1. Deal-Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV-Reviews
Discount on Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV]
- Search live TV, the internet and apps with Google TV
- Access thousands of Android apps at Google Play Store
- Universal remote with touchpad & and backlit keyboard
What?s on TV tonight? That's completely up to you. Select single episodes, entire seasons, live TV and sports to watch, or search the
entire internet?all with a single remote featuring a full touchpad and backlit keyboard. And because the TV and internet work
together, you never need to switch inputs or fuss with multiple components. One box, unlimited entertainment.
Comments
62 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Finally, July 30, 2012
Bynycebo (New York, NY)
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV (Electronics)

2. Instead of spending much time assessing the Google TV operating system, which I've used via the Logitech Revue for over a year,
I'm going to detail why this Sony effort is SO MUCH better than the Logitech effort.
Hopefully, it will help sway consumers who are on the fence about buying the Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV
(SGTV) or like me, decided to give it a shot and UPGRADE (yes, upgrade) from the Logitech Revue.First, the physical details: the
Sony GTV unit itself feels about 50% smaller.
What's nicely done is that the power cable doesn't have a power adapter so it's one less thing to deal with in the AV cabinet.
As for the unit, it has all of the standard ports, including digital optical, ethernet, wifi, IR blaster, a couple USB ports, AND most
notably the HDMI in and out.
You're thinking: so what, the Revue has HDMI in and out, to which I can only answer YES and NO (more on this later....). Also, it's
reported that the processor is a 1.2 GHz dual core.
I can report that it is noticeably faster than the Revue.
Homescreen images scroll much more smoothly and apps load quicker and respond with less lag.
All in all, these hardware improvements certainly warrant an upgrade from the Revue.Second, the remote is fantastic. From the
clicking mousepad to the small integrated keyboard, it's a win. While I liked the Logitech remote keyboard for typing and emailing,
it was just a bit too unwieldy for streaming viewing and listening. The SGTV remote is probably bluetooth based and works
brilliantly even when not pointing at the unit.
The one issue I will mention for some is that the SGTV doesn't seem to pair properly with Harmony all in one remotes because it
lacks infrared support.Third, media. It's worth mentioning that I don't have cable or satellite. As such, I feel like I'm really missing
out on a number of the great features of Google TV in terms of how it integrates network and cable programming. But, in terms of
how it hooks up with Netflix, Amazon VOD, HBO GO, Pandora, Slacker, Sony Entertainment, and all of the android TV apps, it's a
great offering.Fourth, AND MOST importantly, let's revisit the HDMI connection. It supports full HDMI-CEC control that
facilitates turning it on and off with the TV when the input in selected.
But what really sets it apart from the Revue is the SGTV's automatic ability to stream audio through the HDMI cable for analog and
digital surround.
Netflix can now easily stream Dolby Digital and/or PCM without needing to switch options in Settings to output audio via the digital
optical cable.
The latter was really a pain in the you know what on the Revue and more often than not, I just left it at stereo output and let my AVR
churn it into surround. Now, the SGTV automatically outputs digital OR PCM depending on the source (Netflix, your TV, etc).
Bonus and IMHO, well worth the upgrade.
Plus, it frees up a digital port on my AVR.Last, cost.
Yes, it's more than the Revue (which you can't buy anymore), simple as that. And, it's more than Boxee and Roku and Apple TV.
But, to critics out there, I will just respond by saying that it DOES more. Not only is it a streaming portal, but it's also a browser and
a device for movies, photos and music. Some have suggested that the PS3 gives you even more because of gaming, but candidly, I'm
just not a gamer so why spend even more for that?
Perhaps it's worth waiting a little long to see if prices come down in several months, but given the form factor, remote control and
WORKING digital/analog audio feature via HDMI, I was happy as a clam to get this unit.While some might score this a 3 stars
because of complaints about the current curious state of Google TV, Sony's effort is very streamlined, elegant and functional. It
really is a great offering. As such, I'm happy to give it a solid 5 stars.
It's just one more reason I don't need cable TV.
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113 of 123 people found the following review helpful
The Sony NSZ-GS7:
An Amazing and Very Capable Network Media Player, August 23, 2012
ByLawrence H. Bulk "Lawrence H. Bulk"
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3. This review is from: Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV (Electronics)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program (What's this?)
I am very pleased with this Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV which I received two days ago, August 21, 2012, from
Amazon Vine.I have two of the Roku XDS Streaming Player 1080ps, purchased a year or so ago and which I use frequently; they
are quite good (the newer, replacement, model is the Roku 2 XS 1080p Streaming Player which, I understand, is quite similar).But
this new Sony model is much more capable than the Roku because it has a built-in web browser. The browser is Google Chrome,
normally a full-featured browser along the lines of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc. Unfortunately here it appears to be
somewhat restricted as, so far, I have found no way to add extensions, such as AdBlock. Nonetheless, the presence of this browser
adds a great deal of value to this media player.For example, one of my favorite web sites is the Internet Archive [archive<dot>org]
which has thousands upon thousands of free public-domain movies, music, books, and so forth. (You could spend DAYS on this site
and not see it all!)Not only was it easy to "bookmark" this site, I also created an application ("app") from it so that it appears in my
"All Apps" folder. (Please read further for instructions as to how to create a bookmark and/or an app.)Netflix is built-in, common on
these devices, as is Amazon Instant Video. There is no native TuneIn Radio app (my favorite Internet Radio portal), but it does have
Slacker Radio as well as Pandora. However I went to the TuneIn Radio site via the browser, logged in to my account, and created a
bookmark as well as an app from it, as I did for the Internet Archive.I also created a bookmark and an app from my Watch List on
the Amazon Prime Instant Video selection, so I have this in addition to the built-in Amazon Instant Video app. Creating these apps is
simple once you know how to use the device. Please note that I am almost 70 years old and have had NO computer or
computer-device training whatsoever; I am completely self-taught. I have had my Sony media player just two days. If, in that small
amount of time, I can learn to use and manipulate (customize) it, so can you, no matter how "technologically-challenged" you may
think you are.There are many, many native apps offered on this player (too many to mention here) and there are lots more offered in
the Google Play Store. Take it from me - as far as media goes, there is something for everyone, whether it be music, movies, or
television.If a particular app you want is not present, or even offered in the Google Play Store, it is very easy to create your own app,
as I did. In other words, you can customize this player any way you like. How do you create an app? Easy! When you're using the
browser and you're on a web site you wish to save, merely click the bookmarks button on the front of the remote and you will be
offered choices, one of which is to bookmark the page, and another is to place the page on your My Apps page (essentially creating
an app). In my case, I have done both for the pages I wish to save (such as the Amazon Prime Video Watchlist page and the TuneIn
My Favorites page). This capability is very, very welcome.Now I have to tell you that initially the Google Chrome browser gave me
no end of frustration. That is because, out of the box by default (WHY Sony?), the cursor click arrow (shaped like a fist and which
appears when placed over a link on the screen) did not work (at least on my player)! Neither did the Enter key (on the back of the
remote control) nor the center Okay (or Enter or Select - it doesn't seem to have an official name) button on the front operate when
clicked on a link. I clicked and clicked and nothing happened.So I could go to a site by entering its URL but couldn't go any further!
Clicking the links just did not work. (I do not know if this is the default setting for all samples but it was on mine.)I went online to
see if others were having the same problem (they were) and if there were a solution (as of yesterday, August 22, 2012, there was
none).So I went into the Settings and investigated EACH and EVERY option until I found the solution.To make it easy for anyone
concerned, the steps are these:Go into SettingsScroll down and go into Language & Input DevicesWithin that, scroll down and go
into Remote Settings; within that dialog box are...
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133 of 142 people found the following review helpful
Does nearly
everything a Roku can do and much more, but some things not as well, July 21, 2012
ByMicah
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sony NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV (Electronics)
Update: December 6, 2012:
I used to give this product 5 stars, but I no longer feel it deserves that.
The product crashes too often, and while some apps like Netflix work really well when fast forwarding, rewinding, skipping, other

4. apps are extremely frustrating.
For instance, you push fast forward for a moment, and you watch it skip forward and it stutters and sometimes leaves you a few
seconds later in the video, but sometimes leaves you 10 seconds earlier!
And if you hold the button down for a full second, it might skip 2 minutes ahead.
It is very hard to reposition the video.
I still really like the remote, but this box does not excel at its primary function: video.
I am now looking to see if I can find a better solution for me-- anyway, I am looking at Raspberry Pi with XBMC, WD TV, and
some Blu Ray players, or maybe an Apple TV but since I want to watch MPEG2 TV shows recorded over the air , I would need to
transcoding them to H.264 and I hate burning CPU cycles for that, although it would be nice to be able to play them more easily on
phones, iPads, tablets, etc.Here is my old review:The Roku has a nice user experience and it also deserves 5 stars (although I
disagree with Roku forcing you to give them your credit card to keep on file) -- and if you are looking for the cheapest device that
can just play Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon VOD, Crackle, and similar very well, then your best option is a Roku or maybe a BD
player.
But if you want more, you'll have to start dealing with tradeoffs.
For the Google TV, the tradeoffs are 1) that you can't get some content, such as that from Hulu Plus or NBC (although you can
through Playon)-- and 2) the Amazon VOD experience is poor (although the movies play back nicely).
(The Google TV has one of the best Netflix experiences, and Crackle's website experience is okay).But the Google TV can do lots of
things the Roku can't, such as 1) play videos and flash from some websites such as Syfy or adult websites, 2) use it as an Apple
Airplay device (using the Airtight app), 3) play mpeg-2 videos such as from a HDHomeRun, MythTv, ripped DVDs (for those who
don't want to take the time and cpus to convert to h.264) 4) Browse the internet -- so for $200 and a tv you probably already have,
then you can write emails, check your social media websites, write a paper, whatever.
For a lot of people that want to have a media device on their tv and not also pay for a computer, this is a good compromise.The
Goolge TV might get XBMC, but although XBMC has announced android support, it appears it will rely on native support not
currently available in Google TV.
On the plus side, Plex works nicely on the sony unit.
By default Plex will have the server transcode mpeg2 to h.264, but there is a setting to use "Direct play" in which the server will
send the mpeg-2 direclty.
This means that your Roku will play MPEG2s so long as you have a powerful enough computer to do the transcoding on the fly--
and because of that pushing the forward and backward buttons will pause before the video is adjusted.
But with a Sony Google TV with direct play turned on, skipping forward and back takes only a small pause.
(I am using an older core 2 duo as the server, so if you have a newer 4 or 8 way, or have hardware to help accelerate the transcode,
then perhaps the pause won't be as noticeable).
I have found that I don't like the way Plex organizes TV shows, so I am using the app GTVBox Video Player to play TV shows.
It's a nice app, but most of the apps I have found don't fast forward, rewind, or skip well.
Netflix is the only app I use regularly that does this decently.By the way, the Logitech Revue and Vizio Co-Star can't play MPEG2,
only Sony units currently do.I think the Google TV missed a huge opportunity by not providing an option for joysticks and helping
developers port android games to the Google TV.
Hopefully they make an announcement on those lines soon.
Also, I think it seems wrong that some content providers are for locking out google tv users out from their website (e.g. hulu and
nbc) but allowing other computers and similar devices to access them.
But this doesn't matter much to me, though, because nearly all of that locked out content is broadcast OTA and I get it free through
the HDHomeRun and store with DVR with MythTV-- and with 10x the video quality-- which is a huge reason why I like the google
tv which can play MPEG2!
I also would love to see Amazon VOD get better, but I am not that interested in paying the expensive rental fees for just 24 hours of
access-- and the free selection with Amazon Prime is very limited, so Amazon VOD is not an important factor for me.
(By the way, for the technical savvy, you should check out the Raspberry Pi which I believe you can buy optional MPEG2 support
for)Ultimately, each Google TV and Roku have their individual strengths and weaknesses-- and if you...
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