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Whirl of play stations Thin, light, powerful and versatile are the key ingredients in Sony's recently introduced new product lineup that makes "communication" between more products the norm rather than the exception. Sony Hawaii executives displayed the electronic wonders during its recent new products show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
New electronic devices are
shown off at a Waikiki showBy Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.comThere are products for the usual techno geeks, as well as the next generation of consumers, including eye-candy CD players in pastels with customized faceplates teenage girls would love.
Televisions
>> Plasma television has arrived with a Sony innovation: The PFM-32C1 flat panel monitor with a 32-inch viewable area and the PFM-42B1 with 42-inch plasma display, both only 3 inches thick. The monitors weigh less than 100 pounds, can be mounted to a wall or ceiling, and have the flexibility to switch between vertical or horizontal display. The newest plasma models boast a high resolution panel (1024 x 768 pixels). Picture enhancements such as a proprietary pixel-by-pixel conversion system ensures accurate, sharp image reproduction. Cost: $6,000 and $8,000, respectively.>> Hi-Scan 1080i widescreen, HDTV-monitor rear projection televisions include seven widescreen rear-projection sets. Each set incorporates a Digital Visual Interface (DVI-HDTV) connection that enables copy-protected, high-definition video content to be delivered to the TV from a DVI/HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) compatible set-top box.
Most importantly, these are the industry's first Memory Stick media compatible televisions, with a media slot for fast, easy access to JPEG images taken with compatible digital still cameras and camcorders.
The TV is a friendly, easy alternative for viewing and sharing photos. Memory Stick media is a widely adopted removable digital storage format. There are currently more than 300 different Memory Stick media compatible products available with format support from 214 companies.
With choice of full screen, index, or slide show, this new feature provides a fast, easy way to showcase images taken with Memory Stick-enabled digital still cameras and camcorders.
Also exclusive to the WV700 series, the new Uniform Brightness Screen technology provides a wider vertical viewing angle and consistent horizontal brightness from top to bottom, resulting in brilliant picture images that can be seen from any angle.
Cost: KP-57WV600 and KP-65WV600 rear-projection televisions, $3,700 and $4,200, respectively; step-up models KP-57WV700 and KP-65WV700 models incorporating the double Anti-Reflective contrast screen and Uniform Brightness Screen technology, $4,200 and $4,700, respectively.
Audio
>> The CMT-L7HD is capable of replicating up to 300 CDs. With an integrated hard disc drive, the CMT-L7HD provides expansive storage capacity in a thin. It can stand on a desktop or be mounted on a wall. The model also comes with a USB-type PC LINK Kit so users easily control and edit the tracks on the hard drive. The slot-in vertical loading CD player also simplifies operation. It also offers CD-R/RW playback capabilities, providing even greater flexibility when deciding which favorite songs and/or CDs should be saved on the hard drive. The integrated hard drive is 2.5 inches thick; available in July for $1,000.>> Psyc line: CD Walkman (D-E350, $50) comes in metallic jewel-tone colors: ruby red, sapphire blue and radium gold. The Psyc line also includes audio products designed for teen girls in pastel colors. The D-E330 CD Walkman, $50, matches the ICF-C111 clock radio in candy pink, frost blue and citrus green. The line features two CD Walkman players with customizable faceplates so the players can be personalized with a favorite photo (D-EQ550, $70).
Digital imaging
>> Cyber-shot cameras: DSC-P31 ($220), DSC-P51 ($300), DSC-P71 ($400) offer mega-pixel performance, MPEG Movie ModeTM and an Info-lithium battery system. The DSC-P51 model features 2 million pixel capability and the DSC-P71 offers 3.0 mega pixel performance. All the new models allow users to create, personalize and share with family and friends content stored on Memory Stick media.>> MiniDV Handycam camcorders: DCR-TRV18, DCR-TRV25, DCR-TRV27, DCR-TRV50 incorporate Carl Zeiss optics, USB streaming and the MPEG Movie EXTM feature. The Mini DV offers dual operation of both capture still images to Memory Stick media while simultaneously recording motion video. The top of the line DCR-TRV50 features wireless Bluetooth technology so users can connect to the network without a PC. Cost: $800, $900, $1,000 and $1,600, respectively.
>> Digital video: The DCR-PC101, which puts a high-resolution camera into a top-quality camcorder, is the size of a paperback book. With a one-megapixel CCD, the camcorder delivers 520 lines of horizontal video with crisp definition of the subtlest colors for both video and digital still images (1152 X 864 file size); 17 ounces. Other features include a touch panel 2.5-inch SwivelScreen LCD display with menu access. A new spot-focus mode accurately focuses the most challenging shots with a touch of the LCD screen; streaming live or recorded video is accomplished connecting the camcorder to a PC using its USB Streaming feature. This feature turns the camcorder into a Webcam by using a USB connection and video conferencing software like the Microsoft Windows NetMeeting application.
The DCR-PC101 also comes equipped with MPEG MovieEX, which allows it to capture video clips with audio onto Memory Stick media up to the length of the media's capacity. Video clips can be captured directly onto Memory Stick media or shot on tape and converted in-camera to MPEG1 format at a later time. These clips can be transferred to a PC and sent as e-mail attachments or included on Web sites and office presentations; available in June; $1,300.
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Handheld devices
>> Sony's latest CLIE devices feature flip-and-swivel Screens and an integrated camera, keyboard and MP3 player. PEG-NR70V ($600) and PEG-NR70 $500) handhelds feature rotating color LCD screens, and support Dragonball Super VZ (66MHz) processor and 16 MB of DRAM (15 MB available). The devices open in a v-shape configuration for optimal screen viewing and access to the integrated keyboard. Type quick notes to friends or update Microsoft Word application documents with supplied Documents To Go 4.0 Standard Edition by DataViz, Inc.Rotate the screen 180 degrees then fold to cover the keyboard to take pictures with the built-in camera or jot down notes using virtual Graffiti, a software-based Graffiti pad. Turn off the LCD turned off to extend battery life.
The PEG-NR70V handheld is the first Palm OS-based device to feature an integrated digital camera, located on the hinge connecting the screen and keyboard. Users can easily capture the moment by pressing a convenient capture button that automatically launches the CLIE camera application.
Once activated, this button takes digital images with one touch. The camera lens rotates 300 degrees to enable multiple shooting angles. Users can enhance standard productivity applications like snapping a new acquaintance's photo to add a name to a face in the address book. Images can be saved to the internal memory or to a Memory Stick media card in three digital image sizes (320x240, 160x120, or 88x88 pixel resolutions) for e-mailing or Web posting.
Laptops
>> The Vaio Notebook PC gets a larger screen. The GRX model's built-in display, with 600x1200 pixel resolution offers a viewing area similar to a standard 17-inch CRT monitor in a flat, space-saving panel. All GRX models come with massive hard drives and a CD-RW/DVD combo drive in a multi-bay that can accommodate an extra battery for up to four hours of unplugged operation. The new series also offers two PC card slots that can house the VAIO wireless LAN card for high-speed wireless access to the Internet or other PCs, a Memory Stick media slot for exchanging pictures, music, data and videos and an i.LINK digital interface for swift sharing of files between compatible digital appliances. Each GRX model comes with Sony's exclusive personal video-digital editing software package that allows home movie enthusiasts and multimedia designers to wring maximum performance from their system. The VAIO GRX PC is available in three retail configurations, at $2,100 to $3,000.
Personal players
>> S2 Net MD (MZ-S1): First sports Net MD player/recorder. A USB connection allows tune-addicts to transfer more than five hours of music to one $2 disc at up to 32 times the normal recording speed. It is outfitted with Sony's skip-free G-Protection technology, extended battery life and MiniDisc Long Play for recording more than five hours of music on a standard 80-minute disc; $180.>> S2 CD Walkman players: All three models ( D-SJ301, D-CS901and D-FS601) players are equipped with skip-free G-Protection technology, which offers up to 15 times faster shock recovery than conventional skip protection.
>> D-SJ301 model features an ergonomic shape and Jog Stick Control function that fits naturally in the hand and enables easy access to playback controls. With CD-R/RW playback capabilities, 64-track RMS programming and nine playback modes, this model also offers expanded listening and customizing options; $100.
>> D-FS601 S2 CD Walkman player includes an AM/FM radio tuner, a TV weather band and 51 pre-set stations; $130.
>> D-CS901 CD Walkman features CD-R/RW and MP3 playback capabilities. A two-line/10-character dot matrix LCD displays track titles and folder information. The easy-access folder function let users quickly navigate between multiple MP3 folders. The variable bit-rate allows playback of MP3 files recorded at any rate from 8 to 320 kbps; two rechargeable Nickel Cadmium batteries, $150.
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