New York – Sony (NYSE: SNE) has introduced its new Sony Internet TV
product line, which feature the Google (NASD: GOOG) TV service that adds Web search,
browsing and applications to television viewing. The television sets in the
line come with a keypad remote control and optical mouse, built-in Wi-Fi,
Sony’s Qriocity video-on-demand service, and the ability to connect to select
DISH Network HD DVRs to search recorded programs in addition to TV and Web
video content.
Pre-installed, Android-based applications available include
offerings from CNBC, Napster, NBA, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter and YouTube.
The
sets range in price from $599 (24-inch) to $1,399 (46-inch).
The company also
introduced the Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc player, a $399 device with Google
TV built-in that can be connected to an existing HDTV.
The new products are
available for pre-order from SonyStyle.com and BestBuy.com, and are set to ship
from Oct. 16.
Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/26s8rjf
http://www.sony.com/SonyInternetTV
These new tvs have lower prices than the same size Bravia 710’s. Do the Google tvs have some inferior features? If not, is Sony going to drop the Bravia prices below these? For example, Bravia 710 is about $1,000 versus $800 for Sony Google.
A few years ago I think this kind of capability might have been welcomed by many. The ability to sit on the couch, have good web access and a system designed for displaying content from the Internet and from traditional sources would have seemed revolutionary (and much better than the old Web TV stuff). Now I’m not so sure. People use iPads, smart-phones and net-books to easily surf the web while watching TV which is much nicer than surrendering screen real estate on the TV to do the same thing. And many TVs, Blu Ray players and game consoles can connect directly to online video sources like Netflix. The content from Google TV will have to be really special to get people to use it.