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Apple TV Versus Bravia Internet Video Link
It looks like the Apple TV has some new competition from Sony in the form of the Bravia Internet Video Link. It will ship on July 31st.
The device will only work with Sony content, and does not contain a hard drive. It also only works with Sony Bravia HDTVs. The total price is the same as the Apple TV, at $299.
You have to wonder what Sony's overall plan is for this product. It doesn't even work with all Sony televisions, let alone all the televisions on the market. This relegates the device to a tiny subset of televisions; I could count four on their products page.
Ok, so it's a niche player from the outset, designed more as a peripheral than an actual living room media device. But if it's just a minor extension to a Bravia HDTV, why does it cost $299? For that price, the Apple TV and most other digital media extenders include a hard drive. For some reason Sony thinks it's worth almost $300 to simply connect your TV to your computer.
If the Apple TV is a little too expensive for you, the Bravia Internet Video Link is highway robbery.
The device will only work with Sony content, and does not contain a hard drive. It also only works with Sony Bravia HDTVs. The total price is the same as the Apple TV, at $299.
You have to wonder what Sony's overall plan is for this product. It doesn't even work with all Sony televisions, let alone all the televisions on the market. This relegates the device to a tiny subset of televisions; I could count four on their products page.
Ok, so it's a niche player from the outset, designed more as a peripheral than an actual living room media device. But if it's just a minor extension to a Bravia HDTV, why does it cost $299? For that price, the Apple TV and most other digital media extenders include a hard drive. For some reason Sony thinks it's worth almost $300 to simply connect your TV to your computer.
If the Apple TV is a little too expensive for you, the Bravia Internet Video Link is highway robbery.
jonb |
Latest page update: made by jonb
, Jun 20 2007, 1:19 AM EDT
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198 words added view changes - complete history) |
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Keyword tags:
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | |
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| Anonymous | Apple TV is a money pit, get free content with Sony | 3 | Jul 6 2008, 3:59 AM EDT by samsub | |
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Thread started: Jul 21 2007, 10:45 PM EDT
Watch
Sony's new BIVL (Bravia Internet Video Link) is gonna rock!
i saw a demo of it at CES and it looks much more integrated into the TV than anything i have seen. How smart too; making it a separate module so that folks who do not have an interest in net vids (grandma??) do not have to pay the cost of features they will not use. GENIUS! thanks for looking out for the common folk Sony! My feeling on BIVL's competitors is that having extra boxes (AppleTV, media center PC, etc) connected to your TV needing different remotes makes it less likely to be used after the initial "wow" factor. you have to grab 2 remotes and press through 5-9 key presses until you are watching anything. With this setup, once the novelty wears out, you will just stop using it all together. Sony makes it so easy to browse internet video. I was watching the rep demoing it and it is 2 key presses to start browsing videos and one additional key press until you are watching it. this makes it very easy to switch over and spend your commercial time browsing and watching net vids, and then back into your show with 1-2 key presses. the other great thing is that the system is expandable. they can add content providers dynamically. although they are only shipping with AOL, Yahoo, and Grouper the rep mentioned there are multiple other popular internet video providers lined up to provide video for this product soon after launch. I cant wait to find out who. lastly, buying content through AppleTV / others is much like a bad cigarette habit, less the nicotine urges. you only pay a few dollars per video, but after a year of buying videos, they can really add up. and money gone because after you watch it once, there is no use watching it again. in conclusion: free content integrated into the TV as extra channels. no PC required, no extra remotes, expandable, also: news, weather, and traffic I will be buying one asap! - anonymous B |
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