Bravia Gets Dromed

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

Cnet Reviews Sony’s 55 inch LED TV

Just out of Cnet’s lab comes the first review of Sony’s flagship LED based TV – KDL-55XBR8. There was a lot of talk on AVS forum in regards to its release as well as its younger brother 46XBR8. These TVs use Triluminos technology first introduced in Qualia TV KDX-46Q005 (I have been a happy owner of), which uses three different colors of LEDs – two green, one each red and blue.

Cnet has given this TV a 4 star out of 5 and was pretty impressed with its enhanced picture tweaking features, its deepest blacks they have ever seen on an LCD TV and highly accurate primary color points and gray scale tracking.

Of course the down sides were also depicted and one of them is pretty obvious – this TV’s price. If 7 grand is something you want to spend on a 55 incher, than be our guest… though it is interesting to note that when the first Sony LCD hit the market – KLV-30XBR900, it was priced at $5000 and I remember going to Circuit City and drooling over that 30 inch goodness…after a couple years I picked one up for a very affordable price and hung it on my bedroom wall. The new toys will always run at its highest price and as the market grows and dictates its rules we’ll see pretty affordable LED backlit TVs.

For a full Cnet review please go here and see for yourself if this TV is droolworthy for you.

BRAVIA Accessories Surface at Sonystyle.com

Three new Bravia modules were shown off at CES last January and finally they are ready for your pre-orders if you are interested in expanding the capabilities of your Sony LCD TV. Let’s check them out:

Bravia Wireless Link Module DMX-WL1

We have covered this module when it showed up in Europe and it now has reached California where Sony’s distribution warehouse is and most of your orders are shipped from. You will get two devices: a receiver and a transmitter that provide a wireless HD link between your A/V equipment and your compatible BRAVIA® HDTV from up to 65 feet away. The Wireless Video Link receiver easily mounts to the back of your BRAVIA HDTV and eliminates the hassles of in-wall wiring while the transmitter supports up to five source devices (four HDMI™ inputs, one component video input). You can also operate your TV and connected source devices with the included remote. Supported format is 1080i. It is a pricey gadget that will ask for your 8 Franklin crisp bills.

Bravia DVD Link Module DMX-DVD

This module easily attaches to the back of Bravia enabled with DMeX port. It is interesting to see Sony integrate the DVD drive instead of Blu-ray drive, especially with the prices going down (Blu-ray ROM is sold at $100 nowadays), though the upconverting is offered and even HDMI cable is included.

Equipped with convenient side access, loading and ejecting your DVDs is a snap. There’s also automatic integration into the award-winning Xross Media Bar™ menu navigation system which lets you control the DVD Link using your compatible BRAVIA HDTV remote control. Additionally, this module upscales your DVDs to near-HD picture quality. Pre-sale item available on or about 09/30/2008 for $199.99.

Xross Media Bar

Enjoy easy access using the Emmy Award Winning Xross Media Bar™ (XMB™) user interface

Accessibility

Seamlessly mounts to the back of your compatible BRAVIA® HDTV for easy side access.

DVD upconverting

Enjoy 480p, 720p, 1080i and up to 1080p(on select BRAVIA® HDTV models) picture quality.

Bravia Input Link Module DMX-SW1

This module when attached to your Bravia pretty much becomes an HDMI switch as it adds 4 HDMI inputs to your TV. So now you can connect your PS3, Sony Digital Photo Frame and a couple of other HDMI toys that are sitting in your AV rack. Pre-sale item available on or about 09/30/2008 for $149.

Pretty soon we will see all of the above and even more integrated within Bravia itself come 2009-2010. Sony, how about that Cell processor you mentioned a year ago being the engine of future Sony TVs?

Waterproof Bravia?

For those of you who just cannot miss any news or your favorite game or whatever else you are addicted to on TV, Sony Japan has produced a small waterproof Bravia to give you some company and possibly entertainment while you are taking a shower or relaxing in your jacuzzi. This baby Bravia uses 1-Seg digital tuner, 2 Gigs of storage (yes, you can even schedule your shows through EPG and record those for later viewing) and 4 inches 16.7-million color, 272 x 480 pixel LCD. According the AV Watch you can even take it under water and enjoy your shows that way, though I don’t see the excitement about it at all. Anyways, this Bravia XDV-W600 will most likely be sold in Japan only.

Glad my Locationfree 12 inch TV has a water-splash jacket…

Two We Missed From IFA: Bravia Z4500 and EX1 Series

Best-ever Full HD motion clarity with the world’s first Motionflow 200Hz BRAVIA – the Z4500. Using sophisticated algorithms, the Motionflow 200Hz system employed by the Z4500 calculates three additional frames for every original, upping the frame rate from 50 to 200 per second. The result is smoothest and clearest motion reproduction to be achieved by an LCD TV. A complementary image enhancement technology called IB Reduction (Image Blur Reduction) boosts the sharpness of the final picture by improving the original, frame by frame, before it is processed by Motionflow 200Hz. Whether allowing you to see the detail of a panning shot exactly as the Director intended or viewing the ultimate in smooth motion clarity for sports like football, the 200Hz Motionflow BRAVIA sets new standards in image quality and enjoyment.

The underlying superiority of the BRAVIA Z4500’s picture is attributable to the centrepiece of BRAVIA quality: the BRAVIA Engine 2. This new version of the acclaimed Sony signal processor uses proprietary technology to improve every aspect of the image, frame by frame, in real time. BRAVIA Engine 2 is even better at reproducing realistic black, depicting objects with impressively lifelike depth and detail, removing blemishes or ‘noise’ from the picture, and delivering that trademark vibrant BRAVIA colour. Contrast is also essential to a quality picture, and a very high screen dynamic contrast ratio of 80,000:1 leverages the work of the BRAVIA Engine 2 to the full.

BRAVIA is a brand with its eyes firmly on the future, and it creates products that are ready to take advantage of emerging trends. This is why the BRAVIA Z4500 is DLNA™ Certified (Digital Living Network Alliance), allowing it to be seamlessly networked with other DLNA™ Certified devices within the home, such as VAIO® PCs and the Giga Juke™ music server. Once connected in this way the BRAVIA Z4500 can be used to enjoy digital pictures and music stored on a PC somewhere else in the house.

The World’s first LCD Picture Frame TV with integrated High Definition wireless connectivity – the BRAVIA EX1. Created specifically for the European market by Sony’s EU Design Centre, the BRAVIA EX1 combines another world first technological innovation with exceptional visual appeal. The display is so slim that it almost begs to be hung on the wall using the specially made optional mounting bracket just 2cm deep (SU-WL700).

The look is intentionally in the picture frame style, and a choice of elegant black and silver bezel finishes and 40-inch, 46-inch or 52-inch screens means that the EX1 should harmonise with every decor.To emphasise the BRAVIA EX1’s potential as a thing of beauty it can be set to Picture Frame mode, either displaying its own selection of superb quality images in Full HD, or using your own.

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 Wireless’ technology. This part of the system has three HDMI™ sockets so it can connect to a sophisticated HD home entertainment system such as the BRAVIATheatre HTP-BD3IS , but there will never be a need to run a signal cable – or three – up the wall to the display. The wireless link is so fast it can transmit the HD signal in real time with no loss of quality.

Motionflow 100Hz technology doubles the standard frame rate for visibly smoother on-screen action, while IB Reduction (Image Blur Reduction) sharpens the original signal and ensures a pleasingly sharp picture. The renowned BRAVIA colour advantage is a core part of the BRAVIA EX1, partly thanks to the sophisticated signal processing carried out by the new BRAVIA Engine 2, and partly to the special qualities of the backlight. This produces a wider range of colour and deeper, purer primary colours. Subtle interaction with the colour enhancement provided by the BRAVIA Engine 2 results in a vivid, entirely naturalistic picture.

Inside the Technology of the Finger Speaker

Through a new contact we’ve established, it is now possible for Sony Insider to have access to content previously unavailable. We recently covered the new Bravia X4500 and W4500 that were just released in Europe that are absolutely stunning. However, one aspect of the press release was rather uncertain – the mention of a ‘finger speaker’. The technology is rather interesting and we’ll see how much of a difference it makes to the consumer. The flat voice coil most certainly seems like a very efficient and optimal way for audio. Amusingly enough, Sony cites Fleming’s left hand rule, which is a term that one would usually hear in a scientific conversation about an electric motor. If you get a chance to sample this technology, please leave a comment.

This could be a much more suitable alternative to a hi-fi system in a small environment, such as an apartment or bedroom.

From the official press release:

The ultimate BRAVIA™ entertainment experience is completed by an innovative audio system with 6 main speakers and 2 woofer speakers on the 55X4500 and 4 main and 2 woofer speakers on 40X4500 / 46X4500. Surround effects can be optimised for sports, live music concerts or movies, or customised for maximum enjoyment of any type of programme. The combination of the ultra-thin shape with the leading technology of the finger speaker and assist woofer produces a remarkably crisp sound quality without altering the style and design of the TV1.

Can those two thin silver bars really change the world for those without a hi-fi system?

Sony Europe Launches Bravia X4500 and W4500 Series

Sony Europe announced this week that they are launching two new high-end Bravia models for immediate availability. The X4500 and W4500 are 10-bit panels with 40, 46, and 52 inch options. Both models will have full 1080p, but different Bravia engines. The X4500 will have the Bravia Engine 2 Pro, while the W4500 will feature the regular Bravia Engine 2 (basically glorified upconverting hardware). The 46 and 52 inch X4500 models have an LED backlight for enhanced brightness and color reproduction. A variety of I/O options round out the impressive featureset of these Bravia models that will be sure to enthrall the home theater enthusiast. Sony Insider however questions the necessity of 6 main speakers and 2 woofer speakers on the 55X4500 and 4 main and 2 woofer speakers on 40X4500 / 46X4500 – are they really needed since consumers purchasing such televisions will probably have a good hifi system to support it?

The specifications for each model are presented in a convienant table below:

Pictured: The 40 inch KDL-40W4500

Another Bravia Home Theater Integrated Stand

Sony EU has loosed another iteration of a stand for your BRAVIA TV that has surround sound speakers built in by using S-Force PRO Front Surround technology. The RHT-G500 creates a soundfield that not only fills the room, but also envelops listeners in breathtaking surround sound effects. This means you enjoy great surround sound without rear speakers or messy wires. The stand also features HDMI pass-through with 1080p / 24p / x.v.Colour compatibility and a Digital Media port to connect some accessories like Bluetooth module, Wi-Fi music streamer or an iPod cradle. In the US Sony is currently selling RHT-G800 stand, check those out in select Best Buy stores, it does have a neat design and is good for a bedroom or a dorm room set up (though the pricing will not attract any college students to own one of those).

Sony seems to like creating all in one home theater solutions, as we have seen another interesting creation (which I am lucky to own) TAV-L1 system. The cool feature of this integrated home theater is an LCD that slides up and down and its speaker grills are interchangeable too.

Sony Australia Giving Away PS3′s..If You Buy A Bravia

Sony Australia must be really desperate to move their crates of PS3′s. After less than half a year ago where they ran a similar promotion, Sony is at it again by offering a free 40gb PS3 to consumers who purchase specific Bravia models. In a promotion estimated to be worth over $24 million RRP, Sony has advised its dealers of the campaign to giveaway 35,000 40GB Playstation 3 consoles valued at $699 RRP, with the purchase of select Bravia Full HD LCD TVs.

Dubbed by Sony as ‘The Biggest Sales Promotion for the World’s Biggest Sporting Event’, the campaign is perfectly timed to coincide with the expected spike in pre-Olympic Games TV purchases.

The promotion applies to all current Bravia XBR, X3100 and W3100 Series models, including the new V4000 and W4000 Series models, purchased between Tuesday 1 and Thursday 31 July 2008.

To claim their PS3, customers need to register their purchase online within two weeks at www.sony.com.au/PS3countdown.

Customers will then need to post their proof of purchase and serial number to Sony within two weeks of registration on the website.

Every time a consumer registers their purchase, an online counter at the website will automatically drop, indicating how many PS3s are left.

Customers can also find out how many are left by sending an SMS texting ‘how many’ to 0429 025 025 or by calling 1800 882 172 toll free.

To create urgency in-store, Sony is encouraging retailers to link up a PS3 to a Bravia TV and connect it to the live counter at www.sony.com.au/PS3livecounter.

Sony is also planning plenty of POS materials including posters, vertical tent cards, wobblers and window banners. There will also be a comprehensive media campaign in the national press, radio on the Austereo Network, as well as online advertising.

Courtesy Current.

Bravia S4000 Line Receives Refresh

Sony’s popular Bravia LCD HDTV S4000 line has been updated for 2008 with four options available in 26-inch, 32-inch, 37-inch and 40-inch models. The 40 inch will have full 1080i/p support and the others max out at 720i, but all models will have three HDMI ports (last years line had two). The S4000 series showcases Sony’s innovative new ‘draw the LINE’ design concept. This beautifully inspired, pared-down styling philosophy enhances the total TV viewing experience without distracting from what’s on the screen. The cabinet features a deep piano black finish, with clean, understated lines complemented by gently-rounded curves. There’s also a swivel base that allows instant screen angle adjustment to suit viewers anywhere in the room. No word on pricing or availability, but consumers should slowly see these trickling out to their local electronic stores/departments soon enough.

The chart below displays the differences in features for each model, with the 40 inch to be likely the sweet spot for most consumers who want to spend a little more than the norm.

Read more here.