Christopher

If you remember we mentioned that Sony will be adding a few new features to your Rolly via firmware upgrade, we were able to clarify that this upgrade will be actually a fee based service and will require your Rolly to be shipped to Sony. This is only for the Japanese released model SEP-10BT. The cost of the upgrade and shipping is 9000 yen ($100). Not sure why Sony requires your Rolly to be shipped to them, it looks like they will need to do some internal tweaking, so it is not just a mere firmware upgrade we are used to. The newly upgraded Rolly will be delivered with Motion Editor 1.1 and Rolly Remote 1.0 software. You can download Motion Editor 1.1 now here. There have been no announcements of a similar service for the US or EU Rollys. View the full article

Sony has named its Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, plant as the second factory of a planned 5 or 6 that will be shut down as part of a global restructuring. Sony Insider actually predicted this closure may happen at the beginning of October after comments from Philadephia congressman John Murtha. A representative from Sony, Michael Koff, refuted our claims in a comment to the story which obviously seems void at this point. The factory is Sony’s last remaining TV manufacturing facility in the U.S. and the closure will see 560 people lose their jobs. Television manufacturing is scheduled to end at the plant by February 2009 after which Sony will supply the U.S. market from its factory in Baja, Mexico. The plant will close completely in March 2010 when the TV and Blu-ray Disc repair and U.S. east-coast logistics operations are also ended. The Pittsburgh Technology Center, as the facility is known, first opened in 1990 and made large rear projection TVs. It switched to flat-panel LCD (liquid crystal display) production when that technology became popular and currently produces 46- and 52-inch LCD TVs. Rick Clancy at the Sony Electronics Blog posted a cool timeline of events at the Pittsburgh Technology Center: 1969 Chrysler builds shell of building (frame, walls & roof) 1978 Volkswagen takes over and starts auto assembly August 1988 Volkswagen plant closes April 1990 Sony holds press conference in Pittsburgh with Gov. Casey to announce TV production plans in Southwestern Penn. November 1990 Sony takes over former Volkswagen auto factory October 1991 CRT construction begins (CRT manufacturing ends 2006) January 1992 Color TV construction begun July 1992 Rear Projection TV on-line – first set produced end of July 1992 (Rear Projection closes 2007) April 1994 CRT in full production December 1994 Flat Aperture Grille operations (AG manufacturing ends 2006) June 1995 American Video Glass Company founded February 1996 35V Trinitron Tube on line April 1996 35V Set Assembly on-line March 1997 American Video Glass begins production (AV closes 2006) April 1998 Display Systems Service Company-Pittsburgh opens (closed in 2001) July 1998 FD Trinitron CRT production & Aperture Grille Line #2 for Computer Monitors began September 1998 FD Trinitron WEGA assembly begins June 1999 American Video Glass begins production of flat panel glass April 2000 FD Trinitron CRT manufacturing expands June 2001 40” FD Trinitron production begins 2001 Start of Foreign Trade Zone operation August 2001 38” glass panel production begins at American Video Glass Co. September 2001 40” WEGA TV production begins (Direct View TV production ends 2006) 2002 Grand WEGA rear projection LCD Production Begins 2003 Pittsburgh Customer Satisfaction Center (PCSC) opens 2003-2006 Pittsburgh Logistics Center operations 2004 -2005 Plasma assembly operations 2004-2005 Introduction of 34” HD Widescreen WEGA CRT sets 2005 -2007 SXRD rear projection TV assembly operations 2007-2008 Start-up of BRAVIA LCD Flat Panel Direct View Assembly July 2008 Sony Chemicals of America sold to Dai Nippon Printing, which

Chinese website sina.com has made a hearty review of the Vaio TT, most of which I’ll never understand and I don’t want to face the annoyance of machine translators right now. However, what caught my eye was the numerous pictures they took of the golden version of this laptop that I’ve never seen before. Click on this link to see all of the pictures.. View the full article

Sony has launched its first SonyStyle Store in France located at 39 Avenue George V in Paris. The idea is to offer a unique place for the consumer to have different experiences, interact with products, and provide helpful services. The 1,000m

Sony Electronics is kicking off the 2008 holiday season with the annual unveiling of its New York City Sony Style store holiday window displays. The windows at 550 Madison Avenue feature elaborate product displays which evoke thoughts and scents of holiday confections. Chocolate inspired replicas of Alpha Digital SLR cameras, PSP, Cybershot digital cameras, VAIO computers and noise-canceling headphones adorn the windows. A gingerbread inspired replica of the New York skyline contributes to the whimsical display. The 42 Sony Style stores located in upscale suburban shopping malls throughout the country will feature their own version of the Sweet windows including a vending machine featuring chocolate inspired Cyber-shot cameras, VAIO PCs and headphones and a BRAVIA TV that plays an original holiday video. To further spread the holiday cheer to passers-by, all Sony Style stores will feature a new holiday inspired scent—chocolate peppermint which will waft onto Madison Avenue as well as outside and inside mall-based stores. And to bring the chocolate to life, Sony Electronics and Lindt Chocolates have teamed up for a special promotion this holiday season. Any Sony Style store purchase made between Nov. 19 and Jan. 5 will entitle shoppers to 15 percent off their confectionary purchase at any Lindt Chocolate retail location or lindtusa.com. For customers making any purchase at Lindt Chocolate, they will receive up to 15% off an eligible Blu-ray Disc™ player valid at Sony Style or sonystyle.com. The sweetness plays on with music download cards featuring Sony Music artists singing “Candy Man,” “Sweet Surrender,” “Got Candy,” “Sweet Kisses,” and “I Want Candy.” View the full article

Associated Press -

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) announced today that they had been honored with an award for “Best Original Programming, Mobile” at the 2008 Mobile Excellence Awards. The award winners were announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles last night. SPTI’s win was for Afterworld, a ground-breaking science fiction property. Consisting of 130 2-3 minute episodes, the futuristic 2.5D animated episodic property produced by Emmy Award

Sony is set to debut a new 16 and 32GB drag and drop Walkman during CES 2009, according to trusted inside sources. This will be the most advanced music, video and photo Walkman music player ever released by Sony to date. While it was revealed before to Wired that Sony’s new Walkman would have Wi-Fi capabilities, we have now learned that Sony’s new Walkman will also be touchscreen and WQVGA. The touchscreen will not be the usual LCD, but a brilliant three inch OLED with a contrast ratio around 10k. OLED display capabilities in terms of color reproduction are far beyond the average LCD, which means 100% color reproduction across a wider viewing angle. While most of the usual menu structure of the current Walkman series will be retained in this new model, there are several new exciting features included. For example, upon listening to an artist, you may click on the artist name and watch music videos of the artist on YouTube through Wi-Fi (WPA and WEP support included). Additionally, there will be a Youtube icon on the main screen that will allow full access to the website - search, pause, FF/RW included very similar to Youtube access on the iPhone/iTouch. Additionally, this new Walkman will be able to subscribe to audio podcast and Crackle video feeds; this means automatic download of new updates, the ability to delete old feed content, all over Wi-Fi. Audio codec support includes MP3, WMA, AAC, PCM, while video codec support is AVC (h.264), MPEG-4 and WMV. There will be built-in search capabilities that can be used to learn more about your favorite artist, and users will be able to purchase full CD’s of their favorite artists through the Walkman at Amazon. A powerful S-Master digital amplifier is built into this device as well as digital noise canceling to ensure optimal sound. On top of all of these impressive features, Sony has also included a FM transmitter to truly differentiate this product amongst the competition. Also, while the product shots above do not show hardware buttons for music control (previous track, play/pause, next track and volume), we believe this device will have dedicated hardware buttons for this functionality. ..and yes, it comes with a fully functional web browser, but we cannot confirm or deny flash support. This information is a Sony Insider exclusive, brought to you here first. View the full article

Sony is set to debut a new 16 and 32GB drag and drop Walkman during CES 2009, according to trusted inside sources. This will be the most advanced music, video and photo Walkman music player ever released by Sony to date. While it was revealed before to Wired that Sony’s new Walkman would have Wi-Fi capabilities, we have now learned that Sony’s new Walkman will also be touchscreen and WQVGA. The touchscreen will not be the usual LCD, but a brilliant three inch OLED with a contrast ratio around 10k. OLED display capabilities in terms of color reproduction are far beyond the average LCD, which means 100% color reproduction across a wider viewing angle. While most of the usual menu structure of the current Walkman series will be retained in this new model, there are several new exciting features included. For example, upon listening to an artist, you may click on the artist name and watch music videos of the artist on YouTube through Wi-Fi (WPA and WEP support included). Additionally, there will be a Youtube icon on the main screen that will allow full access to the website - search, pause, FF/RW included very similar to Youtube access on the iPhone/iTouch. Additionally, this new Walkman will be able to subscribe to audio podcast and Crackle video feeds; this means automatic download of new updates, the ability to delete old feed content, all over Wi-Fi. Audio codec support includes MP3, WMA, AAC, PCM, while video codec support is AVC (h.264), MPEG-4 and WMV. There will be built-in search capabilities that can be used to learn more about your favorite artist, and users will be able to purchase full CD’s of their favorite artists through the Walkman at Amazon. A powerful S-Master digital amplifier is built into this device as well as digital noise canceling to ensure optimal sound. On top of all of these impressive features, Sony has also included a FM transmitter to truly differentiate this product amongst the competition. Also, while the product shots above do not show hardware buttons for music control (previous track, play/pause, next track and volume), we believe this device will have dedicated hardware buttons for this functionality. ..and yes, it comes with a fully functional web browser, but we cannot confirm or deny flash support. This information is a Sony Insider exclusive, brought to you here first. View the full article

Guys, after a long wait, really long I’d say, you may finally experience the online community called HOME on your PS3. December 11th is the magic date and supposedly all you have to do is reboot your PS3 to see a HOME icon appear (looks like the Home app was already built in the firmware 2.5 and was quietly sitting there like a ticking bomb). Chris and I were lucky to play around in closed beta and we truly believe that HOME has a lot of potential! The service, offered in eight languages, will start in Japan, Europe, U.S. and other areas where PlayStation 3 is available. The service will be updated with new games, licensing partners and events including a New Year’s countdown ceremony (woot!), Sony said. Anyways, check out the announcement made from Official PS3 Blog and we’ll see you all at HOME pretty soon. The day we’ve been waiting for is here! And this is just the beginning… Today we announced that PlayStation Home will enter into open beta, and will be available to everyone tomorrow. This milestone represents the very beginning of a long journey together, as PlayStation Home is an ever evolving, always changing, organic experience — full of new friends to meet, new events to enjoy, and new content to explore. If this will be your first time in PlayStation Home, be sure to talk to folks that have been around for a while, as they can show you the ropes. We also have a tutorial built in that will get you started with the controls, as well as help menus for you to reference in the Menu Pad. If you don’t have a USB keyboard or Bluetooth headset paired with your PlayStation 3, now is the time to do so – either option will allow you to easily talk and meet everyone. One of the first things that you’ll notice that there are always things going on – parties, tournaments, events – some of which will be announced, and some of which that will just happen. You’ve got to be there to be a part of the party, so make sure to log in often to see what is going on. If you want to know what’s coming up, check out the PlayStation Home forums, as we will be announcing events, tournaments, content updates, and feature revisions there, and by actively participating, you will be the first to know. You’ll also find that the PlayStation Home forums are alive with conversation from the PlayStation Home community discussing everything from feature requests to new clubs to join. Many of you will have already seen the news regarding participation in PlayStation Home from your favorite game publishers and brands, including Activision, Disney, Eidos, Electronic Arts, Lucas Arts, THQ and UBISOFT as well as Sony Pictures, Paramount, Red Bull, Ligne Roset, and Diesel. As you can imagine, with this many partners already on board, PlayStation Home will grow rapidly, so you’ll need to check back often to see what is new. We’ll do our best to keep you informed on what is going on, but with so much happening in PlayStation Home, there will always be new surprises and secrets to discover. If we simply told you about everything, then it just wouldn’t be as fun for you to discover… For those of you that have been in PlayStation Home for a while, I wanted to take a moment to discuss something very cool that you will notice right away. Once you get in, you’ll see that a redesigned Central Plaza is there to greet you - we’ve made major upgrades as a result of your community feedback. Thank you! First of all, the Central Plaza now features a new 4 player mini-game called “Saucer Pop,” where each player launches a flying saucer from a take-off pad and flies around popping bubbles. These bubbles contain stars that have points attached, but watch out for the bubbles with bombs which will take you out if you’re not careful. You also must keep an eye on your saucer’s fuel gauge and collect bubbles with fuel cells or else you will quickly meet a watery fate. Success is all about the high scores, so good luck out there! I’ve been playing for a while now while we’ve been developing the game, so I’m getting pretty good…for those of you that know me, prepare to pop! Secondly, you will also see some changes to Listen@Home. Now, you’ll be able to select from a number of songs and vote on your favorites. Which ever song gets the most votes plays for everyone, so be sure to get your voice heard and get down on the dance floor. I could go on and on about all the cool new things you are going see and find in PlayStation Home, both on day one of open beta and beyond. The important thing to remember is that PlayStation Home will continue to evolve and change overtime, so be sure to get in often so you don’t miss out… See you in PlayStation Home. View the full article

Sony Corporation has embarked on a series of measures to strengthen its corporate structure and bolster profitability across the Sony Group. These initiatives are in response to the sudden and rapid changes in the global economic environment. Particularly within its electronics business, where Sony has been most affected by the acute downturn in the economic climate, the company has already undertaken certain short-term measures, including adjusting production, lowering inventory levels, and reducing operational expenses. Going forward, Sony intends to adjust product pricing to mitigate the impact of the appreciation of the yen, curtail or delay part of its investment plans, and downsize or withdraw from unprofitable or non-core businesses. Furthermore, Sony plans to realign domestic and overseas manufacturing sites, reallocate its workforce and reduce headcount. Through these measures, Sony will aim to establish a corporate structure capable of delivering estimated total annual cost savings of more than 100 billion yen by the end of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. Details of the initiatives to be implemented within the electronics business at this time are as follows: 1. Review of investment plan Sony has carefully reviewed the investment plan outlined in its Mid-Term Corporate Strategy Update, with the aim of sharpening its focus consistent with Sony’s growth strategy, and is reducing or postponing planned investment as appropriate. Specifically, within the semiconductor business, Sony intends to cut investment expenditures this fiscal year by outsourcing a portion of its planned increase in manufacturing of CMOS image sensors for use in mobile phones to third parties. In addition, following the rapid demand slowdown in television markets, Sony has decided to postpone recently considered plans to invest in production expansion at the Nitra plant in Slovakia, which is one of Sony’s sites assembling LCD televisions for the European market. Based on such measures, Sony is planning to reduce investment in the electronics business by approximately 30% in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, compared to its mid-term plan. 2. Realignment of manufacturing sites By the end of the current fiscal year, Sony plans to cease production at two overseas manufacturing sites, including Sony Dax Technology Center in France, which manufactures tape and other recording media. By further advancing initiatives including rationalizing its manufacturing operations, shifting and aggregating manufacturing to low-cost areas, and utilizing OEM and ODM partners, Sony plans to reduce the total number of manufacturing sites by approximately 10%, from the current total of 57, by March 31, 2010. 3. Workforce reallocation and headcount reduction Through measures including the realignment of its manufacturing sites, a review of its development and design structure, and the streamlining of its sales and administrative functions, Sony will implement a company-wide (including Headquarters) rationalization. Sony intends to reallocate and optimize its workforce through programs including work reassignments and outplacements. As a result of these measures, by March 31, 2010, Sony plans to reduce headcount in the electronics business worldwide by approximately 8,000, out of approximately 160,000 as of September 30, 2008. At the same time, Sony plans to reduce headcount in its seasonal and temporary workforces. In addition to these measures, Sony will continue to implement measures as required to help assure both short and longer-term profitability and growth. Sony plans to outline the anticipated impact of these measures, including anticipated expenses related to their implementation, in Sony’s updated forecast of financial results for the current fiscal year to be included in its third quarter earnings announcement, scheduled for January 2009. Information courtesy of Sony Investor Relations. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonyinsider.com%2F2008%2F12%2F09%2Fsony-slashes-11-billion-in-costs-and-8000-jobs%2F'; addthis_title = 'Sony+Slashes+1.1+Billion+In+Costs+And+8%2C000+Jobs+By+2010'; addthis_pub = ''; View the full article

The top-level management at Sony BMG (aka Sony Music) in Munich is going to shift at the beginning of 2009. Willy Ehmann, currently senior VP of the music division, will shift to a new position as Senior VP domestic, which entails responsibility for all domestic labels. This also includes Gun Records, a wholly owned subsidiary specializing in hard rock. Ehmann will also be in charge of establishing Sony BMG’s own music publishing operation. Stefan Goebel, previously VP international at Sony BMG, will be appointed to the position of senior VP international and join the Sony BMG management team. Both Ehmann and Goebel report to Edgar Berger, CEO of Sony BMG Germany. “I am pleased that Stefan Goebel will be enriching our management team as he is very familiar with international repertoire and will also generate further impetus in the international division”, says Edgar Berger. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonyinsider.com%2F2008%2F12%2F08%2Fmanagement-shuffle-at-sony-music%2F'; addthis_title = 'Management+Shuffle+At+Sony+Music'; addthis_pub = ''; View the full article

We have the opportunity coming up to do an email Q&A with the designer of the BRAVIA EX1. So the question is, what do you want to know about the EX1? Feel free to ask anything, from aesthetics to technical questions, and we’ll do our best to get them answered. The EX1, announced at IFA, was the world’s first LCD Picture Frame TV with integrated High Definition wireless connectivity. Created specifically for the European market by Sony’s EU Design Centre, the BRAVIA EX1 is a stunning example of Sony product design and engineering. No matter how it is used, the BRAVIA EX1 has a very special advantage over normal TVs, namely the super-fast wireless link between its display and the Media Receiver, thanks to ‘BRAVIA 1080(i) Wireless’ technology. This part of the system has three HDMI™ sockets so it can connect to a sophisticated HD home entertainment system. Check out our previous story about the EX1. View the full article

Ryan Kavanaugh, pictured here on the left, one of Hollywood’s most prominent film financiers, was arrested for drunk driving, speeding and driving with a suspended license in October while still on probation for an earlier conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Kavanaugh, who turned 34 on Thursday, has business ties to nearly every major movie studio. His company’s big deals completed within the last year include a $550 million partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment to be co-financer of the majority of the studio’s mass-market films over five years. Read more at the NY Times. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonyinsider.com%2F2008%2F12%2F07%2Fmajor-sony-pictures-entertainment-financier-arrested%2F'; addthis_title = 'Major+Sony+Pictures+Entertainment+Financier+Arrested'; addthis_pub = ''; View the full article

I suppose when your in the company of Oprah Winfrey and Anne Sweeney, you’re doing pretty well for yourself. Amy Pascal was named Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment in September 2006, and has been very successful in her time with Sony. Amy was recently named one of the most powerful women in entertainment by Hollywood Reporter, earning a No. 3 spot on the list. Pascal has also served as Chairman of the Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group since December 2003. Responsible for all aspects of Columbia’s business, including marketing, distribution and home entertainment. Studio’s Spider-Man franchise brought in $2.5 billion worldwide. Known for talent relationships with Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler and Will Smith; green-lighted Apatow’s Superbad after other studios passed. Previously worked at Twentieth Century Fox and Turner Pictures. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonyinsider.com%2F2008%2F12%2F07%2Fhollywood-reporter-names-amy-pascal-as-3-most-powerful-woman-in-entertainment%2F'; addthis_title = 'Hollywood+Reporter+Names+Amy+Pascal+As+%233+Most+Powerful+Woman+In+Entertainment'; addthis_pub = ''; View the full article

Steve Gordon was in the room the day Sony executives learned about Napster. He also took part in some of the decisions on how to deal with the advent of digital music. In 1999, at a Sony Music corporate meeting, the room was filled with Sony executives and attorneys from across the globe. At one point, one of the Sony attorneys gave a presentation on two music services. One was the Sony music service and the other was a tiny, fledgling service, Napster. The Sony service required users to go through multiple layers of Web sites in order to get to the songs they wanted. And even then, there were severe restrictions on the use of those songs. Read more of this incredible interview at ECommerce Times.. You can check out Steve Gordon’s book, The Future of the Music Business: How to Succeed with the New Digital Technologies, at Amazon. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonyinsider.com%2F2008%2F12%2F05%2Fthe-future-of-the-music-business%2F'; addthis_title = 'The+Future+Of+The+Music+Business'; addthis_pub = ''; View the full article

PC World’s annual Reliability and Service survey lets our readers rate leading vendors in several tech-product categories. This year more than 16,000 respondents shared their likes and dislikes about their high-def TVs and the companies that sell them. Participants rated each company and its products relative to competitors by nine measures, such as customer satisfaction, quality of phone service, severity of hardware problems, and ease of use (our chart here shows five). The big winner was Sony, which was better than average in seven of nine measures. The electronics giant, known for high-quality, high-end HDTVs, earned praise for hardware reliability and customer service. It received average marks in ease of use and phone hold time. Read more at PC World.. View the full article

Sony said on Friday it has decided to close down its videocassette plant in France, with the rise of disk- and chip-based recording technologies cutting demand for the magnetic tape. The 24-year-old factory in Dax, France, employs 312 workers and makes around 8 million VHS videocassettes per month. It also produces 8 mm and Betacam SP videocassettes. Sony said it expects to shut it down by the end of March but estimated costs from the closure are still unknown. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonyinsider.com%2F2008%2F12%2F05%2Fsony-to-shut-down-vhs-plant-in-france%2F'; addthis_title = 'Sony+To+Shut+Down+VHS+Plant+In+France'; addthis_pub = ''; View the full article

I am in the market for a new HD camcorder as we will be going to CES 2009 in less than a month. We plan on providing HD coverage of the CES experience through Vimeo’s video hosting services. Choosing the right HD camcorder is a bit overwhelming to the novice, however. I’m pretty set on choosing a Sony camcorder, of course, because I want people to see the footage shot through a Sony camera as a demonstration of its great quality. Right now, my options are the HDR-SR12, HDR-S11, and HDR-S10. One of the best tips I can recommend to someone who is confused as to what camcorder they should purchase is to check out the aforementioned Vimeo site and type in the camcorder model name into the search field. For example, here is a search for the HDR-S11, which brings up numerous videos shot with the camera. The beauty of Vimeo is that they allow HD uploads and HD viewing, which allows you to get a general idea of how your videos will turn out. I want a HD camcorder with built-in hard drive and USB/firewire connectivity because I don’t want to purchase memory sticks that I’ll end up misplacing nor do I wish to use tape. My price range, like most consumer camcorder purchasers, is under a thousand dollars. Unfortunately, it seems like the HDR-SR10 is slightly less in quality than the HDR-SR11 and HDR-SR12 for several reasons. Unlike the SR11 and SR12, the SR10 has no viewfinder, but has the LCD which should be more than sufficient for most people including myself. Furthermore, the SR10 has a 2.36 MP Optical Sensor Resolution, whereas the SR11’s is 5.66 MP. The SR10 is capable of taking roughly 4MP still pictures, where the SR11/SR12 has 10MP effective quality. And of course, the SR10 has a 40GB hard drive, where the SR11 and SR12 has 60 and 120GB, respectively. The major factors that keep me from buying the SR10 is that I need a HD camcorder that can shoot still pictures in higher quality. That way I wouldn’t have to take a camera and a camcorder to the show. I would much prefer to use the SR11’s 10MP resolution for still images at CES.. I was able to find the HDR-SR10 at Dell.com for $699, which is about $770 after taxes - this is a very good deal. I also spotted the HDR-SR11 at Dell for $969, and the SR12 for $999. I stopped by Best Buy the other day and they agreed to price match Dell’s website. Is the SR12 at $999 the sweet spot? It sure seems like it, but money is a little tight and I’m expecting more price cuts for their camcorders as this range is nearly at the end of its product lifecycle. No matter what, I will be buying something soon, or maybe I should just make a formal request to Sony and ask if they’ll lend us some nice equipment. View the full article

The firm made a surprising move and introduced a Sony branded flying saucer available for pre-order for 1 bil yen. Sorry got side-tracked here… In attempts to bring more understanding to MotionFlow technology Sony went as far as constructing a drome which was inspired by the zoetrope, a

Looks like Sony and CE in general did pretty good in this no so good economy in the US. It has been reported on Sony’s Blog and some other sources that the sales were up comparing to the last year. So what were the hottest products? Sony HDTVs and Sony’s Blu-ray player BDP-S350. The Blu-ray player usually sold for $299 was marked down on Sonystyle.com to $199 and sold out pretty fast. BDP-S350 and S550 are the 3rd generation of Sony’s Blu-ray players and are Profile 2.0 supporting BD-Live (downloadable firmware is available on Sony’s Support site). Just a personal note, I really liked the design of the second gen players especially BDP-S500 with its sliding front panel, however S350/550 models are skinnier. According to Sony EU Press release this year’s Black Friday, which was on November 28th, saw sales of Blu-ray players go up a staggering 147 per cent, with Sony’s critically acclaimed and award winning BDP-S350 Blu-ray player making it to No.3 in the list of best selling products across America on one of the busiest days of the year*. The BDP-S350 was announced in Europe in August and is one of Sony’s flagship Blu-ray players. It provides the complete Blu-ray High Definition experience for customers looking to get the most from their HDTV, including full BD Live capability which allows users to access a range of exciting online services. With simple HDMI connectivity to your HDTV and easy to use pop up menus on Blu-ray discs, Sony Blu-ray players are the perfect choice for family entertainment this Christmas. Despite the global economic downturn US consumers chose to invest heavily in gadgets and other consumer electronics products, proving that home entertainment offers a cost-effective investment for many during times of economic uncertainty. Most people prefer products that enhance their at home time, with a ‘night-in’ deemed more economical than a night out. “The success of Blu-ray on this year’s Black Friday shows that consumers really want to get the best out of their HDTVs” said David Walstra, Director, Home Video Marketing of Sony Europe. “Blu-ray is a must for every HDTV owner because it delivers the best possible 1080p high-definition video and incredible sound quality, while unlocking next-generation features that you just won’t get from DVD, downloads or video-on-demand. Even in times of recession, none of us want to lose out on top quality entertainment.” View the full article

A tower of refinement that marks a turning point in speakers As promised, here is a chance to look into how “Sountina-the-Great” (authors remark) came to life and who stood behind its conception. I am always fascinated by ingenious designs and ideas that Sony folks have and it is great to see some of it come to life, though at a pretty penny. So read on and see if this is something than can capture you like it did for me. Omnidirectional sound from an organic glass tube tweeter. Introducing the “Sountina” NSA-PF1, currently in the limelight as an elegant speaker system offering a room-filling soundstage. Such original technology also proved a font of inspiration for the designers, but how did they channel their creative energies into this sonic sculpture? Here, the designers reveal how the Sountina is another paragon that casts light on the best direction for Sony design. Fumiya Matsuoka Sony Corporation Creative Center Chief Art Director Takahiro Tsuge Sony Corporation Creative Center Senior Producer Izumi Kubota Sony Corporation Creative Center Assistant Manager Satoshi Awatsuji Sony Corporation Creative Center Information Design Manager A breakthrough heralding a new listening style Matsuoka: I’ll never forget the first time I saw the original model for the Sountina. That was more than two years ago, at a presentation by engineers announcing the results of development. When I walked in, I saw a glass tube standing upright in the middle of the room. I could hear the clear sound of a bird chirping, coming from nowhere in particular. That glass tube turned out to be the tweeter. Normally, tweeters determine the positioning and orientation of sound. But here, the glass tube in front of me produced consistent sound no matter where I stood as I circled around it. I even backed up against a wall, but there was hardly any change in sound pressure. It was truly an eerie experience, as if every nook of the room were filled with sound. I knew then that this was a breakthrough promising a new listening style. It was also good timing. I happened to be working in the U.S., where my colleagues and I were exploring the frontiers of audio entertainment. We realized that typical two-channel audio systems keep listeners captive in front of the speakers, if they want the best performance. It’s a little futile using these systems when several people want to enjoy music together. That’s because the optimal listening position is focused in one area. Why couldn’t we develop a system that drew people together around it instead? Like a campfire people gather around. This kind of free, flexible listening style was what my group had been seeking. The glass tube in front of me embodied this concept perfectly. I couldn’t help but feel excited. When I finally returned to work in Japan, I went to see and hear the Sountina, which had been under development all the while. It exceeded my expectations, and I was truly delighted. What’s behind the original structure Tsuge: I, too, felt the tremendous potential of this “sonic glass tube” the first time I saw it. Conventional speakers produce sound through a diaphragm, using magnetic coils. As with car tires, the basic mechanism has not changed in a very long time since it was introduced. People haven’t succeeded in changing it. With the technology to overturn convention right in front of us, we were obviously eager to share it with the world. This aspiration brought many people at Sony together in product development from an early stage—people in R&D, engineering, and product planning. In product design, I listened carefully to the sound produced by the Sountina as I worked. The organic glass tube tweeter produces the most natural, clear sound, free of inherent characteristics and orientation, at ear level. For this reason, we arranged the main unit at the base to ensure the ideal tube height. The unit incorporates a cone-type midrange speaker and woofer, as well as an amp. In this way, the Sountina functions as a three-way active speaker system aligned on a vertical axis. The four columns linking these parts contain oscillators to vibrate the organic glass tube. Proprietary elements contract to drive the tweeter, offering excellent power and responsiveness. The result is vibrant, high-resolution sound conveying subtle nuances. In design, we combined all the pieces in the basic structure in a logical way to make this happen. A single wire underlines the identity of this system Tsuge: What should we as designers do to express how innovative and original this technology is? From the start, I thought we should focus on the organic glass tube. It’s fascinating how the tube, which is the tweeter, vibrates to produce sound. But if we didn’t jazz it up somehow, it would look just like any ordinary glass tube. We wanted to avoid any extra frills, but then how could we convey what’s special about the Sountina? To solve this dilemma we ran a single wire through the glass tube. Passing a wire through this glass column gives it a core, creating a pleasant sense of tension. Although it serves only an aesthetic purpose, this line also resembles the string of a musical instrument, which produces sound by vibrating. It seemed a fitting symbol to adopt in audio equipment. We could have explored designing the speaker to look more like a lamp or an object of art. If we had taken the approach of concealing signs that the unit is a speaker, it might have seemed more surprising or innovative. That would have been sufficient if all we sought was a product with striking design. Transparent speakers are not new. Omnidirectional speakers, with the diaphragm arranged to radiate sound, have also been developed before. We sought something that would clearly set the Sountina apart. Because it’s the first product to introduce this new speaker technology, we didn’t compromise on sound quality, and in the same way, we sought the appearance of a serious speaker system. To express this, I chose a single wire to underline its identity, so to speak. More than meets the ear: exceptional quality in all users see and touch Tsuge: We refrained from any purely superficial flourishes. For example, the spindle-shaped part holding the wire on top is not merely a decoration. It channels sound more effectively. We studied the shape and cross-sectional area carefully to eliminate distortion. The wire itself is specially coated to reflect illumination from the base of the organic glass tube and conduct light to the top. The color and intensity of illumination are adjustable, and to confirm remote control operations involving bass and treble (which may be difficult to discern while listening), the intensity changes subtly in response. The remote is constructed of an aluminum panel. Buttons are individually cut, for better tactile feedback to one’s fingertips. The base housing the amp and woofer of the Sountina is metallic silver. Owners can slip on a genuine leather sleeve to enjoy a different appearance. The sleeve is constructed of a single sheet of leather, and ordering the material at this size was not easy. But it was something we insisted on. The sleeve projects a desirable sense of quality in public places, and it’s a luxurious material that feels right at home in one’s living room. Sony hospitality, to owners and to their guests Kubota: The moment I first saw a Sountina prototype, it cleary embodied Sony Design to me. There’s a sense of surprise and uniqueness from Sony. We wanted to convey the same sense of originality and excitement about this new listening style in the user manual. Awatsuji: Manuals are something users see after their purchase. Our readers already know why the product is compelling and valuable to them. That’s why normally, all we need to do is describe how to use it. But this time, we described how to enjoy the system and explained details of the technology at work because the Sountina can make a great centerpiece of conversation. Besides informing owners how and why the system works, we saw the manual as an opportunity to enliven conversations with guests, as owners respond to questions about the Sountina. We think that’s a purpose we might expect manuals to fulfill. After all, manuals cover instructions and tips for enjoying products, but they’re also a resource owners keep for future reference. That’s why we rejected a stiff, formal style and would not settle for regular, single-color printing. The slim format recalls the shape of the unit itself. This size is ideal for having full-page product photos on one side when you turn each page. This reflects our regard for nonverbal communication—conveying the product’s interesting points without relying on words. After layout, we focused on printing, where it’s essential to capture product details. Here we sought meticulous support at all stages, on a level rivaling the production of books of photography. It involved many refinements at the printer and five-color printing, but the quality is tangible and worthy of admiration. Kubota: As we met with the developers to learn details, we put together a manual that’s really worth reading, in ways unlike other speaker manuals to date. But at the same time, it’s not a brochure, so there was no point in praising the Sountina with beautiful descriptions. Thorough editing led to an effective, clear, and concise manual. And the English in the manual is not a slavish, unnatural translation of the Japanese. We made sure the English version describes this appealing product well. We invested this much effort in the manual hoping it would be a thoughtful gesture from Sony that even benefits the guests of Sountina owners, through owners’ hospitality. A manual that invites owners to rediscover what they appreciate about the Sountina after purchase. A manual that inspires communication, bringing owners closer to their guests. These are the roles we’d like the manual to fulfill. Bringing people together, at the center of attention: superb sound and design Matsuoka: Omnidirectional speakers haven’t gained widespread acceptance yet, in my opinion. That’s a good reason to hope the Sountina catches many people’s eye, and reaches their ears. When people who first hear it in a public setting decide to take it home, I’m sure it will expand the market. It will also encourage this new listening style. Audio entertainment has been caught between two extremes for years. On one hand there’s the indulgence of setting up exclusive “front-row” seats in your home, in front of imposing speakers. On the other hand, with portable audio players, people are immersed in their own private zone of music. Neither of these is necessarily the wrong approach, but I would like to see audio entertainment also take a turn in the direction of inviting many people to listen freely at the same time. And it is with the hope of popularizing this listening style that we present the Sountina. * NSA-PF1 is available in Japan only (as of July 1, 2008) Information adopted from Sony Design official site. View the full article

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Sony announced today at the annual Interservice/Industry Training, Training, Simulation and Education (I/ITSEC) conference that its SXRD 4K digital projectors have been selected for the Navy’s advanced Multipurpose Supporting Arms Trainer (MSAT) program at the Naval Air Strike and Air Warfare Center located in Fallon, Nevada USA. The Navy’s effort to build the immersive simulation trainer follows the recent successful installation of Sony SXRD 4K projectors at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado located in San Diego, California. The display system will include three 4K projectors (model SRX-S105) that are capable of displaying images at more than four times the resolution (4096×2160) of today’s high-definition television sets (1920×1080). For the geeks out there, read more about the incredible SRX-S105 systems here at this informative PDF brochure. The projectors will be used as part of a complete simulation trainer, developed and installed by Video Display Corporation, a leader in the simulation display industry. “We are very pleased with the Navy’s decision to expand the MSAT training program using Sony’s SXRD 4K projectors,” said Andre Floyd, Sony Electronics’ marketing manager for SXRD systems. “We are confident that the immersive visual experience provided to the trainees by the ultra high-resolution training program will help our men and women serving in the Navy to be among the best prepared in the service.” The MSAT program was created to provide key personnel — including Forward Air Controllers, Forward Observers, and Close Arms Support — with simulated joint training exercises in all aspects of artillery, mortar and naval combat situations. Floyd added that Sony’s SXRD 4K projectors are the only bright projection systems available on the market today that are capable of producing 8.8 million pixels of resolution. The projector’s high pixel density makes the system ideal for applications requiring the display of content heavy simulations. The I/ITSEC conference taking place in Orlando, from December 1-4 promotes improved training, education and cooperation among the Armed Services, Industry, Academia and various government agencies. The installation in Fallon, Nev., is expected to be completed by July 2009. More information about Sony’s SXRD projection systems is available online at www.sony.com/sxrd. View the full article

According to new reports filed at the FCC, there is a new Sony laptop that will arrive soon. I’m a little sad I wasn’t able to break it like we did with the TT series, but I will try to tap my sources and see whats going on. The PCG-1P1L and PCG-1P2L, pictured above, debuted on the FCC today and are very curious. A picture, some wifi details and a label appeared, but the User Manual and Photos have been requested as confidential. Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, EVDO, and HSPA are all on board (as usual, would we expect anything less?). engadget noticed that the label size is 128mm, which means that this device is probably “9.5 x 4.5-inches making this netbook even smaller than the 10.3 x 6.56-inch HP mini 1000.” I’ve looked across some various forum chatter and found an interesting discussion regarding this topic at Notebook Review and the brilliant Rahul has delivered some rather interesting points: It has similar form factor “to their Picturebook series which lasted from 1998 to 2002 before being replaced by the T series.”: Obviously, this new Netbook from Sony will look much more modern and probably in line with the TT series with the glow green light of awesomeness. Here is a sample label as well: PCG-1P1L FCC Filing - Index/Exhibits List - PDF: Label Information (includes photo of bottom) PCG-1P2L FCC Filing - Index/Exhibits List - PDF: Bluetooth/Wireless Testing Who wants to guess on what processor speed and specs will be? View the full article