I also wanted to chime in that I really don't think product quality is the main reason Google TV flopped. I have a Google TV because I got it for free and have been a big fan of it after extensive Apple TV usage.

I don't see the big deal about having more buttons on your TV remote. For actions like search, settings, rewind, typing, and more, the Google TV has a dedicated button while on Apple TV you have to click around a few times to get to the action. BTW, to do that you have to use 4 directional buttons not mentioned in the article. Wanna change the TV volume or turn it on/off with Apple TV? You'll need to keep your horrific TV remote around.

I think Google just isn't that good at marketing consumer hardware and thus no one even really knows about Google TV. Only techies seem to even know that there is/was a Google TV. Nowadays, GTV sucks because there isn't enough market share to entice app updates for things like Hulu, HBO Go, etc.

Google TV was trying to do something entirely different from Apple TV. The former was about adding intelligence to cable (which is an enormous issue because there are many players you have to work with, and most are hostile and protective), the latter a relatively typical media box.

And FWIW, I absolutely despise the AppleTV remote. It is brutal to do anything beyond simple navigations, and even that is far less effective than it should be. Add that it has one of the most unforgiving, unidirectional IR emitters ever: I was shocked to find that Apple didn't go wireless for that.

It is unfortunate that the Apple apps for this -- using devices as remotes -- are so horribly terrible.

Note that the AppleTV can be programmed to recognize almost any remote (and adds extra buttons). I agree completely about the IR receiver and also the Apps (especially if you have more than one device -- switching devices is a total pain).