Sony to launch smart dongle

Sony has confirmed plans to launch a dongle that will add smart TV features to its regular televisions.

Speaking to Variety magazine, Sony said that the new Smart Stick, set to rival Google’s Chromecast, will offer access to a range of online content including video, music and games.

Sony’s Smart Stick offers more content apps than Chromecast does, and provides an on-screen guide and dedicated remote control; however at $150, Sony’s dongle is priced significantly higher than Google’s $35 stick, which launched in the US in July.

While Chromecast can be plugged into any HDMI-enabled TV (high-definition multimedia interface), the Smart Stick only works with Sony’s Bravia television line.

Digital media analyst at Enders Analysis, Ian Maude, said that for many consumers it will boil down to it being $150 versus $35.

“Sony is offering yet another device without offering anything that different from other internet-enabled set-top boxes,” he said.

Maude concluded by saying that despite there being a clear demand to watch internet video via a TV set, there is a whole new price point for these devices, and does not think that at $150 the Smart Stick will take off.