Sony Internet TV: Hands on impressions of Sony’s Google TV

October 12, 2010 By David Elrich

Sony’s first Android-powered Google TVs seamlessly integrate Web browsing with a more traditional television experience.

Make sure and check out our review of Sony’s Internet TV with Google TV (NSX-46GT1).

Sony literally took the wraps off of the first HDTVs featuring Google TV on Tuesday. And by literally, we mean Sony execs took a cloth off a 46-inch Internet TV to show it to the assembled press in Manhattan.

Sony stressed this is the first HDTV that’s seamlessly integrated to the Internet. You can watch a show, tap the split-screen button on the PS3-inspired remote, hit the search button and the Chrome browser appears — and you can surf to your heart’s content. You’re not limited to sites as is the case with many other “Internet-enabled” HDTVs.

Digital Trends got a chance to play with it, and the demo units were clearly ready for prime time. There were no Blue Screens of Death during demos, or embarrassed suits making excuses for flawed gear. In fact, the sets are available for pre-order on SonyStyle.com now and will be available this weekend. Best Buy will have them the week of October 24. There are four screen sizes available: 24, 32, 40 and 46 inches. The model numbers are NSX-24GT1 ($599), NSX-32GT1 ($799), HSX-40GT1 ($999) and NSX-46GT1 ($1,399).

The three larger screens feature edge-lit LED backlighting but they only have 60Hz refresh rates, not the 120 Hz of sets that handle motion so well. Sony specifically said these sets are not for hard-core videophiles, just younger consumers who live on the Internet while watching TV. That’s why they have Intel Atom processors and 8GB of storage, to help them surf more quickly. Since the HDTVs feature Google TV with the Android OS, there are several apps available now, and many more are expected in early 2011 when the Android Market is up and running. All of the HDTVs have built-in Wi-Fi to easily connect to your router. As noted, the remote has a PS3 controller feel to it, but it also has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, and an optical mouse.

The sets have Sony’s Video On Demand service, Qriocity, as well as pre-installed apps such as Netflix, Twitter, YouTube, Pandora and others. Many more are expected next year, and Sony said they’re extending an invitation to all developers for the platform.

Sony NSZ-GT1 Blu-ray Player with Google TV

While the sets did work very seamlessly watching TV, the system falls down on the job with the new Internet Blu-ray player with Google TV built-in also announced today (NSZ-GT1, $399). When you’re watching a BD movie, you cannot search, or use the split-screen. This seems foolish as it seems you’d want to search while a movie is playing, not leaving it entirely to a separate screen. Guess things aren’t so seamless…

Still this is the best integration of the Web and HDTV we’ve seen, and the real key is you’re not limited in any way as to the content you can access. We’ll still keep using our iPad while watching our plasma TV, thank you very much, but this is a major step forward.

Showing 9 comments

Tony at 5:01am 15th November 2010 I love it. This is exactly what I was looking for. Streaming live video, youtube, web, all work and look great. Integrated with my DTV, my old AV amp no problem. The only down side for me was the DHCP. The device has some weird MAC address that my Windows SERVER 2008 dhcp server is unable to deploy an address and you are not given the ability to statically assign an address. i had to fire up a Windows server 2003 dhcp server in order to direct connect. Unable to reserve address due to weird MAC.
guest at 12:13pm 14th October 2010 bravia is 120hz the internet tv is 60hz
Texas Reader at 5:14pm 13th October 2010 "The three larger screens feature edge-lit LED backlighting but they only have 60Hz refresh rates, not the 120 Hz of sets that handle motion so well." Out of all the articles I have read today on Sony Google TV, this is the best one. These tvs are priced below the Sony Bravia 710 tvs - and no article addressed this - either the Sony Google tvs are inferior in some way, or the Sony Bravia 710 prices are about to be slashed. I'm guessing it's the former. I'll buy the Bravia and if I can't get a software upgrade and buy a keyboard for Google tv then I'll buy the Revue box.
David Driscoll at 11:03pm 12th October 2010 Ok, what Sony should have done is made the TV a touchscreen, then you could pull up Google maps and navigate using your hands. Straight out of a James Cameron movie. But I suppose that at under a grand, that just wouldn't be possible :) Still, a very cool TV and a great start for the Google TV integration. Mad props Sony for doing this!!
1. Dan Gaul at 10:58pm 13th October 2010 I can't imagine using a TV that large as a touch screen. It's too big and too close to your face, even at an arms length away.
Rob at 11:02pm 12th October 2010 $399 for that Blu-ray player is silly. I checked it out on the Sony website and it's all white, looks like a kids player. I would rather by the Logitech Revue if I needed to add on Google TV. I also bet that most new BLu-ray players come with Google TV, so prices should be dropping more quickly.
Jeremy Lund at 11:00pm 12th October 2010 Not bad, much better looking than I had imagined. I noticed in the screenshot that Rotten Tomatoes is listed as one of the sites you can access on it. I assume that all the site on there would have to have video in order to qualify? I am not going to want to read a newspaper on my TV....just browse videos, watch movies and possibly pandora.
Christine at 10:57pm 12th October 2010 This is exactly what I was looking for. This would be perfect for a college student. Here is a list of the specs: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servle... Since it does have HDMI input, would you say that it could be used as a computer monitor? I realize that the resolution is only 1920x1080p which isn't the greatest for a PC monitor of this size, but it's still pretty good. I also wonder why they are only using a 60Hz panel instead of 120 or 240Hz? I assume to keep price down? In any event, this is a great looking TV and I love that I can watch Netflix or listen to Pandora through it. Perfect for what I need.
1. Dan Gaul at 10:56pm 13th October 2010 You can pretty much use any modern flat screen tv as a computer monitor