Sony is taking 4K to heart in 2014 by revamping their entire 4K television fleet, which includes the much more affordable X850B and X900B series lineup. Besides price point, Sony is also bringing some potential game changing advancements which include Magnetic Fluid speakers, capable of replacing your tired surround sound system. Sony also knows that we’re an impatient bunch who groan at every extra second a device takes to perform a task. To that end, the company is offering what they call “Quick Start” in all of their 2014 televisions, including non-4K models.
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Announced at CES 2014 and set to be releasing in Spring, Sony is looking to completely revamp its 2014 4K television fleet. Part of that includes the addition of a new entry lineup to the company’s 4K fleet, the XBR-X850 series which comes in a 49-, 55-, 65-, and 70-inch. Those looking for a little more bells and whistles need not look further than the X900B series. Amazingly, Sony has managed to pack in more features than its predecessor while also driving down the price.
Designed as what I’d refer to as the companies “better” 4K XBR (with the word better being relative to the XBR series that it falls in), the X900B comes in three screen sizes which include 55-, 65-, and 79-inches. Utilizing Sony’s Wedge design, the X900B series offer X-tended Dynamic Range for even a crisper picture and Magnetic Fluid speakers which are capable of filling a room with simulated surround sound. So what’s pricing like? Let’s talk that and details, after the jump.
During CES 2014, Sony made it clear that 4K is part of the company’s path towards profitability and growth with consumers. To help achieve this, Sony has already revealed a 4K consumer camcorder, priced at $2,000, making it a world first. The company’s latest flagship Android smartphone, the Xperia Z2, also includes 4K video capturing, pushing the boundaries and availability of 4K. To help further gain consumer adoption of 4K technology, Sony is releasing three new lines of 4K televisions in 2014.
Part of what I refer to as the companies “good” fleet of 4K televisions, the XBR-X850B series comes in a 49-, 55-, 65-, and 70-inch.. While lacking some of the fancier feature of the XBR-X900B series, the X850 fleet offers native 4K Triluminos display with Sony’s 4K X-Reality Pro engine. To help drive costs further down, the X850B series lacks the Magnetic Fluid speakers of the X900B, opting for basic speakers. Now let’s talk pricing.
Sony has proven itself once again in design terms, with no less than 26 of its products earning the seal of approval from the iF Design group, with three products earning a gold award. In individual company achievements, Sony ranked the third highest awarded company, ahead of rivals Apple and LG.
iF is an international group that recognises excellence in product design. It is their aim to “strengthen public awareness of design” and their logo has been an illustrious global standard of design for over sixty years. This year’s event took place on February 28th in Munich, Germany.
It probably surprises few that Sony would do well with awards for design. The company has always raised the bar with iconic and effortless designs with current class-leaders in the Xperia Z2, the PlayStation 4 and the luxury X9000A Bravia TV line to name but a few.
Read on to find out which Sony products earned gold and which two awards come at a bittersweet time.
Sony just announced major plans regarding its PC and TV businesses. With the VAIO PC brand, we know that it is being sold to Japan Industrial Partners, a company that specialises in recovering companies in peril.
On the other hand, the TV business move has many of us wondering. During the past few months, many terms have been thrown around like subsidiary, restructuring, streamlining. The official announcement was no more clear with full of management-speak, so what is actually happening?
In short, the TV business will be made into a separate company that will be still be fully owned by Sony, but there is a lot more to it than that. Read on for a closer look at what Sony wishes to achieve by doing this.
The financial results for the past three months of Sony Corp. were released today, forecasting a net loss of 110bn yen ($1.1bn) for the financial year ending March. This a revision downward from a previous prospect of 30bn yen profit.
The company reported a significant boost to sales and operating income, lifting the stock price. PS4 and Xperia smartphone and tablet sales were strong, as expected. All segments reported increased year-on-year sales and operating revenue, except for devices.
Sony has bit the bullet and sold of it’s PC business and is pushing out the TV division to a wholly-owned subsidary. This leads to impairment charges and write-offs with 5,000 job cuts planned before the end of the 2014 financial year. The PC business is sold to Japan Industrial Partners Inc. to “enhance the autonomy of the business”.
Read on the for full story.
If you’re looking to get into 4K but want to save a little bit of money then right now may be the best time to act. At CES 2014, Sony announced three new lines to their 4K XBR series, the XBR-X950B, XBR-X900B, and XBR-X850B which will be released in Spring 2014. To help make room for the new models, Sony is placing a rather nice sale on their 2013 line of 4K XBR televisions which includes the XBR-X900A and XBR-850A. So what do the new prices look like? Lets talk numbers, after the jump.
When Sony announced their 84-inch 4K television over a year ago, it also brought with it the Sony 4K Media Server to the market. In order for 4K television sales to take off, content is required and that’s something that traditional broadcast won’t likely offer for some time. Enter the Sony 4K Media Server which acts as your gateway to 4K media via the internet. Currently, Sony offers over 150 4K titles on its media server and that list is expected to grow substantially as more films and shows begin to convert to the new format. While the original design of the FMP-X1 4K Media Server was bold, Sony is taking a more traditional approach with a reduced footprint its second generation counter part which can be seen, after the jump.
One of the biggest surprises from Sony during CES 2014 was the Life Space UX concept which is meant to take technology beyond a piece of tech and instead beautifully incorporate it into your lifestyle. While still in a concept stage, one of the products from this vision, the Sony 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector, will be coming to fruition this Summer. Previously, we gave you a demo of the 4K projector that’s able to cast a 147-inch screen from just 27 inches away. Despite pictures, the Ultra Short Throw Projector is smaller than it appears as there are multiple parts that make it.
Now with some more digging, we’re able to give you the Sony 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector specs and price range.
At CES 2014, Sony introduced a new concept dubbed Life Space UX. The theory goes that technology needs to transform and better mold into one’s lifestyle. One part of this is for products to blend in better in the home and instead compliment any decor while offering a technological benefit as well. The Sony 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector is a device that fits within this vision. At its core, the device is no different than any other projector with the added benefit of 4K. What makes the device unique though is its capability to be so close to the wall while still being able to cast a 147-inch display. From there on, its unique design helps it blend in without sacrificing any quality. A video demo can be found after the jump.
When the Sony 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector was revealed, many (including) us marveled at its design aesthetics and 4K picture quality which can be displayed up to 147 inches. From first glance, it’s obvious that Sony took a radically different approach to designing it and that’s due to their new Life Space UX, which aims to improve technology’s ability to complement any decor and stand out less, giving way to the experience. Originally, it was believed that, because of this achievement, including 4K and alternative design, the Sony 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector housed a large form factor but after some digging, we’ve learned that the size is a function of design with other components mixed in as opposed to a form factor that is meant to disguise a bulky set of components.
The breakdown of the design and hidden compartments awaits you after the jump.
If you want an overview from the 2014 Son 4K television fleet, then be sure to read our previous coverage which helps give you an overview of the XBR-X950B, XBR-X900B, and XBR-X850B. In this article, we break things down and look at the tech that help make the TV what it is. After the jump, the Sony XBR-X950B tech specs await you.
While 4K is the next big thing in the living room and here to replace traditional 1080p HD, Sony knows that consumers won’t flock to it if the price is too high. To that end, the company wisely expanded its XBR series into three lines which include the XBR-X850B, XBR-X900B, and XBR-X950B. This line represents a good, better, best scenario for the native 4K televisions that Sony offers. Previously, we’d give you the tech specs for the XBR-X950b, and XBR-X900B. After the jump, you can find all the tech specs for the XBR-X850B which comes in a variety of sizes which include 49-, 55-, 65-, and 70-inches.
During its CES 2014 press conference, Sony announced three new 4K television series which make up the XBR line. This includes the XBR-X950B, XBR-X900B, and XBR-X850B. Previously, we’ve given you an overview of the entire 4K XBR fleet and dished out all the tech specs to the flagship XBR-X950B which comes in an astonishing 85-inch size and a more manageable 65-inch. After the jump, we’ve put together the XBR-X900B tech specs, designed for the home theater enthusiasts who don’t want to take out a loan the size of a car payment but demand the best in video.
At its 2014 CES press conference, Sony unveiled the next generation of 4K XBR televisions. Under its premium line, the XBR family will grow to three series which includes the XBR-X950B, XBR-X900B, and XBR-X850B. While keeping 4K at the core, each series in the new XBR line is designed to attack different consumers with options that help differentiate them. This includes different set of speaker configurations and sizes. After the jump, we take a look at the 2014 Sony 4K television line features.
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