Sony Elevates the Consumer Entertainment Experience at CES 2011 With Connected Solutions and Expanded 3D Product Line

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CES Booth #14200 -- Sony Electronics today announced innovative new networked products and services and exciting additions to its 3D consumer offerings at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show.  

Embodying the spirit of its "make.believe" (pronounced make dot believe) culture, Sony's booth demonstrates the company's unique ability to combine technology, products, content, and services to deliver the ultimate consumer entertainment experience.

Sony's CES display ranges from full high-definition, 3D-capable BRAVIA® LCD televisions; 3D Blu-ray Disc™ capable home audio and video systems and Sony Internet Television powered by Google TV to Cyber-shot® cameras, Handycam® camcorders, VAIO® personal computers, Reader Digital books, and much more. In addition to showcasing these new products, Sony's exhibit display is built around consumers' desire for networking and connecting, developing an integrated experience across platforms, devices, and applications.  

"This year, consumers will notice many dazzling new networked products, content, and services, along with innovative, future-focused technologies," noted Sir Howard Stringer, Sony Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. "It's a consumer proposition that no other company can match, and it's an impressive, concrete testament to the strength and vision of Sony."

Television Redefined

Sony's new BRAVIA HDTV lineup once again redefines the television category for consumers, delivering new sets that actively engage viewers by building on its broad line of innovative 3D and Internet-connected TVs.  The 2011 BRAVIA LCD HDTV line includes 16 new 3D-capable and 22 Internet-connected models. In all there are 27 new BRAVIA models in the 2011 line.  

Sony continues its connected evolution with new BRAVIA models that feature seamless Internet connectivity for access to over forty free and premium movies, video and music services through the BRAVIA Internet Video platform including Sony's "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity™" and "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity," as well as Netflix, Pandora®, HuluPlus™, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube™, Slacker® Internet Radio, Crackle, Blip.tv, and more.

"Video On Demand Powered by Qriocity" is a premium video streaming service with instant access to Hollywood blockbusters, and "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is a cloud-based, digital   music service delivering which gives music lovers access at any time to a constantly expanding catalog of over six million global music tracks from major labels.  "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" launched in the U.K. and Ireland in December 2010, and will be available in the U.S. and Canada as well as the main European markets within the first quarter of this year across 2010 and 2011 models of network-enabled BRAVIA televisions, Blu-ray Disc players, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems and VAIO PCs.

The new models offer uncompromising picture quality with Sony's new X-Reality Engine and X-Reality picture engines, which separate incoming video signals by outline, texture, and color/contrast and adds appropriate image enhancements to create the best image possible.

Highlighting the new BRAVIA line is the 3D-capable KDL-HX820 series with brilliant full HD (1080p) picture quality with Dynamic Edge LED backlight for outstanding contrast. The series, which includes 55 and 46-inch models, features a built-in 3D sync transmitter, integrated Wi-Fi® (802.11n), and is Skype-ready. Upgraded processing power is provided by Sony' X-Reality PRO Engine, a two-chip digital processor that utilizes a vast database of "ideal" signal patterns and compares incoming video signals pixel-by-pixel to display vivid and detailed images.

The new line is augmented by Sony Internet TV, the world's first Internet TV, powered by Google TV that was introduced this past October. Pioneering the new era of connected television, Sony Internet TV seamlessly combines integrated web search functionality with diverse television programming.  With an intuitive infrared (IR) keyboard remote and available mobile device remote app, Sony Internet TV is a simple and powerful device that brings the best of the online and broadcast worlds together into one.

For home entertainment enthusiasts, the benchmark for exceptional video playback rises to new heights with Sony's latest Blu-ray Disc player, the BDP-S780, designed for discerning consumers looking for optimal 2D or 3D entertainment experiences. The new model is compatible with Blu-ray 3D as well as DVDs, CDs, and SACDs.  It features built-in Wi-Fi wireless (802.11n) with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), as well as an Ethernet jack for easy access to online video content from BRAVIA Internet Video and video chatting via Skype™. It can convert 2D content to simulated 3D and improves standard definition and enhances web quality video with Sony's IP Content Noise Reduction technology and Precision Cinema HS Upscaling technologies. It also includes Sony's Super Bit Mapping technology which delivers smoother color reproduction when, connected via HDMI.

3D Total Solution for a 3D World

In 2010, Sony established itself as the industry leader in 3D entertainment across hardware, software, and content platforms. CES 2011 begins the next phase of Sony's 3D strategy to make 3D more personal, enabling consumers to shoot, play, and share their user-generated 3D content wherever they go.

Sony's 3D Handycam camcorder, the HDR-TD10, is the world's first 3D camcorder to record in "Double Full HD," or 1920 x 1080 times two. The integrated dual lens system includes two of each key component – double Sony G Lenses, double "Exmor R" CMOS sensors, and double "BIONZ" image processors.  This yields the ability for 3D content to be played back in Full HD 2D automatically on non-3D displays, while 3D footage can be played back without glasses on the camcorder's crisp Xtra Fine 3.5-inch touch screen LCD or with glasses on any 3D-capable HDTV.

For content creators in the blogosphere, Sony continues to innovate in the pocket video camera space, revealing the world's first HD 3D pocket camera, Bloggie 3D (MHS-FS3). The Bloggie 3D camera captures HD 3D as well as Full HD 2D MPEG-4 video or 5.1 megapixel photos. Similar to the 3D Handycam, the Bloggie 3D utilizes two lenses in its portable, and affordable, design, and its 3D video and photos can be viewed on its own 2.4-inch 3D LCD screen without glasses, or with glasses on any 3D-capable television via HDMI connection.

Sony's Cyber-shot line continues to advance digital still cameras to make it easy for consumers to get DSLR-quality still images, high quality Full HD video, and stunning 3D photos. Sony's five new 16.2-megapixel "Exmor R" CMOS sensor cameras in its Cyber-shot lineup are the world's first cameras to include 3D Still Image mode for taking 3D images using only one lens and imager. They are also one of the few digital still cameras with the innovative Dual Rec feature for taking still photos during video capture. The new DSC-WX10, DSC-WX9, DSC-TX100V, DSC-TX10 and DSC-HX7V provide excellent low-light performance, 10 frames per second burst shooting, and Intelligent Sweep Panorama features. The DSC-WX9 brings Sony's groundbreaking features to innovation enthusiasts at the approachable price of less than $220.  

Sony's new VAIO F series 3D laptop is designed for consumers looking for the ultimate in mobile entertainment and functionality. The F series laptop has a built-in 3D sync transmitter and includes 3D active glasses, allowing viewers to enjoy 3D movies and pictures in full HD 1080p resolution on its 16-inch, high-contrast, and 16x9 widescreen display. In addition to 3D viewing, the F series packs a second-generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processor with four cores and supports Intel Hyper-Threading and Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, delivering premium performance. It comes with Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

And new VAIO PC`s with built in Blu-ray drives can create the ideal bridge between the HD playback and the creation of consumers' own HD world, allowing them to manage, edit and share personal HD content, while preserving their digital memories.

make.believe - Integrated Consumer Experience

At home or on the go, Sony's new technologies and products for 2011 promise to deliver entertaining and enriching experiences as unique and differentiated as each consumer. Connected products provide users the power to view and share – and even create – content like never before, with technology making a practical and personal connection with customers.  Sony delivers on the make.believe promise, empowering consumers to believe that anything they can imagine, they can make real.

SOURCE Sony Electronics