The first interesting walk that is for Google TV; however, we
don’t think that it is ready for the important moment.
Media-streaming decoding boxes aren’t new; however, the
newest product of Sony is the first thing that we used to see using of Google
TV operating system. This is version that is used for Android operating system
of smartphone.
In its heart is a version that is innovated a lot with
Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system - it also operates similarly to
smartphone. But its changes seem to be friendly with TV. Quick-launch bar shows
you applications and turn-off key is used the most regularly. In addition,
picture-in-picture mode allows you to browse web while you are watching TV.
Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet
Player With Google TV
Problem in Store
Besides normal Android applications including web browser,
photo viewer, music viewer and You Tube viewer, NSL-GS7 also includes accessing
Google Play Store. However, it is the limited version that only has compatible
applications with Google TV, so lacking in popular applications, Netflix is set
up like standard. But it doesn’t have BBC iPlayer.
Instead of it, you have to use web browser. You can choose
services that are larger than on Smart TV because it supports Flash; however,
it isn’t as good as having separate applications for each of channels or
content provider. Video SEN service of Sony is also present if you don’t find
anything to see in other places.
When you say about playing your private content, support for
formatting file is rather unusual. We can play Full HD WMV video and MP4, but
we cannot force DivX or MKV file work. You can find video viewers on the third
side of Play store; but we cannot find viewers that can play our files.
If you don’t upgrade to Smart TV or watch TV through
decoding box, yet will like the way that configuration lies on your present
video jet due to HDMI input and output in the back side of box. They obey
1.4-version, so you can watch 3D content if you have a compatible TV.
The box itself is rather small, so it’s easy for you to find
a place for it in A/V drawer. And although rough surface is made from plastic
more than metal, it looks like rather beautiful. All of the gates lie in the
back side, so this thing makes 2 sides and the back side neat. Besides HDMI,
there is an optical S/PDIF output, an IR Blaster gate and 2 USB gates. Together
with Ethernet, it also supports 802.11n Wi-Fi, so you don’t need to connect
cables from router to TV only with online purpose if you set up wireless
network.
Sony designed remote to help it easily navigate operating
system because Google TV depends a lot on interaction between mouse and
keyboard. From ahead, it is dominated by a big touchpad, cursor and turn-off
keys to control playback. Volume and channel button lie on one side of remote.
However, it will become the most useful if it lies in the opposite side.
When you turn it over, you will see a full QWERTY keyboard
that is set up to remote availably. It means that you don’t need to use keyboard
on cumbersome screen. If you have big hand, it’s difficult to keep Shift key to
insert capital letter. However, it is an improvement more than a normal Smart
TV. Remote has available acceleration that can neutralize all of faces turning
down. Therefore, you cannot accidentally turn off system by pressing closely
while you are typing.
When you turn it
over, you will see a full QWERTY keyboard that is set up to remote availably.
Opportunity is missed
We like the remote of Sony. In addition, we cannot stop thinking
that Google misses opportunity because it doesn’t create a separate application
to help you use smartphone some unofficial applications on Play store, but it
will be better if it has official application.
Google isn’t as beautiful or smooth as other Smart TV
systems. This is our main worry. It looks like slow in particular menus and it
is also slow in react to charge specific applications. Moreover, it doesn’t
have support for file formatting that is similar to competitive media player.
Sony is well-done with hardware, but NSZ-GS7 is reduced about value because of
operating system. If you want to watch most of video’s content through web
browser, we can see attraction of Google TV. It has one of the best browsers
that we used to see on Smart TV or decoding box. To other people, Smart TV or
Blu-ray seems to be better investment.
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Information
·
Price: $283, including VAT
·
Website: www.very.com
·
Ranking: 3/5
Technological
features
·
Input: HDMI, 2 USB, Ethernet
·
Output: HDMI, optical S/PDIF
·
Consumption of energy: 12W for operating, 1W for waiting
·
Warranty: 1-year RTB
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