Christopher

At CES 2011, Sony was showing off a new $399 external display for DSLR’s or any other camera with a HDMI (mini) output, which includes many Sony models. The CLM-V55 is a 5″ External LCD Viewing Monitor for live view video and stills, and a perfect compliment to a tripod setup and many other situations. Other key features include: Peaking support for precise focusing Tiltable up to 90 degrees with supplied adapter Swivel up to 360 degrees for superior flexibility Headphone jack for audio monitoring LCD hood for viewing in bright conditions HDMI cable and shoe adapters included The LCD has a 16:9 aspect ratio, but can display 4:3. Overall resolution is pegged at 800

Sony had many interesting demonstrations of upcoming/concept glasses-free 3D technology at CES 2011. An interesting character in that group was the little “Glasses-free 3D Portable Blu-ray Player,” which allows you to spin 3D movies anywhere, without glasses. The specifications are pretty straightforward for its small size, as it sports a normal 10.1″ LCD at 1366×768 resolution. The 3D effect is not as bad as you would think. After spending several minutes watching the various demo footage I was slightly impressed. There was dimensionality around objects, but it wasn’t anything mind blowing. When the character (in the photos below) was walking around the forest I could feel the layers of scene around her, and the trees seemed authentic at certain points. At other points it was lackluster. I think it will still be a really unique device that could appeal to those who have Blu-ray 3D movies. Could it also be a product that entices someone to get into Blu-ray 3D? Hard to tell. If I had the money to throw around I might get it for the family. Maybe if I traveled a lot. Would you buy a product like this? The styling on top of this Blu-ray player was radical and embossed with a high gloss, carbon-fiber ribbon top with a lush shade of subdued neon blue. It, like many other products for Sony at CES 2011, represented even bolder style experimentation than previous generations. There is no doubt this device would attract attention. And fingerprints. View the full article

Sony had many interesting demonstrations of upcoming/concept glasses-free 3D technology at CES 2011. An interesting character in that group was the little “Glasses-free 3D Portable Blu-ray Player,” which allows you to spin 3D movies anywhere, without glasses. The specifications are pretty straightforward for its small size, as it sports a normal 10.1″ LCD at 1366×768 resolution. The 3D effect is not as bad as you would think. After spending several minutes watching the various demo footage I was slightly impressed. There was dimensionality around objects, but it wasn’t anything mind blowing. When the character (in the photos below) was walking around the forest I could feel the layers of scene around her, and the trees seemed authentic at certain points. At other points it was lackluster. I think it will still be a really unique device that could appeal to those who have Blu-ray 3D movies. Could it also be a product that entices someone to get into Blu-ray 3D? Hard to tell. If I had the money to throw around I might get it for the family. Maybe if I traveled a lot. Would you buy a product like this? The styling on top of this Blu-ray player was radical and embossed with a high gloss, carbon-fiber ribbon top with a lush shade of subdued neon blue. It, like many other products for Sony at CES 2011, represented even bolder style experimentation than previous generations. There is no doubt this device would attract attention. And fingerprints. View the full article

http://www.sonyinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSC00288.png Sony had many interesting demonstrations of upcoming/concept glasses-free 3D technology at CES 2011. An interesting character in that group was the little “Glasses-free 3D Portable Blu-ray Player,” which allows you to spin 3D movies anywhere, without glasses. The specifications are pretty straightforward for its small size, as it sports a normal 10.1″ LCD at 1366×768, which can play HD at that resolution. The 3D effect is not as bad as you would think. After spending several minutes watching the various demo footage I was slightly impressed. There was dimensionality around objects, but it wasn’t anything mind blowing. When the character (in the photos below) was walking around the forest I could feel the layers of scene around her, and the trees seemed authentic at certain points. At other points it was lackluster. I think it will still be a really unique device that could appeal to those who have Blu-ray 3D movies. Could it also be a product that entices someone to get into Blu-ray 3D? Hard to tell. If I had the money to throw around I might get it for the family. Maybe if I traveled a lot. Would you buy a product like this? http://www.sonyinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSC00289.png The styling on top of this Blu-ray player was radical and embossed with a high gloss, carbon-fiber ribbon top with a lush shade of subdued neon blue. It, like many other products for Sony at CES 2011, represented even bolder style experimentation than previous generations. There is no doubt this device would attract attention. And fingerprints. [sthumbs=2210|2212|2213,160,3,n,center,] [url={url}]View the full article[/url]

One great new feature added to 2011 BRAVIA devices (TV, Blu-ray players, etc) is the embedded Skype application. The camera (CMU-BR100) used for Skype isn’t built into the television, and is sold separately. You can video call anyone with Skype, even on mobile devices, or make voice calls while watching TV. It’s been puzzling as to why it took Sony so long to launch video chat for their TVs, as Samsung and other manufacturers launched Skype for their sets back at CES 2010. We spent some time with Skype for BRAVIA at CES 2011, and our impressions are mixed. The version we saw was still in prototype form, but seemed very close to the final product. The CMU-BR100 camera module itself is very small, and the shape somewhat reminds me of the Microsoft Kinect. It is definitely far smaller and lighter than the Kinect, though. Video quality maxes out at 720p resolution, which is on par with the competition. The camera has an array of four microphones as well. There is a flap at the bottom that is also made out of rubber, which I assume helps prevent the camera from slipping off smooth surfaces. The actual video quality of Skype for BRAVIA was mediocre, and didn’t even feel like 720p. There was problems with sharpness and also jagged blocks were evident during movement. To be fair, though, I must remind you the demo I witnessed was a prototype. There’s also the fact that in Las Vegas during CES, nearly all Internet connections are completely overloaded so that also had a significant impact on quality. I assume the final version, on a good broadband connection, will look and feel like 720p quality. We will be following up with Sony to see what the price of the CMU-BR100 will be and if the camera is backwards compatible with 2010 BRAVIA devices. We shot many pictures of the service in action, including: contact list, profile view, on-screen call notification, video call interface, tools menu, and several settings menus. View the full article

One great new feature added to 2011 BRAVIA devices (TV, Blu-ray players, etc) is the embedded Skype application. The camera (CMU-BR100) used for Skype isn’t built into the television, and is sold separately. You can video call anyone with Skype, even on mobile devices, or make voice calls while watching TV. It’s been puzzling as to why it took Sony so long to launch video chat for their TVs, as Samsung and other manufacturers launched Skype for their sets back at CES 2010. We spent some time with Skype for BRAVIA at CES 2011, and our impressions are mixed. The version we saw was still in prototype form, but seemed very close to the final product. The CMU-BR100 camera module itself is very small, and the shape somewhat reminds me of the Microsoft Kinect. It is definitely far smaller and lighter than the Kinect, though. Video quality maxes out at 720p resolution, which is on par with the competition. The camera has an array of four microphones as well. There is a flap at the bottom that is also made out of rubber, which I assume helps prevent the camera from slipping off smooth surfaces. The actual video quality of Skype for BRAVIA was mediocre, and didn’t even feel like 720p. There was problems with sharpness and also jagged blocks were evident during movement. To be fair, though, I must remind you the demo I witnessed was a prototype. There’s also the fact that in Las Vegas during CES, nearly all Internet connections are completely overloaded so that also had a significant impact on quality. I assume the final version, on a good broadband connection, will look and feel like 720p quality. We will be following up with Sony to see what the price of the CMU-BR100 will be and if the camera is backwards compatible with 2010 BRAVIA devices. We shot many pictures of the service in action, including: contact list, profile view, on-screen call notification, video call interface, tools menu, and several settings menus. View the full article

With much excitement and totally being overwhelmed here at CES 2011, we wanted to thank you all who checked out our today’s posts during Sony’s Press Conference. Being here at the Sony booth (I am not even sure why they call it a booth, because it is a humongous Sony infused area) is simply mesmerizing and at the same time amazing to be among the first to experience and have hands on experience with products that will be hitting the store shelves later in the year. We will do our best to bring some unique information about the new products, provide you with video footage as well as supplement with interesting interviews and dialogues we will be involved in while being here on the floor. If you have missed our first array of posts, feel free to check out

Sony has debuted a radically different HD Handycam compared to years past – it has a built-in video projector. Known as the PJ series, the camcorders, launched at CES 2011, will carry the HDR-PJ50V, HDR-PJ30V, and and HDR-PJ10 model names. Before you laugh off a tiny projector built on the opposite side of the LCD screen, check out these specifications. The PJ series can actually project an video and images up to 60 inches (when standing 18 feet away). The camcorder, like other 2011 Handycam models, has stereo speakers built in with S-Master digital amplifier and Clear Phase technologies. Talk about a unique way to share the family outing! Other features include large hard drive capacities, 1080/60p video recording (up to 24mbps), Exmor-R image sensors, built-in GPS, built-in USB, great optics, and other favorable options. Prices aren’t really that bad considering everything you get, with the highest model (PJ50V) costing about $1,000. Sony HDR-PJ50V High-Definition Hard Disk Drive Handycam

The tiny Sony WX series of point and shoot cameras got an overhaul at CES 2011, with two new models, the DSC-WX9 and DSC-WX10. Despite the small size of the WX10, it packs a 16.2 megapixel Exmor R sensor, a 7x F2.4 lens that is 24mm wide angle. The camera also includes Optical SteadyShot and 10fps image capture. HD Video capture capability maxes out at 1080@60i, with the option to dual record movies and take pictures at the same time. There’s also an interesting improvement as to the way the WX10 focuses. Sony notes, “Instead of having a mechanical gear to drive the AutoFocus, the DSC-WX10 camera has a magnetic coil (like those used in an audio speaker) to move the lens linearly and achieve AutoFocus in a straight back-and-forth motion—not rotationally.” Other notable features include 3D still image capture and 3D sweep panorama, which are found on many other 2011 Sony Cyber-shot cameras. Camera enthusiasts will also enjoy the manual operation found on the WX10, which allows you to fully control the shot the way you want it. The DSC-WX10 will hit the market with one color, black, this March for $280. We noticed both models have Backlight Correction HDR, and Background Defocus modes to optimize your photography. I love background defocus mode, as it really adds a professional touch to portraits and other types of pictures. The WX9 differs slightly in comparison to the WX10. It has a 10fps 16.2 megapixel Exmor R sensor, and a 5x 24m wide angle lens. Like the WX10, the WX9 captures HD movies at 1080/60i, and can shoot 3D photos and 3D panoramic shots. The camera also features a 921,000 Xtra-Fine LCD with an improved Control Wheel. The WX9 will be available in black, silver, and red this March for $220. View the full article

Continuing with the plethora of digital imaging announcements at CES 2011, Sony has refreshed its affordable W-series range of point and shoot cameras under $200. The cameras feature popular features Sony is known for, including Sweep Panorama mode, Steadyshot, iAuto, Face Detection and Smile Shutter. Here is the full list of models, which include the DSC-W510, DSC-W530, DSC-W560, and DSC-W570. Prices between the low to high end models range from $110 to $180, offering five options in the precious sub-$200 price range. The DSC-W510 camera will be available in silver, black, pink and red this February for about $110. Features include: 26mm equivalent lens with 4x optical zoom Capture breathtaking images in Sweep Panorama mode SteadyShot image stabilization reduces blur 12.1-megapixel 2.7-inch LCD screen for easy viewing iAuto mode automatically optimizes camera settings The DSC-W530 camera will be available in silver, black, pink, green and blue this February for about $130. Features include: 26mm wide Carl Zeiss

My favorite Sony point and shoot camera of 2010 had to be the DSC-TX5, which was a waterproof, freeze-proof, shockproof and dust-proof camera. Sony is refreshing this series at CES 2011 with the introduction of the DSC-TX10. The newest version has several advantages over last year’s model and seems once again like the perfect point and shoot. Once again the camera retains all of the features that make it indestructible, but can now go to a depth of 16 feet underwater (for up to a hour) instead of the 10 on the TX5. There are also some imaging improvements, as the TX10 has a 16.2 megapixel Exmor R sensor, which is a big upgrade from the 10 megapixel sensor in the TX5. The TX10 also has the exclusive new feature found in several 2011 Sony Cyber-shot cameras: 3D still photo capability and 3D Sweep Panorama. Colors include silver, black, green, blue and pink, all of which will be available this March. Price is about in line with what we expect at $330, which means it will have a more conservative price by the holidays. There’s also the addition of 1080i HD movie mode, which is yet another upgrade from the 720p resolution video capability the TX5 had last year. A nice wide 3 inch LCD is on the back of the camera, and we hope the screen’s responsiveness has been improved. It was slightly irritating on the TX5, with the included stylus/fingernail only providing the best results. Full Gallery Coming Soon View the full article

The Sony Bloggie camera/camcorder has gone through quite the evolution since its debut several years ago. The first model was rather funky in appearance, and its slick successor with aluminum finish brought back the sense of high quality we all know and love from Sony. Sony has lost a lot of ground in digital imaging from competitors such as Cisco’s Flip series, so let’s see what the 2011 Bloggie brings to the table. There are three new Bloggie MP4 cameras debuting at CES 2011: the Bloggie, Bloggie Duo, and Bloggie 3D. All of the models have several base features, including a 2.7 inch screen, Steadyshot, 5 megapixel Exmor sensor and 1920×1080 MP4 video recording capability. We were surprised to see Sony drop the Bloggie from 12 megapixels to 5, as the late 2010 model had 12. I have a feeling the camera will still capture photos similar to the iPhone 4, which is still fantastic. Auto Focus and Auto Macro mode are also included, as well as Dual Record, which allows you to take photos while shooting video. Sharing content with a Bloggie camera is easy – you can either upload (and also charge) using the built-in USB slide out arm, or via the HDMI output. The most advanced Bloggie is the obviously the 8GB 3D-equipped Bloggie (MHS-FS3), which has two lenses/sensors on the rear to capture 3D images and video. Sony is saying this is the world’s first 3D pocket camera, and we have a feeling we will see more 3D pocket cameras from the competition in 2011. The Bloggie 3D will cost $250 when it hits stores in April, and also has interesting features such as a stereo microphone and built-in LED light for easier shooting in dark situations. Hopefully the LED isn’t blinding. The 4GB Bloggie Duo (MHS-FS2) is a keen model that responds well to Samsung’s innovative dual screen point and shoot cameras. The rear of the device has a 2.7 inch screen like the other Bloggie models, but differs by the inclusion of a 2.0 inch screen on the front for easier self-portraits. Bloggie Duo comes in four colors, including violet, green, pink and white and will go on sale in March for $170. The most basic Bloggie (MHS-FS1) is the slimmest of the bunch and lacks some features compared to its brethren. The Bloggie will go on sale in March for $150 and will be available in black and white. Full Gallery Coming Soon View the full article

Sony’s flagship point and shoot camera announced at CES 2011 is the new DSC-TX100V. Featuring a goregous 3.5 inch OLED screen, you can review and show off your pictures with color reproduction far superior to LCD. Aside from that bombshell, there’s also the fact the TX100V records in full 1080@60p mode. At the time of announcement, this is supposedly a world first for compact digital still cameras, but we expect that to become the norm amongst the competition in 2011. The quality should be pretty excellent, as the company has the reputation to jam high quality sensors in a tiny package. We are definitely going to record some test videos for you to check out soon. Colors available for this little dynamo include silver, back and red this March. Price is high end for this product category at $380, but it should be a heavy contender compared to the competition. Sony has crammed in even more groundbreaking features with the introduction of 3D Still Image capture, a first for this generation. Sony is also bringing back the 3D Sweep Panorama mode. Perhaps the combination of these two features will entice the consumer to become more interested in 3D. Hopefully we can upload this type of content to Facebook one day. The camera also touts a Sweep Multi Angle, which simulates the 3D effect of the photo you’d see on TV, but on the camera screen by merely tilting the device. For quick use of the TX100V in any situation, Sony has updated its Auto modes, and have also included 36 still picture modes. There’s also a background defocus mode, which is commonly found on DSLR’s, interchangeable lens cameras (such as the NEX series, Samsung NX or Olympus Pen). Background defocus can really make for some nice shots, and will delight digital imaging enthusiasts. As for specifications, the popular and high quality 16.2 megapixel/10fps Exmor R CMOS sensor is back again, which shoots brilliant photos even in low light. We’ve shot with a Exmor R-equipped device before in the past and it blows away cameras from years prior that don’t have this technology. View the full article

Say hello to the most advanced consumer camcorder Sony has ever released – the HDR-TD10 “double full HD” 3D camcorder, launched at CES 2011. This is one serious performer, and features dual Sony G lenses, dual Exmor R sensors, and dual BIONZ image processors. Thankfully, for those of you who don’t have 3D displays quite yet, the TD10 records 2D HD perfectly well. Other standard features include 64GB of built in flash memory, a generous 3.5 inch LCD screen, 10x optical zoom, Optical Steadyshot, and other attractive features. The price point, $1500 when it debuts this April) seems fair for a first generation 3D consumer camcorder, especially considering this is a new type of product. Sony HDR-TD10 3D High-Definition Flash Memory Handycam Camcorder Available in April for about $1500 World’s first “Double Full HD” 3D consumer camcorder w/ Integrated Dual Camera System – two Sony G Lenses, “Exmor R” CMOS sensors, “BIONZ” processors 3D or 2D HD recording with double full HD 1920×1080 video recording and 7-

Today Sony released all new and redesigned VAIO L (it’s about time!). The new Sony VAIO

Another model was unleashed at Sony’s booth on the CES floor is VAIO Y series. As you may remember Sony introduced this model earlier however it had a 13.3″ LCD; this time around VAIO engineers decided to shrink its LCD LED backlit display to 11.6 inches preserving however its high brightness levels and clear, crisp picture quality. Backed by the new AMD

Sony introduced another new model in its VAIO family – VAIO S featuring a widescreen LED backlit 13.3 inch display with a durable magnesium casing. It’s another perfect energy efficient notebook that delivers high brightness levels and vibrant colors while helping to provide up to 5 hours of standard battery life, and up to 7.5 hours with a large capacity battery. A feature that was introduced a couple of years ago has been brought back and incorporated in this VAIO called G-Sensor™ Shock Protection technology helps protect it against the bumps and knocks common to frequent travel or life on-the-go. If you are into wireless streaming, this VAIO features Intel Wireless Display for your content to be beamed to a compatible HDTV. Also as a standard feature now, an HDMI output is built in if you would like to output movies, photos, etc on your big screen TV. It should be available soon for about $900 at your nearest SonyStyle or BestBuy stores. View the full article

Among other new VAIO refreshed models, VAIO F series definitely stands out as its first 3D VAIO enabled notebook. As you may remember it was first introduced in its prototype stage at IFA and today Sony unveiled this monster desktop replacement. It packs a second generation Intel

As expected, Sony has launched a massive salvo of new televisions at CES 2011. Ranging from 22 to 65 inches, the 2011 BRAVIA line is their most ambitious yet, offering a new assortment of hardware for even better picture quality than before. New models are coming for several series, with the refreshed series carrying HX929 (pictured above), HX820, HX729, NX720, EX720, EX620, EX520, BX420 and BX320 designations. The differences between each of the models are vast, and unfortunately we don’t have pricing information yet. We’ll mention some notable additions for the 2011 line and then let you read the fact sheet which gives you more information about each model. First and foremost, Monolithic Design returns to the 2011 BRAVIA range with the addition of Corning Gorilla Glass, which became popular in mobile devices such as Apple’s iPhone. Gorilla glass is stronger, lighter and thinner than conventional glass. It could help next time a PlayStation 3 Motion Controller or Wii remote goes flying into the screen. For those of you who are fans of LED backlit LCD TV’s, Sony has hit a grand slam in with Intelligent Peak LED backlighting, which has full array local dimming, but also the ability to boost brightness in lighter scenes. A contact of mine gave a good example of a night shot with the moon: the LEDs are darkened for the night and boosted for the moon. This feature will be found in the HX929 series, and will be very tough for competitors to match in overall picture quality. Many models will have Skype embedded into the TV, meaning you can connect a special Sony camera and microphone (CMU-BR100) to do 720p HD video calls with friends from your living room. I’ll try video calling my girlfriend from CES and let you know how well it works. Another cool feature added this year is Sony’s TrackID, which is a music recognition service for your TV. Powered by Gracenote, TrackID for BRAVIA allows you to quickly identify which song is playing on a movie, TV show or commercial. BRAVIA Engine has shedded and reborn into the new X-Reality Engine and X-Reality PRO Engine, which offers several interesting improvements in picture quality. The X-Reality Pro is a dual-chip digital video processor that noticeably improves video content playback, whether it be HD, compressed HD, SD or low-rez Internet clips. Sony states the PRO engine adjust signal patterns by analyzing and comparing content to an enormous library of film and video. Content coming in looks better coming out. Multi-frame analysis in the X-Reality Pro Engine also helps create missing resolution, while Sony’s Super Bit Mapping has 14 bit up-scaling, processing and pixel mapping. Gradients will look smoother than ever before. In contrast, the regular X-Reality Engine is a single chip solution that still offers excellent picture quality. The engine features Sony’s Intelligent Image Enhancer, which separates consistent parts of incoming video (such as outline, texture, and color/contrast) and adds enhancements individually. Internet equipped BRAVIA’s are numerous this generation, as Sony continues to offer more entertainment than ever before. A total of 40 free/premium services are available, including the usual suspects such as Qriocity VOD/Music Unlimited, Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Amazon VOD, YouTube, Slack, Crackle and blip.tv. XBR-HX929 Series features include: Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with full-array local dimming LED backlight Sleek Monolithic Design with OptiContrast Panel Technology Integrated Wi-Fi (802.11n) Skype ready in 720p high definition BRAVIA Internet Video and Qriocity X-Reality PRO Engine MotionFlow XR 960 Rear two-way IR inputs and two-way RS232C control Screen sizes include 65-inch (XBR-65HX929 which is available in August 2011), 55-inch (XBR-55HX929), and 46-inch (XBR-46HX929) Other new BRAVIA models include: BRAVIA HX820-Series LED LCD 3D Capable HDTV Available in May Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Dynamic Edge LED backlight Sleek Monolithic Design with OptiContrast Panel Technology Integrated Wi-Fi (802.11n) Skype™ ready in 720p high definition BRAVIA Internet Video and Qriocity™ X-Reality PRO Engine MotionFlow XR 480 Screen sizes include 55-inch (KDL-55HX820), and 46-inch (KDL-46HX820) BRAVIA NX720-Series LED LCD 3D Capable HDTV Available in May Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Dynamic Edge LED backlight Sleek Monolithic Design with OptiContrast Panel Technology Integrated Wi-Fi (802.11n) Skype ready in 720p high definition BRAVIA Internet Video and Qriocity MotionFlow™ XR 240 X-Reality™ Engine Screen sizes include 60-inch (KDL-60NX720), 55-inch (KDL-55NX720), and 46-inch (KDL-46NX720) BRAVIA HX729-Series LED LCD 3D Capable HDTV Available in May Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Dynamic Edge LED backlight X-Reality PRO Engine MotionFlow XR 480 Integrated Wi-Fi (802.11n) Skype™ ready in 720p high definition BRAVIA Internet Video and Qriocity Rear two-way IR inputs and two-way RS232C control Screen sizes include 65-inch (KDL-65HX729), 55-inch (KDL-55HX729), and 46-inch (KDL-46HX729) BRAVIA EX720-Series LED LCD 3D Capable HDTV Available in February Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Edge LED backlight X-Reality Engine MotionFlow XR 240 Wi-Fi ready (USB wireless LAN adapter sold separately) Skype ready in 720p high definition BRAVIA Internet Video and Qriocity Screen sizes include 60-inch (KDL-60EX720, which is available in April), 55-inch (KDL-55EX720), 46-inch (KDL-46EX720), 40-Inch (KDL-40EX720), and 32-inch (KDL-32EX720) BRAVIA EX620-Series LED LCD HDTV Available in February Brilliant Full High Definition (1080p) picture quality with Edge LED backlight X-Reality Engine MotionFlow 120 Wi-Fi ready (USB wireless LAN adapter sold separately) Skype ready in 720p high definition BRAVIA Internet Video and Qriocity Screen sizes include 55-inch (KDL-55EX620), 46-inch (KDL-46EX620), and 40-Inch (KDL-40EX620) BRAVIA EX520-Series LED LCD HDTV Available in February Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Edge LED backlight X-Reality Engine Wi-Fi ready (USB wireless LAN adapter sold separately) Skype ready in 720p high definition BRAVIA Internet Video and Qriocity Energy saving Presence Sensor minimize power consumption Screen sizes include 46-inch (KDL-46EX520), 40-inch (KDL-40EX520), 32-inch (KDL-32EX520) BRAVIA BX420-Series HDTV Available in February Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with CCFL backlight Five HD Inputs to connect multiple HD devices USB input for photo, music and video playback Scene select customized picture and sound settings Ambient Light Sensor Screen sizes include 46-inch (KDL-46BX420), 40-inch (KDL-40BX420), and 32-inch (KDL-32BX420) BRAVIA BX320-Series HDTV Available in February Amazing High Definition (720p) picture quality with CCFL backlight Five HD Inputs to connect multiple HD devices USB input for photo, music and video playback Scene select customized picture and sound settings Ambient Light Sensor Screen sizes include 32-inch (KDL-32BX320), and 22-inch (KDL-22BX320) View the full article

Today Sony released a new line up of Blu-ray disc players, introducing four stand alone models (BDP-S780, BDP-S580, BDP-S480, and BDP-S380) and three integrated home theater systems (BDV-E780W, BDV-E580, and BDV-E280), as well as a 5.1 channel home theater audio system (HT-SS380).

Sony has launched the next generation Sony Dash at CES 2011, which are destined for the US market in Summer 2011. The basic version carries many of the features in the original, such as access to over a thousand apps (chumby), a 7″ LCD touchscreen, Wi-Fi, headphone jack and more. Notable differences include a slight tweak in aesthetics, as well as a larger speaker on the rear of the device. Sony is also releasing a Sony Dash Portable model, which has the same features as the regular version but includes a built-in lithium-ion battery for mobility. Our birdies said the battery life was only several hours. Color options for the Portable include brown, orange and slate blue. We’ll let you know more about the refreshed Dash once we hit the show floor. View the full article

http://www.sonyinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Dash_brown-450x337.jpg Sony has launched the next generation Sony Dash at CES 2011, which are destined for the US market in Summer 2011. The basic version carries many of the features in the original, such as access to over a thousand apps (chumby), a 7″ LCD touchscreen, Wi-Fi, headphone jack and more. Notable differences include a slight tweak in aesthetics, as well as a larger speaker on the rear of the device. http://www.sonyinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Dash_orange-450x337.jpg Sony is also releasing a Sony Dash Portable model, which has the same features as the regular version but includes a built-in lithium-ion battery for mobility. Our birdies said the battery life was only several hours. Color options for the Portable include brown, orange and slate blue. We’ll let you know more about the refreshed Dash once we hit the show floor. http://www.sonyinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Dash-rear_orange-700x525.jpg [url={url}]View the full article[/url]

For the last several years Sony has brought huge names in music, such as Usher and Taylor Swift, to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. It’s always been a really cool thing for press and those in the industry to see these artists, close up, like very few actually get to do. Talk about a truly unique product launch experience. This year at CES 2011, Sony is bringing yet another interesting assortment of musicians and performers together. If you are attending CES 2011, stop by booth #14200 in the Las Vegas Convention Center on the following dates to see experience some great tunes. Musicians such as Raphael Saadiq (Jan 7th), Crystal Bowersox (Jan 6th), and Danny Gokey (Jan 8th) will all perform for 50 minute mini-concerts during CES 2011. There will also be a couple of 15 minute sessions with DJ Genki Rocket (11:25-11:40AM Jan 6-8th). According to the official press release, Grammy Award Winning singer, songwriter, and record producer Raphael Saadiq (Jan 7th 4:05-4:55 PM) will perform songs from his forthcoming album Stone Rollin’. (Columbia Records) American Idol season 9 finalist singer-songwriter Crystal Bowersox (Jan. 6th 4:05-4:55 PM) to perform from her new album Farmer’s Daughter (19 Recordings/Jive) Danny Gokey (Jan 8th 4:05-4:55 PM) season 8 finalist will perform hits from his debut album My Latest Days (19 Recordings/RCA Nashville) There will also be an exclusive performance by Viva Elvis Cirque Du Soleil during Sony’s CES press conference, which will be streamed live on the Internet . Personally, I am really excited to see Raphael Saadiq. “The Way I See It” is such a great sounding album that is really special to listen to with my girl. Raphael makes very some sweet sounding music. View the full article

So the downloads area had a soft launch recently, and it is nearing completion. One slight problem, though - I updated the software for it recently and the index of it is in disarray because of the fixed width on the ReStyle skin, which will be fixed soon. It currently displays four items in the carousel, which will be reduced. For now, use the Categories menu on the left and you will be fine. We will be cleaning it up the indexes soon and adding screenshots for each item to make it much more attractive and easier to use. On a side not, it's pretty cool that we already have thousands of downloads. The Sonicstage 4.3 Installer by Avrin is obviously a hit. We hope to keep expanding the database until its the best on the Internet. So, please submit your files if you think you have something interesting.

(picture from an official Sony website) One of the most tantalizing technologies Sony has experimented with is OLED. Sony has teased the world many times with OLED concept products, including the flexible Walkman, Reader, and VAIO OLED shown at CES 2009. They also showed off a nifty little at the show. Last May, Sony showed their latest R&D stunner with an incredible rollable OLED display that could roll up around the circumference of a pen. The reason I remind you of all this is really for something that isn’t discussed too often, but is an eventual reality: The Sony rollable large-screen TV. Start salivating. In an interview found on Sony Semiconductor & LCD news, there is some interesting revelations about Sony’s “end target” for OLED. Kazumasa Nomoto, Ph.D, a Chief Distinguished Researcher/Genaral Manager at Sony Corporation actually is really clear about what the company is working towards: Our end target is a rollable large-screen TV. The time will come when the very idea that an enormous black box (TV) was ever placed in rooms will seem strange. Sign me up. Unfortunately, they don’t give a time table as to when we can expect these rollable OLED displays. How crazy would it be able to bring the big screen with you where ever you want? What’s interesting is in that picture from Sony’s site (above) it also has noise icons near the rollable TV indicating audio output. So I wouldn’t even need a speaker system? I wonder how good that would be. I guess it would just have 5GHz (or higher) Wi-Fi for everything else, including video, just like some current and past models have now. If I had to really guess, would we see a product like this next year, or 2012? Doubtful. 5 years? Can’t be 10. I think 5. Maybe less? Hard to tell. The interview is full of gems that give you a behind the scenes feel. There is some chatter about how the PSP was an inspiration for display size and specifications in those various prototypes. And sometimes, the interactions during development got heated. It’s humorous to imagine a heated situation in the place they create this technology, but it does happen. Nomoto: We also had the PSP size as our target. And the display we developed has specifications that are very close to PSP. To have an even greater impact, we aimed at a level that would succeed as an actual product. At that time, however, a resolution of 121 ppi in an OTFT-OLED display was a specification that was impossible for everyone working in this area worldwide. Iwao Yagi, Ph.D (FD Section 2/Sony Corporation): One problem was that when multiple layers were stacked on a flexible substrate, since stretching and shrinking could occur, if the pattern was too fine it would become impossible to align the features in different layers. Our arguments as to whether or not this would be possible almost turned into fights. Achieving higher PPI was a priority for the team, and Dr. Kobayashi was pushed to dump pentacene (organic semiconductor material), and use a new PXX derivative high-performance semiconductor material. The difference between penacene (left) and PXX (right) is shown below. The PXX derivative took time to create, though, and in the interview Kobayashi (Ph.D/Organic Electronics Research Group Sony Corporation) gives you an idea why it took five years. How much time did you spend developing the new material, the “PXX derivative”? Kobayashi: Getting it to the point that everyone could use it took 5 years. The most important aspect was stability. In the basic research phase, if you make 100 devices and one produces good data, you have succeeded. But if you try to make actually transistors with that material, when you make 100 devices, all 100 must have the same characteristics. Nomoto: Not only that, but just because you can make transistors doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels. You have to form a protective layer, the pixel electrodes, and the emission layer on top of the transistor. They will be subject to heat and various solvents. Kobayashi: The greatest feature of this new material is, perhaps, that it can survive these stresses and after making it through, continue to exhibit its abilities. If you look at the molecular structure, it is just a sequence of hexagonal benzene rings, but properties are radically different from those of previous organic semiconductor materials. The interview goes on about the PXX derivative, and then discusses the unique challenges of co-operating between the device and material groups. Nomoto seems optimistic. Nomoto: These two technologies, materials and devices, are two equal pillars that support this project. While it appears that there are still people who doubt that organic materials can be used in these sorts of devices, we have the strong impression that they definitely can, both in the devices themselves and in a printing process. We will be doing our best to create products that give Sony an overwhelming lead in this area; you can count on it. View the full article