Christopher

The Tokyo National Museum is breathing new life into its vast collection of artifacts using virtual reality. A new theatre has opened – equipped with a 240-inch screen and Sony’s SRX-S110 “4K” projector – that offers a new and highly detailed perspective on Japan’s cultural heritage. Established in 1872, the Tokyo National Museum (TNM) is Japan’s oldest and largest museum. It is home to a collection of Asian art and archaeological findings that totals over 110,000 objects. With such a culturally and historically important collection, TNM has been looking at new ways of showcasing its artefacts in order to broaden the museum’s appeal and attract a new generation of visitors. It also wanted a solution to the problem of showcasing hard-to-view artifacts. For example, “Illustrated biography of Prince Shotoku” – a national treasure famous for its historical and artistic value – cannot be viewed easily in normal circumstances, because it’s located inside a dark gallery, and is able to be viewed for only a limited time every year because of its fragility. TNM wanted to bring artefacts such as these to a new and much wider audience. To meet these objectives, the Tokyo National Museum has created a new VR (virtual reality) theatre within its resource centre, where visitors can view artefacts in digital form. Working in collaboration with Toppan Printing Co. Ltd, TNM has recorded and archived digital images from its collection, and developed a new means of showcasing them using high-end VR technology. Within the new “TNM and Toppan Museum Theatre”, Sony’s SRX-S110 projector is used to display highly detailed images on a massive 240-inch screen. Thanks to this projector’s advanced SXRD imaging chip, it provides a native resolution of over 8.8. megapixels (4096 x 2160) – which is four times greater than that of any other projector on the market. And in combination with Toppan’s advanced VR techniques, it truly brings the museum’s artefacts to life – allowing visitors to see every detail and really feel that the object is in front of them. Furthermore, staff can use an interactive theatre navigator to control what is shown. They can easily choose which object to display from an interactive menu, and then zoom in to different parts of the object to see more detail. The navigator can be controlled via a fixed control desk or using a remote commander unit, which is useful when delivering presentations to an audience, as the presenter is free to walk about the room. These technologies make for a new and exciting audience experience that is attracting more people through the museum door and added interest in the collection. “The TNM and Toppan Museum Theatre is all about showcasing Japan’s cultural heritage, and we thought that it required a high-quality projection system to reproduce super-precise images. Sony’s 4K SXRD projector is the only super-high-resolution projector commercially available, and after evaluating its image reproduction, we had no hesitation in choosing it for the theatre,” explains Mr. Honda, General Manager of Toppan Printing Co. Ltd The first exhibition to be shown in the new theatre was the “Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku” – which depicts numerous episodes from his life. The original biography is a set of screen paintings from the Horyuji Temple in Nara Prefecture, which have in recent years been located onsite at TNM. Thanks to VR technology, these paintings have now been reproduced digitally, allowing the originals to be returned to the Horyuji Temple. The virtual biography gives audiences an ultra-high-resolution view of the paintings, but it’s also set against a virtual backdrop of the Temple, giving them the feeling of actually being there too. In this way, the virtual biography offers a more realistic experience to museum visitors than before. While having the original paintings on display was popular, being able to see them in their original setting has proven even more so – with almost 90% of visitors offering positive feedback. Editorial Supervision : Tokyo National Museum/ Production : Toppan Printing Co. Ltd/With the cooperation of Horyuji Temple View the full article

We’ve seen a few pictures of the blue DR-BT101 around the web, but the picture above (click on it) is the highest quality version I’ve seen to date. This is a pretty nice looking bluetooth headphone if you like over the head style. During CES 2009, Sony showed off the DR-BT101 Bluetooth stereo headphones with included mic. The DR-BT101 will arrive sometime in 2009, most likely Spring. You can conveniently charge these headphones through a standard mini USB connection, how ever, we didn’t see a removable battery latch. The headphone itself also includes a built-in subtle microphone for mobile phone use (Hands-Free) with clear voice technology for best human voice reception. Echo canceling technology is also included, which further enhances phone conversation. Remote control functions are also included on the headset (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP). Other new specs we’ve recently discovered include a 40mm Neodymium headphone driver, and a Omni Directional, Electret Condensor Microphone. Effective frequency range is 100-4,000 Hz, and the battery is definitely built-in. We originally covered the DR-BT101 here. View the full article

Around June of this year Sony is going to introduce the MEX-BT5700U (also known as the MEX-BT5700UI) head unit with Bluetooth v.2 audio streaming / hands-free calling capability. The $300 head unit is the successor to last year’s MEX-BT5100. The BT5700 has a front USB input for iPod/iPhone/iTouch and other USB equipped MP3 players as well as a front aux-in/headphone port. The BT5700 has the usual latest Sony audio technologies, including ZAPPIN, Quick-BrowZer, Jump Mode, Passenger Control, and DM+. PBAP (Phonebook Access Profile) allows head unit to link directly to a BT mobile phonebook. When streaming audio via Bluetooth, all meta data (artist, album, etc) of the music is displayed on the head unit. This device originally debuted at CES, a device we unfortunately missed in our initial coverage. The keys will have a blue illumination to compliment the beautiful Dot Matrix LCD. Along with a FM/AM tuner, mp3/wma CD compatibility with full ID3 tag support should handle most consumer needs. Several retailers are listing the MEX-BT5700 to have AAC support, but we aren’t seeing that in the official Sony literature, so be wary. Other supported Bluetooth technologies include OPP, HFP, A2DP and AVRCP (1.3) profiles. View the full article

Sony Pictures Entertainment is joining the ranks of multimedia companies making serious job cuts. The studio had been one of the last holdouts on significant layoffs, and is now slashing some 300 jobs. The reductions will be made through a combination of cutting staff and eliminating open positions. A spokesman for the studio declined comment. There’s been speculation that the cuts may be heaviest in the studio’s international units. If you have more information about this story, please leave a comment in this story below. View the full article

Sony is preparing to release a high-end, stylish iPod/iPhone/iTouch micro component system called the CMT-Z100iR. This dock was made for the space conscious that want something truly different. This device also has Audio In, CD playback capability (no word if it can play mp3 cd’s), and a USB port so you can connect your USB-equipped portable music player for additional playback/recording options. The speakers output at 20Wx2, which is generally more powerful than the average small-scale dock. Consumers will probably like the attractive touch panel control with additional wall-mounting capability. A S-MASTER digital amplifier is also included, which sounds fantastic in these smaller scale devices. Two way Bass reflex and treble adjustments (-4/+4) with additional bass boost will ensure that anyone can find their preferred sound. FM/AM is also integrated which makes this a very interesting multi-function offering from Sony. Expect it to include a small remote control so it’s not a nuisance to operate this system. Unfortunately, we don’t have pricing information at this time, but it should be announced somewhat soon and will probably fall in line around $150-250. This information is a Sony Insider exclusive, brought to you here first. View the full article

The Cyber-shot HX1 digital SLR by Sony, teams stunning picture quality, lightning-fast shooting and powerful creative features in a stylish, supremely easy to use camera. Offering cutting edge performance and a powerful 20x optical zoom range, the compact HX1 fits effortlessly into a weekend bag or small travel case. The HX1 has a new Sony-developed ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor with an effective resolution of 9.1 megapixels. Originally developed for the Sony Alpha digital SLR programme, ‘Exmor’ technology delivers outstanding images with reduced noise, especially when shooting in high ISO settings. The Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 digital compact camera is available from the beginning of April/May 2009 for around $500. The Cyber-shot HX1 is also the first compact camera from Sony that’s capable of shooting 1080/30p HD movies. It captures crisp, detail-packed HD video clips plus stereo sound at a smooth 30 frames per second. HD movies and still photos can be enjoyed with superb quality on your BRAVIA or any HD Ready television through HDMI. BRAVIA Sync displays the camera’s playback screen on the TV screen, allowing handy control of slideshow, zoom, image index and other functions with your BRAVIA TV’s remote. In tandem with the powerful BIONZ image processor, the ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor supports full-resolution shooting at an incredible 10 frames per second (max) using a mechanical shutter. Outpacing many pro-spec digital SLR cameras, this super-fast shooting rate is ideal for capturing high-speed action or spontaneous events like parties, where anything can happen in a moment. The ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor supports two new shooting modes that reduce image noise when you’re shooting in low light. If you’re capturing static subjects, new Handheld Twilight mode grabs a high-speed burst of six frames, combining them to create a single optimised image with dramatically reduced noise levels. If your subject is moving, Anti Motion Blur mode also superimposes six frames to produce one crisp, composite image with less subject blur. Also powered by the ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor and BIONZ processor, ‘Sweep Panorama’ is a brand-new shooting mode that captures breathtaking landscapes, city scenes and more. Just hold down the shutter button and swing the camera horizontally (or vertically). The Cyber-shot HX1 seamlessly stitches together a high-speed burst of frames to create an extra-wide, high resolution image. Panoramas can be viewed as a scrolling preview on the three-inch LCD screen or new S-Frame digital photo frames or previewed on a PLAYSTATION

Ever heard of Wi-Fi enabled Blu-ray player? Well Sony has one! BDP-S560 has 802.11a/b/g/n connectivity with easy set up connection to your network will enable you to access extra BD-Live content as well as additional scenes, short subjects, trailers, interactive games, and more. Any firmware updates can also be taken care of through wireless or the wired network in your house, as of course the network port is also there. BDP-S360 a lower end model will do everything the above model does sans wireless networking. Both players offer pretty much full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema™ output, decode the latest advanced audio codecs, and are BD-Live capable with your broadband internet connection and purchase of external memory. DLNA is also a part of the new features that will help you with sharing your photoes on your network (not sure what happened to music and video sharing there?). Two new Home Theater solutions are also for your grabs: BDV-E300 and BDV-E500W. The models are BD-Live capable and support the latest advanced audio codecs including 7.1 channel Dolby

Say goodbye to DG series AV receivers Sony introduced last year and a few of them were the first ones to support the latest audio HD codecs like TrueHD and DTS-HD (HG820 and 920 series) and welcome a new family with a new face in DH and DN category. The top of the line STR-DN1000 looks very pretty in its glossy outfit and sports XMB interface (come on Sony don’t be stingy with this menu for lower end models next time). This receiver is pretty much the same as the DG920, has 4 HDMI inputs and of course pumps out crisp TrueHD and DTS-HD to your 7.1 speaker set up. Sony also added S-Air wireless technology to the receiver so you may listen to your music by using the optional wireless speaker AIR-SA10 (up to 10 can be used at the same time). STR-DH700 and 800 will be happy to encode your audio and distribute to 7.1 speaker, just have a little less power and have fewer HDMI inputs. For those of you who are still stuck with analog audio, you may pick up DH100 and 500 receiver pretty soon available in your local retailer. Otherwise check out the Pre-Order SonyStyle page. No ES receiver update was announced yet. I have just received STR-DA6400ES model and so far have been impressed with this network featured, XMB happy GUI. I may have a lil post about this receiver later. Hopefully Sony has added a similar front panel to DN1000 model, as the ES receiver has a handy HDMI input on the front as well. View the full article

Have you decided on the color of your choice yet: black or pink? Well thanks to one of our readers (Zizone) who pointed out that SonyStyle USA has posted Walkman NWZ-W202 for your pre-orders and should be shipped out on or around April 3rd. Check out the specs and other marketing blurb and you may end up clicking on that Pre-Order button… View the full article

Well every year Sony has an Open House event (ahh where is our invitation?) and as usual you get to hear about and see some more new products that may pique your interest. Check out our coverage of the products and let us know if you were expecting something else from Sony this year. Unfortunately nothing ground breaking has been announced…I guess the financial pinch has threatened Sony to embrace some of it best yet unannounced gadgets. New AV Receivers Two Additional Networked Bravia TVs New Blu-ray Players and Blu-ray HT systems DVD Integrated HT systems, Two New Portable DVD players View the full article

You know, I think that it isn’t really clear to everyone what exactly the cost of the X-Series Walkman will be in the United States. I’d written it before, but it seems that some people were genuinely surprised at the high cost when Amazon UK announced pricing. Well, you have to remember that this Walkman is packing some serious technology, especially with that touchscreen AMOLED. To make sure everyone is on the same page, the X-Series (NW-X1000, NW-X1050, NW-X1060, touchscreen Walkman, whatever you want to call it) will cost $299 for the 16GB model, and $399 for the 32GB model in the USA. View the full article

Panasonic, Philips and Sony are currently working with other Blu-ray patent holders to establish a one-stop-shop license for Blu-ray products. This license, which covers essential patents for Blu-ray, DVD and CD, will be introduced in the middle of this year. The license program will be offered by a new independent licensing company that will be based in the United States with branch offices in Asia, Europe and Latin America. The CEO of the new license company will be Mr. Gerald Rosenthal, former head of IP at IBM and more recently CEO of Open Invention Network. “By establishing a new licensing entity that offers a single license for Blu-ray Disc products at attractive rates, I am confident that it will foster the growth of the Blu-ray Disc market and serve the interest of all companies participating in this market, be it as licensee or licensor.” said Mr. Rosenthal. The three founding companies believe that the introduction of this simplified one-stop shop product license will stimulate the growth of the market for Blu-ray products. Any holder of essential patents for Blu-ray, DVD and CD patents is invited to join this licensing entity as a licensor and also as shareholder. The fees for the new product licenses are US$9.50 for a Blu-ray Disc player and US$14.00 for a Blu-ray Disc recorder. The per disc license fees for Blu-ray will be US$0.11 for a read only disc, US$0.12 for a recordable disc and US$0.15 for a rewritable disc. As a result of the efficiencies obtained with the combined license offering, the royalty rates for Blu-ray products are expected to be at least 40% lower than the current cumulative royalty rates for individual Blu-ray, DVD and CD format licenses. The Blu-ray product licensing program aims to create a level playing field in the market for Blu-ray products by introducing special measures to encourage companies selling Blu-ray Disc™ products to comply with their license obligations. The program also includes measures to easily identify unlicensed products in the market and a system to address those who may not have obtained proper licenses for Blu-ray products. In this one-stop-shop product license, the new license company will be a single point of contact for licensees, greatly reducing the burden on licensed companies that would otherwise have to report to multiple patent pools. View the full article

Sony announced a major reorganization and a new management team. The changes, effective April 1, 2009, will fundamentally reorganize the company’s electronics and game businesses to improve profitability and strengthen competitiveness in the midst of the continued global economic crisis. They will also accelerate the production of innovative networked products and services by strategically integrating these two business groups. “Consumers want products that are networked, multi-functional and service-enhanced utilizing open technologies, and user experiences that are rich, shared and, increasingly, green,” said Mr. Stringer in announcing these changes. “This reorganization is designed to transform Sony into a more innovative, integrated and agile global company with its next generation of leadership firmly in place. The changes we’re announcing today will accelerate the transformation of the Company that began four years ago. They will now make it possible for all of Sony’s parts to work together to assume a position of worldwide leadership and, together, achieve great things.” The Board of Directors has endorsed a reorganization of the Company naming Mr. Stringer as President of Sony Corporation in addition to his current responsibilities of Chairman and CEO. Working with his newly appointed electronics leadership team, he will directly oversee the electronics business to enable faster implementation of his strategic direction. At the heart of the reorganization is the formation of two new business groups: The Networked Products & Services Group will include Sony Computer Entertainment (“SCE”); personal computers (VAIO); new mobile products, including the current WALKMAN lines; and Sony Media Software and Services, which develops a common service platform across Sony products. The mandate of the group is to maximize the potential and pace of Sony’s innovation and to enhance profitability in networked products and services. The group also plans to incubate new products leveraging Sony’s best technologies. Integral to this process is the utilization and expansion of the PlayStation Network service platform, which currently has 20 million registered accounts globally. Leading the Networked Products & Services Group will be Kazuo Hirai, who will become Executive Vice President of Sony Corporation and President of this group. He will also continue in his current role as President and Group CEO of SCE. Kunimasa Suzuki, currently President of the Consumer of America Group of Sony Electronics in the U.S., will become Senior Vice President of Sony Corporation and Deputy President of this group. Within this group, Mr. Suzuki will lead the new home and mobile business incubation project to create new products that utilize the best technologies from across the Company, as well as the VAIO Business Group. The New Consumer Products Group (“the New CPG”) will include the current Television, Digital Imaging, Home Audio and Video businesses. The New CPG will focus on profitability and sustained growth by enhancing product innovation and competitiveness and improving the speed and efficiency of operations. The New CPG will also concentrate resources on further development and growth in emerging markets. Hiroshi Yoshioka will become Executive Deputy President of Sony Corporation and President of the New CPG. (He is currently Executive Vice President of Sony Corporation and President of the TV Business Group.) The Semiconductor and Component Business Group will also report to him, to help ensure effective coordination with Sony’s products and enhanced profitability for these businesses. Yoshihisa Ishida, currently Senior Vice President and President of the VAIO Business Group, will head the TV Business Group. In addition, two cross-company units will be created with the aim of ensuring that Sony’s networked products and services can communicate seamlessly with a common user interface and will reach consumers in a fast, cost-effective and efficient manner: The Common Software and Technology team, to be led by Senior Vice President Keiichiro Shimada, will develop and implement integrated technology and software solutions across the products groups, and provide coordinated software development services to the product groups. This group’s goal will be to assure maximum efficiency, common user experiences and consistent technologies. Mr. Shimada will also oversee R&D and technology strategy. The Manufacturing/Logistics/Procurement team, to be headed by Yutaka Nakagawa, Executive Deputy President, will be charged with ensuring the most efficient supply chain solutions throughout these two new business groups. The group will leverage scale in procurement, eliminate duplication and redundancy, outsource manufacturing and design processes as appropriate, and help improve the Company’s green product profile. As of April 1, Dr. Ryoji Chubachi will become Vice Chairman of the Company. He will remain a member of the Board and a Representative Corporate Executive Officer and will assist the CEO and also oversee product safety and quality, and Sony’s environmental policies. Katsumi Ihara is expected to become an executive director of Sony Financial Holdings Inc. (“SFH”) subject to the determination at the annual SFH Shareholders Meeting to be held in June 2009, and will no longer be a member of the Board or a Corporate Executive Officer of Sony Corporation as of April 1, 2009. Between April 1 and his appointment in June 2009, he will remain with Sony Corporation as Corporate Executive, Executive Deputy President. Since the start of the current management structure in June 2005, Sony has implemented a number of structural reforms, improved product competitiveness and enhanced cross-company collaboration under the Sony United initiative. As a result, the Company achieved new fiscal year records in sales and net income in the fiscal year 2007. Based on this strengthened management foundation, the new management structure announced today aims to provide new products and services, create new customer value, strengthen competitiveness and improve profitability. “I look forward to supporting the new management team as they transition into new areas of responsibility and to continuing to add value in my new role,” said Dr. Chubachi. “I am pleased that, building on the structure we’ve created over the years, the company is poised for an even greater future.” View the full article

Cnet apprehended this delicately made thin edge-lit LED TV and published their findings in the review. Were they delighted or rushed to order one right away? Unfortunately not, one of the big disappointments (not even mentioning the price tag of $4000 for a 40 incher) was uneven screen uniformity and black levels were below average. Some color saturation was also one of the drawbacks. The things they were impressed were stunning design looks and energy efficiency. I happened to spend some time with this set at CES and truly the set is a beautiful almost 1 inch thick panel, that has a round shape stand that conceals your power cord and HDMI cable (mind you the TV has only 1 HDMI input and no TV tuner). I would have loved to see the same ZX1 model that is offered in Europe, as it comes with a wireless media receiver box that can accommodate more inputs. Sony also decided to yank the XMB interface out and instead used the menus found on its older models, not sure why the US model was treated that way…. As you would imagine with this TV expandability would cost you even more, as you would have to acquire a pricey Sony’s Bravia Wireless Link I reviewed earlier (which is still not ready for its prime time with its annoying audio drop outs) or Sony’s Input Link module DMX-SW1 sort of like an HDMI switcher. Another not so fun expenditure would be if you decide to wall-mount this TV, you will end up purchasing a speaker accessory(model SS-WAL700) designed for this TV and of course the wall-mount bracket itself that will add another $700…Costly? Heck yea! The TV is really well made and of course being such an eye-catcher assembled in Japan not in Mexico like most other Bravia TVs. Feel free to dive into the review and see if this TV is for you! I almost jumped on it, but will wait for another gen of edge-lit TV with a bigger screen and a wireless media receiver. P.S. If you are like me and want to research check out the Printed Literature that comes with this TV, like its operating instructions and other stuff, go here. P.P.S. Of course the models in Japan come in various colors, check out the review of the silver ZX1 here (in Japanese). View the full article

Mind you, it showed up on the UK Amazon web surface site. The two models NWZ-Z1060B (32GB) and NWZ-1050B (16GB) are said to be shipped to you within 2 to 5 weeks. The price tags were also mentioned and after conversion come to $410 and $310 accordingly. The US pricing will most likely be a bit different (in a good way) as we all know the Europeans are paying more for their electronics. I know a number of you cannot wait to get your mits on the OLED Walkman that is supposed to be a revolutionary device we’ve been waiting for … Let’s wait and see if Sony US may spill a few bits of info in the upcoming months and hopefully we’ll get to play with one soon and post a review for you all! View the full article

We wanted to bring you the story behind VAIO P development so that you as a reader and maybe already an owner of this VAIO could get a glimpse of what it took designers and a crew of other talented people bring this LifeStyle Notebook to life. Things that surround us everyday like the movies, music, photos, and communications have all become more digitalized and have evolved to provide more convenience and more fun. It has been over ten years since the birth of VAIO which has particularly been a star model. We asked the developers about their perspectives. You two are at the headwaters of the creative process. Can you two describe your views on VAIO? Ito: VAIO has always been developed to become a computer that reflects the times. This applies not just to VAIO but probably to all Sony products. In retrospect, we always tried to grasp the essence of the particular era and what was ahead of us, and presented a new concept for PCs. This is true for mobile PCs launched after 1997 like VAIO 505, VAIO C, VAIO GT and VAIO UX. We make VAIO thinking it is a PC that can provide surprises, inspirations, and joy of ownership. VAIO 505: VAIO C1: VAIO GT: VAIO UX: What kind of times are we in now? Ito: Now the world of computing has spread outside the PCs. Cell phones and smartphones can be connected to the networks. E-mails and net surfing can be enjoyed anywhere. This is a completely different situation from 10 years ago. Everybody carries cell phones today. So we had to start from the scratch and think of a mobile PC that people want to carry around along with cell phones. Takuma: Let’s look at it from another angle. PCs are indispensable in our times. So if the PCs are so exciting, our lives should become more fun. I believe VAIO has been just that and always will be. This is why I am always looking for things that can be offered with VAIO. Consequently, I hope when people look at VAIO, touch it and use it, they feel the excitement. What are you doing specifically when you say you are looking for things you can offer with VAIO? Takuma: “I love computers. I love using them or just trying out many prototypes. Thinking of the beautiful exterior is one thing, but I get totally carried away when I think about how to use them. I get so happy when projects like The VAIO P-Series start. When I am out in the city in a caf

The new ‘09 European BRAVIA collection is a mint way to watch HD. The latest models feature droolworthy connectivity and media streaming features that were once only found in Japan. Sony has finally appealed to that consumer who wants internet connectivity integrated into the TV. Expect every other manufacturer to be already doing so or doing so soon in 2009, however. An App Store and making games available could be huge and give you a equally huge lead. This is the greenest-ever range of LCD TVs by Sony, packed with innovative eco-features to reduce your carbon footprint without compromising great BRAVIA picture quality. Most BRAVIA 2009 models carry the ‘EU Flower’ – an Eco-label introduced by the European Commission to certify greener, more environmentally friendly products that comply with strict ecological and performance criteria. DLNA lets you stream music, digital photos and video content stored in a VAIO, networked PC or home media server. You can even control playback functions like pause, fast-forward and rewind with your BRAVIA remote control. It’s a great way to view your digital image collection, watch downloaded movies or camcorder clips stored on your PC’s hard drive. Most new BRAVIA TVs feature a USB Media Player that makes it easy to enjoy your own digital content at home. Just connect any compatible media device to the set’s USB input, select ‘Media Player’ from the XMB (Xross Media Bar™) on-screen menu and choose the files you’d like to see or hear. It’s a convenient way to enjoy a big-screen view of your digital photos, or MPEG1 video clips captured with your Cyber-shot camera. You can also listen MP3 music tracks through your TV’s speakers. For the first time, AppliCast lets you access an exciting range of on-line services without having to switch on your PC. Connected via the Ethernet port to the Internet, BRAVIA TVs can display your favorite RSS feeds - from international news and share prices to weather forecasts, horoscopes, celebrity gossip and more. Also accessed via the XMB on-screen interface, there’s a choice of handy ‘widgets’ that can be selected for displaying alongside the normal TV picture. Alongside a pre-installed Analogue Clock, Calendar and ‘How To Use AppliCast’ guide, BRAVIA can download other networked widgets from a list that includes Calculator, Alarm, World Clock and Picture Frame Online. New for 2009, BRAVIA ENGINE3 is the latest generation of this unique Sony HD picture enhancement technology that intelligently analyses and optimises video signals from any HD or SD source. Picture details, contrast and color reproduction are all enhanced for breathtakingly natural results. BRAVIA ENGINE3 is complemented by Live Color: this additional processing technology ensures best-ever reproduction of vivid, lifelike colours. Sports and fast-moving action look better than ever. Motionflow 100Hz technology intelligently creates extra frames, inserting them into the signal and doubling the displayed frame rate for smoother reproduction of moving images. It’s enhanced by Image Blur Reduction that ‘cleans’ original frames before new frame insertion for even sharper images with reduced motion blur. Chic, slim evolution of ‘Draw the Line’ design concept New models build on the pared-down ‘Draw the Line’ design philosophy first showcased in last year’s BRAVIA range. Chic, slimmer and even more minimalist, new-look BRAVIA is accented with subtle design details – without distracting attention from a phenomenal TV viewing experience. E5500 and E5300 series models feature beautiful Picture Frame styling. Following latest interior design trends, a new ‘tilt’ function subtly angles the TV screen upwards for comfortable viewing when the set is placed on a low table or sideboard. The new BRAVIA™ line-up at a glance WE5 (40/46-inch): Reduce your carbon footprint without compromising great BRAVIA™ HD picture quality. Inside the striking white cabinet design, this groundbreaking WE5 Full HD ‘Green TV’ features a new micro-tubular HCFL backlight that reduces power consumption by over 50%*. An Intelligent Presence Sensor switches off the picture when you leave the room. A new Energy Saving Switch is more convenient than switching off and unplugging to save power when the set’s not in use. BRAVIA Engine™3 is complemented by Motionflow 100Hz with IB reduction for smoother moving images. There’s also an integrated MPEG 4 AVC HD tuner** for enjoying your favourite HD broadcasts without the need for a set-top box. www.sony.co.uk/product/t32-we-series/kdl-40we5w W5500 (32/37/40/46/52-inch): Take a step up to breathtaking Full HD pictures and super-smart features. The W5500 series updates the innovative draw the LINE design concept with a deep piano black finish and understated transparent detailing to flatter any interior. Motionflow 100Hz technology with Image Blur Reduction means sharper, smoother images with fast-moving live action. It all adds up to a stunning BRAVIA™ experience with integrated BRAVIA ENGINE™3 and Live Colour, DLNA and AppliCast™. There’s also an integrated MPEG 4 AVC HD tuner. www.sony.co.uk/product/t32-w-series/kdl-40w5500 E5500 (32/40-inch): Flatter any interior with this slim, super-stylish Picture Frame Full HD TV that’s available in a choice of black, aluminium and walnut-effect finishes. Technology highlights include BRAVIA Engine™3 and Live Colour, Motionflow 100Hz with IB Reduction, AppliCast™, DLNA and USB Media Player. There’s also an integrated MPEG 4 AVC HD tuner. www.sony.co.uk/product/t32-e-series/kdl-40e5500 E5300 (22-inch): Perfect for a bedroom or study, this smaller set features a beautiful picture frame design that looks great in a choice of black or white finish options. AppliCast™, DLNA and USB Media Player are teamed with four HDMI inputs to handle a full complement of HD sources. There’s also an integrated MPEG 4 AVC HD tuner. www.sony.co.uk/product/t15-e-series/kdl-22e5300 V5500 (32/37/40/46/52-inch): It’s the hub of your networked digital world. The V5500 series enhances ‘Draw the Line’ styling cues with a deep piano black finish accented by a subtle mirror accent. Experience incredible Full HD picture quality thanks to Live Colour and the new BRAVIA ENGINE™3 picture engine that optimises any signal source for more satisfying, lifelike viewing. DLNA lets you stream video, music and photos from your VAIO

Wow, does Sony Digital Division stay on top of things or what?! A number of new and refreshed digital cameras were announced today and there is a new feature or two added to their BIONZ brain that differentiates them from previous Cybershot brothers and sisters. Some of them even shoot 720P videos however we don’t know the time limit set for those just yet. “The intelligent auto mode, available on the T900, T90, W290 and H20 models helps “think” for you and detect scene conditions then adjust settings, especially in difficult lighting scenarios. “This camera provides a seamless experience,” said Karim Noblecilla, senior product marketing manager in Sony Electronics’ Digital Imaging Division. “You can go from a walk in the park to taking pictures of a flower and then back to beautiful landscapes or indoor birthday parties, and the camera will know what to do to get the best shot.” Additionally, intelligent auto mode enhances pictures of faces to capture natural skin tones, identifies when your subject has closed eyes, and helps reduce blur without damaging image quality. Sony has combined three key technologies to make these cameras smarter. Intelligent scene recognition (iSNC) detects up to eight scenes, recognizing objects, faces and lighting conditions (e.g. low light and backlight). Then, in one-thirtieth of a second, it changes the setting to get the best shot.” To get more detailed info about the upcoming cameras, hit the link. View the full article

Bored and stuck in traffic? Not anymore thanks to the AB900! Stream your favorite songs from your mobile phone to the AB900 and it will broadcast them loud and clear over your car audio system. Thanks to the RDS feature you’ll never have to search for the right frequency in order to stream your favourite tunes through your car speakers. The AB-900 offers a complete car experience to keep you safe and focussed when you’re on the road with a convenient call-handling display, easy access to your five favourite numbers and voicemail at just the touch of a button. Hands-free calling has never been easier or safer thanks to the AB900. Your music will simply pause when you take an incoming call and resume when your call ends. And with 26 hours of talk time and 40 days of standby time, you won’t find yourself continually hunting for the charger to be connected. The AB900 will help you stay connected wherever you are - no installation required! And it can easily be switched between vehicles – just strap this ultra-portable car speakerphone onto your sun visor. It can even be used in the office for conference calls or at home for hands-free chatting. Jacob Sten, Head of the accessories division at Sony Ericsson, said: “In line with increasing legislation around the world preventing the use of phones in the car environment, Sony Ericsson offers a range of easy-to-install car speaker phones that facilitate a complete in-car experience when driving and talking. The AB-900 is perfect for consumers who are on the road often and want to optimise their time in the car, staying safe as they stay in touch or enjoying their music whenever and wherever the road takes them.” View the full article

Good news for VAIO - Sony and Qualcomm announced their partnership in using Gobi module in select VAIOs

Previously spotted VAIO GS on FCC just recently popped up on Sony Support USA site which leads us to believe we will see the launch of this business oriented notebook pretty soon with a new refreshed VAIO line up for the spring. No spec sheet is available however you may check out the User Guide already posted (which is usually pretty generic anyways). It looks like Windows XP and Vista Business will be offered; the following models will be marketed in the US: VGC-GS199, VGC-GS199N and 199P. It’s interesting to note that VAIO G series really resembles VAIO VX series introduced back in 2000, especially its hinges design. If you would like to know to learn about rigorous testing this notebook went through in Japan, check out the videos here. View the full article

As some of you are aware VAIO P comes locked to Verizon Wireless and we always wonder when the manufactures will learn that customers don’t like such terms as “locked”, “DRM protected” or anything else that restricts one’s access to many choices that are out there. So when there is a challenge someone in the community comes up with a way to break free and make your device open to those services that you want to choose. Jen from Pocketables tried her luck to see if a SIM card slot is concealed within the innards of the VAIO P and unfortunately the US model’s hardware omitted that little piece, however it did not stop a forum user of the above site to go beyond and make a few modifications with a soldering iron (yea unfortunately, there was not an easy way around it) and Vola! Your VAIO P just became more attractive and unlocked to HSDPA/EDGE goodness by “hacking some software and soldering a $1 part”. Thanks to the Gobi module in VAIO P that supports both CDMA and GSM/UMTS, this hack was possible to achieve. So if you are ready to dive into this venture, check out the instructions and pictures here! Oh and by the way, check out Jen’s blog as she is pretty much in love with VAIO P and has done a number of reviews of this baby and its accessories. View the full article

The Playstation 3 is an incredible gaming machine - I have no doubts about that because I have had incredible experiences with it. However, it is an expensive console and honestly requires a HDTV for optimal gaming. Most of the community respects the Playstation 3, but the Wii and XBOX360 have dominated sales time and time again and have an enormous userbase. Sony is now looking to make more of an impact with consumers by making hybrid Blu-ray with a game and movie on the same disc. There is no official word as to if the movie will be in pure HD, as some Playstation 3 games can take up to 30-40GB of disc space on a 50GB disc, leaving little room for a full HD movie. VideoBusiness has more of the scoop. “We are actively pushing, and the way that we see the future is that the movie and the game are placed on the same disc,” said John Koller, director of hardware marketing for the PS3. “There are a lot of developers who say, we have this game based on a movie, wouldn’t it be great to marry these concepts? We will definitely see this stuff this year.” View the full article

It almost seems impossible to run a successful music company these days. With digital downloads of music destroying physical media, the industry is once again at the drawing board as to how they can make the most money off music. There are several ventures finding good fortune, such as iTunes, but it doesn’t go much farther than that. Sony BMG, which is now Sony Music, has been

I finally visited the local SonyStyle store here in Atlanta the other day* and had a great experience along with my girlfriend. My mission was to buy the DR-BT21IK/B bluetooth headphone and iPod transmitter combo. The DR-BT21IK/B is actually a combination of the DR-BT21G bluetooth headphone and TMR-BT9iP stereo bluetooth transmitter. This rechargeable set of headphones will provide you with approximately 11 hours of music playback time on a single charge and they fold neatly for storage. Sony fans will expect the usual quality sound from the 30mm driver units, while a remote control of play, stop, fast forward and rewind on the earpiece is fully compatible with the iPod, iPhone, and iTouch. A subtle built-in microphone is also included for recording your voice, or for making bluetooth phone calls on the iPhone. Most people that I regularly talk to, and are very critical of bluetooth headsets, admit that it’s the best sounding bluetooth headset they’ve ever heard. The sound quality is A2DP so it’s pretty solid for wireless, and has the usual 10m range. It’s sweet to have your iPhone 10 feet away from you with zero loss in quality. Most people shouldn’t expect jawdropping sound, but it is more than sufficient for portable use and the additional novelty of wireless seems much less like a novelty this time around. It’s also really nice that I can use these headphones with my iPhone, Vaio TX (with bluetooth), and my PS3. Unfortunately, you cannot pair this headphone with the iPhone and through the stereo bluetooth transmitter at the same time. This means that if you want to use it for phone calls, you have to unplug the dongle from the iPhone and turn on the bluetooth in the iPhone and then connect the headset to the phone. However, most people will just have this plugged into their iPod, iTouch, etc and will enjoy the awesome portability that can be attained in a world of no wires. Battery charging takes about 2.5 hours, with a red/pink LED for charging, and a blue flashing LED while its synchronized. Battery life is about 11 hours for continuous music play back, and 100 hours continuous communication/100 hours idle. Supported Bluetooth 2.0 profiles include: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP (1.0), and HSP (Ver. 1.1). SonyStyle Atlanta had the DR-BT21IK/B on sale for $99, a price I haven’t seen advertised anywhere else. * - I will write a seperate post about my SonyStyle Atlanta visit soon. I have big ideas and hopefully can work with SonyStyle closer soon. Here are some more pictures: View the full article