Sony's Internet TV with Google TV hands on

By on Oct 12, 2010 at 9:23 PM
Featured October 12, 2010

We had a chance to get up close and personal with Sony’s latest TV set and sister Blu-ray player. Here are our first thoughts:

  • We haven’t seen Logitech’s Revue Google TV device in person, but the Sony experience looks similar to it. Sony told us that the only Sony customization was a recommended channel area, so for you purists out there, it looks like this is a really clean Google offering.
  • We caught some lag when hopping menu to menu and typing when using the remote sometimes took a second or two to catch up but all in all, the Intel Atom-powered TV seemed pretty zippy.
  • Speaking of the remote, we’re completely torn about it. Andrew loves it, but I couldn’t care much for it. The size is definitely intriguing as it is way smaller in person than we expected it to be. Also, the feel is right — pretty light without feeling inexpensively cheap. However, the myriad of buttons sort of confuses us, especially when a bunch of them don’t serve a purpose 90% of the time in what we’d imagine would be your daily use. I’ll use my Android handset to control my Google TV device as opposed to a manufacturer remote, you can believe that. Last thing about the remote… no backlight! So sad.
  • The picture in picture capability is practically the selling point here… if you’re a multitasker, you’re going to love with PIP on. It’s pretty amazing that you can have that picture window of the current TV show or recording you’re watching open on the screen and at the same time browse a website, check something on Google Maps, search for a program to record, and more.
  • The range in sizes and price is pretty spectacular. At a cost of $1,399 for the 46″ edge-lit LED model is practically a steal — and the time to market is also delicious as the sets and Blu-ray player will be available this weekend.

All in all, this wasn’t something we didn’t expect, yet we’re incredibly excited for Sony to pioneer this new category of TV entertainment. Let’s see if they can knock it out of the park…

Click on over to our Sony Internet TV with Google TV gallery!

Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , ,
26 Comments

Related Articles

  • d(-_-)b

    FIRST TO COMMENT BOOYAKA!!!!

    • wow

      Nice monkey DB

  • lolmoney

    Blackberry > *

    Haters comment below…

  • inichira

    This looks like one of those cool sony ventures that never takes off. Like the sony mini. That lasted for a week. The control looks like something that was invented in the 90′s.

  • Geezer

    I can search, use google maps, browse the web, add and manage all my DVR recordings without interrupting what’s on my tv screen. I use my smartphone or iPad from the couch.

    • Norm

      I downranked for admitting you use an Apple product. Unless you are using DROID then STFU.

      • http://www.theandroidguru.blogspot.com Android Guru

        I downranked You for saying DROID instead of Android

  • Eric S

    Regardless of whether or not it takes off, that price for a 46″ LED is pretty good… especially for a Sony product (since they tend to overprice a bit.)

  • http://www.tekunoloji.com Ballmer Schmidt Jobs

    I would love backside shots of the Sony TVs, wanna gauge how fat these suckers are. What about the stand? It’s just a metal rod?

  • markrocks

    Yeah the iPad is garbage. No flash, and it’s still slow as dirt for web surfing.

    But this google tv? Seems just like a fad. I want something similar on my computer itself. Oh wait, there is… it’s called the pirate bay! That’s the real reason these tvs won’t take off

  • patrick

    You are delusional if you think these wont take off. Yeah, the remote can use some work. But use your droid or iphone as a remote and shut up. Right now they are as expensive as they ever will be. Next year when the licensing is done, watch out. Practically all tvs could have this built in. Bet it is the number one selling flat screen this holiday season.

  • Roland

    After reading the specs on Sony’s website the search feature doesn’t include your recorded shows unless you have a specific Dish DVR, kinda sucks. The rest looks good, assuming of course you can still select those recordings to play even though you can’t search for them.

  • anon

    It seems to me that a TV with Android built in is a barrier to hardware upgrades. I don’t want to have to buy a whole new TV just to get a newer better version of Android. I could buy a new Logitech Revue nearly 3 times over before the cost exceeds that of the 1 Sony TV. I’m sure there will be more powerful Google TV boxes if this thing takes off so I definitely want to stick with an independent box so I don’t have to spend $1400 every time I want to upgrade.

  • superchunk

    I am really intrigued by all this Google/Android TV talk, however, considering I already have a lot of these features in my PS3 all I really want is a firmware update to the PS3 that adds Google TV and Chrome Browser. This would make me a giddy school boy.

    • Darktanone

      Can I shut off all the Android crap and use it as a regular TV? Just wondering.

      • superchunk

        Really, you’re actually wondering that? You’re actually sitting there at your computer wondering if a TV can work like a TV.

      • sam

        sure, and you can even watch black and white programs on it too.

      • sam

        forgot to add that it may not be compatible with silent films. better check with Sony before you waste your money.

  • http://www.gameoncentral.com Rej

    How about they add ps3 to the tv and get it over with. Man what I would give to not have so many consoles hooked up to my tv. Stupid game deals on http://www.gameoncentral.com/?page_id=142 wants me to go get new games all the time

  • Shadowlayer

    Props on the price, although I’m having some doubts on the actual success of the GTV.

  • bob

    Now if only they brought back cable card support built into the TV for the US market this may actually sell

  • Leandro

    I wonder if Comcast will be compatible with this tv? if yes I’m getting it for sure, if not I have to figure out something because I can’t have dish specially in south florida where we get rain almost everyday lol

    does anyone know how this tv and Comcast would work together?

  • http://www.apple.com Steve jobs

    apple tv is much better. ha ha ha

    I am the best

  • http://twitter.com/prntstm8r Bryan Blakley

    A few concerns…

    The Picture in Picture is great, but you A) Can’t Move it, B) Can’t Resize it, C) Can’t Swap it. – The Picture in Picture uses a substandard tuner so the image is not very detailed and refresh is slow compared to the 1080p for the Main Channel.

    8MB Internal Memory – Is that upgradable?

    Uses one of those little cable thingies (ir blaster) to paste onto your Infrared Receiver so you can use WiFi to control your set.

    Direct TV support?

    Limited Inputs and Outputs

    Think Apple will Trump it?

  • Anonymous

    I just got this Sony TV and my daughter won’t move from the front of it. She is so hooked on it. I didn’t know how to get her to do her homework without being in front of it. So from working at DISH I went ahead tested out the Google TV and I decide it was a good investment. I got it for $179.00 and a month fee of $4.00 for integration. Now my daughter can do her work without leaving the TV.

blog comments powered by Disqus