Sony Japan and its professionally done flashy (no pun intended) web pages continue to tease public with the forthcoming notebook. I really doubt it will be a netbook type, as Sony is not interested in that type of market, and I am pretty sure it will be a subnotebook, sort of the come back of VAIO Picturebook - C1 series.

Back to the story, check out the teaser preview and you will be able to catch some of the pictures of the keyboard and it looks like there is a tracking ball/nub. Not many VAIOs have those nubs and it will be definitely a nice addition to the notebook of this size.

Well, just a few more days left before this baby gets unveiled, so hang in there we will bring you all the deets soon enough!

FeliCa is a contactless IC card technology developed by Sony. As the name stemming from the word “felicity” suggests, the system was born to make daily living easier and more convenient.

The card is difficult to forge/reconstruct, and allows to send/receive data at high speed and with high security. The system is also environment-friendly since the card can be used over-and-over virtually forever by rewriting the data. It also features ultimate user-ease, as would be expected from a contactless card, since there is no longer any need to retrieve and put away the card for every use.
All-in-all, the system is rational throughout, since one card is enough to provide for various purposes.*
Check out the following videos to see FeliCa in action:

What is FeliCa?
Ways to use FeliCa

Felica has been widely adopted and is used in Japan’s transportation system and other areas of service. FeliCa chips are embedded in a number of cell phones and computers and used as methods of payment. It is very easy to use, all you do is just sort of wave the card and the information can be swapped between the devices.

In the US this technology is just starting to evolve and in our recent phone conversation with Sony we have talked about it, so stay tuned. I was lucky to beta test Felica card myself with MySony program but unfortunately I never heard back about their findings.
Sony Japan announced a new iteration of Felica: “FeliCa Plug”, and “FeliCa Lite” - both can be used in a number of devices from gaming to membership and point cards.

So what is your take on FeliCa? Is it something you see yourself using as an all in one device for subway system, paying for drinks in vending machines, ID for your school or e-payments? Let us know!

*Info adopted from Sony.net resource

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.

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.

As we reported earlier SE has been entertaining the idea of using Google’s OS in their phones and indeed we learned that Sony joined the Open Handset Alliance and will show off some phones next spring. We will see in resale cheaper SE phones running Android as early as in summer of 2009.

So it looks like Sony Ericsson will continue pumping out phones with Symbian, Windows Mobile and now Android. Customers will have more choices as far as hardware and software offerings and in the end hopefully one OS will win more hearts…

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 device invented in the 19th century to create short ‘films’ from a series of static images. This modern day zoetrope is 10 meters across, spins at over 40 kph and is the optimal medium for demonstrating how Motionflow 240Hz technology clearly displays today’s fast-action motion pictures.

“The BRAVIA-drome has been designed to explain the technology behind Motionflow in a way that makes it easy for anyone to understand,” says Giles Morrison, General Manager, Marketing Communications, Sony Europe. “As we have proved with previous campaigns, including ‘Balls,’ ‘Paint’ and ‘Play-doh,’ simple ideas effectively executed can be immensely powerful. This is about delivering a truly spectacular experience that people can believe in. The choice of Kaká was an easy one, as not only does he have that superstar quality but football is an ideal way to show our customers the full effect of Motionflow 240Hz.”

Read more about the ideas behind this marketing tool here, we wish Sony good luck in getting this drome into Guinness World Records.

P.S. Thanks to the tip provided by Chris Davies, check out the YouTube video of this drome in action. More info from Slashgear

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.”

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.

This wireless audio system arrived a few weeks to my house and I gave it a fair use. And since PC Magazine just published their review of it, I thought I would provide a few pictures and thoughts about the system.

This product consists of a few components that come in a pretty big box and being Sony, it is well packed and protected as usual. There is a pretty dock itself, and 2 wireless speakers which I was surprised at first to see, as Sony usually likes to tease you by providing one accessory and eager to sell you more if you want to expand your system. Accessories that came with it were: a remote for the dock, and two more remotes to control your wireless speaker, a bunch of batteries and wireless cartridges. Talking about the latter, those cartridges kind of threw me off and made me think it was 1989, as they look like those Nintendo game cartridges we used to insert in the game consoles. Why didn’t Sony think of integrating those in the speakers and the dock itself (you have to insert the three supplied cartridges in each), left me wondering too…

There is also another little something that sort of made me wonder why it was implemented that way it was …. the on/off function of the dock. You would probably think what could be wrong with it? Well, first of all you won’t find an actual button on the dock itself, instead of it was placed as a little switch(!) on the back of the unit. I thought it was odd.

The rest of the functionality and the use of the S-Airplay went swiftly. The setup was easy and did not require any tinkering or settings to be messed with, it just worked (Apple’s influence and statement, you know). The streaming of the music was also seamless and audio played without any hiccups throughout the house. The speakers could have been a bit more stylish but will leave it to the designers for the next generation.

At the end of the day though, isn’t it all about enjoying the simplicity of use and nice music flowing in the air from room to room? Sony Air-SA20PK certainly delivers that.

P.S. Now where is a dock like that for my Sony Network Walkman?

Let’s talk a bit about Audio division, namely its baby Network Walkman that has been bullied pretty much to near death by Apple’s iPod. I know a lot of audiophiles out there who are die-hard Sony devotees pray and hope that Sony still has something up its sleeve to show the world that Walkman is still alive and has a lot of potential. I’d say that thanks to those fans the Walkman business stayed alive in the US even though it was crippled with DRM and MP3s were a big No-No in the Sony Audio division.

Eliot Van Buskirk from the WIRED blog has shed some light on the upcoming Walkman line up for us. In the picture I can see familiar faces of Rick Clancy and Stan Glasgow discussing their plans for that product for 2009. Check out the article below and let us know if you think Walkman has a chance to live on another year…

“At Sony’s annual executive round table in New York on Thursday morning, Sony Electronics’ president and COO Stan Glasgow told reporters gathered there about the company’s forecast for the holiday (grim but not disastrous), how the imploding electronics retail market is affecting Sony and its product roadmap for 2009 and beyond.

There’s still no sign of the iTunes/Zune-style store that Glasgow (seated at the head of the table in the photo to the right) said the company was looking into at this same meeting in 2006. Sony president of consumer sales Jay Vandenbree told Wired.com after the round table that Sony had no plans to launch such a store in the coming year.

Instead, he said, Sony will add “solid” audio feature to their portable hardware, and that the company’s next-generation portable audio designs would feature “stronger integration” with its other products. Sony will likely add stronger WiFi features to its audio-capable portables (the PSP already has WiFi but not the standalone music portables). This woul enable wireless song syncing and streaming within the home and near hotspots. Those devices could borrow technology from Sony mylo. Plus, Glasgow said Sony is adding WiFi syncing to its line of point-and-shoot cameras, so the same could hold true for its portable audio players.

Another wireless feature could be in the works too. Sony was bullish on Bluetooth at the same meeting in 2007, so it Vandenbree’s “integration” could mean the ability to beam music from portable audio devices into more of the company’s home theater receivers, although neither executive touched on Bluetooth during this year’s roundtable.

Vandenbree also told Wired.com after the meeting that Sony’s portable audio players will be “more versatile” in 2009. This could mean support for more audio and video formats in addition to the wireless features mentioned above. Wild speculation: Sony has close ties to Apple on the video side… could he have meant that Sony players will work with Apple’s DRM? Not likely.

Overall, Vandenbree told us to expect new designs, closer integration with other Sony products and more versatility from the company’s upcoming portable audio line-up. But Sony will not announce a major music store/player strategy at the Consumer Electronics Show in January (a plan probably best left abandoned, judging from their first online music store). We look forward to seeing the specifics in January, but this is the Sony portable audio scoop for now.”

I frequent from time to time AVS Forum and enjoy reading discussions on the latest Sony TVs and other AV gear and I noticed a number of members are still not sure about different Bravia Engine versions Sony markets with their TVs. As some of us know BRAVIA Engine™ is a fully digital video processing system, sort of a brain of BRAVIA TVs designed to reduce noise and produce sharp, vibrant, life-like images. Here is a simple breakdown and explanation between the versions:

The BRAVIA Engine 2 is a display engine that controls the turning on and off of the individual detail points - the pixels. It is the brain of the display controlling the basics of contrast, color, brightness and motion, which are actually more important to the performance of the panel than its resolution.

There are three versions of BRAVIA Engine 2:

• BRAVIA Engine 2 (52XBR7)
• BRAVIA Engine 2 EX (40XBR7)
• BRAVIA Engine 2 PRO (70XBR7)

But don’t let that confuse you – the video processing functions and the benefits remain the same. The big difference between each of them is the addition of an exclusive Sony technology called Digital Reality Creation Multi-function (DRC-MF).

Digital Reality Creation technology essentially enhances video signals making them sharper and clearer. There are two variations of DRC-MF technology. In the BRAVIA Engine EX circuit (in the 40XBR7), DRC-MFv1 works with 480i (standard definition) video sources.

In the BRAVIA Engine PRO circuit (70XBR7), DRC-MFv3 goes a few steps further by processing ALL video signals. That’s right - 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p! Details in images, textures in plants and fabrics, and computer graphics all benefit from DRC-MFv3 technology.

And here is some info on the new 240Hz technology Sony introduced earlier this fall.

MOTIONFLOW™ 240HZ TECHNOLOGY (KDL-52XBR7 ONLY)

Motionflow™ 240Hz technology takes a BIG evolutionary step upward in motion enhancement over 120Hz frame rate technologies. MotionFlow 240Hz is the world’s first quadruple speed 240 Hz frame rate conversion in the U.S. market and is designed specifically to improve the clarity of fast-moving objects on screen. The system creates three new intermediate images for 60fps video (such as DVDs and some TV broadcasts) and inserts them between the 60 original frames. This method creates a total of 240 frames-per-second (fps). It also improves the display of movies and cartoons shot at 24 fps by inserting nine new frames between the existing 24 frames. And, just like Sony’s exclusive Motionflow 120Hz technology, Motionflow 240Hz technology applies Image Blur Reduction technology BEFORE it creates new frames to reduce blur artifacts that can be introduced by the camera. The benefits are sharper picture quality with smooth, more natural motion.

Hope this helps some of you trying to decide whether to go with Sony or some other brand out there…

Looks like Sony acquired another provider for their Bravia Internet Link that connects to your Sony TV and lets you enjoy online content and this time Sony brings you … Radio with CD-quality music.

From the press release: “Slacker Personal Radio delivers millions of licensed songs and more than 100 individually programmed genre music stations, while Howcast offers up a selection of its engaging how-to videos. Both channels offer content at no additional charge to BRAVIA Internet Video Link users.

“Internet content is expanding faster than ever and Sony is bringing it straight to BRAVIA televisions,” said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division. “Slacker and Howcast are great examples of new types of entertainment that are bridging the gap from an Internet experience to entertainment shared in the living room.”

Slacker’s library of CD-quality music across all genres and eras ensures that music lovers can enjoy radio stations on their BRAVIA HDTV ranging from music of the golden-era classics to today’s hottest hits. By simply linking their BRAVIA Internet Video Link to your online Slacker account, users can easily enjoy their own custom Slacker stations created online where they have fine-tuned categories to set artist, year, popularity and more. “

I am still not sure about Bravia Internet Link Module and its worth, as many users of Bravia may enjoy more content and choices by just connecting their PS3 or VAIO PC… I also think this module could have been an additional feature added on XMB menu in Bravia and be free after all…but I hear it is coming soon to new Bravias so we’ll see.

I have been wanting to write about certain aspects of Sony product support for a while and figured it would be a good timing now. It has been previously reported that Sony Customer service has improved a lot over the past few years and I myself have witnessed it where Sony has done some things I really did not expect. For example, I had to ship my Sony AV receiver to be serviced and when the service center received it, apparently it got pretty damaged and banged up. I got a call from Sony informing me about that unfortunate experience with FedEx. I was left with options to file claims with courier. However, I got an unexpected delivery from Sony a few days later and was pretty surprised to see a brand new Sony AV receiver. I was pretty stunned at such treatment, though it was not really Sony’s fault, they still decided to do the right thing for their customer. Since I am a VAIO enthusiast, I dealt with their VAIO Support and most of the times, the turn around and repairs were quick and professional. Again I might have been lucky, but there were some other instances where Sony came through for me. I did read on Sony forums of some really unfortunate experiences of other users, but things like that happen and if pursued correctly, could be resolved as well.

Today I actually wanted to talk about the actual product support, namely its after life support. An amazing example to such support is Sony’s PlayStation 3 console. I have owned it for 2 years now and this product has become more and more fun and feature packed. Thanks to its continuous support and firmware upgrades, PS3 has been the only product that stays up-to-date and current. Now, just think about, if only Sony kept its other products improved and up-to-date, would the brand be more stronger and reliable? Of course, it would be! A customer would be assured that he or she would not have to worry that in about 5 months, there will be another version of the same product with much improved features. Trust me, I do understand Sony is in the business of making money and product lines are essential and new products have to be out every quarter or so in order to stay in business and compete with others.

I would love to see Sony to be able to provide such improvements and be loyal to its offerings after they get certain products out of the door. Let’s take Sony’s Home Entertainment Server they introduced in 2007 - HES-V1000. It is a really fine product, aesthetically beautiful and has lots of potential if kept up to date. HES-V1000 is a 200 Blu-ray disk player, has 500GB of storage, and is DLNA certified, which means it can stream and serve your PC-locked music and videos directly to your HDTV. Unfortunately being the HDNA king, it is lacking HD Audio support like: Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA and Hi-Res codecs and I highly doubt this beast would support BD-Live! You would think that a simple firmware upgrade could fix that like it did with PS3 (years introduced prior), but no, after talking with Customer Support, the statement was the following: Sony is not planning on issuing such firmware upgrades. Why? No idea. I would love to assume that Sony’s engineers when proposing a new product always think that in the future a product can be firmware upgraded to add new features and iron out bugs. I have seen multiple Sony manuals stating that, and though it gave me hope, unfortunately it never came true for a lot of products. So one would usually think that paying a premium for a product (MSRP for HES-V1000 is $3500) would hopefully entitle you to a continuous product support (I am talking again about its internal not hardware related warranty issues), and most of the time, it is not a true statement.

There are lots and lots of similar examples, where Sony was not interested in improving its products. Locationfree products (LF-X1 and LF-X5) were left without PSP support that allowed to use it as a client, so people who spent $1500 for LF-X1 were left with an option to buy a new generation of the Locationfree Base LF-PK1. Certain VAIO products were also left out and forgotten by Sony. Network Walkman players were left to die with Atrac only support.

One thing I learned is to watch product updates on Sony Japan Support site. Yes, not the US or EU, but the Japanese site. The Sony JP support team constantly issues software and hardware updates and upgrades and most of the times those updates are compatible with a similar product introduced in the US. For some strange reason, there is no communication or maybe lack of it, between the two divisions (US and JP) and similar updates do not ever appear on the US or EU support sites. I have been able to stay up-to-date with most of my Sony products by using Japanese support site. In the past I successfully updated and improved my  Sony VAIO wireless LAN routers, VAIO MXS firmware updates, Roomlink, numerous software. Presently, I updated the VAIO WA Music Streamer (the fw update added a number of great features), Sony’s DSC-G1 camera, etc. Of course, one has to be careful as some of the updates are strictly for Japanese market.

So, this topic has been on my mind for a while and I know I am not the only one that has been affected by it (just check out Sony devoted forums) and since Sony is listening to us even more nowadays, let’s hope we’ll see some improvements and not just statements in the manual stating the fact of future upgrades. Of course, not all Sony products are firmware upgradable, I do understand that, so we cannot expect it for every product Sony makes…

Feel free to post your thoughts and ideas about this issue in the comments below. Happy weekend!

SE has kept its word about its on time release of Xperia X1 phone in the US. SonyStyle.com will be accepting pre-orders soon, so if your 800 Benjamin crisp bills have been sitting under the mattress waiting to be handed over, check out the press release from its North Carolina headquarters and see if this phone is for you:

“Research Triangle Park, N.C. – November 12, 2008 – Today, Sony Ericsson North America announced the arrival of the highly anticipated Xperia™ X1 to the U.S. marketplace. The Xperia™ X1 delivers a range of multimedia and communication experiences that have long been coveted and in demand by consumers.
The Xperia X1 will be available unlocked through Sony Electronics and its authorized retailers beginning on “Black Friday,” November 28. Pre-orders of the Xperia X1 will be available through the Sony Style Web site at www.sonystyle.com beginning November 13. This premium device will be sold unlocked for the MSRP of $799.99, giving consumers the freedom to choose their own mobile operator and data plan.

“The Xperia X1 continues the Sony Ericsson tradition of delivering the highest quality experiences and the most advanced technology available today,” said Karen Morris, vice president of marketing, Sony Ericsson North America. “The most exciting scenarios enabled by the Xperia X1 will be created by consumers – enabling them to customize and personalize their device and content to fit their lifestyle and personality.”

The Xperia X1’s unique panel user interface is at the heart of the device’s ability to create and adapt consumers’ personal choices. With up to 9 panels, it’s easy to find and enjoy the information and entertainment content they want. Sony Ericsson is busy working with third-party developers to create a wealth of new applications and new panels that will soon be available for download.

By incorporating the Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional operating system, the Xperia X1 frees consumers from their home and office, allowing them connectivity to their content wherever they are.

“Windows Mobile gives people the ability to easily navigate between their business and personal lives,” said Todd Peters, vice president of marketing, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. “The panel user interface found only in the Xperia X1 is bringing unique experiences to consumers who want more from their converged devices.”

As Sony Ericsson’s most advanced phone to date, the Xperia X1 brings together a large, 3-inch wide VGA display touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard all wrapped into a sleek silver metal- finished arc slider handset. The Xperia X1 supports fast 3G networks, enabling audio and video streaming, high-speed internet surfing, multimedia messaging and email on the go. In addition to delivering 3G mobile broadband speeds, the Xperia X1 supports WiFi to meet the needs of consumers’ always connected lifestyles.

In the tradition of Sony Ericsson, the Xperia X1 offers consumers the ultimate multimedia experience with a 3.2 megapixel camera, video streaming, video playback and video recording, and the ability to enjoy all their digital music.

“The Xperia X1 complements Sony Electronics’ family of Windows-based devices and leverages the company’s heritage of providing beautifully designed, highly functional, portable electronics,” said John Kodera, vice president of product marketing, Sony Electronics. “The Xperia X1 delivers the highest quality entertainment, communication and personalization options for consumers.”

Without any announcement or fanfare, SonyStyle.com added a new family member to the VAIO line up - VGF-HS1 Home Server first introduced in Japan, then promised to be released in Europe. Its round shape will remind you about VAIO TP series PC, though the server is just a tad slimmer.

Here is what it does:

Features: 1TB (7200rpm) hard drive (500GB x 2), 3 USB ports, gigabit Ethernet, one-touch transfer of files, stream digital multimedia to DNLA compliant devices, automatic file backup.

Enjoy peace of mind and keep all your photos, music and home videos backed up into a single, easy-to-access location with the VGF-HS1 VAIO® home server. Boasting a massive 1TB hard drive, there’s plenty of room to store virtually your entire library of digital media. Transfer your photos and videos from your compatible digital camera and camcorder with one-touch ease or store and access your files from any PC on your home network. You can also stream your photos, music and videos to DLNA compliant devices, such as your compatible HDTV and PLAYSTATION®3 gaming console (router required, not included). There’s even an automatic file backup feature that keeps your digital media secure.

Below is a stack of VAIO TP series, VAIO Digital Tuner and VAIO Home Server (sweet set up!)