Sony may have a problems when it comes to marketing its products to consumers and conveying to them why they should buy a Sony but it doesn’t mean they face the same issue with critics. Today, the electronic giant was recognized with 13 International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Honoree Awards, including four Best of Innovations honoree awards. These include products like the attachable smartphone lens, the Cyber-shot QX10/100 and VAIO Flip PC. Phil Molyneux, president and COO of Sony Electronics who was on hand to receive the awards said:

 We’re honored to have won the most Innovation Awards among a competitive field of great consumer electronics. We feel this year’s winning products represent significant breakthroughs in our design and evolution of the fast-changing CE industry. Sony will continue to offer new experiences in both productivity and play while always incorporating the best technologies from our display, imaging, and audio groups. 

While in the US Sony has struggled to gain mainstream traction while competitors like Apple, Samsung, and Vizio have dominated the mobile and home theater space, the company continues to pump out solid products with inspiring designs and features. In fact, Sony’s mobile line of smartphone and tablets, married with their NEX and Cyber-shot series of cameras may just be some of the most innovative and refreshing products out in the market while companies like Samsung continue to pump out generic products. So what other products did Sony receive awards for those? The list awaits you after the jump.

Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 models – BEST OF INNOVATIONS honoree are in the Digital Imaging category.

 Merging the creative power of a premium compact camera with the convenience and connectivity of today’s smartphones, Sony’s two “lens-style” QX series cameras bring new levels of fun and creativity to the mobile photography experience. The innovative Cyber-shot® DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 models utilize Wi-Fi® connectivity to instantly transform a connected smartphone into a versatile, powerful photographic tool, allowing it to shoot high-quality images and HD videos to rival a premium compact camera. It’s an entirely new and different way for consumers to capture and share memories with friends and family. The new compact, ultra-portable cameras can be attached to a connected phone with a supplied mechanically adjustable adapter, or can be held separately in hand or even mounted to a tripod while still maintaining all functionality and connectivity with the smartphone. They can also be operated as completely independent cameras if desired, as both the DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 cameras have a shutter release, memory card slot and come with a rechargeable battery. 

SONY 4K Ultra HD Media Player (FMP-X1) – BEST OF INNOVATIONS honoree in the Home/Audio/Video Components product category

 The Sony 4K Ultra HD Media Player is used to access, download, store and play back 4K content from the Video Unlimited 4K service. With a built-in 2TB hard drive, the FMP-X1 Media Player can store up to 50 feature films in native 4K resolution and uncompressed surround sound, with the ability to expand this by connecting an additional external USB hard drive available separately. The player comes pre-loaded with 10 bonus feature films and video shorts that owners can watch immediately at no additional charge, including Bad Teacher, Battle: Los Angeles, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Karate Kid (2010), Salt, Taxi Driver, That’s My Boy, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Other Guys and Total Recall (2012). 

SONY VAIO® | Flip PC – BEST OF INNOVATIONS honoree in the Tablets EReaders and Mobile Computing product category

 Sony’s new form factor PC, VAIO® | Flip PC, features the flexibility of a convertible with a laptop mode that is equal to a conventional clamshell PC. The unique design of VAIO | Flip PC maintains the full functionality of a conventional notebook PC with the ability to switch between laptop, tablet and viewer modes – the perfect blend of productivity and entertainment. Utilizing a unique 2nd hinge, the display can flip, allowing the PC to change from laptop to tablet or viewer modes. Tablet mode is best for browsing the web, taking pictures and writing with the optional Active Pen. By flipping the display over, users can access viewer mode, a form that is the best for watching videos and movies or showing the screen to someone sitting opposite. 

SONY PHA-2 portable headphone DAC/amplifier– BEST OF INNOVATIONS honoree in Headphones product category

 The new PHA-2 portable headphone amplifier was conceived to deliver superior sound reproduction from a variety of audio sources and is the first portable DAC/amplifier to be compatible with virtually every high-resolution digital file format, including up to 192 kHz/24-bit PCM and both DSD (2.8MHz) and Double DSD (5.6MHz). Listeners can also enjoy upgraded sound quality with MP3 files and other music sources. It features a variety of advanced technologies, including such refinements as an Asynchronous Transport Mode which utilizes a dedicated signal generator to reduce timing errors for more accurate, jitter-free converter performance. The PHA-2 can be easily connected to both PC and Mac® computers via its USB 2.0 interface, and also includes a dedicated digital input for iPod®, iPhone® and iPad® products. Other portable audio sources such as Android™ smartphones and digital music players can be connected via the analog audio input. 

In addition, the below products received the honoree distinction in their respective categories.

• Tablet Z- HONOREE in the Tablets EReaders and Mobile Computing product category
• XBR-65X850A – HONOREE in the Video Displays product category
• HT-ST7- HONOREE in the Home Theater Speakers product category
• HAP-Z1ES – HONOREE in the High Performance Home Audio product category
• 4K consumer camera- HONOREE in the Digital Imaging product category
• Action Cam- HONOREE in the Digital Imaging product category
• Music Video Recorder- HONOREE in the Digital Imaging product category
• MDR-10RNC- HONOREE in the Headphones product category
• VAIO Tap PC- HONOREE in the Tablets EReaders and Mobile Computing product category

Discuss:

Does Sony receive enough credit for their work?

[Via PR NewsWire]