Sony today introduced their Internet TV, powered by Google TV. Sony says it’s the world’s first television with the ability to watch HDTV, enjoy apps, and browse the Internet seamlessly on one device. They’ll be for sale this weekend (online), and at Best Buy stores “shortly after,” Sony says.
Sony’s televisions are built on the Android platform, and embed a Google Chrome browser. An Intel Atom processor runs the show.
Sony announced four LCD HDTVs with Google TV built-in; a 24-inch class NSX-24GT1 ($599.99), the 32-inch class NSX-32GT1 ($799.99), the 40-inch NSX-40GT1 ($999.99), and the 46-inch NSX-46GT1 ($1,399.99).
A Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player with Google TV built-in, NSZ-GT1 ($399.99), was also announced. It allows users to enjoy all of the powerful features of Google TV on their existing HDTV.
Sony’s GoogleTV platforms feature Dual View, allowing users to watch television while tweeting about what they’re watching, checking their fantasy football scores, or finding related content on the web. They also can bookmark content and add applications from the Android Market (coming in early 2011). The models feature Sony’s premium streaming service “Video On Demand powered by Qriocity” as well as pre-installed apps including CNBC, Napster, NBA, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, and YouTube.
Google TV, the software-based platform, was first introduced last week on the $300 Logitech Revue set-top box, which still provides the least expensive way to add the service to an existing system.
PC Magazine compares the three top internet television devices currently available, the $99 AppleTV box, the $99 Roku XDS box and the new Logitech Google TV box.
If you’re more of an iTunes person, you’ll gravitate to Apple TV, says PCMag. It streams all of your content from your PC’s iTunes library, as well as content from your iOS devices (iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad). Roku XDS lacks streaming from your PC without downloading a third-party app, but it’s far cheaper than the $300 Google TV, and the same price as the $99 Apple TV, but with the freedom of living outside the iTunes ecosystem.
Boxee Box, the on-demand setop tv box, is ditching NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 for Intel’s CE4100, reports Engadget. But its price has been boosted to $229 (on Amazon). AnandTech has a full review. The Boxee Box is already up for pre-order on Amazon and should ship before the end of November.
