Digital Media Streamer: Sony NSZ-GS7 with Google TV

    Google puts the web on your telly, but quantity beats quality for now.

    Much like YouView, Google TV has taken its time sauntering to market. An abortive US launch, undermined by inadequate software and hardware complexity, led to a major rethink by both Google and its hardware partners. The result is this diminutive set-top box that aspires to bring the power of the Android platform directly to your telly.
    The NSZ-GS7 sits between any HDMI¬connected set-top box (Freeview, Sky, Freesat) and your flatscreen; an interface overlay offers access to apps, YouTube, the Google Play store, some of the Sony Entertainment Network — though sadly not the whole thing —and a Chrome browser. To help navigate web pages, the remote flips between a QWERTY backlit keyboard and a touchpad zapper.
    While the NSZ-GS7 lacks a hard drive for downloaded content, and with no TV tuner no chance of recording live TV, there is a smidgen of flash onboard to store apps and affiliated code. There's also a pair of USB inputs, allied to a dedicated media player. This supports all key video file types including MKV. MP3s play back with album art and Wi-Fi is built in.
    There are things to admire about Sony's Google TV 'net player: it's fast and powerful, the implementation of YouTube is corking, but it's also a bit boring. There's just not much you can do with it at present. Optimised apps are thin on the ground. The IMDB download shows potential, with beautiful HD trailers on tap, but there's no built-in BBC iPlayer, 40D or iTV Player, you have to use the Chrome browser to visit the web versions. Ironically, there's currently more internet entertainment available on a standard Sony Blu-ray player.
    Google TV has potential, but without more compelling software it's currently little more than a well-made curiosity. It's certainly one to watch for the future. Watching it now? Not so good.

Google TV is potentially a great net connected upgrade, but it currently relies too heavily on its Chrome browser for content

{LOVE} Optimised Google TV apps look terrific. Fully-functional Chrome browser.
{HATE} Too few dedicated Google TV apps. You'll need a good wrist action to master the flipper remote.

{SPECIFICATION}
SYSTEM  Broadband
STORAGE  No
TUNERS  No
HD CHANNELS  No
EPG  No
SMART TV APPS  YouTube, CNN Money, WSJ, CNBC, Redux, Qello
CONNECTIONS  HDMI, 2x USB, ethernet, optical digital audio outputs

{DIMENSIONS)
HEIGHT 370mm  WIDTH 237mm  DEPTH 68mm  WEIGHT 0.5kg


{DETAILS}
LOOKS
The distinctive design is not entirely practical and it runs very hot after a couple of hours.
STORAGE
There's no local hard drive included, although you can download shows to a USB memory stick.
ONLINE
Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity is built in for web browsing and catch-up TV streaming.

{KILLER CONTENT}
Chrome browser
Full access to the internet with a Google Chrome browser and QWERTY remote means web catch-up on your telly, but few dedicated services
( GOOGLE.COM/TV )