What you need to know about Sony Internet TV with Google TV

Overview

Sony Internet TV is Sony’s hardware solution for Google TV. Apart from using a PC to stream video contents to a TV, Sony Internet TV and Google TV realize a new TV watching experience for you. Sony Internet TV offers incredible options to stream video contents from web and display them on a large screen in better clarity. Sony Internet TV has been in news these days as it is about to get updated with the second generation Google TV software. The new update will bring Android 3.1 and Android Market on the device.

Sony Internet TV with Google TV

Pricing and availability

There are four models of Sony Internet TVs for you. You have to pay $295 for 24-inch model, $498 for 32-inch model, $723 for 40-inch model and $961 for 46-inch model. Sony Internet TV comes with Google TV.

What’s great?

Various display sizes: Sony has four different display sizes for Internet TV. You have 24-inch, 32-inch, 40-inch and 46-inch models of the Internet TVs.

Affordable price: Because of sluggish response to Google TV in global markets, Sony has slashed the prices of its Internet TV in August 2011. As a result, customers now can buy Sony Internet TVs for affordable prices.

Android 3.1: In a few days, Google will be updating Sony Internet TV with a new Google TV firmware, powered by Android 3.1. Of course, there will be an advanced user interface and smoother navigation feature on Google TV update 2.0.

Android Market: Google has already made it clear that Sony Internet TV will support Android Market with the Google TV update 2.0. It means users will be able to download lots of compatible apps for their Internet TV and run them on the device for various purposes.

Web surfing: Sony Internet TV supports Chrome browser with Adobe Flash and HTML5 video. Users can browse the web on the device via built-in Wi-Fi.

A brilliant TV: Many features like accurate color performance, sleek design and amazing power-saving options make Sony Internet TV a great product.

What’s not so great?

In general, Google TV has been blamed by users for several reasons. It was mainly for the bad performance of Logitech Revue set-top-box with the Google TV. However, Sony Internet TV also received some criticism. Poor screen uniformity, frustrating touch pad, overlarge keyboard and sparse analog connectivity are counted as major shortfalls of Sony Internet TV. Moreover, key content providers like Hulu, ABC and CBS have recently blocked Google TV, so there is a lack of contents.

Things to watch out for

Google is in extreme efforts to resolve the glitches with its much-celebrated release Google TV. With the software update, Google intends to make it a reliable platform for online video watching, web surfing and dealing with applications. For this, the new firmware will bring Android 3.1 and Android Market to Google TV, which will provide more contents and performance.

Verdict

Sony Internet TV is one device that has been doing a good job in experiencing you Google TV in its full sense. The process of installing and setting up Sony Internet TV is very simple. Along with many shortfalls, the concept of Google TV has been remaining alive with brilliant hardware units like Sony Internet TV. With the upcoming firmware update, Sony Internet TV will work far great, indeed. You will have Android Market to download appropriate apps for the device.

Other Alternatives

Apple TV is the major alternative to Sony Internet TV with GTV. Apple TV is now doing great in global markets with state-of-the-art hardware and software support. You can enjoy Netflix, YouTube, Fox, BBC, ABC and Disney on Apple TV. Roku TV and Boxee Box are two other leading alternatives to Sony Internet TV with Google TV, which has been performing badly since its official release.

Word around the web

Engadget writes,

Whether or not Google TV is truly the future of the television watching experience remains to be seen, but Sony's Internet TV specifically does a good job of leveraging what's there with an existing TV experience and quelled many of our installation fears due to its simple setup process.