The New Sony Google TV Devices

Sony has one Google TV set top box (STB) on the market currently, the NSZ-GT1 (which I have and love). A set top box is a device that attaches to a TV that has certain capabilities and enhances the input to the TV in some way. They are releasing two new ones (one is a Blu-ray player) at Google I/O, later this month; where they are giving away 500 devices. I hope to be able to get hands-on and in-depth with them soon, but for now I thought I would introduce them here.  The two new devices are the NSZ-GS7 and the NSZ-GP9.

Here are the highlights of the cool things in the new devices.
1. The devices will include Plex. Which is a great media sharing/streaming program.
2. New Remote:
–  Full backlit QWERTY keyboard
–  3-axis motion sensor for gaming and other applications
–  Bluetooth capabilities to promote use from every direction and angle
–  Touchpad that allows not only pointing and clicking, but “pinching” and “pulling” to resize web pages, etc.
3. The NSZ-GP9 (Blu-ray player) has voice control
4. Non-Intel processor.

For more information check out the Sony / Google TV hangout that occurred last month.

Here is the full text of their CES 2012 press release from January 9:
Sony Electronics today announced the addition of two new home devices powered by the Google TV™ platform. Sony was one of the industry’s first to launch the ‘Google TV’ products in 2010, and is now taking another step into the future of the home entertainment convergence. The NSZ-GS7 Network Media Player and NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray Disc™ Player will both arrive on shelves in North America and Europe in early summer 2012, and distribution is planned to expand and include other countries and regions.
“The first generation of devices powered by Google TV combined the powerful Android platform with Sony’s legendary home audio/video hardware to deliver on the promise of converging entertainment,” said Charles Speidel, vice president of Sony Electronics’ Home Audio and Video Division. “These brilliant additions advance positive features of the previous models, bringing an intuitive remote control and cross-device connectivity with smartphones, tablets and Sony Internet Audio & Video products – enhancing the home entertainment experience.”
In 2010, Sony introduced the world’s first television and a Blu-ray Disc player powered by Google TV. In 2011, the platform was updated and added the Android™ Market, making the first-generation Sony Internet TV devices easier to navigate and giving viewers access to thousands of apps, including about 150 apps optimized for TV, for an enhanced customized entertainment experience.
The Google TV difference starts with the cross search functionality, which crawls all content sources available from broadcast providers* and the Internet to deliver customized video results on demand. Both new boxes come complete with a redesigned remote control equipped with a backlit QWERTY keyboard, a touch pad for easy operation and a three-axis motion sensor to enjoy games. Additionally, the remote control can also be utilized as a universal remote to control connected devices such as TV, set top box and amplifiers – the NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray Disc Player even incorporates voice search capabilities. By using Sony apps Media Remote™ and TrackID® for Android and iOS mobile devices, users may achieve cross-device connectivity. TrackID is also pre-installed in NSZ-GS7 and NSZ-GP9, allowing customers to search on their connected TV. The new remote control can manage basic operations on select compatible 2012 BRAVIA televisions and seamlessly display Android Market or apps on the menu screen.

I’d like to thank Ray Hartjen from Sony for all the info!