Home Theater

Sony Adds Netflix, YouTube and Pandora to New ES AV Receivers

by Sohrab Osati | Sep 12, 2011 | 11 comments

One of the reasons why Netflix has been so successful is the ability for the company to place their streaming service in any device they can. Sony has also been a big champion and supporter of this cause, with the PlayStation 3 currently the most used and preferred Netflix streaming device. You can also find Netflix in other Sony products that you might not immediately expect like the Sony Dash. Now, Sony is bringing Netflix directly to their high end ES AV receivers. This November, when the STR-DA3700ES and STR-DA5700ES receivers ship, owners will get integrated support for Netflix, YouTube, and Pandora. No price point has been announced yet, nor has the interface been shown but the ES line is part of Sony’s higher end line of AV receivers so a price point upward of $1,000 is to be expected. After the jump, a shot of the STR-DA3700ES read inputs.

Sony Adds Glasses-Free 3D to Notebooks with Lenticular Sheet

by Sohrab Osati | Sep 8, 2011 | 19 comments

Sony has been one of the biggest supporters of 3D and has featured the technology in every one of the company’s vast product lines. The notebook line is no different, and Sony already provides a 3D VAIO with the F series but that price point ($1,899) is set above what many may want to pay for a laptop. To be fair, with a Intel i7 3.30GHz processor, 16″ Full HD 2D/3D display, 6GB RAM, 640GB (7200rpm) HDD, Blu-ray player, NVIDIA graphics (1GB VRAM) with HDMI out, that laptop would have been expensive without 3D. Enter the new lenticular sheet from Sony, designed to accommodate the VAIO VPC-SE1Z9E (S series) which has the users attaching the lenticular sheet in front of the S Series 15.5-inch LCD screen. With the screen in place, a 3D image is then formed on your non-3D LCD display.

The naked-eye 3D display is realized based on the lenticular method, which creates parallax by arraying lenses that are thin and long and have a semicircular cross section.

The sheet itself is also accompanied by a software which will utilize your notebook’s webcam to track your head movement and adjust the 3D effects accordingly. This 129 euro (approx US$183) is expected to be available next month and will again break down the 3D entry price point by a wide margin. After the jump, a picture of the lenticular sheet.

Sony Updates Network Media Player SMP-N200

by Sohrab Osati | Sep 8, 2011 | 33 comments

Sony has announced an update to their Network Media Player, the SMP-N200. This new model builds on last year’s version by offering a new and sleeker design with more HD support by integrating a new technology based on DLNA called “Throwing,” which acts a lot like Apple’s Airplay technology. Devices capable of Throwing include Sony’s upcoming Tablet S and P and their prototype Walkman Mobile Entertainment Player. The new Network Media Player will also support 3D playback and streaming. Users with a smartphone like the iPhone or Android and owners of the upcoming Sony Tablets will be able to control and navigate their Network Media Player from their given device with a free app from Sony. With an available USB port on the pack, media fans can also directly plug in their media storage hard drive and play their content of choice. The Sony Network Media Player will be available this October for $99. Press release, after the jump.

Meet the Sony 3D OLED Visor HMZ-T1. We Have Details

by Sohrab Osati | Sep 1, 2011 | 6 comments

Remember when you were a kid and might have watched shows like Johnny Quest and Star Trek: The Next Generation or seen movies like Total Recall and the 6th Day, which featured virtual-reality-like goggles? Well, fast forward to today and we might not have flying cars, but between 3D gaming, the PlayStation Move, and the newly-announced Sony 3D OLED Visor, we are getting damn close to virtual reality. Last seen during CES 2011, the Sony 3D OLED Visor HMZ-T1 has since been turned into a real product. This 3D visor is equipped with two 1280×720 0.7-inch OLED panels which are mounted in front of each eye with an integrated 5.1 Surround Sound headphone system that is built into the Head Mounted Display (HMD). The system comes with a separate processing box that, in turn, runs an HDMI out to the 3D visor that gives you a viewing experience, similar to watching on a 750-inch screen from 20m away. The HMZ-T1 will launch this November in Japan for 60,000 yen ($783 US) and will be compatible with a slew of 3D-enabled playback devices like Sony Blu-ray players, the PlayStation 3, and Cyber-shot and Handycam cameras and camcorders. No word yet on a European or United States release.

Press release, after the jump.

3net to Offer 3D Kids Programing

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 30, 2011 | 14 comments

3net, the join venture 3D channel between Sony, Discovery and IMAX is again boosting their lineup of 3D offerings. The channel, which already has dedicated blocks of unique 3D programs, including the world’s first 3D war documentary, now wants to include kids as well. Tom Cosgrove, president and CEO of 3net, announced that the animated series Bolts & Blip and Dream Defenders will air on September 25 at 8:00 p.m. Following that, on October 1st at 10:00 a.m. 3net will air a “Three Dee Kids” programming segment for kids that will continue on Saturday and Sundays.

“The announcement of a dedicated programming block for kids 7-12 and their families marks another important step forward in our mission to provide compelling, diverse and original 3D television content to the broadest audience of consumers possible,” said Cosgrove. “It further underscores 3net’s on-going commitment to building upon our leadership position in the dynamic and ever-growing in-home 3D entertainment space.”

3net already has more than 30 hours of exclusive 3D content for kids lined up with even more to come in the future. In addition, Sony Pictures will also premiere their family 3D films, exclusively on 3net, with live-action original series Feeding Time and the 3net exclusive Puppy Bowl also joining the lineup. After the jump, the official press release.

PlayStation 3D Display Promo Video Reveals TV Features, Release Window and More

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 29, 2011 | 5 comments

One of the big surprises during Sony’s E3 2011 press conference was the reveal of a new 24-inch LCD, PlayStation-branded 3D TV. This unique TV would bundle, at the time, Resistance 3, which has since changed to Motorstorm Apocalypse, one pair of 3D glasses and HDMI cable for $499. What sets this TV aside from others, besides the low entry price point, is the TV’s capability of displaying 2 different images at once. This means that, as long as you have another pair of 3D glasses ($69), you and your buddy can play Resistance 3 or Motorstorm Apocalypse multiplayer on the same TV, without actually seeing each other’s screen. This 1080p TV is capable of delivering this via the 3D glasses by pumping a separate 720p 2D image to each pair of glasses.

For those who also want pure 3D, the PlayStation 3D Display is capable of delivering pure 1080p 3D via your cable, PS3, or Blu-ray player as well. It should also be taken into account that this is a fully-fledged 2D HD TV as well, which is capable of taking any normal input like all traditional TVs and should not be treated any differently. Sony has yet to set an official date, though we can confirm that it will be some time in November. Sony has also decided to match similar offers from GameStop and Amazon by also including Resistance 3 in the bundle, though you will need to place your pre-orders by September 30, 2011 for that deal. With R3 slated to come out September 6th, fans who want the game when it comes out will still have to purchase the game on their own as your pre-order is only good for when the product ships and Sony will not be giving you R3 ahead of the TV’s launch.

[viddler id-8c8669d6 h-370 w-437]

Sony’s 2011 65-inch XBR, the HX929, Gets a Price. We Have Specs, Including Dimensions

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 23, 2011 | 17 comments

For nearly 8 months now, we’ve known about the 2011 XBR line, the HX929. Previously, we’d reported that the lineup consisted of three sizes, a 46-, 55-, and 65-inch. Till now, we had all the specs and pricing from the 46″ and 55″ flagship 3D TVs from Sony and during this time, Sony had even released a firmware update for the lineup. However, pricing and dimensions of the top tier 65-inch model had been nonexistent before today. With the 65-inch XBR-HX929 finally hitting Sony’s online store for pre-order with an September 4th release date, we can finally report to you the missing information which you will find after the jump, including specs.

Sony Announces the DEV-3 and DEV-5, a Digital Recording Binocular. We Wonder Why (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 19, 2011 | 11 comments

Today, Sony unveileved a new and interesting product, a pair of digital recording binoculars called the DEV-3 and DEV-5. However, unlike your traditional binoculars which are only good for viewing, the Sony DEV-3 and DEV-5 have one big trick of their sleeve; to record as well. Both units are capable of recording 1080p HD video while capturing stills with a 7.1 megapixel camera. It also wouldn’t be Sony without them incorporating their Exmor R CMOS sensors which are designed to provide noise free images, even in low light situations. But once again, this digital recording binocular has a trick up its sleeve—or maybe two tricks. Sony opted to include not one, but two Exmor R CMOS sensors in both the DEV-3 and DEV-5, allowing for native 3D 1080p video recording with dual f/1.8-3.4, 0.5-10x optical zoom lenses, and a pair of 1,227-dot viewfinders. Other features include manual focus, SteadyShot, and Image Stabilization. All this puts you at a $1,399 price point for the DEV-3 while those who are looking for some more features can look towards the DEV-5 for $1,999. The extra $600 in this case will get you 10x digital zoom, GPS, a carrying case, and neck strap. Both models will come equipped with Memory Stick Pro Duo and SDXC support for capturing your content, a stereo microphone with an audio input jack, and HDMI-out for playback on other devices.

While all of this sounds fine and I’m sure the device will be more than capable with traditional build quality that Sony provides, I have to wonder why Sony has decided to make such a device in the first place. As I noted, the concept is pretty cool and it seems like a great device to use but I doubt too many family members will opt for a binocular to record their next kid’s birthday party or vacation, and forget business, unless they are in the espionage market. This automatically greatly reduces the market share to a very small niche community who enjoys the great outdoors and has disposable income. The great question in this case than becomes, can Sony, who is notorious for creating great devices but is always been poor at marketing them, really sell enough of these to be worthwhile? Outside of the cost of building one of these, boxing them, shipping them to retailers which will of course be only a limited few providing some form of support, there is still the R&D to take into consideration. When we add all these costs and consider the limited market that will take interest in this device, unless Sony had a 50% profit margin on these (which they don’t), I cannot imagine them ever making a profit on such a device. In a time where many of Sony’s core businesses are hurting, unless I’m missing something about this device and the targeted market, it seems that Sony needs to kill off all niche market products and strengthen their core business. After which, I would be more than happy to see them work on side projects like this which are catered to the small crowds out there. However, till then, Sony has an obligation if not to itself, then to its shareholders, to increase profitability and market share and I don’t believe such devices are the answer to that.

After the jump, a press release, video overview and additional pictures await you.

Should You Buy the Sony Bloggie 3D MHS-FS3?

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 10, 2011 | 33 comments

When 3D is brought up in most conversations, whether people are fans of the ever-growing format or not, two things tend to come to mind; the dislike for 3D glasses, and how expensive the technology can be. These two topics have turned into a sticky point for consumers while big companies like Sony are hard at offering 3D in whichever way they can. Currently, Sony Pictures has released 3D films like The Green Hornet, The Smurfs and will be releasing the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man which has been shot in native 3D. In the meantime, their PlayStation division has an ever-larger list of 3D games with titles like Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 3 and the highly anticipated Uncharted 3. Of course, 3D content is without an avenue to playback the medium and so to address the cost and availability of the format, Sony this fall is releasing a PlayStation branded 3D TV for $499 which includes Resistance 3 (which is 3D compatible) and a pair of 3D glasses. Sony also knows that, in order for the 3D format to advance, they cannot just rely on professional content. No format has ever survived without availability to the everyday consumers, and thats where the Bloggie 3D steps in for Sony.

The Sony Bloggie 3D (MHS-FS3) is designed to break the stigma of 3D and address the two sticking points of 3D. First, the Bloggie 3D, which is capable of recording in both 2D and 3D, is priced at $249 which automatically makes it accessible to a large demography. Second, the Bloggie 3D is capable of playing back 3D footage right on screen without the need of 3D glasses. We’ve long at the site been using the Bloggie Touch as our main source of capturing footage when at an event, seeing that it would only be fair to use the products that we talk about. So two days prior to Comic-Con, we trooped out to our local Best Buy to buy a Bloggie 3D (yes, we have to purchase all of our review products) and put it to the ultimate test. You see, in order for a format like 3D to succeed, it has to be able to form to your current workflow and lifestyle. Sure we can make tweaks here and there but if it requires us to completely change our flow to make it work, then the technology has failed. Comic-Con presented the perfect opportunity, seeing how we were going to cover the event with our Bloggie Touch anyways. The question then was, can we substitute our Bloggie Touch with a Bloggie 3D and still have a successful Comic-Con. Hit the jump for our full review, as well as sample video and photos.

Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and XpanD Form Alliance to Create Active 3D Glasses Standard

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 8, 2011 | 19 comments

One obstacle that 3D has faced since its rebirth in 2010 with the release of new 3D television sets from the likes of Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung has been the lack of an active 3D glasses standard. Currently, each manufacturer uses their own IR or Bluetooth standard, which acts as the transmission of signal between the 3D TV set and the 3D glasses. This means that even if you and your friend own 3D TVs, your active 3D shutter glasses won’t work on each others TVs if they happen to be two different brands. Now, a newly-formed alliance between Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, and XpanD, a company that creates universal 3D glasses, is looking to change this by creating a standard between the brands, called the “Full HD Glasses Initiative.” The new standard also promises to be backwards-compatible with all 2011 models, meaning that future 3D glasses will work with this years TVs and will be cross-compatible with other brands though those who bought in 2010 will be left out of the party. Hit the jump for a full press release.

Should You Buy the Sony Bloggie 3D MHS-FS3? (Video)

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 8, 2011 | 25 comments

The Bloggie 3D is an enigma of a product, designed to break all stereotypes of what 3D is and can be. With a $249 MSRP, the Bloggie 3D is in reach of most consumers while also taking away the need for 3D glasses to view its 3D recorded content. After our video unboxing, we put the Bloggie 3D to the test during San Diego Comic-Con 2011 to see how this pocket-sized 3D camera would hold up during the insanity. For those of you who are looking for some reading material, we will have a written review for you in the near future. The following is our Sony Bloggie 3D video review in which we discuss the camera’s hardware, 2D & 3D recording capabilities, as well as the Bloggie’s photo taking capabilities and a final verdict to wrap things up.

Video review, after the jump.

PlayStation 3D Display Drops Resistance 3 for MotorStorm: Apocalypse

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 5, 2011 | 24 comments

In the middle of my mindless Twitter scrolling last night, I came across a late night tweet from the folks at Insomniac Games where they announced that Resistance 3 would no longer be bundled with Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 3D Display.

For those asking about the 3D TV bundle: amazon.com/gp/product/B00… — Motorstorm: Apocolypse replaced Resistance 3. Sorry for any inconvenience.

During Sony’s E3 2011 press conference where Sony announced the PlayStation 3D Display for $499, Sony also confirmed that the TV bundle would include:

PlayStation 3D Glasses
Resistance 3
HDMI cable

Now, in just a short time, the listing for the PlayStation 3D Display has changed to reflect that Resistance 3 is out and MotorStorm: Apocalypse is in. The reason for the sudden switch, considering that Resistance 3 is set to ship in September, isn’t quite clear, though a few theories do come in mind. Now, mind you that Sony has yet to comment on the subject matter so the following is just speculation on our behalf.

First, it could be that Resistance 3 does not need the additional sales boost where MotorStorm: Apocalypse did not do the best in sales and bundles are always a great way to further push a product. Having played the new MotorStorm game in 3D on a Bravia set and the PlayStation 3D display where the game was configured for the dual 3D view, I can say that the game is a great example of what 3D is capable of. Another potential scenario and possibly a more likely one is that Resistance 3 is rated M where MotorStorm: Apocalypse is rated T. By bundling Resistance 3 with the PlayStation 3D Display, Sony would be basically limiting their sales option because some retailers may choose not to stock the product, seeing how it could not be sold to minors.

Discuss:

What do you think is the reason behind Sony’s shift from Resistance 3 to MotorStorm: Apocalypse on the PlayStation 3D Display?

Sony: Adding 3D To Games Not As Expensive As Film Or TV

by Jan Hutchings | Aug 5, 2011 | 26 comments

Who knew that putting 3D into our favorite games doesn’t cost developers or publishers much as compared to their film and television counterparts?

In an interview with Gameindustry.biz, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe manager Simon Benson said that adding 3D to games isn’t as expensive as movies or TV products.

In fact, Benson mentions that for some games, adding 3D costs have been “half a per cent of overhead,” and that:

“It can literally be the render programmer spending a couple of weeks manipulating it. Particularly if a game already has split screen in it, just take that mode of the game and reauthor it to deliver really high quality 3D. So often it’s the case of it doesn’t even hit the radar of whether we should or shouldn’t, it can just be done.”

He also adds that the sales of games do not depend on 3D as it’s just an additional feature to the package.

Read the full interview with Benson here.

DISCUSS:

With the future of 3D gaming consumer adoption still up in the air, and knowing that implementation of 3D to games costs less that most of us have anticipated, will you purchase a 3DTV within this year? Or will you wait until the masses have adopted the technology?

[Via Gameindustry.biz]

Sony Bloggie 3D Test Video

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 4, 2011 | 28 comments

Comic-Con 2011 marked a significant turning point for our site. Those who are regular readers will note that 3D is something that we are strong supporters of over here. Whether it’s 3D gaming, movies, or photos, I wholeheartedly believe in and stand behind the format. Of course, talk is cheap when it comes to 3D, especially those who just casually dismiss the format as nothing but a fad. So when prior to Comic-Con, I found out that the Bloggie 3D from Sony was available at Best Buy, I knew that I had to buy the little MP4 and give it a try.

After I preformed our Bloggie 3D video unboxing, I quickly put the camera to test the day prior to Comic-Con to see how it would perform and soon after, we were off to Comic-Con. This post is meant to give you an idea of the 2D and 3D footage that the Bloggie 3D is capable of recording, which happens to be at the same time. Later on, I will be posting a full written review as well as a video review of the Bloggie 3D which will cover the unit in depth. For those who are curious as to the video quality of the Bloggie 3D in both 2D and 3D, the following will give you a pretty good idea as to where we are headed with our review. Those with a 3D computer or 3D television can use their passive or active 3D shutter glasses to view our content. Anybody else who happens to have a pair of colored 3D glasses can also view the 3D from any computer or TV. Note that you can click on the 3D icon to toggle the 3D on or off.

Sony Puts Fire Sale on All Google TV Products

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 1, 2011 | 5 comments

Google is a company who is usually known for their innovations and generally ugly UI design (lets be honest, there is nothing clean about Gmail). But what many tend to forget is Google’s many failed services which include things like Google Video, Buzz, Wave, Page Creator, and Latitude. Of course, there are then smaller services like Google Health and Power Meter services that just never really gained much traction, and thus attention, from Google after their launch. Now, there seems to be another large release failure from Google and sadly, manufacturers, not Google, are going to be the ones taking the hit for it.

Google TV, which was launched just a little over a year ago, was promised to revolutionize the TV-viewing experience and the living room. Google partnered with big brands like Logitech and Sony to make sure that the platform had a multitude of support with setup boxes like the Logitech Revue and the Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player which could plug into any devices. Sony even went as far as releasing a 24″-,32″-,40″- and 46″-inch LCD TV with Google TV built in. Now, the product that promised to bring web, email, and apps into the living rooms while battling the Apple TV seems to be dead. Following Logitech’s last week announcement in which they announced the end of the Logitech Revue and a price cut from $299 to $99 in order to clear out their hanging inventory, Sony is following suit with a fire sale of their own.

All four Sony Internet TVs have taken a severe price cut with the 24-inch unit now priced at ~~$599~~ $299, the 32-inch at ~~$799~~ $499, the 40-inch at ~~$999~~ $799 and the 46-inch at ~~$1,399~~ $999. Sony’s Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player has also dropped in price, down to $299 from the original $399. With little support, attention or promotion from Google after the platform’s release, Google also failed to come to the negotiation table with film and TV studios, so we soon saw the platform lose all access to websites with TV episodes like ABC and Fox.com. Of course in a situation like this, Google can quietly chug along while the R&D and physical products made by the likes of Sony will turn into a large financial sum loss.

Discuss:

Do you think further Google TV products will come from Sony or is this the end of this type of device from Sony for the time being? Also, should and could Google have done more to support the now dying format?

[Via Sony]