Sony claims that their newest consumer electronics technologies on display at CES 2014 will deliver something for everyone, from the highest resolution 4K TVs to cameras for every type of photographer, to smartphones that re-shape mobile communications, and even a new concept for active lifestyles: the SmartWear experience.
Keeping with its commitment to continually redefine the consumer user experience, Sony’s CES 2014 line-up focuses on a central theme: ‘Play’.
“The definition of ‘Play’ can mean anything from playing games to playing music, watching or participating in sports, to hitting ‘play’ on your favourite device – above all, it means fun,” said Mike Fasulo, president and COO of Sony Electronics. “Our new products are designed to be there with consumers, enhancing the pleasure of activities they already love. They represent the essence of what drives Sony forward, combining technology and emotion to inspire the type of excitement that only Sony can evoke.”
At CES 2014, Sony will demonstrate how they will be combining products, content and online services to produce dynamic entertainment experiences – in and out of the home.
4K TV and Content
Sony’s 4K ecosystem includes all aspects of content capture, production and enjoyment, with new TVs in a variety of sizes, the world’s first 4K media player and download service, and consumer 4K camcorders. At CES 2014, Sony is highlighting advances in each of these areas.
Sony’s line of 4K Ultra HD BRAVIA televisions is growing, with the flagship 85-inch X95. It features X-tended Dynamic Range PRO with a unique backlight algorithm to achieve a much wider dynamic range of brightness with higher peaks and deeper blacks.
Joining the 4K Ultra HD BRAVIA range is the X9 series, with a ‘Wedge’ structure that saves space, whether on a stand or hung on a wall, and improves performance by housing a built-in woofer, tweeter and sub-woofer for richer, enveloping sound.
Together with Sony’s new 4K BRAVIA X85 series models, all 2014 4K BRAVIA TVs come with Sony’s own 4K 60P HEVC hardware decoder built in to make playing new forms of 4K content easier.
Sony is also introducing four new BRAVIA Full HD TVs, with new screen sizes, viewing options and more interactivity, and each powered by Sony’s X-Reality™ PRO picture engine for more accurate and realistic images.
To give consumers even more 4K content choices, Sony is working with a range of content providers including 500px for photos, YouTube and more. Sony is also extending its relationship with Netflix to provide compelling 4K content to BRAVIA TVs, and expanding its PlayMemories Online service for BRAVIA TVs in more than 27 countries and regions.
Digital Imaging
Creating content is also a critical part of Sony’s aim to create a better user experience. The past year saw Sony make advances in digital imaging, from the QX series of lens-style cameras to the full-frame-in-a-compact body α 7/α 7R interchangeable lens cameras and the fixed lens RX10 camera.
New at CES is Sony’s α 5000, the world’s smallest and lightest APS-C interchangeable lens camera. This mirrorless model combines high image quality with both Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities, and is perfect for photo enthusiasts looking for a small camera as well as point-and-shoot photographers looking to step up. Sony’s PlayMemories Camera Apps family further enhances the photo experience with a growing range of free and paid apps to offer new creative effects and utilities.
On the camcorder side, Sony’s FDR-AX1E 4K Handycam camcorder is now joined by the FDR-AX100E, a model that is approximately 75% smaller and 66% lighter for comfortable one-handed filming. This new camcorder has a back-illuminated 1-inch type CMOS image sensor and BIONZ X image processor for enhanced picture quality, even in low light. Its large diameter ZEISS lens is optimised for movie shooting, and Wi-Fi and NFC let users quickly and easily connect to other devices such as smartphones and tablets. The camcorder can also down-convert 4K content.
Sony’s new Action Cam (model HDR-AS100VR) point-of-view camera adds a BIONZ X image processing engine, a new lens and image sensor for significantly improved image quality, and high frame rate capability for capturing slow motion video. The newest model is splash-proof with no need for a separate housing. A new feature lets users control up to five HDR-AS100V models with the Live-View Remote and record simultaneously with them all for a multi-view picture. The remote control function also works with other Sony digital imaging products such as the α, QX, Handycam and Cyber-shot lines.
Audio
Audio has been at Sony’s heart since the company was founded, and last year’s introduction of High-Resolution Audio products keeps to this tradition. At CES, Sony is demonstrating its High-Resolution Audio family and will be unveiling new products including the ZX1 Walkman®, SRS-X9 wireless speaker system, High-Res capable PC audio and home speakers and home cinema systems.
In addition to these core categories, Sony is also outlining its new SmartWear Experience vision, including an upcoming range of SmartWear products, with Sony Xperia smartphones, and a new Lifelog application.
The first product in the range will be ‘SmartBand’, which lets consumers log daily activities that are represented visually in Sony’s Lifelog application.
“Users can reminisce about the past, make the best of the present and plan for the future,” said Kunimasa Suzuki, corporate executive officer, EVP, and president and CEO of Sony Mobile Communications. “The SmartWear Experience shows that life is more than the number of steps you take; it’s about emotion as well as motion. Entertainment and information; how you feel, as well as what you do. It’s about moving, and most importantly, being moved.”
Using open software and hardware, Sony is forging new in-market partnerships to offer consumers more choice and continually develop the SmartWear Experience.
