. ‘Logitech Revue boxes purchased at launch in October, as a holiday gift in December or to follow basketball in the spring, will all be the same and will all benefit from the same software updates.’

The post said that Logitech and Google ‘have a collaborative, effective working relationship as we listen to consumer feedback and work together on enhancements to the Google TV platform.’

Arora added that the two companies are set to show off Google TV products next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

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-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

twitter.com/nateog

Video: Logitech Revue ad featuring Kevin Bacon. Credit: Logitech via YouTube

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