New York — Wish to have a Google TV, with its Web browsing applications, and powerful search, but that box sitting around your TV bothers you? Well then you will surely love the new HDTVs that Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp., is treading with a prudent tag line: “the world’s first internet television” to promote its just-unveiled Internet-enabled high-definition LCD TV sets created for Google TV. for the US markets at a press event in New York on Tuesday.
The recently released Sony Internet TV, is not the first to combine internet access with a TV set or to combine content, the internet and a TV screen. They incorporate the same Google TV functionality right within the TVs’ electronics.
Sony’s new TVs, whose screen sizes range from 24 to 46 inches diagonally, can access content via broadcast, the Internet and applications, just as the Logitech Revue, unveiled last week, can.
At the event, Sony representatives argued that the appearance of the Google-powered TV sets marks a groundbreaking moment that will change the way the public watches TV. That may be a tall order, especially since effortless access in this case includes a handpad that has already been smacked around by some geeks appalled by the number of buttons. As technical achievements go, “this is a pretty big one,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of Sony’s Home Division, who pointed out that the Sony units would be the only Google-powered TVs available this holiday shopping season. “TV and the Internet, together at last.”
Announced at a press event in New York, the Sony Internet TV is Google TV in a box, dude. The bragging points for the flat-screen full HD sets include:
- Built-in Google TV and the upgradeable Google TV platform
- The ability to download apps from Android Market starting early next year
- “Select” mobile phone linking sometime this fall
- Built-in WiFi
- Simultaneous surfing/TV viewing
- “Seamlessly” searching TV and internet for content
- On the content side, VOD powered by Sony’s Qriocity, pre-installed apps from CNBC, Napster, NBA, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, and YouTube.
- The sets connect “easily” with some HD DVRs from Dish for searches of recorded content and DVR functionality.
The processor comes from Intel, which is hoping “Intel inside” as Sony TV delivers better commercial success than “Viiv inside” inside a PC. And for some, one of the excellent features may be the four HDMI inputs and four USB inputs. This is not for people trying to get by on low-bandwidth connects. Sony recommends access speed of at least 2.5 Mbps and 10 Mbps for HD.
Furthermore, the Google TV navigation, on-screen menus, and results screens reflects the features available in the Revue. While the Revue comes with a full-size or mini Logitech keyboard, the Sony Internet TVs have their own style of mini keyboard, which feels a lot like a game controller. It is not backlit, but accompanying the keyboard are two control pads: a touchpad on the right for navigating Websites, and a mechanical rocker-switch pad on the left for navigating when the set is tuned in to broadcast content. The rocker switch operates like the directional buttons on a DVD remote.
The controller is very lightweight and it is very easy to learn and to manipulate. It has the feel of a PlayStation remote for a good reason. “Some design elements were borrowed from the PS3,” Abary said.
“Finally, you can seamlessly search your favorite TV programs and websites on the same screen, at the same time,” said Abary.
As the line between PCs and TVs becomes foggy, Google Inc. has been anxiously seeking out partners for its service that allows people to access the Internet and view Web content on TV screens while it fends off rivals such as Apple Inc.’s Apple TV. The Mountain View, California-based Google unveiled Google TV in May at a software developers conference in San Francisco.
Earlier this month, the search engine giant unveiled several new partnerships with media and Web companies such as Amazon, the NBA, Netflix, The New York Times, NBC Universal, Time Warner, USA Today and others to provide content and applications for Google TV.
The newly released TV sets, which will go on sale from October 16, available in following sizes and prices: The new 24-inch (61-centimeter) for $600, 32-inch (81-centimeter) for $800, 40-inch (102-centimeter) for $1000, and 46-inch (117-centimeter) for $1400.
Sony also unveiled a Blu-ray disc player with Google TV features retails for 400 dollars. Sony Internet TVs and the new Sony Internet Blu-ray player can be pre-ordered now and will be available at Sony Style this week and at Best Buy on October 24. More details here.
Yahoo! entered into the Internet television arena more than a year ago and Apple recently upgraded its offering, Apple TV. A second-generation Apple TV device priced at 99 dollars was introduced in September. But Sony wants it to be the first one that consumers think of as an easy way to have it all.