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Google TV update touts Google Play and YouTube movie rentals, distinct lack of popcorn
If you own one of Sony's Google TV devices, it's now considerably easier to curl up with a flick or two. Google has just pushed out a 2.1.1 update that allows watching movies rented through Google Play as well as in the browser, with YouTube. The update rollout should grace both Internet TVs and Internet Blu-ray Disc Player owners within the next two days. Logitech Revue viewers aren't quite so well off: Google is only asking them to "stay tuned," which to us is a sign we shouldn't give up Netflix just yet.
Watching Coachella live on YouTube would be a great use for Google TV -- if it worked (Updated)
While waiting for hardware, sped up software and access to the Android Market's apps, early Google TV adopters looking to mix up their internet and TV viewing got some bad news (again) this weekend while trying to access YouTube's live broadcasts of the Coachella music festival. Despite the event being promoted on the official blog, owners of all three Google TV devices reported the stream would not load for them. We couldn't pull it up on our Sony Internet TV, getting only a loading bar and then the black screen shown above even though other YouTube Live broadcasts and many live Flash video streams work without a problem. At this time we haven't heard back from Google on the issue and a check of support forums came up empty too so for now a laptop with an HDMI cable is still the simplest way to get this internet video on your HDTV. Update: The @GoogleTV Twitter account just reported the team is "looking into it" so hopefully there's a chance of resolution before the event is over, we'll keep an eye out. Until then, we're hearing that the stream is working on the Boxee Box (Thanks @EricHulen) so that may be an option as well.
Google TV gets a major update with new Netflix, movable Dual View, Android remote app support
The first update for the Google TV platform since its release is now available on Logitech and Sony devices, and takes major strides towards addressing issues we pointed out in our review. The antiquated Netflix app is now sporting a new HTML5 based UI that resembles the one seen on the PlayStation 3, while Dual View has addressed one of our biggest complaints by allowing users to move and resize the video window at will. Another major upgrade is support for an Android remote app arriving today with iPhone version "coming soon." The last major update should be appreciated by Kevin Bacon stalkers enthusiasts with a new info page for movies that pulls in plenty of relevant information and availability online and from the listings all on one page. Our Sony Google TV had the 218 MB update downloaded and ready to install when we turned it on that also promised a few other updates on top of Google's as seen above. We'll check back in a moment to see how things are working -- no word from Google yet on any progress breaking down the walls networks have put up around their streaming content -- peep the updated Dual View and a video of the new remote control app after the break. Update: The Google TV Remote for Android is now available in the Market, click this link from your Android device to download or snag the QR code after the break.
Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player with Google TV review
We know the feeling of set-top box fatigue as much as anyone, so naturally we were interested in Sony's Internet TV Blu-ray player -- just like the Sony Internet TV, it lets you add Google TV to your system without adding any more boxes. At the same time, we're always wary of combo devices -- they're often a jack of all trades and master of none. And so we set out playing with Sony's second riff on Google TV with the hope that it could serve both duties without sacrificing any features or functionality that we'd expect if we bought two devices. Obviously if you're in the market for both a Blu-ray player and a Google TV device and price is the most important factor it's an easy decision, but you'll have to click through to find out the true cost of having one fewer box under your TV.%Gallery-106306% This review is primarily of the Sony Internet TV NSZ-GT1 Blu-ray player hardware -- make sure you read our full Google TV review to get a feel for the platform itself!
