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Sony Internet TV vs. Samsung Internet@TV

Google’s announcement of Google TV promises to revolutionize the level of interaction between your television and the Internet, but the concept itself is not new. Many devices already have varying levels of Internet connectivity and service.

Two of the largest TV and Blu-ray Disc player (BDP) manufacturers, Sony and Samsung, both offer Internet services through many of their TVs and BDPs. From music and video streaming to social networking, their offerings continue to grow. But which one is better?  We will look at the user interfaces, the services and applications offered, and the types of devices available, all in an effort to help you make a better informed decision for your next purchase.

Interface

Both manufacturers give the user full control over their interfaces using the supplied remotes.

Sony has a pretty standard interface across most of its devices. The interface that you find on the Playstation 3 and PSP is the same one used for Sony TVs and BDPs. It is intentionally plain and bi-directional. If you like that, you will not be disappointed with any of Sony’s products. If you do not like it, you are pretty much stuck. What it lacks in style, it makes up for in usability and simplicity.

Sony’s Internet TV is available for most Bravia devices, Internet-ready TVs and Blu-ray Disc players.

Samsung’s interface is more vivid, providing shiny buttons for each app and the ability to add or remove apps from the Samsung App Store, all built into the interface. You can also add and arrange favorite apps. It still manages to keep some of the simplicity of Sony’s interface, while also adding some nice visuals.

Samsung’s Internet@TV is available for newer LCD and LED TVs, as well as many Blu-ray Disc players.

Services

Sony currently offers about 30 Internet content providers, including audio content like Pandora, Slacker, and NPR, as well as video content like Netflix, Amazon On Demand, and YouTube. It is expected to add Hulu Plus in Fall of 2010, and Google TV will be added at some point in the future, although this may only be for new devices.

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In addition, Sony TVs have widgets for Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, and TV Guide. Sony also provides potentially game-breaking content in the form of Internet video podcasts, such as some of the G4 and Revision 3 shows. Unfortunately, they do not keep the feeds updated and do not allow users to change them. The feeds that still work, however, are useful but make it an inferior feature when compared to software like Boxee.

Sony does, however, provide a “play from computer” service for Internet-ready TVs only (not Blu-ray players), which requires Windows and certain video formats. This could make it easier to download online content and stream it to the television.

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Samsung currently showcases around 30 content providers, such as Blockbuster, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Cinemanow, Facebook, Skype, Google Maps, and a host of games.

One of the impressive additional features of Samsung is the App store, which will offer additional apps that users can add to their TVs. While Samsung has more options, it lacks some of the diversity of content that Sony has added.

Sony Internet TV Samsung Internet@TV
Amazon Video Accu Weather
Blip.tv Amazon Video
Concierge.com AP News
Crackle Blockbuster
Dailymotion Catch it
eHow Cinemanow
epicurious Dailymotion
Facebook Dalphy Trial
Fear Net Draculas Coffin
FORD Models Dynamic Bowling
Framechannel Facebook
Golf link.com Getty Images
Howcast Google Maps
Livestrong Hulu Plus
myplay Kurakku
Netflix Magic Cube Trial
NPR Mahjong Fruits
On Networks Memory
Pandora Minigame Pack T
PlayJam MiniMiniCook
Podcasts Netflix
Qriocity Pandora
Singing Fool Picassa
Slacker Quizmaster
Style.com Rockswap
TV Guide Rovi guide
Twitter SPS TV
USA Today Sports Sudoku
video detective Survival Bakery TriaSudoku+ Trial
Videocast.com Tcrew Trial
Wired Texas Holdem
Yahoo Finance Twitter
Yahoo music USA Today
Yahoo News, Weather, and Sports Vudu
YouTube Wisestar
Hulu Plus (Fall 2010) YouTube

With both manufacturers, the availability of services depends on the devices. For example, many of the widgets are only available on the TVs and not on the BDPs. Additionally, some services, like Amazon On Demand, Hulu Plus, and Netflix are available only at additional cost.  Both are also adding 3D support for 3D-ready televisions.

The Winner

Both manufacturers have built in a nice system that allows them to update their services over the Internet. This means that competition can be easily matched, if the companies are willing to keep their services updated and constantly evolving, as that is the nature of the Internet.

Samsung’s interface is more attractive, but Sony’s is simpler. Your choice will ultimately depend on preference.  The ability to add apps and mark favorites, however, pushes Samsung ahead of Sony.

They are about even in terms of the quantity of content providers. Samsung has a slight edge here with apps like Blockbuster, Vudu, and Hulu Plus, all with streaming HD video content.  Sony would have a clear advantage with their video podcasts, if they decided to pay them any attention and keep them updated. The “play from computer” capability is a definite plus, although they need to expand their supported formats and platforms.

Finally, the Samsung app store looks promising, and if it gets the kind of attention Samsung is hoping for, they will be the clear winners. Neither service allows true customization that you would get with an HTPC and media software like Boxee or XBMC.  That means that true integration of your TV with the Internet will still likely require a computer.

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I am a librarian with 8 years of experience in information architecture, technology, free and open source software, and electronic publishing. I have written hundreds of articles on topics ranging from information technology to politics. I also write fiction novels, short stories, and fables.

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