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November 19, 2008 10:05 AM PST

Slacker, Howcast added to Sony Bravia Internet Link channel line-up

by John P. Falcone
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Sony Bravia Internet Video Link, Slacker, Howcast (Credit: CBS Interactive)

Sony's Bravia Internet Video Link (or "BIVL," as we call it around here) is getting two more content partners: Slacker and Howcast. Slacker is the online streaming music service (similar to Pandora and Last.FM), while Howcast is a help and how-to Web site. Both will be available for free on the Sony IPTV accessory, which streams digital audio and video to compatible Bravia TVs. They join free channels available from YouTube, Wired, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo, and CBS (CNET's parent company), among others content partners.

Unfortunately, we gave Bravia Internet Video Link low marks when we reviewed it in October, and the new content isn't enough of a killer app to change that evaluation--it's still not a recommended purchase. The good news? Anyone interested in Slacker and Howcast content can access it straight from their respective Web sites (as linked). Slacker is also available on a variety of other portable and home devices as well, including Blackberrys and--perhaps--the iPhone (coming soon).

Related coverage:
Read the full review of the Sony DMX-NV1 Bravia Internet Video Link

Read the CNET editors' take of the Slacker Web Player

Slacker-compatible hardware compared

October 6, 2008 2:19 PM PDT

Sony Bravia Internet Video Link lacks luster

by Matthew Moskovciak
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The video-streaming product category is getting crowded. There's the Apple TV, Vudu, Xbox 360, Netflix Player, and PlayStation 3, not to mention the traditional video on-demand services from cable and satellite providers. Sony's Bravia Internet Video Link (also known as the BIVL) is fighting in the same space, but it starts out with one significant handicap--it only works with newer Sony Bravia LCDs.

If you don't already have a Sony Bravia LCD and don't want to buy one, don't worry about it, as you're not missing much with the BIVL. While it does differentiate itself significantly from its competition by offering lots of free content, we felt like we got what we paid for--most of the content was lackluster. More annoying was the sluggish interface, which was only made worse by haphazard organization of the program material. It wasn't all bad news, as the BIVL did reliably stream the video clips we selected, and the recent addition of Amazon's Video On-Demand service makes it more appealing. But, at the end of the day, almost everyone will be better off with one of the aforementioned alternatives, all of which offer better user experiences.

Read the full Sony Bravia Internet Video Link review.

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