Not bad at all but, as to be expected, this amazing piece of hardware comes with a high price: Japanese customers will have to pay around $4,900 when TV hits shops in this country November 10th (in silver, red and blue). → Read More
As a guy who’s really, really into HD, I’m kind of excited about Sony’s new XBR series of Bravia HDTVs. Like the latest MacBook Pros from Apple and other laptops from makers like HP, the new HDTVs feature LED backlighting instead of the standard lighting most HDTVs and LCDs use. This means a more natural color, brighter and more uniform whites, and deeper blacks. Not only does the LED backlighting make for a better overall picture, it allows for selective dimming, meaning if you’ve got an image of the Earth floating in space, the TV can smartly dim the LEDs behind the black and other dark pixels, greatly improving contrast and making for a more realistic picture. There are other technologies at work here, including the Sony Bravia Engine, which post-processes the image from the source to clear up noise, and MotionFlow, which displays compatible signals at 120Hz. If you haven’t seen an HDTV at 120Hz (as opposed to the 60Hz most HDTVs use) then you need to see it for yourself. The new Sony’s are going to be pricey, but they’re luxury sets for those who are dead serious about getting the best out of their home theaters. If you’ve got the money, the Bravia lines really are a cut above the rest. Want more info? Full press release after the jump. → Read More
Springtime doesn’t just bring flowers, short shorts and silly Red Sox pranks. No ma’am, it also brings new information on HDTVs that will be released throughout the year. Someone at BGR got a hold of Sony’s HDTV roadmap for its LCD lineup and it looks like the XBR6, XBR7 and XBR8 will getting a little more than a new coat of paint, the XBR8 especially. Let’s start with that, the XBR8. The big news here is that it uses LED backlighting, which Sony calls TRILUMINOS. No, it’s not the first TV with LED backlighting (Samsung had one last year in one of its DLPs), but it’s still pretty significant. You’ll also find the Bravia Engine 2 and some sort of contrast enhancer. I don’t know about you, but when I read tech specs, I find flashy-sounding names (SUPER DUP3R CONTRAST HELP++) pretty annoying. → Read More
http://blip.tv/play/AauGVg Here’s some interface footage of Sony’s $299 DMX-NV1 BRAVIA Internet Video Link module. It’s basically a box that pops into the back of newer Sony TV’s via HDMI that can support downloadable video, weather, news, and traffic information from Sony’s content partners. All the data is pushed, so the unit updates itself. → Read More
Sony’s got some new Bravia LCD TVs hitting Japan in March. They’re not necessarily affordable, as a 20-incher will set you back over $1,000 according to SlashGear. There will also be a 26-inch version and a 32-inch version with prices topping out at just under $1,600. Sony’s similarly-configured S-series here in the US features a 26-inch TV for $699, by comparison. The J-series televisions will each feature a 1366×768 resolution, HDMI, 178-degree viewing angle, and contrast ratios of 1,200:1, 2,000:1, and 2,500:1 for the 20-, 26-, and 32-inch models, respectively. Six more LCD-HDTV from Sony Bravia V and J Series [SlashGear] → Read More
If you live in Japan and you like mobile digital television, you’re probably going to think at least once (maybe twice) about Sony’s new little XDV-D500 handheld TV. It’s got a 3-inch screen and uses Sony’s Bravia technology to showcase some mighty fine moving picture elements via the “OneSeg” digital TV service in Japan. → Read More
KDL-37XBR6 Sony dropped 17 Bravias today and I’m far too tired to point out all the specifics. I’m sorry but it’s been a long day so far and we’re not even half done. Check out the full list after the break. A quick glance tells me there isn’t anything extraordinarily special. Just 1080p and 720p sets wrapped in an attractive package. Sizes range from 17- to 52-inches. → Read More
How do I miss these things when they happen in the city? → Read More
Sony, in a surprisingly bold move, released some LCD televisions last night to an ravenous audience. The two models, the brushed metal W3000 and the glass-framed XBR4 and XBR5, have full 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 120Hz frame rate. The W3000 comes in 52-,46-, and 40-inch sizes and includes upscaling/cleaning software for nasty input sources. This technology, which Sony apparently calls Digital Reality Creation-Multifunction v1.0 (DRC-MF v1.0), works by “converting common standard definition signals like DVDs and non-HD broadcasts to better match the television’s capabilities.” The W3000 series starts at $2,700. → Read More
Sony showed off a bunch of new TVs today. The big feature is the across-the-board inclusion of Bravia Internet Video Link–which lets you tune into all those Web-bound videos of people getting hit in the head that crave so much. And, as I said before, the name Bravia is no longer just for LCDs–micro-displays and front-projectors now get to share the honor. Click the jump for the some just-the-facts-ma’am details on the new line, and some nice TV porn. → Read More
Are you lame? Do you always like to be one step behind the pack? An underachiever? Then we’ve got some TVs designed with you in mind. Sony has announced some thin, rear projection HDTVs that are supposed to be 22% smaller than your standard rear projection set. Lined up is the 50-inch KDF-50E3000, the 46-inch KDF-46E3000, and the 37-inch 37H1000. The first two drop in July, with the latter coming out in May for $1300. Why you wouldn’t just shell out the cash for a 42-inch LCD is beyond me, but to each his own. Sony Adds Three Skinny Rear-Screen Projection TVs to Bravia Line [The Giz] → Read More
With the Super Bowl coming up, a lot of you are probably running out to Best Buy to pick up an HDTV for the game (which you’ll promptly return on Monday). Too bad you’re not going to be able to get your paws on this beast from Sony in time, as this 70-inch LCD TV doesn’t hit stores until later next month. For $33,000, you’ll be getting the Sony Bravia XBR 70-inch LCD flat panel equipped with a resolution of 1920×1080 and a 178-degree viewing angle for side viewing. In other words, your HD content is going to look absolutely mind-blowing. If you’re looking to upgrade to a bigger flat panel TV and you’re loaded, holding out for this one will be worth the wait. Otherwise, just go to the game. It will be cheaper. Sony Bravia XBR 70 inch LCD [New Launches] → Read More
I’m not really a fan of bright red devices, but from a technological standpoint, the Sony Ericsson SO903iTV Bravia phone is certainly pretty hot. In addition to its red face, it features landscape video on its 3-inch widescreen display. It also has a TV tuner capable of time-shift video recording. All the other typical phone features are also there, including a 2-megapixel camera and microSD. This one too is only available in Japan, so don’t start frothing too much. Sony Ericsson screens its Bravia TV-phone [CNET Asia via Engadget] → Read More
This is Jonathan Glazer’s Sony Bravia ad, a paint spectacular using massive quantities of paint and 250 to mix and film. The paint was completely water soluble and apparently edible and I have absolutely no idea what is going on except that the denizens of that Soviet-style block must be pissed. Video Page [Sony] → Read More
