How do I get my hands on a Sony NSZ-GT1 (Bluray + Google TV)?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › How do I get my hands on a Sony NSZ-GT1 (Bluray + Google TV)?

SumnerBoy

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#97031 9-Feb-2012 12:46

I am very interested in getting one of these but I can't find anyone in NZ who is stocking them, nor any online sites overseas that will ship to NZ.

Anyone got any hot tips?!

B1GGLZ

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#579341 9-Feb-2012 16:23

Try here
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=sony+nsz-gt1&N=0&InitialSearch=yes
They ship to NZ but the shipping price is pretty horrendous for this item.
I've ordered items from them before and found their service excellent.
It probably won't work in NZ though.

SumnerBoy

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#579343 9-Feb-2012 16:27

Thanks Bigglz - had a look and yeah they want to charge $US99 to ship it to NZ!!!

Back to square one I think...

BTW - why do you say it probably won't work here in NZ? I am running Plex on my home server so I can use this device as a Plex client to stream all my local photos/music/movies to my TV. I should also be able to use the web browser and YouTube apps. And if I setup an Unblock-US account I should even be able to access Netflix movies. Or that is what I was hoping...!?

B1GGLZ

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#579979 10-Feb-2012 21:40

SumnerBoy:

BTW - why do you say it probably won't work here in NZ? I am running Plex on my home server so I can use this device as a Plex client to stream all my local photos/music/movies to my TV. I should also be able to use the web browser and YouTube apps. And if I setup an Unblock-US account I should even be able to access Netflix movies. Or that is what I was hoping...!?

I should have qualified that statement. Probably won't work with Internet movies services such as Netflix etc unless you can do some work arounds to access US only stuff.

JimmyH

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#579993 10-Feb-2012 22:04

Also probably won't work for quite a bit of Blu Ray. If you buy from the US it will be a Zone A box, so will only work with Zone A blu rays (which you can't really buy here) and multi zone blu rays (only some disks here are like this). Given that Sony are one of the scummiest companies around with respect to lock downs and DRM, I doubt this zoning can be changed.

SumnerBoy

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#579998 10-Feb-2012 22:09

Very good point Jimmy. Think I might need to do some more research.

lchiu7

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#584882 21-Feb-2012 22:56

Zone A BD might be a problem but most of the titles released here are all zone anyway so that would not be an issue. And if it is, you can always order titles from Amazon.

I have two BD players (one PS3 and an Oppo) and while I don't buy many BD's locally, I have only two titles that were region B only I could not play.

As for Netflix, that's easy enough to get around with either a VPN or Unblock-US.

I have the Logitech Revue which is a Google TV device also and I like it a lot. Of course there is no EPG integration and my TV signal is just from a FreevieHD box but for $79(US) it was cheap. But I can do basic control of the STB including channel changing and volume change (well it actually changes the volume on the AVR that's connected to it).

Youtube (the latest version for GTV) is great and I love using the Chrome browser on a big TV.

The Sony is better in that it does have a BD player and from I have read it plays more content types including MPEG2 and H.264 in a .ts container (what Freeview broadcasts).

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

SumnerBoy

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#588789 1-Mar-2012 12:10

Well I ended up getting a Revue (there was one on Trademe) as I was unable to find any sites to import a Sony or Logitech device without crazy shipping rates.

I must admit I am very impressed with the device. It is obviously not as 'integrated' as it is supposed to be, but like you I have it configured to control my AVR, TV and Sky box via basic IR commands. I love the ability of hitting a button and being able to flick between live TV and a Chrome session, or fire up Plex and view my local movies/photos/videos etc.

The app store is pretty light but hopefully that will improve over time and hopefully we will see the latest version of Android deployed to the Revue (like it has to the Sony).

Next on my list is to give Unblock-US a try and see if I can get some Netflix movies streaming.

Did you manage to get the iOS remote control app running? I can't seem to find it anywhere on the App Store, but I suspect it is a US-only app...

Sharesies

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

lchiu7

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#589028 1-Mar-2012 18:58

SumnerBoy: Well I ended up getting a Revue (there was one on Trademe) as I was unable to find any sites to import a Sony or Logitech device without crazy shipping rates.

I must admit I am very impressed with the device. It is obviously not as 'integrated' as it is supposed to be, but like you I have it configured to control my AVR, TV and Sky box via basic IR commands. I love the ability of hitting a button and being able to flick between live TV and a Chrome session, or fire up Plex and view my local movies/photos/videos etc.

The app store is pretty light but hopefully that will improve over time and hopefully we will see the latest version of Android deployed to the Revue (like it has to the Sony).

Next on my list is to give Unblock-US a try and see if I can get some Netflix movies streaming.

Did you manage to get the iOS remote control app running? I can't seem to find it anywhere on the App Store, but I suspect it is a US-only app...

Sounds like you like it also.

When you say get the latest version of Android the latest version for GoogleTV is HC 3.1. I had mine upgraded as soon as I turned it on. I am not aware of any ICS build for GoogleTV yet.

I don't have an iPhone so I have not tried that. But I do have a Harmony Remote which I can use to control the device. Interestingly though, the IR Blaster in the Revue is much more powerful than the Harmony so once I have used the Harmony to turn on the AVR, switch it to the right input and turn on the TV, it's much easier t control things from the keyboard.

I love YouTube on it - way better than watching on a computer.

Netflix should work with unblock-us but you will need to use a VPN or something and it should work fine with your PC unless you are using an ISP like TCL who use a transparent proxy which breaks unblock-us on port 80 (but no problem with devices like the Revue or PS3 that don't use port 80)

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

SumnerBoy

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#589041 1-Mar-2012 19:38

There is a update for the Sony devices for 3.2 I believe. The big thing with that upgrade is it supports HTTP live streaming so opens up a whole load more streaming options apparently.

But yeah, I really do like this little box. Can't believe they are discontinuing it!