BRAVIA Internet Video

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crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#93104 14-Nov-2011 16:19

Hi All,

Anybody had any experiences or know much about BRAVIA Internet Video?

The Sony site talks about:

Get quick access to YouTube, Style.com, BlipTV, Singing Fool, and many more sites that will keep you entertained for hours on end!

Yeah, wonderfully informative thanks Sony.

I'm currently considering a BDPS580 Blu-Ray player, http://www.sony.co.nz/product/bdp-s580, as an audio visual upgrade. Keen to try out Blu-Ray and have something that can work as a USB media player as well.

Any experiences or feedback on the rest of the range would be good too.

This thing boast an 'Internet Browser' as well. Are they talking the full sausage or some cut down internet-browser-for-our-sites thing. What things won't this do than the browser on my PC will do?

So far I get from the reviews and stuff this is a good player of discs and a good media player from USB in that is has wide format support. This is all good.

However, it is much harder to get a handle on the 'connected' features. What is actually on offer, here in New Zealand as far as web services go. I don't mind paying I just like to know what I am paying for. I would love an actual on demand movie/TV service.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#545263 14-Nov-2011 16:59

The web browser is effectively the same experience as the PS3 web browser... so terrible then.
However, when you add a smart phone app that allows you to integrate the apps keyboard, it's a little better.
Having said that, web sites rarely scale well to a 55" LED at 1080p.
Interestingly enough - I've dropped my home theatre PC's resolution output to 720, and web browsing is a lot better.

In regards to interweb video...
Some channels are great, others are a waste of time for me. One of the channels (Wiggles) is actually subscription based.
I'm much happier using Airplay to flick content to my Apple TV.

The Qriocity music app may interest you for streaming music. But for me, personally, it has no relevance whatsoever.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#545269 14-Nov-2011 17:04

I've got a Bravia 'connected' TV.

Youtube works really well, although not all videos can be accessed.

the other channels are pretty tame. some good concert footage and docos, but nothing really good. stream is flawless for me though, and good quality.

viewing media directly connected is largely a watse of time. your HD needs to be FAT32 formatted and most external HDs aren't so you have to spend hours reformatting it. only certian formats of files will actually play though. I would estimate 25% of my content is actually viewable through this method.

accessing servers on your home network works much better though. I use PS3 media server and it streams pretty well to my TV.

the facebook and twitter apps are very gimmicky. next to useless.

ETA: Web browser works, but no flash (I tried to get isky to work on teh web browser but no cigar) and a massive pain in the bum to use with a remote control

mattwnz

20180 posts

Uber Geek

#545283 14-Nov-2011 17:38

NonprayingMantis: I've got a Bravia 'connected' TV.

Youtube works really well, although not all videos can be accessed.

the other channels are pretty tame. some good concert footage and docos, but nothing really good. stream is flawless for me though, and good quality.

viewing media directly connected is largely a watse of time. your HD needs to be FAT32 formatted and most external HDs aren't so you have to spend hours reformatting it. only certian formats of files will actually play though. I would estimate 25% of my content is actually viewable through this method.

accessing servers on your home network works much better though. I use PS3 media server and it streams pretty well to my TV.

the facebook and twitter apps are very gimmicky.? next to useless.

ETA: Web browser works, but no flash (I tried to get isky to work on teh web browser but no cigar) and a massive pain in the bum to use with a remote control

You can also format it exFAT, which is better than fat32 for larger video files.

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#545286 14-Nov-2011 17:44

Thanks for the info all.

Looks like the search for a media player continues.

I know everybody on this site says Apple TV2 + XBMC but I am really after something that will work independently of my PC. I can't be bothered re-booting when I want to watch something or making sure the PC is on and on the right thing before it will work.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#545308 14-Nov-2011 18:46

crackrdbycracku:
Looks like the search for a media player continues.

I know everybody on this site says Apple TV2 + XBMC but I am really after something that will work independently of my PC. I can't be bothered re-booting when I want to watch something or making sure the PC is on and on the right thing before it will work.

I've got an ex720 and tried the internet connectivity. Total waste of time as it is limited to what Sony thinks you want, not what you want.
Stick with your media player search.
I have an A C Ryan with internal HDD fitted so it is totally independant of the PC (just copy files from PC via network if you don't want to stream them) and plays pretty much any format.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#545309 14-Nov-2011 18:51

crackrdbycracku: Thanks for the info all.

Looks like the search for a media player continues.

I know everybody on this site says Apple TV2 + XBMC but I am really after something that will work independently of my PC. I can't be bothered re-booting when I want to watch something or making sure the PC is on and on the right thing before it will work.

Not everyone, I plug the WD TV Live (and the better Live Hub). These will work independently of a PC (local storage and access a NAS). I have also heard good things about the Popcorn hour, but haven't tried one.

Other option is a cheapish laptop with HDMI out, esp if you care about upgradeability and web surfing, with Win7 Media Center and a media remote. Wireless keyboard and mouse can also be added easily.

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#545653 15-Nov-2011 15:14

JimmyH:
crackrdbycracku: Thanks for the info all.

Looks like the search for a media player continues.

I know everybody on this site says Apple TV2 + XBMC but I am really after something that will work independently of my PC. I can't be bothered re-booting when I want to watch something or making sure the PC is on and on the right thing before it will work.

Not everyone, I plug the WD TV Live (and the better Live Hub). These will work independently of a PC (local storage and access a NAS). I have also heard good things about the Popcorn hour, but haven't tried one.

Other option is a cheapish laptop with HDMI out, esp if you care about upgradeability and web surfing, with Win7 Media Center and a media remote. Wireless keyboard and mouse can also be added easily.

Hi had a read about these WD TV things. They look like about what I am looking for from a 'will it play what is on my HD?' angle. Thanks for the tip.

The box says it has a YouTube app and the usual 'many, many more...'. I can see myself watching a lot of YouTube on the TV as the content available is actually really impressive. There are heaps of BBC and independent documentaries that I like watching. Personally, I think Google should get over the 'Set Top Box' idea and focus on going after NetFlix with 'premium' service, I'd be happy to pay. But we have the same old problem of anybody bothering to buy the rights for NZ.

Anyway, are there any other 'connected to the net' features the WD TV does? Reviews mention NetFlix but that won't work here of course.

Thanks

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#545750 15-Nov-2011 20:47

For the record...
A jailbroken ATV2 that runs XBMC will grab your content without a computer being powered up.
I have an Apple Airport Extreme with a USB HDD attached - the ATV2 see's this via ZEROCONFIG (it's an option in the XBMC menu) and away it goes.
If you're plugging in visa ethernet and have a compatible router that can handle USB HDD's - you'll enjoy it.

GeoffisPure

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#545761 15-Nov-2011 21:19

YouTube is really the only video channel worth using in my opinion. It works well, especially if you have the remote app on your phone which gives you a keyboard to use.

There is a massive oversight though... unless I'm completely blind, there is no way to view the latest videos you subscribe to.

Radiotron

180 posts

Master Geek

#545766 15-Nov-2011 21:28

Ziln TV from NZ is now up there on Bravia Internet Video, some amusing timewasters to look through there, re the browser, www.weatherwatch.co.nz works alright if you want to check the weather. FYI the device is a BDP-S780, a bit small and plasticky but it works well, and a shedload quicker to start BD playback than its predecessor here, a BDP-S300 - the 300 did a really good DVD upscale, but it was slow...

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#545771 15-Nov-2011 21:41

GeoffisPure: YouTube is really the only video channel worth using in my opinion. It works well, especially if you have the remote app on your phone which gives you a keyboard to use.

There is a massive oversight though... unless I'm completely blind, there is no way to view the latest videos you subscribe to.

you can.
you need to go into options, then sort by date. the latest vids will be first.

GeoffisPure

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#545773 15-Nov-2011 21:48

NonprayingMantis:
GeoffisPure: YouTube is really the only video channel worth using in my opinion. It works well, especially if you have the remote app on your phone which gives you a keyboard to use.

There is a massive oversight though... unless I'm completely blind, there is no way to view the latest videos you subscribe to.

you can.
you need to go into options, then sort by date. the latest vids will be first.

Can you tell me where to see the videos? When I go to "My Account" and then "subscriptions" I only see a list of people that I'm subscribed too... no videos (unless I select one of those people)