Latest Sony gadgets
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By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin
The good thing about the annual Sony Expo is getting the first look at the cool new gadgetry available to add to your life.
The bad thing is knowing you either can't afford these new "toys," or you don't have the space for some of the grandest items.
This year's expo, which ended Thursday at the Ala Moana Hotel, had the electronics giant unveiling several televisions, its smallest digital video camera, and a still camera that uses a compact disc to record images.
Here are some of the new devices:
Cyber-Shot DSC-PI, $800: A pocket-sized digital camera with high resolution -- 3.3 megapixels -- and a powerful 3X optical and 6X digital zoom. The Cyber-Shot also includes ClipMotion, a new animation feature that allows users to take up to 10 pictures that the camera can automatically combine to make a single ClipMotion animation file. It also has several file formats for pictures to be saved, including JPEG, uncompressed TIFF for higher quality images; GIF for text mode and three different MPEG options for motion video and sound. The camera also uses Sony's Memory Stick media, a removable memory flash card.
MZ-R70DPC MD MiniDisc player/recorder with Digital PCLink, $300: This unit allows music lovers to record personalized music mixes with superb sound by taking the audio information out of the "noisy" PC environment and converting it to a signal as it is transferred to the recorder. The device works with any audio player/jukebox application, eliminating the need to install additional software. To make a mix, users just rip tracks from their CDs or download Internet music files into their preferred jukebox application, create a play list, and the MD Walkman player makes a seamless recorded, digital mix.
CLIE handheld computer, $400: CLIE (pronounced KLEE-ay), stands for Communication, Link, Information and Entertainment. Sony's version of personal digital assistants, such as Palms and Visors, comes with 8MB of internal memory and a slot for another Memory Stick. In addition to the user-friendly Pal operating system, Sony added a Jog Dial navigator that allows for single-hand, and select menu navigation. PictureGear software enables users to store and view digital images; pictures can be incorporated into the CLIE Handheld Address book to help users put a face to name.
Mavica MVC-CD1000 CD recordable still camera, $1,300: The Mavica is the first still camera to use a high-capacity 156MB 3-1/2-inch CD-R that can be dropped into the CD tray of your computer to view pictures. Each CD-R for the new Mavica can hold up to 160 2.1 megapixel images. There are several modes to record images on, including JPEG or TIFF. Its 10X optical zoom is equal to a 35mm camera's 400mm lens. The Mavica also has Super SteadyShot to eliminate shake.
DCR-PC5 mini DV camcorder, $1,500: Sony's smallest and lightest mini DV weighs less than 15 ounces. The camcorder offers digital still image capability, uses Sony's Memory Stick digital media and has a 2.5 SwivelScreen LCD monitor with Touchscreen controls. It also has a 10X optical and 120X digital zoom.
FD Trinitron WEGA BR television models are the 32-inch KV-32XBR400, $2,200; and 36-inch KV-36XBR400, $2,700. The sets use Digital Reality Creation multifunction circuitry to automatically fill in the screen's scanlines in real time to enhance picture clarity.
Happy shopping.
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