Sony At CEDIA 2009 Round Up

With another excellent CEDIA behind us, it’s time for a quick review and round up. Sony Electronics has posted a nice set of walk through video clips of the majority of the home theater and audio equipment they displayed. Not only do you get to see the products first hand, it also shows a commitment to the custom community and their dealers which is excellent. Enjoy.

Be sure to also check out Sony Insider’s CEDIA coverage.

BDP-N460

STR-DA5500ES

BDP-CX7000ES

Home Share

Overview of Sony’s Product Line and Fulfillment Model

BDP-S1000ES

VPL-VW85

KDL-XBR10

PS3 Firmware 3.01 Released

Firmware 3.01 for the PS3 is available for download. While the details of the release only state that “This is an optional update that improves system stability during use of some PlayStation 3 format software”, Eric Lempel, PlayStation Network Operations confirmed in a comment reply when asked about the issue with Unchartered Drake’s Fortune that:

Yes, this will fix the issues that some users have experienced with Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

With the impending release of Unchartered 2: Among Thieves, if you haven’t played the first game now is an excellent time. Especially given the fact it’s one of the PS3’s Greatest Hits titles can you take it home for $29.99.

source: PLAYSTATION.BLOG

Spiderman 4 on IMAX May 5, 2011

According to Columbia Pictures it’s official. Not sure who the nemesis will be, but I hope it’s either Kraven the Hunter or The Lizarad aka. Dr. Curt Connors.

Press release is below:

IMAX Corporation and Columbia Pictures today announced that the highly-anticipated action-adventure Spider-Man 4, will be released to IMAX(R) theatres simultaneously with the film’s worldwide release on May 5, 2011. The fourth installment of the successful “Spider-Man” franchise, based on the Marvel Comicbook character, will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. The film will be distributed by Columbia Pictures domestically and by Sony Pictures Releasing International overseas.

To date, the “Spider-Man” motion pictures have generated more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office receipts.

“The last two ‘Spider-Man’ releases have been available in IMAX theaters, and we’re very much looking forward to our return to a wider IMAX theatre network with this exciting new chapter in the continuing adventures of Spider-Man,” said Rory Bruer, President, Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing. “The addition of so many new IMAX locations will give even more fans of Spider-Man an opportunity to experience the action and adventure in a unique way.”

“‘Spider-Man’ continues to be one of the world’s most popular motion picture franchises, and we are very excited to include the latest chapter as part of our 2011 slate,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “Our network has grown significantly and we continue to roll-out new theatres virtually every week, giving more moviegoers the opportunity to experience the movie in IMAX.”
“We’re so excited to once again work with our friends at Columbia Pictures, Sony and Marvel to bring this beloved superhero back to IMAX theatres,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “The ‘Spider-Man’ franchise has been so important to the growth of our network and fan base over the years and we’re certainly looking forward to re-teaming with the entire cast and production team to bring this next chapter to moviegoers worldwide.”

Spider-Man 4 will reunite director Sam Raimi with stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. The screenplay is currently being adapted by Gary Ross. Producers are Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, Todd Black and Grant Curtis. Executive producers are Stan Lee, Todd Hallowell and Josh Donen.

The IMAX release will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Collection Of Real Life Sony A840 Series Walkman Pictures

The revelation of Sony’s new A series Walkman fared better than I expected, with numerous press outlets picking up the story all throughout the day today. People are genuinely enticed by the new A840 series, which touts impressive features such as 2.8 inch OLED screen, digital noise canceling, and the super slim profile. AV Watch was able to take hands on pictures with the A840 series and they truly show off the genuine beauty of this marvel in Japanese engineering. Most of the comments I’ve read on various tech blogs say that this Walkman is “beautiful,” “epic,” and “I’m starting to think Sony could be a real contender for #2 PMP worldwide.”

Can the A series Walkman help Sony solidify a #2 spot? I know Sony is faring far better than they have in a long time with their portable media players, but they have never brought anything like this to the table before. Here’s hoping Sony has delivered a home run to combat the iPod Nano, ZuneHD, and so forth.

Here is what the TV out looks like:

SonyStyle Japan purple limited edition A847 Walkman:

Sony Expands S-Series Walkman Further With S640, S740 Series

Sony has confirmed our additional S-Series leak we posted recently with the introduction of the new NW-S640 (left) and NW-S740 (right) Walkman music players. These Walkman both have a 2.0 inch LCD, and the for the first time this generation the ability to output its display to TV at 720×480 (SD) resolution. One of the major features of the S740 series is noise canceling (non-digital), while both have expected things such as FM radio, Clear bass, Clear Stereo, and DSEE to color your sound. There is also word of lyric display, and playback speed control for those learning languages. We are also very pleased to report Sony is bundling the MDR-EX300SL earphones with this device. The NW-S740 series comes in black, gold, green, violet, and has 8GB (NW-S744, Y16,000), 16GB (NW-S745, Y19,000), and 32GB (NW-S746, Y25,000) capacities. Sony Japan is also selling a S740 Walkman and matching color speaker bundle, known as the NW-S744K (Y19,000) and NW-S745K (Y22,000).

The only difference between the Sony S640 and S740 Walkman lines, other than the colors, is that the S640 doesn’t have noise canceling. The NW-S644 (8GB, Y14,000) and NW-645 (16GB, Y17,000) also have included speaker bundles – NW-S644K (Y17,000) and NW-S645K (Y20,000).

The 8GB units will be available first on October 10th, while the others will arrive later that month on the 28th.

Battery life is pretty epic at 42 hours for music (128kbps mp3), and 10 hours video (384kbps MPEG-4). Codec support looks like MP3, WMA, AAC, HE-AAC, ATRAC, ATRAC AL, PCM/wav. I assume ATRAC support will probably be limited to Japan, but we are not sure yet. For movies, the usual AVC (H2.64), MPEG-4 and WMV are allowed.

Here is an introduction video courtesy of Sony Japan:

SonyStyle Japan released a picture of an exclusive limited edition model, the NW-S644 in pink:

This information, in English, is a Sony Insider exclusive brought to you here first.

Sony’s Gorgeous New A-Series Walkman Features OLED, Up To 64GB Capacity

Sony has unveiled the latest update to the A-Series Walkman line with some serious features. The new NW-A840 series, available in black and brown, simply is the most brilliant Walkman offering from Sony to date – it has all of the features people have been asking for in previous Walkmans while shedding what it needed to. In my opinion, this is the most stylish appearance I’ve seen in a personal media player – and it has a jaw-dropping 2.8 inch WQVGA OLED screen. This is also the thinnest Walkman ever created at only 7.2mm. Sony has also finally come to the table with a better assortment of capacities – with the NW-A845 (16GB, Y24,000), NW-A846 (32GB, Y30,000), and NW-A847 (64GB, Y40,000) all due on October 31st. What’s also new for the first time is a TV-out function, that can output at 720×480 (SD) quality.

There is no Wifi or touchscreen. Let’s face it – the browser on the X-Series was a disaster. The X-Series Walkman used an old CPU and lacked the memory needed for an optimal iPhone-esque browser experience everyone has become accustomed to.

Of course, the newest A-Series is drag n’ drop, which also includes for the first time autoconverting video transfer! Additional features to round out this sweet package include a S-Master digital amplifier, FM radio, digital noise canceling (which we really think is incredible) and comes with premium MDR-EX300SL earphones. That is a really nice pair of stock buds to come with a Walkman – I am glad to see they didn’t skimp out. Other premium features to color your sound include DSEE, Clear Stereo, Clear bass, and lyric display.

I’m seeing here that the new A series has about 29 hours battery life at 128kbps, and 9 hours of video playback at 384kbps MPEG-4. Codec support looks like MP3, WMA, AAC, HE-AAC, ATRAC, ATRAC AL, PCM/wav. I assume ATRAC support will probably be limited to Japan, but we are not sure yet. For movies, the usual AVC (H2.64), MPEG-4 and WMV are allowed.

Here’s a keen introduction video courtesy of Sony Japan:

Sony also released a picture of a special SonyStyle limited edition Violet NW-A847:

This information, brought to you in English, is a Sony Insider exclusive, brought to you here first.

VGP-BMS10/S Replacement Program

Sony Japan has recently issued a replacement program for the mouse we have reviewed (VGP-BMS10/S) and Sony USA has followed up as well.

Dr. Oz Gets His Own TV Show

“The Dr. Oz Show,” a high octane, multi-topic hour-long series hosted by trusted health expert, best-selling author, and world-renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, premiered in syndication yesterday (check local listings – PDF). Episodes airing during its premiere week feature two of the recently announced “Core Team Oz” guest contributors, fashion and style expert Tim Gunn (“Project Runway”) and fitness specialist Bob Harper (“The Biggest Loser”). Also debuting this week as a member of Core Team Oz is “America’s vet,” Dr. Marty Becker, the popular author and regular veterinary contributor on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America.” What do you think of the show so far?

On Tuesday, September 15, “The Dr. Oz Show” focuses on the H1N1 (“swine flu”) virus with “The Next Pandemic: 5 Things You Need to Prepare.” Statistics say that 150 million are at risk and up to 90,000 could die in America alone. The show looks at who is the most susceptible, what the key symptoms are and how to stay safe with five can’t-be-missed, life-saving tips.

“The Fountain of Youth: Dr. Oz’s Top 10 Anti-Aging Secrets” airs on Wednesday, September 16. From bug spray to surprises in typical food pantries, Dr. Oz reveals astonishing toxic ingredients that are found every day in American homes that can speed up the aging process. Dr. Oz offers healthier alternatives to these products that can help prevent aging, plus renowned veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker performs a RealAge intervention on an overweight dog and its owner.

On Thursday, September 17, fashion expert Tim Gunn makes his first appearance on the show as he provides uplifting makeovers for a mother and daughter, who are breast cancer survivors, plus metabolism boosters, information about what your urine says about your health and bathroom germs that will make you squirm.

“Dr. Oz’s Highway to Health Bus with Bob Harper – Part 1″ finishes premiere week for “The Dr. Oz Show” on Friday, September 18 as Dr. Oz’s “Highway to Health” tour bus is revealed. Dr. Oz enlists Harper’s help as he launches one of the show’s big events of the season. Thirty-five people from the land of Oz–Kansas City that is–kick off the first all-American national challenge to add 10 years to one’s life in 60 days.

Dr. Oz has served as health expert on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” since 2004, sharing advice with viewers to help them live their best life from the inside out. Dr. Oz has co-authored five New York Times Best Sellers, and has a regular column in Esquire magazine and is a contributing editor to O, The Oprah Magazine. He is also the host of a daily talk show on Sirius XM Radio’s “Oprah Radio.” Dr. Oz is vice-chair of the Department of Surgery and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital and performs 250 heart operations annually. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters, and medical books and has received several patents.

Cleared in over 99% of the country, “The Dr. Oz Show” is co-produced by Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and distributed by SPT.

Interview With The Designers Of The Sony A380, A330, and A230 DSLR’s

Digital SLR cameras are hot. Entry-level SLRs should be small and straightforward, yet many people still find them big and complicated. Just who are these cameras for, and what should they be like? The new “α” gives us some answers, straight from the people in Sony who created the device who faced these issues in photography. Here is the exclusive interview (courtesy of Sony Design) with several of the designers of the Sony A380, A330, and A230 – Masahiro Takahashi, Shingo Kurokawa, Tetsu Sumii, and Kanae Fukamatsu.

Takahashi: With the release of the “α900″ last year, the Sony “α” (“alpha”) product line launched in 2006 was finally complete. Now we’re building on this tradition in the second generation to offer new, desirable qualities you won’t find anywhere else. Toward this end, we asked ourselves what we could do through design. You can find some answers in the accessible “α380″, “α330″, and “α230″.

Trying to rewrite the book on SLR cameras is both bold and difficult, even if these are entry-level models. SLRs have evolved over the years to meet the tough demands of professionals in reporting and journalism, among other fields. This has influenced many of the unwritten rules of design. Look at the grip, for example. Its size and shape makes the camera easy to handle even with large, heavy lenses mounted. Important dials and buttons are within reach, when you’re looking through the viewfinder, and conveniently shaped. Even SLRs for novices share this professional heritage.

We can admire past chapters in the history of camera manufacturing, and this design seems fitting for an age when SLRs were exclusively for people determined to produce professional shots and master the traditions of photography. But as cameras became more common in general, attitudes in the market have changed. Browse popular camera magazines or photography blogs and you’ll find perfectly composed shots next to ordinary snapshots. Rather than honing their skills for specific kinds of photography, more people are discovering how enjoyable cameras can be as they learn how to frame everyday scenes or retouch images. Their shots reveal that new users’ reasons for picking up an SLR are changing.

Cameras better suited to this market, the emerging generation of photographers, was our goal in development. Some of you interested in SLRs have been put off by bulky cameras or complicated controls. Through design, we wanted to give you a gentle push. We were determined to offer current novices the purest form of what they’ve been looking for, after repeated surveys and discussions took us past the unwritten rules of design. Indeed, responding to user needs must be a starting point in camera design, and we believe entry-level SLRs should have been like this all along.

Sumii: Simpler and more compact. New digital SLR users value these qualities, and that’s what we sought to deliver. We also knew that more young women appreciate how fashionable classic cameras can be. With these trends in mind, we rejected the modern SLR shape, with flowing surfaces forming a solid, organic whole. Instead, new “α” cameras are modeled after classic film cameras. After all, the iconic look everyone recognizes, combined with clean, clear controls, epitomizes camera design.

You’ll notice the classic shape when you see the new models from above. The basic shape is straightforward, with the lens housing intersecting an oval body. Even the mode dial is carefully designed to fit neatly into this shape. This approach defies the notion in SLR cameras that the bigger the mode dial, the easier it is to use. Beginners tend to watch the LCD monitor as they operate camera controls. It’s easier to keep holding the camera in both hands and use only your thumb to turn the dial, without using your fingers. So there’s no need to have the mode dial stand out. In fact, we were also motivated to do this because the understated appearance is more user-friendly. A camera that looks invitingly easy to pick up is more compelling.

Sumii: The grip sets these models apart. SLR grips are usually larger, with a more complex shape for a better hold on the camera. But on smaller, lighter cameras, there’s no need to make it so big (except for professionals who keep giant lenses on hand).

That’s why the grip on these models has a new shape, as small as possible while still feeling comfortably secure in your hand. Your first impression, if you only hold the camera from the side as you would regular SLRs, is that the grip might be slightly inadequate. But try holding the camera in position for shooting, with your finger resting on the shutter button. I’m sure it will feel reassuringly secure in your hands, with your fingers resting upright firmly against the camera.

It took countless prototypes to arrive at this grip size and shape, and our testing involved many users with hands of all sizes. Finding the optimal shape on a scale of less than 1 mm was hard work. You may notice this when you pick it up, but a grip this small fits perfectly in your hand because we put the shutter button on the camera body instead of the grip. Holding the camera with your fingers upright also prevents any discomfort from your nails against the camera body (something women with long nails will appreciate), and there’s no need to worry about scratching the camera.

We took a cue from SLR cameras of a bygone era for this style, where the grip serves as a finger rest and the shutter button is on the camera body. Shapes and materials were carefully designed. The “α330″ is covered with a rubberized material in a checkered pattern instead of genuine textured leather. In effect, it’s a classic camera with modern flair. And although we believe “simple is best” in many respects, we knew that people who pick up an SLR won’t be satisfied if it’s too elementary as simple as compact camera, for example. Balancing these conflicting goals was one of the challenges of this project.

Kurokawa: Some media reports describe the user interface of these models as being updated, but in fact, the basic framework is the same. We didn’t want existing owners of “α” cameras to be confused if they pick up one of these. So within this framework, we made the cameras more accessible to beginners by refining the support features and feedback from user operations.

One example is how the monitor display responds to mode dial operations. You can recognize the list of modes by icons, so you can choose the desired mode while keeping your eyes on the monitor. You’ll also know what effects are possible in each mode, because this is described in words and pictures by the help system. Cyber-shot users are already familiar with this, but we edited the support information to entice owners to explore their camera and see what SLR cameras are capable of, in creative expression. You can also choose your favorite background color or one that matches the camera body, from four options, and the function menu icons are now more intuitive. These touches make the overall interface more accessible.

But besides ensuring easy operation, we also focused on another key role of these entry-level models: reinforcing your understanding of basic shooting techniques. Among these, exposure control is major advantage of SLR cameras. We want you to explore the various ways your shot can be rendered, so we created setting screens with graphical representations of aperture and shutter speed. Suppose you want to change the background blur. Even if you don’t know terms such as exposure, aperture, or depth of field, just look at the icons and turn the dial. Because setting values for aperture and shutter speed are interrelated, you’ll gain a basic understanding about exposure naturally as you use the camera.

Fukamatsu: Stylish black inevitably comes to mind as an SLR color. Still, this is from our tacit belief that the tools of reporting or journalism shouldn’t stand out. Surely entry-level cameras can reflect their owner’s sense of style more than this.

Body colors and textures in these new models will appeal to women (a new user segment) and men alike. They match gold and silver jewelry, sleek mobile phones, and other accessories nicely. These fashionable cameras hold their own against handbags and outfits women adore. We chose two color options, after careful consideration from a variety of perspectives and testing based on market research: versatile black, which matches fashion of all kinds, and a premium brown.

But either one would have been rather boring if we’d only covered the body in one hue. And at the other extreme, the cameras would be too overbearing with a strong, two-tone color scheme. For a sophisticated air of luxury, we used a tone-on-tone color scheme for the “α380″ and “α330″. The black version also makes a stylish impression, from the combination of the metallic top cover and jet-black textured surfaces. This metallic sheen is even more noticeable in the brown version, and matching lenses enhance its luxuriousness.

We tend to imagine cameras in use, in situations where we’re taking pictures. Actually, we’re not shooting most of the time. The appearance of cameras should excite us even when they’re not in use, and entice us to pick them up; that’s a worthy goal in design. I hope alluring colors and textures will always be one thing people appreciate about entry-level “α” models.

Takahashi: Traditions in SLR cameras run deep. To respect these traditions, manufacturers often assign designers knowledgeable about professional models to design beginner models as well. Satisfying the needs of both savvy camera aficionados and beginners takes thoughtful innovation and a lot of hard work. I certainly value this approach, but on the other hand, it limits the chance for inspired design in line with the attitudes and shooting styles of current beginners. That’s why this time, we worked with designers who were not entrenched in SLR traditions as we explored directions in design and issues in usability through objective discussions and ongoing market research.

The new entry-level “α” models that emerged from this work do show a different direction in SLR camera design than what we’ve seen to date. Although veteran photographers may feel they are incomplete, that’s because these models were designed for users who could not commit to SLR cameras until now. Our decisions were inevitable, and they support both the next generation of photographers and the future of photography.

Cameras that look small and straightforward invite anyone to pick up an α SLR casually and enjoy capturing many shots. These beginners may capture impressive and unexpected shots, which will motivate them to pursue their creative vision and learn more about cameras. This series of captivating events is what we sought to provide through this design work. From the start and as a matter of basic policy, Sony has designed experiences beyond products. In this sense, I’m proud that the models we’ve introduced are full of ideas and values worthy of the Sony “α” tradition.

Sony Increases MicroVault Capacity To 32GB

Sony is launching a version of its MicroVault Click USB storage device, available this month, with a massive 32GB capacity. The MicroVault Click benefits from a simple, elegant design – no cap to lose – and trouble-free plug & play operation. With its huge 32GB capacity on tap, it’s now an easy matter to transfer heavy contents between devices. The colourful line-up offers Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data transfer and storage capacity of 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB. The MicroVault Click range has a bright design, with one colour per capacity via an LED indicator light.

The MicroVault Click can even go beyond the 32GB mark thanks to unique Virtual Expander data compression software pre-loaded onto each unit. This gives people the option of tripling capacity with a simple drag and drop function.