Sony’s $300 Internet Video Link add-on box for BRAVIA-series TVs has recently added the Slacker streaming music service to the list of available channels. Also added was content from Howcast.com, a site that contains a series of user-generated how-to videos. Slacker ought to lend some good music features to Sony’s service and Howcast has won some awards from TIME and PC Magazine, so both seem like good additions.
Full release after the jump…
SONY ADDS SLACKER PERSONAL RADIO TO BRAVIA INTERNET VIDEO LINK SERVICE
Howcast Also Added to Expanding Channel Line Up
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 19, 2008 – Sony today introduced Slacker Personal Radio and Howcast Media as the latest Sony® BRAVIA® Internet Video Link content providers.
Slacker Personal Radio delivers millions of licensed songs and more than 100 individually programmed genre music stations, while Howcastoffers up a selection of its engaging how-to videos. Both channels offer content at no additional charge to BRAVIA Internet Video Link users.
“Internet content is expanding faster than ever and Sony is bringing it straight to BRAVIA televisions,” said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division. “Slacker andHowcast are great examples of new types of entertainment that are bridging the gap from an Internet experience to entertainment shared in the living room.”
Slacker’s library of CD-quality music across all genres and eras ensures that music lovers can enjoy radio stations on their BRAVIA HDTV ranging from music of the golden-era classics to today’s hottest hits. By simply linking their BRAVIA Internet Video Link to your online Slacker account, users can easily enjoy their own custom Slacker stations created online where they have fine-tuned categories to set artist, year, popularity and more.
Slacker’s service also allows users to personalize choice across the web, BRAVIA Internet Video Link, Slacker G2 or soon on BlackBerrysmartphones, ensuring that your favorite artists and ratings follow you to whatever device you’re using.
Recently named a top website of 2008 by both Time and PC Magazine, Howcast.com features useful how-to videos and guides. Howcast will offer nearly 100 videos on the BRAVIA Internet Video Link including select content from channels like “Hot How-To’s,” “Fun & Games,” “Food & Drink,” “Home & Family,” and “Health & Beauty.”
The BRAVIA Internet Video Link Module, which attaches to the back of a compatible BRAVIA TV, streams on-demand entertainment including hit movies, televisions shows, user generated videos, and a variety of other high-definition and standard-definition content not found on network or cable/satellite TV. The module connects to the Internet via an existing broadband Ethernet connection and streams content, much of which is available at no additional charge.
The Slacker and Howcast channels add to the existing BRAVIA Internet Video Link lineup, which already includes Amazon Video OnDemand; YouTube; Dailymotion; CBS; Yahoo!; Sports Illustrated; blip.tv;CondéNet’s Style.com, Men.Style.com, Epicurious, Wired.com and Concierge.com channels; Sony Pictures’ Crackle, and others.
The device is currently available for about $300 and can be purchased online at www.sonystyle.com, Sony Style retail stores and Sony authorized retailers across the country.