Substantially limiting is the way how the whole system is implemented.
If somewhere Android draufsteht, I associate it with an open system, freedom in the choice of peripherals, usage of the Play Gate to expand with apps and widgets, the system functional.
Just go to the site Sony and Google a slightly different, GoogleTV way.
Hardware:
Is clearly designed for devices of Sony Bravia family (TV, BD player etc.). Who has such equipment, can also be used with the included remote control in these basic functions. In principle, the IR control third party has provided the code for this even coming from a server and could be theoretically up to date, but as always, this feature is only as good as it is also maintained. In my case the satellite receiver Kathrein UFS 922si has even been found, but none of the codes offered (4x) worked.
Furthermore, the ground through HDMI port is a nice idea, but it works only as long as the device is turned on, or in standby mode is operated (costs about 15 watts / h). When the box was shut down, a passive transmission of the signal is not possible and the Satreceiver then remains flat black. So everyone has to consider whether it is the current over 24 hours worth having an ingrained TV picture available at the time of the actual use of the GTV? Other functions, such as recordings of the live image are not possible because the necessary for this digital video grabber in the hardware does not exist.
The keyboard is neat and shows how to implement in a small space a MPC keyboard, but there are now comparable as an accessory (Pixxee) or even at other media boxes like the Boxee (Intel-based open source media player)
Software:
As already mentioned is based on the Box Android 3.2, with limited access to PlayStore. So only installing apps is possible in principle, have a GTV identifier. Although it is a certain selection of apps available yet, because I have not counted them, I can not name the exact number, but felt max. 150-200 Apps are lists. Even Google has not yet own any Apps. adapted. So I can not install later, for example Gmail, but would be nice, because the box does not require a separate e-mail client.
Furthermore, the software basic equipment is down a bit poor. For example, there is no calendar or an address book, Widgets are basically not provided as not to be positioned on the surface Apps Launcher also. Downloaded apps are always in alphabetical order are in their own apps folder.
The GTV Launcher makes its own arrangement of apps not, alternative Launchers to be more flexible before, but can not change anything to the problem, as this is obviously set in Android so.
DLNA worked for me using the default configuration of the box does not know until after I had BubbleAV retrofitted and another media player, the box was about eden with my TV, Twonky Server or Android DLNA server / client to talk. For the "normal" user is probably definitely too much "manual labor".
The integrated player can only its own internal memory and the USB ports (FAT16 / 32 formatted, no support NTSC) query and can not be called from other apps and thus not integrated into DLNA clients .. Known apps like Tagesschau, ZDFmediathek or Counter can not be installed, will not also find in the store. Funnily enough, but the PlayStore displays all belonging to own Account Apps whether they can be installed or not.
My conclusion is mixed.
If someone is looking for a local Media Player (without local media server support for NAS / DLNA Server) with which one sometimes wants reserves on the Internet, or borrow a movie from Google Movie, then please, everyone else I recommend, if it is to be an Android-based Box which now coming onto the market HDMI dongles / boxes with Cortex A9 Dual Core 1.5GHz, 8GB RAM and Android 4.1 to buy for less than half the money, those things are completely open to the play goals and a good little keyboard MPC provided, as easy on TV to use as the GTV and simply better performance (because newer and more potent hardware / latest Android version, which is also "lean" in the kernel)
Sony and Google, because you have to refuel, but because you have delivered a product here that even offers users even fewer opportunities than the anyway closed AppleTV (with jailbreak and XBMC Media Player software of ATV2 plays then anyway in another league).