Google Tv on a Sony Bravia - what the hell is it?
Discussion
Just got a Sony Bravia 55 OLED tv (A80JU) and it has Google TV if I want to set it up. I did so after the initial set up and it seems to add a layer of complexity to the UI, but I’m struggling to see what benefits it brings.
Anyway I’ve deleted the account and started from scratch again with the TV, but is Google TV worth having, will it allow me to watch more channels or movies for example or is it just a way for Google to find out more about me with a veneer of some sort of improvement?
Anyway I’ve deleted the account and started from scratch again with the TV, but is Google TV worth having, will it allow me to watch more channels or movies for example or is it just a way for Google to find out more about me with a veneer of some sort of improvement?
Your Sony Television runs the Android OS and Google TV is the UI that allows you to interact with the smart features such as catch-up TV (Netflix, iPlayer, Prime, etc) as well as games and applications. There will be a curated app store containing android applications suitable for Google TV.
You potentially will be missing out on a large slice of functionality by not configuring it.
You potentially will be missing out on a large slice of functionality by not configuring it.
FunkyGibbon said:
IMHO I think the Google TV interface is great. YMMV
Not keen myself, it's a bit flakey and I occasionally have to switch the TV off at the mains to fix it. The recording facilities are difficult to access and the fact that there is no delete key on the Sony remote is a drop off.JackReacher said:
I find the android os on my year old Sony a bit of pain. In theory it looks very good, but it can be very laggy and occasionally crashes. No such issues with the system on our LG OLED which is much more responsive.
I have to say I was swayed to buying the Sony OLED over the LG equivalent because the reviews said it had a slightly better picture (unless you were a gamer and despte using the same panel) and better sound (which is very good for a TV), despite some criticism of the interface. I'm not sure I made the right choice....JackReacher said:
I find the android os on my year old Sony a bit of pain. In theory it looks very good, but it can be very laggy and occasionally crashes. No such issues with the system on our LG OLED which is much more responsive.
Out of interest what LG have you got? I’m backwards and forwards at the moment. This is the current favourite in 65”
https://www.richersounds.com/lg-oled65c14lb.html
bcr5784 said:
JackReacher said:
I find the android os on my year old Sony a bit of pain. In theory it looks very good, but it can be very laggy and occasionally crashes. No such issues with the system on our LG OLED which is much more responsive.
I have to say I was swayed to buying the Sony OLED over the LG equivalent because the reviews said it had a slightly better picture (unless you were a gamer and despte using the same panel) and better sound (which is very good for a TV), despite some criticism of the interface. I'm not sure I made the right choice..... Bravia = apparently better processing of lower res pictures. Bravia was always better in the past, maybe not such a big deal these days.
. DTS passthrough which you don't get with the LG C1. This was a bit of a deal breaker over the C1 as I have an AV receiver setup.
. Prefer the slightly less shiny screen of the Sony (a massive black glossy screen does look a bit naff IMO)
Downsides over the LG C1...only 2 HDMI 2.1 inputs, and one of those is reserved for ARC (as it needs that for DTS-HD passthrough)
So difficult picking a TV as they ALL have good points and bad points.
Timothy Bucktu said:
Oh no...don't say this. I've just this morning submitted a price match request to John Lewis for the A80j because...
. Bravia = apparently better processing of lower res pictures. Bravia was always better in the past, maybe not such a big deal these days.
. DTS passthrough which you don't get with the LG C1. This was a bit of a deal breaker over the C1 as I have an AV receiver setup.
. Prefer the slightly less shiny screen of the Sony (a massive black glossy screen does look a bit naff IMO)
Downsides over the LG C1...only 2 HDMI 2.1 inputs, and one of those is reserved for ARC (as it needs that for DTS-HD passthrough)
So difficult picking a TV as they ALL have good points and bad points.
To be fair I haven't actually seen the 48" LG, but I do have the Sony 48A9. My major beef is the interface, but there are some functionality issues. . Bravia = apparently better processing of lower res pictures. Bravia was always better in the past, maybe not such a big deal these days.
. DTS passthrough which you don't get with the LG C1. This was a bit of a deal breaker over the C1 as I have an AV receiver setup.
. Prefer the slightly less shiny screen of the Sony (a massive black glossy screen does look a bit naff IMO)
Downsides over the LG C1...only 2 HDMI 2.1 inputs, and one of those is reserved for ARC (as it needs that for DTS-HD passthrough)
So difficult picking a TV as they ALL have good points and bad points.
Given that it has twin tuners for both digital and satellite I did hope that I might be able to dispense with my PVR - but really no chance. It will only record a single programme at a time - and series link recording is far too difficult to set up. Why you can't press the record button from the guide and then select "series" I don't know - but you can't.
I can navigate my way round the interface - but my OH, who is the main user, finds it difficult, and I don't blame her. I have spent quite a bit of time customising the interface and removing Apps I don't use - but it still seems cumbersome
On the plus side I can control my Panasonic PVR via the Sony remote - but some functions are hard to access. Controlling a Sony PVR might be easier I suppose.
However there may be plenty of issues that I might like on an LG OLED that I don't like - but I just don't know.
Finally are you sure there only 2 HDMI interfaces - mine has 4.
Edited by bcr5784 on Saturday 1st January 12:30
As I said earlier I quite like the Android TV interface on my Sony
However, the interface is hardly ever used.
Turn on sky and TV starts on sky.
Turn on blue-ray TV changed to blue-ray
Turn on Xbox Tv changes to X box.
Want Netflix or YouTube use the buttons on remote.
For me it just works. No laggyness no issues at all
But I appreciate YMMV.
Plus the picture is outstanding IMHO
However, the interface is hardly ever used.
Turn on sky and TV starts on sky.
Turn on blue-ray TV changed to blue-ray
Turn on Xbox Tv changes to X box.
Want Netflix or YouTube use the buttons on remote.
For me it just works. No laggyness no issues at all
But I appreciate YMMV.
Plus the picture is outstanding IMHO
FunkyGibbon said:
As I said earlier I quite like the Android TV interface on my Sony
However, the interface is hardly ever used.
Turn on sky and TV starts on sky.
Turn on blue-ray TV changed to blue-ray
Turn on Xbox Tv changes to X box.
Want Netflix or YouTube use the buttons on remote.
For me it just works. No laggyness no issues at all
But I appreciate YMMV.
Plus the picture is outstanding IMHO
Just shows how peoples setups vary and how they use them differs greatly. I don't have laggyness issues either (though it sometimes takes 2/3/4 button presses for functions that should only need one). Agree that the picture is outstanding - though not better in every respect than the plasma it replaced.However, the interface is hardly ever used.
Turn on sky and TV starts on sky.
Turn on blue-ray TV changed to blue-ray
Turn on Xbox Tv changes to X box.
Want Netflix or YouTube use the buttons on remote.
For me it just works. No laggyness no issues at all
But I appreciate YMMV.
Plus the picture is outstanding IMHO
bcr5784 said:
Not keen myself, it's a bit flakey and I occasionally have to switch the TV off at the mains to fix it. The recording facilities are difficult to access and the fact that there is no delete key on the Sony remote is a drop off.
Have you tried the button that looks like a tv screen with 4 dots along the bottom? deletes from my humax using this button. 
ade73 said:
Have you tried the button that looks like a tv screen with 4 dots along the bottom? deletes from my humax using this button.
No I hadn't - but thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately it doesn't work on panasonic recorders. I have to press the "info" button, which gives you missing buttons on screen, then select "option" then "delete" - a real pain.Ordered an A80J today from John Lewis. Also ordered the better backlit A90J remote.
I was also looking the the LG C1, but seeing them both side by side playing the same content (and both on standard pic mode) the Sony A80J’s colours looked more accurate. LG seemed to be very strong on the colours. But some people prefer that.
Best thing about this OS is that you can side install Smart Tv Next - basically youtube without all the adverts for free. It also skips in video ads/sponsership sections that the author is saying. Can also preset video quality so they are all forced to play in the quality you want (if available).
I was also looking the the LG C1, but seeing them both side by side playing the same content (and both on standard pic mode) the Sony A80J’s colours looked more accurate. LG seemed to be very strong on the colours. But some people prefer that.
Best thing about this OS is that you can side install Smart Tv Next - basically youtube without all the adverts for free. It also skips in video ads/sponsership sections that the author is saying. Can also preset video quality so they are all forced to play in the quality you want (if available).
Edited by mob17 on Thursday 6th January 02:16
mob17 said:
Ordered an A80J today from John Lewis. Also ordered the better backlit A90J remote.
I was also looking the the LG C1, but seeing them both side by side playing the same content (and both on standard pic mode) the Sony A80J’s colours looked more accurate. LG seemed to be very strong on the colours. But some people prefer that.
Although pricey the backlit remote is a good idea - very difficult to see the lettering on the standard remote in anything other than bright light. Intesting your comments on the LG colours - even in standard I think the colours on the Sony are oversaturated. Cinema looks more natural to me.I was also looking the the LG C1, but seeing them both side by side playing the same content (and both on standard pic mode) the Sony A80J’s colours looked more accurate. LG seemed to be very strong on the colours. But some people prefer that.
Edited by mob17 on Thursday 6th January 02:16
bcr5784 said:
Although pricey the backlit remote is a good idea - very difficult to see the lettering on the standard remote in anything other than bright light. Intesting your comments on the LG colours - even in standard I think the colours on the Sony are oversaturated. Cinema looks more natural to me.
I found a source via avforums for the remote, genuine and less than £40: https://www.emerx.eu/sony-rmf-tx621e-original-back...I guess for the colours its subjective and so many variables with pic settings, source and panel issues. They are both excellent TVs so it is really nit picking!
I have an older AF9 Sony.
No lag and the interface is OK. Only bummer is that a later update put the catchup apps in a different place to everything else, which is a bit daft (I had them sideloaded on the main app interface previously).
The main test is wife/kids navigability...and it passes that just fine.
Really wanted an Android TV so I could install Kodi natively (check). But the picture on the Sony is stunning (and the sounds is good enough that I use the screen speaker as my centre channel).
The upgraded remote is well worth buying. Much nicer thing to use (kids are banned from touching - they can use the original rubberised one they've chewed up and dropped a million times).
No lag and the interface is OK. Only bummer is that a later update put the catchup apps in a different place to everything else, which is a bit daft (I had them sideloaded on the main app interface previously).
The main test is wife/kids navigability...and it passes that just fine.
Really wanted an Android TV so I could install Kodi natively (check). But the picture on the Sony is stunning (and the sounds is good enough that I use the screen speaker as my centre channel).
The upgraded remote is well worth buying. Much nicer thing to use (kids are banned from touching - they can use the original rubberised one they've chewed up and dropped a million times).
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