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Sony Bravia Internet Video on 2011 Blu-ray players review

CNET reviews Sony Bravia Internet Video on 2011 Blu-ray players, finding it to offer more services than competitors, but its difficult user interface makes it less appealing.

Matthew Moskovciak Senior Associate Editor / Reviews - Home theater
Covering home audio and video, Matthew Moskovciak helps CNET readers find the best sights and sounds for their home theaters. E-mail Matthew or follow him on Twitter @cnetmoskovciak.
Matthew Moskovciak
4 min read
Sony Bravia Internet Video user interface
Sony's Bravia Internet Video is packed with streaming-media services, but its one-size-fits-all user interface holds it back. Matthew Moskovciak/CNET

They may be called Blu-ray players, but in 2011 they're as much about streaming-media services as they are about high-definition discs. With every manufacturer having a different collection of streaming-media services, we've been taking an in-depth look at each company's content portal for 2011.

Today, we're looking at Sony's Bravia Internet Video. Sony's content portal is significantly different than all of its competitors: there's no app store, nor are streaming services kept in a separate section of the user interface, and all the services--including Netflix--have an interface customized for Sony.

Sony's Bravia Internet video is the same on most 2011 Sony Blu-ray players--and home theater systems with built-in Blu-ray players--but considerably different from the Bravia Internet video content portal offered on Sony HDTVs.

Sony Bravia Internet Video streaming services vs. competitors