Broadcast network
In addition to the BBC iPlayer, YouTube, DailyMotion, Demand 5 and dozens more, there’s Video Unlimited – Sony’s newly rechristened video-on-demand service, which offers a huge selection of new and recent releases in both SD and HD.
Sony's network portal
The screen can also stream content from local USB storage and from networked devices, but there’s no support for NAS-stored MKVs. There’s much better compliance from USB, with all key suffixes playing on cue.
Obviously, with a high-end Godzilla-tron like this, picture quality is paramount. The good news is this 55in titan is one big bowl of eye candy. Colour fidelity is fruity, while black levels are dark and suitably foreboding. Part of this is down to the image processing technology on-board, which includes Motionflow XR800, Sony’s fastest-ever picture polisher.
Back panel interconnects
It’s certainly effective. The Standard Motionflow setting delivers around 950-1000 lines of moving resolution; step up to the higher settings and there’s no loss of perceived detail at all. Motionflow does create occasional artefacts, seen as ripples around moving objects (background and subject dependant), but for general viewing and gaming, this is a price worth paying as the picture appears wonderfully sharp.
Personally, when watching film content I prefer to turn such high framerate frippery off. There’s a drop in motion resolution as a result, but film images look more cinematic – and when you have a screen as large as this to watch your Blu-ray’s on, that’s a big win.
Next page: Panel beating
COMMENTS
You'd think at the best part of three grand they'd throw in a second set of glasses.
Projector?
Once you have seen a decent HD projector you won't want a large TV. Picture quality is in a whole different league, so long as you can watch in reduced light.
As a Former Sony TV Product Planner.
Perhaps you are in a position to explain why Some formats (eg mkv) are playable from a USB drive but NOT playable from a DLNA Media Server (eg Twonky).. It's obvious that the device has the required codecs, so how/why can it not cope?!?
Just Why?
"The screen can also stream content from local USB storage and from networked devices, but there’s no support for NAS-stored MKVs."
Sometimes I think they do this deliberately so that they will have a selling point for a future model... or is that just me being sceptical.. Its obvious the device has the required codecs they are just crippled.. but it seems this is an industry collaboration/standard..
Panashitic do it too: http://www.reghardware.com/2011/11/18/review_panasonic_sc_btt270_blu_ray_home_theatre/
"As an adjunct to local USB media playback, the receiver will also stream across your network, although file compliancy is poor and presentation basic. While AVIs and MKV content unspooled from a stick, it wasn’t recognized on my Nas."
Oops again
So basically Sony has done another 'Trinitron grill line' thingy like last time?
Once you've noticed it, you keep on noticing it.... :)
Amazing how the same technology mistakes keep making a come back!
