Sony’s new, super-thin OLED display wraps around a pencil [OLED]

OLEDs, which are said to lead the next wave of innovation in the TV space (after back-lit LCDs and 3D displays), come with plenty of advantages: they produce gorgeous images, they are self-luminous, light, and they’re flexible – very flexible. Case in point: a super-thin, Sony-made 4.1-inch OLED that actually wraps around a pencil, shown today in Japan.

The display is just 80μm thick, offers 432 x 240 resolution (121 ppi), a contrast ratio of around 1,000:1, and produces 100 cd/m2 brightness. Sony says the OLED can be wrapped around a pencil with just a 4mm radius. And the OLED can actually continue to display images and video while being rolled up, which is (according to Sony) a world’s first.



Unfortunately, the OLED is just a prototype, but those of you who attend the SID event in Seattle this week will be able to see the screen in action. All the others can drool over the display in the short (but pretty cool) video embedded below.




[TechCrunch]

Sony NEX-5 and NEX-3 Interchangeable Lens Cameras Go Official With HD Shooting [Sony]

Sony's gone and made both the NEX-3 and NEX-5 official, with the NEX-5 carrying the large boast of being the world's smallest and lightest camera with interchangeable lenses.

The leaked specs of the NEX-3 have panned out according to Sony's news release, but it's the NEX-5 I'm most interested in. Both have 14.2MPs, Exmor APS HD SMOS sensors, an ISO range of 200 - 12800 and are compatible with all E-mount lenses.

Video is where they differ however. The NEX-5 (above) can shoot 1080i, but the NEX-3 stops at 720p. Both have HDMI outputs and USB 2.0 for connecting to PCs, and they thankfully take SD, SDHC, SDXC cars as well as Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo.

They'll be available in June, with rumored pricing tipping the NEX-3 (below) at $900. If you've been looking for something in the style of a micro four thirds camera and happen to be a Sony fan, then these two sound like they could be worth checking out in person. It all hinges on the price though—as we all know Sony's got its head in the cloud when it comes to pricing. [Sony]






[Gizmodo]

Sony unveiled the Planet’s first smallest and thinnest Full HD video Capable Digital Still Cameras

The new Cyber-shot cameras “DSC-HX5V” and “DSC-TX7 “are capable of recording videos in Advanced Video Codec High Definition (AVCHD) format with 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution at 60i in 17Mbps which you can afterwards burn to discs and play back on your HDTV using most Blu-ray Disc players, Sony PlayStation 3 systems and compatible Blu-ray Disc enabled PCs according to Sony. You can also edit your AVCHD videos using iMovie if you are a Mac user or PMB software which they provide for Windows users. Another aspect is that both cameras are capable of shooting videos in the MP4 format up to 1440 x1080 30p 12Mbps…
The second biggest highlight is that HX5V model includes GPS + Compass and Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode technologies and claims thus the title of the world’s first still camera to have such features.
[Akihabaranews]

Sony Selling World's Tiniest USB Finger Vein Reader [Security]

No need to cross your fingers for you computer's security to work anymore - use you veins. It's not new but this device from Sony is the smallest finger vein security around. It is much more complex than fingerprint security to cheat.
Sony's FVA-U1, going on sale December 18 in Japan, will be the smallest finger vein reader on the market conveniently operating over USB.
[Gizmodo via AkihabaraNews]

Sony: World’s first TransferJet-compatible LSI for fast data exchange are ready [Wireless]

TransferJet is a close-proximity wireless transfer technology that was introduced by Sony in 2008. Toshiba announced during IFA in Berlin this year they are planning to use the technology in their products soon. The idea is to let two electronic devices quickly exchange data, theoretically at up to 560 Mbps, just by bringing them close together (touch is possible, too).
And today, Sony announced in Tokyo [press release in English] that the first LSIs supporting the standard will be shipped to manufacturers before December starts. The “CXD3267AGG” (pictured on the left) and the “CXD3268AGW” will cost $17.45 each. Sony says they managed to optimize the technology so that TransferJet can now be integrated into smaller electronic devices, too. The LSIs can be used by makers of cell phones, digital cameras, computers and HDDs.
Toshiba and Sony are just two of the 19 companies of the so-called TransferJet Consortium Promoters. Other members include powerhouses such as Panasonic, Sharp or Samsung so it’s possible we’ll get to see a slew of new TransferJet-compatible electronic devices next year.
[CrunchGear]

Sony S-Frame DPP-F700 Digital Photo Frame/Printer: $200 in January [Digital Photo Frames]

The sleek-looking S-Frame DPP-F700 is finally headed to the U.S. It's got a 7-inch (800 x 480) display that doubles as a digital photo frame and image editor for printing 4 x 6-inch photos in 45 seconds.
Print quality is 300 x 300dpi, and basic edits include zoom, crop, brightness, contrast, hue, and sharpness adjustment. To print whatever is on the screen at the time, you (or grandma) can just hit the Screen Capture button.
As you can see in the pics, the F700 can sit vertically or horizontally, and it will automatically rotate photos as you do.
1GB of storage comes built-in, and you can print from your PC, USB sticks, and a variety of media cards, including SD and xD. No RAW format support, but the F700 will print JPEG, TIFF and BMP image files.
[Gizmodo via Sony]

Slow Mo' Video: PS3 Smashes Into Bravia TV at 50 MPH [Image Cache]

For an upcoming ad campaign, Sony Australia used a vehicle safety testing facility to ram the 7-pound PS3 Slim into the face of a Bravia KDL46X LCD TV. The results are hypnotizing. [Gizmodo via Gizmag]

Want a 4K TV? Sony Has a $76,000 Set With Your Name On It [4K]

Regular HDTV is so last year. What you really need is a 4k TV, one with four times the resolution of HD. And hey, Sony's new TRIMASTER offers just that, for a price.
Yes, this $76,583, 56-inch set sports a resolution of 3840x2160, which means you can cram four full-res HD feeds in there at one time. You know, for watching four football games at once, or four movies at once. Samsung announced a similar, larger set a couple years ago, but as far as we know it never actually became a real product. This thing is all real.
Sure, this thing isn't meant for normal consumers, as the price makes it clear. But that doesn't mean you can't get one if you have the scratch. Come on, go for it. It's only $76,000.
[Gizmodo via AV Watch via Engadget]

Sony Getting Closer to TVs With No Cables Whatsoever [Wireless Power]

This TV has absolutely no cables connected to it. No video cable. No audio cable. And no power cable. How's this wicked sorcery possible? Thanks to Sony's new Wireless Power Transfer technology, which can send 60 watts over the air.
Sony's Wireless Power Transfer can push 60 watts of electrical energy over almost 20 inches (50 centimeters). That's a pretty decent distance, especially when they say that it can be extended using passive extender units. In fact, they have already achieved 31 inches in other tests.
They claim that their method—which sounds similar to Intel's—uses some dharmastastic magnetic resonance, in which electromagnetic energy gets transmitted from one device to another, both sharing the same resonant frequencies.
Sony says that this system offers 80% efficiency, which may get reduced to about a minimum of 60% if there is a misalignment in the frequencies, which needs to be corrected.
I don't know if this is safe for our bodies or not, but I would like to have it. Even if that requires me not wearing my tinfoil hat while watching the sixth season of Lost.
[Gizmodo via Sony via i4u]

Sony to unveil a 3D 240fps Broadcast Camera at CEATEC

CEATEC will kick on next week and Sony announced today their plan to unveil a 3D (Full HD ?!?!?) capable Camera capable to shoot video up to 240fps.

Anyway, we will see and learn more about this camera next week so stay tuned.

[Akihabaranews.com]

PS3 Motion Controller Officially Lands Next Spring: Updates for Current Games Planned [PS3]

The Motion Controller's Spring debut has just been made official over at the Tokyo Games Show. A motion-enhanced Resident Evil 5: Director's Cut is planned, and the wand will work with a number of new and existing games, including LittleBigPlanet.
A bunch of games will get motion control via a network update, including EyePet, Flower, High Velocity Bowling, PAIN, and Hustle King. And I really hope that's the norm when we hear what other game developer's plans are. Not every game can pull off a Director's Cut re-release (with motion control bonus) the way Res 5 might.
On stage, Sony showed Resident Evil 5 being played with a dual shock controller in one hand, and the motion controller in the other. And for LittleBigPlanet, one player controlled Sackboy with the dual shock, while another used the wand to move special levers. The motion controller's glowing sphere changes color in context with the game.
Finally hearing how the controller might boost 'real' games has me kind of psyched. What about you? [Kotaku | Image credit]
Upcoming Motion Control Games From Sony:
Ape Escape (Working Title)
Echochrome 2 (Working Title)
Eccentric Slider (Working Title)
Sing and Draw (Working Title)
Champions of Time (Working Title)
Motion Party (Working Title)
The Shoot (Working Title)
Tower (Working Title)
[Gizmodo]

First Images of Sony Ericsson X3 (Rachael) in the Wild

The first few pictures of the upcoming Sony Ericsson X3 handset have landed online. Thanks to Engadget, we’re getting a glimpse of the much lusted after handset that will sport a 4″ screen and 1GHz processor. Just like with all leaked photos, they have a certain degree of blur to them. Would you expect anything less?

The pics give a sense as to how big the 4″ screen will be but that’s about all. Nothing special to see within the UI, just mostly stock Android stuff. There are also a couple of shots with a white model getting the unbox treatment. Again, not edge-of-your-seat stuff, just further proof of its existence.

It’s still exciting to see this phone getting that much closer to real world launch. How many of you are holding off for one of these?

Sony Ericsson MH907 "Motion Activated" Headphones [Headphones]

They won't change how we listen to music forever, but these earbuds are pretty cool. Listen to music normally with one in each ear, but pull one side out and music automatically pauses. Calls are received/ended in the same way.
You don't need to press any buttons, as the earphones use Sony Ericsson's 'SensMe' technology to sense your body. They come in chrome and yellow/white, and will be available worldwide this week for about $55 (39 Euros). The one bummer: you'll need a Sony Erisson phone with a 'Fast port' connector. You can check for compatibility here: [Sony Ericsson]

Sony A-Series Is the Thinnest Walkman Yet, Has OLED Screen [PMPs]

The pretty player has a 2.8-inch OLED screen (240x400), FM radio, TV-out, noise canceling, and is beautifully thin at 7.2mm. Oh, and it only weighs 2.2 ounces. But unlike the failed X-Series, the A has no touch screen or Wi-Fi.
Along with standard codec support, there's also new drag and drop feature that auto-transcodes video from your computer. And in Japan at least, the player comes with premium MDR-EX300SL earphones. Battery life is listed as 29 hours for music, and 9 hours for video.
No word on U.S. availability yet, but if the recent S and E series Walkmans are any gauge, the wait won't be long after it hits Japan on October 31. Pricing there will be: 16GB (Y24,000; $226), 32GB (Y30,000; $332), and (Y40,000; $443).
Enough to tempt you away from the more powerful $280 32GB Zune HD or $400 64GB iPod touch? I just don't know about those Mickey Mouse like controls myself... [Sony Japan (translated) via Akihabara News]

Sony XBR10 Flagship LCD HDTV Has Sidelit LED, Wireless HDMI and Media Streaming [HDTVs]

Sony's new XBR10—known overseas as as the ZX5--is their new flagship. It heralds the return of LEDs that the XBR9 skipped, but is sidelit. That means it's skinny, but doesn't do localized background dimming. *Tears!*
It does, however, stream 1080p from a wireless source. That and the clear plastic block design—appearing as if the panel is suspended in a thin block of Lucite, like a visible LCD version of Han Solo—mean it's guaranteed to look oh so purdy hanging on a wall and from the side. What remains to be seen is how good the XBR10 looks compared to the XBR8. (The obscenely over-engineered set from two generations ago looked better to reviewers than the XBR9.)

The set has a few more things going for it, too. Like DLNA media streaming, Youtube, Amazon on Demand and 'later in the fall, Netflix'. (There are also other services, but I have no doubt they'll be of lesser value than the ones I mentioned.) It plays 24p content and has 240Hz tech, which interpolates 3 frames for every one (a tech that no one can see.) And it'll have the cross media interface.
The thing about the XBR8 was that it was expensive; the picture quality alone could not justify the $3000-$4000 cost. So, how does a wireless set like this one get away with costing $4500 and $5000 for 46 and 52-inch flavors?

SONY ADDS SUPER SLIM EDGE-LIT LED MODELS TO BRAVIA HDTV LINE
New XBR10 LCDs Feature 1080p Wireless High Definition Leaving the Cables Behind
ATLANTA (CEDIA Booth # 1409), Sept. 9, 2009 – Sony today introduced a new line of ultra-thin BRAVIA™ LCD HDTVs featuring an advanced edge-lit LED backlight and exceptional contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1.
The XBR10-series models also deliver full 1080p wireless transmission of high definition signals from a separate media box to a receiver embedded in the TV, allowing source components to be placed out of sight.
'BRAVIA is on the cutting edge of television technology and the XBR10 series pushes the limits of industry-leading, innovative features,' said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of the television business for Sony Electronics. 'Not only will this TV look striking when hanging on a wall, the wireless feature clears the clutter of components and messy tangles of unsightly wires, allowing you to hide components away across the room.'
The XBR10 models also feature an Ethernet connection allowing them to directly access Sony BRAVIA Internet Video content using an existing broadband network. The platform offers one of the largest selections of free and premium movies, TV shows, sports, music and more from an array of partners like, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube®, Slacker Internet Radio, and, later this fall, Netflix.
Bravia Internet Widgets, powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, also expand and personalize the TV experience by adding on-screen applications that provide such information as weather reports, stock information, financial news, Twitter, and additional content.
The full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive (1080p) models also feature Sony's Motionflow™ 240Hz technology, which delivers exceptionally crisp and detailed images with natural motion. The Motionflow algorithm goes beyond traditional 120Hz technology by quadrupling the frame rate of conventional LCD TVs and interpolating three new frames.
The models are Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) compliant, enabling easy access to digital photos, music, and video stored on a PC or other DLNA server using the XMB® interface and the TV's remote control. They also offer a USB input for displaying digital photos or playing digital video and music files from a USB storage device.
Other notable features include:
BRAVIA Engine™ 3
24p True Cinema™
xross media bar™ (XMB)with enhanced 3D favorites Menu
Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen
BRAVIA Sync™
4 HDMI inputs
RS232C
Single PC, component, composite and component/composite selectable inputs

Sony Gets 3D Fever: 3D Bravia TV Next Year, PlayStation 3 Support Planned [Sony]

Sony has confirmed yesterday's leak that it's working on a 3D Bravia LCD HDTV, and will also develop 3D-compatibility into its PlayStation 3, Vaio computer, and Blu-ray products. Silly 3D glasses and cheesy promo video? You betcha. See for yourself:
While many TV makers are using polarized glasses in their 3D concepts, Sony's plans involve high-definition active shutter glasses that alternate the image for the left and right eye. Hopefully they won't make me cross-eyed like my old 3DFX Voodoo shutters did. [Sony]

Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 Official, Runs Windows Mobile 6.5 [Xperia X2]

Hard to believe Sony Ericsson's Xperia X2 wasn't official until this moment—honestly, we care more about the awesome the Android-powered X3 at this point—but Sony just made it real, it running Windows Mobile 6.5.
The hard specs: 3.2-inch WVGA touchscreen, 8.1MP camera, HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, TV-out. And oh yes, the panels custom interface on top of Windows Mobile is back, though refined, as we saw earlier. It'll be out later this year for 699 euros, so um, not cheap if it ever comes to the US. [Computerbild]

סוני משיגה את עצמה עם חיישן חדש למצלמות סלולריות

לפני כשבוע הציגה סוני את רשימת התחזיות לטכנולוגיות סלולריות לשנת 2012 - מעבדים מהירים יותר, מסכים בהפרדה גבוהה מאוד, קישוריות סופר מהירה ובייחוד מצלמות של 12-20 מגה-פיקסל. למה בייחוד מצלמות? כי היום סוני פרסמה כי היא ייצרה חיישן cmos בעל 12.25 מ"פ הנקרא Exmor במיוחד למצלמות של טלפונים ניידים.החיישן מגיע בכמה גדלים (5.15, 8.11 ו-12.25 מ"פ)

לא ברור האם יש לסוני בעיה של תקשורת פנימית או הם פשוט לא יודעים כמה מהר הם יודעים לפתח חומרה חדשה. בכל מקרה צפו לטלפונים החדשים של סוני עם החיישנים הללו לפני, כנראה הרבה לפני, 2012.

ניתן לראות את איכות התמונה אשר צולמה בעזרת העדשה החדשה:

[דרך AkihabaraNews]

צורב Blue-Ray חדש מבית סוני

סוני מקדימה את כולם עם ה-BWU-300S, צורב ה-Blue-Ray הפנימי החדש שלה, בחיבור SATA BD - במקום צורב ה-DVD הישן במחשב...

הצורב החדש מסוגל לצרוב 25 ג"ב ב-15 דקות או 50 ג"ב ב-30 דקות (כן, הכוונה ל-50 גיגה בייט). הוא צורב במהירות X8, לפי סוני, גם על מדיות BD-R במהירות X6 שזו המדיה המהירה ביותר כיום בשוק בפורמט זה. כמובן שהוא יודע לצרוב גם DVD רגיל במהירות X16.

צפוי לצאת לשווקים בחודש הבא בעבור 400$ ובצירוף עותק בהפרדה גבוהה של גברים בשחור (Men In Black) שהוא מהסרטים האהובים עלי.

[דרך Gizmodo]

טלויזית LCD דקה חדשה מבית Sony

הטלויזיה החדשה של סוני, ה-XZ1, היא בעובי של 9.9 מ"מ ובגודל 40 אינץ'. לא רק שהיא דקה מאוד היא גם מצליחה להפיק יחסי ניגודיות (קונטרסטים) מאוד גבוהים על-ידי טכנולוגית תאורה אחורית מתקדמת וחדשנית. הם לא עושים שימוש בלדים שממוקמים מאחורי ה-LCD אלא מוליכים אור באופן כזה שהוא מתחלק שווה על כל שטח המסך. האור מגיע מהפינות של המסך.

משקלה של הטלויזיה כ-11.8 ק"ג וחוץ מטכנולוגית העברת האור האחורי, מה שמאפשר את העובי (או בעצם את הדקיקות) הוא שהמקלט של הטלויזיה נמצא בקופסא נפרדת ומשדר לטלויזיה שידורים בהפרדה גבוהה (עד 1080p) ובתדר תמונה של 120 הרץ על גבי תדרי שידור של 5 גיגה הרץ. למקלט יש 3 כניסות HDMI, כניסת USB, 2 חיבורי קומפוננט, S-Video, VGA, חיבור לעכבר ואפילו חיבור לרשת ביתית. התפריטים של המקלט ושל הטלויזיה הם מעוצבים בסטייל XMB כמו במכשירי הפלייסטיישן 3 (PS3). בטלויזיה עצמה יש גם כן חיבור אחד של HDMI.

דבר נוסף שהוא יתרון גדול הוא שהטלויזיה הזאת הוכרזה לא כקונספט או מוצר עתידי אלא מוצר שניתן לקנות החל מרגע זהׁ(עדכון: החל מה-10 לנובמבר) . כמובן שצריך כיסים עמוקים (עדכון - 4714$) כדי לקנות את המוצר...

[דרך Gizmodo]