Sony DMXNV1 Bravia Internet Video Link

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12 x 14 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000RFURG0
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)

Product Description

Manufacturer's Description

The BRAVIA Internet Video Link (BIVL) is a small module that attaches discreetly to the back of a selection of  select Sony BRAVIA LCD flat-panel television models, and seamlessly streams on-demand entertainment via an existing Ethernet connection including movies, TV programs, your favorite YouTube videos and a variety of other free content as well as news, weather and traffic information  without the use of a personal computer. A broadband connection of at least 2.5 Mbps is recommended. Content is easily navigated with Sony’s Technical Emmy award-winning Xross Media Bar user interface.

We should say something about what the BIVL is not. The BIVL does not give you access to the full internet on your television, but it does give you access to a large number of rich media channels, including some video-on-demand, some of which are exclusive to BIVL. Access to all of the channels is free, although there may be a charge for some of the content available through video-on-demand channels (e.g. movies).  At the time of this writing, the content available via the BIVL includes: Amazon Instant Video -- Watch more than 50,000 movies and TV shows for as little as $0.99 each (Learn more about AVOD on BIVL) YouTube -- millions of user-created videos full episodes of CBS television programs CBS College Sports broadcasts Wired.com -- exclusive original reporting (some serious, some funny) on technology and video gaming C-Spot -- original character and story-driven episodic series Yahoo! AOL Sports Illustrated blip.tv CondéNet’s Style.com and Men.Style.com Epicurious and Concierge.com channels Sony Pictures’ Crackle The Minisode Network (condensed versions of television programs) Inside Sony Pictures channel FEARnet Ford Models SingingFool VideoDetective.

The Bravia Internet Video Link is a small, sleek module that attached unobtrusively to the back of your compatible Bravia HDTV

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Xross Media Bar

Xross (pronounced Cross) is Sony's Technical-Emmy award-winning graphic user interface for Sony WEGA and BRAVIA televisions and PS3 and PSX game systems. The interface features category icons spread horizontally across the screen that organize the viewing options (TV, Music, Internet, Tools, etc...). When a category icon is selected on the horizontal bar, a vertical bar appears showing the viewing options within that category. Using the directional pad on your remote, you can easily maneuver horizontally from category to category, then scroll vertically through individual viewing options to easily navigate through the wide range of programming available on today's televisions.

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Basic Q&A on the Bravia Internet Video Link

1. What does the Bravia Internet Video Link do?
   It delivers streaming video and entertainment content to the TV, creating a TV viewing experience using content from the Internet.
   
   
2. Do I need to connect it to a PC?
   No. It connects directly to the Internet to provide a TV experience. No PC is required.
   
   
3. What kind of content can I expect with this product?
   You will see video content that includes user generated content, movies, music videos, movie trailers, RSS video, and other TV like content, including Amazon Instant Video.
   
   
4. How do I connect it to the Internet?
   Bravia Internet Video Link uses your existing broadband internet service and supports a direct wireless router connection, a direct home Ethernet connection, a gaming adapter connection, a powerline adapter connection.
   
   
5. Does this product have a hard drive?
   This product does not have a hard drive. All content will be streamed sent directly to the Bravia Internet Video Link.
   
   
6. Will you be able to stream High Definition content?
   Yes, you can stream HD content assuming you have sufficient broadband connection speed to support it. The Bravia Internet Video Link supports the Amazon Instant Video service, which offers over 50,000 movies and TV shows, many of which are available in HD.
   
   
7. Will there be HDTV content available?
   The Sony service will offer some HD content.We expect to expand the selection in future.
   
   
8. What about the quality of Internet video content?
   There will be a variety of video content with different levels of quality available to view. The quality of the internet video will depend on the source material, the content providers, and your broadband connection speed.
   
   
9. Does Bravia Internet Video Link work on any TV?
   No, this product works only with any Sony Bravia TVs that are DMeX capable

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Product Description

The BRAVIA Internet Video Link is an optional module that connects to DMeX–ready BRAVIA televisions. It allows access to streaming Internet video entertainment from popular sites with which Sony has partnered with. Navigation is fun and easy. The Xross Media Bar™ on-screen interface gives you access to a rich amount of content at no additional charge with your existing broadband connection. With the push of a button, a customized page based on your zip code automatically delivers the latest news, weather, and traffic straight to your BRAVIA TV.Would you rather huddle around a PC display to watch streaming online videos and content from popular Internet video sites or view it on your large screen BRAVIA HDTV while sitting comfortably in the family room? The choice is now easy thanks to the BRAVIA Internet Video Link module.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

117 of 128 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!, December 15, 2007

By 

R. Crowe (RBC, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony DMXNV1 Bravia Internet Video Link (Electronics)

Unless you are prepared to watch video clips, from 1-5 minutes, with poor video (Not HDTV quailty), poor sound (Not Digital quality). I was lead to believe I would be able to watch full length movies and TV shows, not trailers. What a laugh!!! Don't bite!! Don't waste your money!! Spend it on a Blu-ray player instead.

65 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sadly a stillborn attempt at VOD by Sony., March 6, 2008

By 

Pasha Supreme - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sony DMXNV1 Bravia Internet Video Link (Electronics)

When Sony announced the Bravia Internet Video Link, the concept sounded great. VOD on my TV controlled by the same remote and all native.

BUT this product is nothing more than a dead-end. The content is lackluster at best and totally out of date. The video quality is no better than a YouTube-ish website and the sound as abysmal. Its such a sad shame that Sony botched this up. It really does not add up to a worthwhile purchase. I do hope Sony learns from this mistake and puts in a more scalable VOD system directly into their Bravia TVs.

Sony has updated the Bravia Internet Video Link but I can't run the update until I update the Sony Bravia XBR KDL-32XBR4 32" TV... and to do that I need to call some 800 Number.

IF you are looking for a VOD Product that has HD content and seems to have a direction (albiet slow one at best), I highly recommend the Apple TV 160GB.

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Improving content condition, July 18, 2008

By 

T. S. Kelly (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony DMXNV1 Bravia Internet Video Link (Electronics)

Though the price point of $299 USD is still disproportionate to the benefit, the recently announced addition of Amazon downloads makes this a more compelling option. That said, if one already has an Apple TV and/or a Roku box, you are likely already getting better entertainment value in the long run compared to this device.

If Amazon offers a superior VOD selection than the current 'direct to TV' streaming options, this could quickly change. However, we will ALL have to wait until the new VOD service is launched to 'all' existing Internet Link users (not just select ones) later this summer.