The Sony Internet Google TV review after testing the media player for about a month. Sony understands how to make a media streaming device that makes low quality videos look good when blown up to play on your big screen HDTV. But Google TVs are confusing devices. When choosing a media player to stream Netflix, watch TV, and access the videos, music and photos you have saved to your computers and network attached server (NAS) drives, is the Sony Google TV your best choice?
Best Features of Sony Internet Google TV
Great picture and sound quality: Whether you are watching a low quality YouTube Video or streaming a high-definition movie to Netflix. you'll be happy with how It looks and sounds on your home theater.
Remote control touchpad mouse: Because Google TV has Google Chrome to access web pages, it needs mouse to get around the pages. The mouse on the Sony Google TV is large. To choose a highlighted link or item, push in to click. Stay pushed in to drag. This works better than other brand's remote-controls-with-a-mouse solutions.
Lit keyboard with more keys: The keyboards on other remote controls are small and impossible to see in the dark. The Sony Google TV's remote has a lit keyboard. This makes typing marginally easier in the dark (see worst features). Also, while most of these small keyboards do not have keys to type in numbers or often-used symbols, Sony's keyboard has an extra row of keys just for numbers and includes an "@" key.
Remote control turns off buttons on bottom side: When using a two-sided remote like the Sony Google TV remote, it is easy to accidentally press buttons on the opposite side. Suddenly you notice that you are typing in extra characters, or changing channels when that's not what you wanted.
Plays a wide variety of video movie formats: When testing the sony I didn't encounter problems streaming odd high definition movie formats that I have saved on my computer.
The Worst (Okay, what it could do better) of Sony Google TV
Google TV is not easy to use: If you understand Android phones, apps, and you are comfortable moving around screens, you may do better than others who struggle to understand technology. There is almost no features that make Sony easier to use.
The Remote Buttons aren't like other remotes: That is, the Co-Star Google TV's remote has Guide, Info, Live TV buttons that mimic many cable or satellite remote controls. Those buttons are organized differently and a different shape on the Sony Google TV remote control.
There's no Hulu or access to current TV episodes: This is true for all Google TVs. Deals have not been made that allow you to stream current TV episodes from websites on the Internet.
Vudu streaming is not available: Vudu does not play on Google TV, however you can stream your Ultraviolet movies to the Flixster app.
The Bottom Line
The Sony Internet Player Google TV was released this past summers. The Vizio Co-Star Google TV was also released. The Sony costs about $199 and the Vizio half the price of the Sony and has some easier to use features. If picture quality of YouTube videos is important to you, and you are comfortable with Android, the Sony Google TV may be a good choice for you.
If you have an Android phone, would you buy a Google TV?
