Google TV from Sony gets chilly reviews

Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV

/ Sony

(CBS News) Google TV is finally arriving this summer. Sony announced Monday the Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV will hit stores July 22.

The highly-anticipated home entertainment device was originally announced at the International Consumer Electronics Show in January.

Sony's NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV is a set-top box that lets users browse the Internet, purchase content from Google Play and use apps, like Netflix, Pandora and YouTube. The device also features a universal remote control that has a touchpad, 3-axis motion sensor for video games and keyboard..

Expectations were set high for the device, which was thought to be the evolution of television. The  NSZ-GS7 is getting a chilly welcome from reviewers, however.

Gizmodo's Sam Biddle remarks that "[t]he NSZ-GS7 makes your TV about one and a half times as useful and about ten times as complicated."

"There aren't apps for major streaming services like Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, and MLB.TV, nor is Google's own movie rental service supported," CNET associate editor Matthew Moskovciak points out. "Major content providers like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Comedy Central and MTV still block Google TV's software from streaming browser-based video. And the software is still buggy and difficult to use."

The Verge's David Pierce says the NSZ-GS7 is the best Google TV product on the market, however feels that "Google TV still feels like a concept."

Customers will be able to decide for themselves in July. The NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV retails for $199 and will be available in the U.S. and U.K. in July. Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Netherlands are also expected to get the device, but no official date has been announced.

7 Photos

Google TV from Sony coming in July

[HendryKhouw]

This product is quite impressive. It does live up to the expectation and it's portable enough that you can take it and connect to any TV through HDMI. Check out my short video review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOiE0PB9BUw

[jmgray16]

Other than the games, I don't see how this offers more than a lot of internet connected TVs and Blu-Ray players. Well, the remote has touchpad and a keyboard. that's about the only upgrade above AppleTV as well - though you can use your iDevice for that. Just seems it's going to be hard to pay $100 more than Roku or AppleTV for not much more in the features front.

[dlb313]

You are a TROLL. Apple wished they beat Android to the party on Google TV. This set top box is NOT a internet streaming device like ROKU, Boxee Box, WD Live or AppleTV. YOU CONNOT BROWSE THE INTERNET WITH APPLETV. DropBox allows you to display your Android Tablet or Smartphone onto a GoogleTV STB, just like AirPlay, Google did it first. If you seen or have a Smart TV, that`s what you compare the Sony and Logitech GTV boxes to. With there being over 100 million people that don`t own a Smart TV now can by adding GoogleTV STB to it.

[thoughtxchange2]

I have the original Google TV box and think it is pretty awesome. I've been able to drop my cable service because of it so it's paid for itself many times over since I got it. I use it every single day. I think they could do a better job on the interface for sure and I think this is where Apple could make Google TV obsolete eventually. I love that you can browse the web on your TV or watch You Tube vids there- havent been able to do that on Apple TV. I like the new remote but wouldn't buy it without a blu- ray player like the one I have now- I've used the Blu- ray player built in a lot and don't want to buy a separate device.

[dlb313]

I am unsure if you really own the NSZ-GT1. No way would a person choose to cancel cable for the Sony GTV box. You can buy a laptop or desktop and have the same result. Boxee Box is what you cancel cable over. I could understand if Google TV had HULU+ but it doesn`t.