newVideoPlayer( {"type":"video","player":"http://www.youtube.com/v/xcceA03RHOU&hl=en&fs=1&fmt=22","customParams":[] ,"width":500,"height":400,"ratio":0.824,"flashData":"","embedName":null,"objectId":null,"noEmbed":false,"source":"youtube","wrap":true,"agegate":false} ); Everybody remembers Sony’s Bravia Bouncing Balls comercial where colourful, inoffensive bouncing balls dance across a city street, right? Nissan remixed that spot a few months ago and replaced the bouncing balls with bowling balls. Yes they did.
If you own a new Sony Bravia and have an affection for ABC’s iView, you might want to leave work early today… The iView channel on the Bravia Internet Video service has just gone live.
In the early stages of the upcoming IPTV battle, Sony is clearly out in front in Australia. The vast majority of their Bravia TVs have Bravia Internet Video – their IPTV channel – out of the box, and in terms of content, Sony are miles in front of the competition. But if you don’t want to have to buy a new TV to experience IPTV, they’ve also put the feature in their latest range of Blu-ray products.
The promise of Sony’s entry into the 3DTV market has been swirling since last September. Today they’re not just dipping their toes in the 3D waters; they’re delivering a full-on cannonball, with the launch of seven 3D and “3D-ready” TVs.
Samsung’s trying to push their 3D ecosystem in the lead up to the World Cup. Sony – an official World Cup partner – has opted to go with their old faithful bonus offer… Buy a selected Bravia TV and get a free bonus PS3.
Google’s TV ambitions scrambled into view last month, when the NYT outlined the company’s plans in broad strokes. Today, we learn a little more: Google – with Sony – is making an announcement next month, around a version of Android called Dragonpoint.
The announcement earlier today that the ABC are launching iView for Bravia TVs and certain internet enabled Sony Blu-ray players was marred by one little bit of disappointment – that the app version would be metered by all ISPs, including the ones who offer unmetered iView browser viewing. Here’s why:
The iView implementation on the PS3 kinda sucks. Not because it’s bad, but because it’s based in the browser… Which kinda sucks. That’s what makes the ABC announcement today that iView is coming to internet-enabled Bravia TVs and Sony Blu-ray players so exciting – it’ll have to run through a dedicated app so it can be navigated through a remote control, making it infinitely more awesome.
After spending a bit of time at Sony’s Bravia launch this morning checking out their new range of IPTV TVs, I also managed to have a bit of one-on-one time with their 3D displays. My initial impressions? “Wow!”, closely followed by “Don’t buy 3D yet…”
