Sony is also touting connectivity on all of its Bravia TV sets at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, but Google TV will only be available on a mediaplayer and Blu-ray disc player.
In the US, viewers have access to web videos via the Sony Portal, featuring one-touch access to the Sony Entertainment Network and its Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited streaming services, offering on-demand catalogue of over 80,000 blockbuster movies and favourite TV shows, as well as a catalogue of more than 15 million music tracks.
On all Bravia screens, there are also apps for Netflix, Pandora, HuluPlus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Slacker Internet Radio, Crackle and many more, as well as access to social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Some models also come with Skype embedded.
Sony has also added Yahoo! Broadcast Interactivity, with auto-content recognition, which allows viewers one-click access to TV apps with internet content related to the programming being watched. This interactive content can include show trivia, viewer votes for fan favourites, purchases of items they see on TV, playing along with a favorite game show, or viewing of related videos and photos.
The DNLA-certified and Wireless LAN built-in Bravia HX models also connect to and share content from mobile devices and computers on the same home network, as well as allow consumers a wide variety of control options via Sony’s Media Remote and Remote Keyboard apps. Viewers can ‘throw’ a browsed website from a smartphone to the Bravia HDTV.
The apps are available for download from both Android Market and iTunes App Store, and function as a full remote control with keyboard, allowing easy online content search and playback. The HX models also incorporate Sony’s Track I+D service, the company’s equivalent of Shazam.
Sony also unveiled two stand-alone product featuring Google TV, the network media player NSZ-GS7 and Blu-ray Disc player NSZ-GP9, which will hit US retail in the summer of 2012.
