Sony has announced the release of its Google TV stick. The speculation has been that this stick would compete against the Chromecast dongle—a device controlled by mobile devices and computers to stream web videos, YouTube, and Netflix. Vague descriptions in a Sony blog and in a subsequent press release had a number of bloggers guessing what the new Sony stick can do. The truth about the NXZ-GU1 Bravia Smart Stick is that it is simply a Google TV add-on to 2013 Sony TVs.
The Smart Stick does not mirror devices or Chrome, and is controlled using the TV’s remote control or its own Google TV remote. Like other Google TVs, it will have built-in apps along with the full range of Google TV apps to download from the Google Play store. Users can connect their cable or satellite receiver to the dongle for live TV and DVR integration with the Google TV and control by an IR blaster connected to the port on the stick.
