Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

We just have to trust Sony when it says that its new KDL-40ZX1 LCD TV is the world’s thinnest so far. Measuring a mere 9.9mm, this 40-inch LCD beauty weighs 12.2kg. Makes you wonder where it puts all that weight considering that it is so thin?

Anyway, the KDL-40ZX1 is said to feature wireless video reception which Sony has dubbed the Bravia 1080 Wireless. In addition, this LCD panel also features a 3000:1 contrast ratio, a full 1080p HD resolution, three HDMI ports, both a digital and analog tuner, as well as LAN and USB ports. 

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Sony Europe has announced the DVP-NS708H upscaling DVD player. Touting this new DVD player as a perfect complement to BRAVIA LCD TV or any other HD Ready TV, the DVP-NSH708H transforms your standard definition DVDs into a better 1080p at 1920x1080 maximum full HD resolution, which suits perfectly for viewing in a larger TV screen sizes. Aside from packing the DVD player with a useful remote which controls the DVD player using BRAVIA Sync, the DVP-NS708H also features; HDMI, high resolution video output at 720p/1080i/1080p up-convert, stable playback through precision drive 3 mechanism, precision cinema progressive, photo TV HD, component video and coaxial digital outputs. If you feel dizzy after reading those specs and features, just relax. It simply means that this Sony DVD player will give you a more exhilarating DVD watching experience with better detail in the images and motion. The DVP-NS708H is now available in Europe, but no pricing information available just yet.

Read [Marketwire]

Sony is offering to help brighten up your home by adding a splash of fruity colors to its most recent Bravia HDTV models, as part of their “Draw the Line” concept for kitchens and brightening up the home. You’ll see this in the 20-inch KLV-20S400A, which is available in fruity pink, green, and orange, as well as the classics - white or black. This would be perfect for the kids’ room, but unfortunately, it will only start appearing in Asia by June.

The Bravia V4-series, meanwhile, is a new lineup announced alongside the fruity variants, likewise featuring a 2008 Bravia Engine 2 video processor and 1080p24 input capability. The only difference the V4-series has over the former is that it has an extra “Digital Media Port” for iPods and other MP3 players, as well as Sony Ericsson Bluetooth-enabled handsets.

The S4 and V4 series also come in 40- and 46-inch sizes, in case that’s your thing. And as earlier mentioned, won’t hit stores until June. No word on pricing has been made available yet.

Via [Crave]

Sony sure knows how to make pretty things. Case in point, the new Sony Bravia E4000 series of HDTV’s can be easily mistaken as a digital picture frame to the untrained eye. In fact, the E4000 is both a digital frame and a HDTV. When turned off, the panels can act as a digital photo viewer, capable of loading photos from a thumb drive. If you don’t have any favorite photos handy to display, the TV comes pre-loaded with six works of art, including Pop Art and Van Gogh paintings. The new line will be available in 26-inch, 32-inch and 40-inch sizes. Spec-wise, the panels will feature: the Bravia 2 processing engine, Bravia Sync, integrated digital/HDTV tuner, 178 degree viewing angle, 24p True Cinema, and 3x HDMI ports. The 32-inch and 40-inch will include a stand and full HD 1080p resolution; however, the 40-inch will be the only model to sport a 10-bit panel. x.v.Color for enhanced color reproduction, and PhotoTV HD for more “lifelike” photo slideshows.

The Sony Bravia E4000 will come in a few frame colors: midnight sky, aluminum, pearly white and dark walnut. It is expected to launch in Europe in a few weeks.

Via [Tech Digest]

Sony has released its newest LCD TV series, the Bravia 4000 which according to Sony is “a new standard in picture excellence.” The Bravia 4000 features a picture frame mode that will let users display their photos when the television is not in use. While the HD photos are playing by way of a slideshow, the picture frame mode will reduce the LCD’s brightness. Users can also personalize their television with their own photos using the USB Photoviewer. Or if it is a hassle to you, you can just use the six pre-installed pictures of some pop and classical artists.

In addition, the Sony Bravia W4000-series LCD TV also features the BRAVIA sync technology which uses HDMI connection to transmit commands to the various components of a home theatre system. This enables users to watch Blue-ray disc at a press of one button.

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Sony just announced a new projector, the VPL-VW40, which has many top-of-the-line features for a (yet unspecified) lower price than previous models. It is capable of full HD (up to 1080p, 1920 x 1080) resolution, it has a 15,000:1 contrast ratio and adjusts automatically to the level of lighting that is being projected for optimal results (this feature is called Advanced Iris 2). Connectivity wise, it has 2 HDMI input ports and it also features Sony SXRD, which is Sony’s response to Texas Instruments’ DLP technology, to deliver crisp images. Match this up with a 300-inch screen and this quiet projector (22dB at its loudest) could be the centerpiece of your new home theater setup.

Press Release [Sony] Via [New Launches]

It seems that Sony Australia wants to spread the word about their products. They are planning to do so by giving away the 40GB version of the Blu-ray playing video game device with the purchase of a Sony TV.

The TVs you can purchase are the 1080p XBR, X or W BRAVIA LCDs.  The W series BRAVIA starts at 3,000 Aussie dollars, while the PS3 retails for $700.

To me, this seems like Sony’s way of selling more TVs, as they only lose a fraction of what they make back with each TV sale, but its still a nice option to consider, especially if you are already in the market for a new TV.

Read [Sony AU]

First we had Walkman phones, then cybershot phones, and now Bravia phones…

This announcement comes after Sony’s amazing new ad for their new line of televisions, the ad was an explosion of color (literally) and that’s what this phone is. The new Sony Bravia phone is a 3G FOMA phone, sporting a QVGA display using Reality MAX technology, the same technology that is in the new Bravia HDTVs.

The phone also has a MP3 player built-in with 1GB of memory, and up to 45 hours of running time in stamina mode. There is a 3.2 Mp camera with image stabilizer. The phone measures 50x20x106 and weighs around 125g. The color of the phone is vibrant, to say the least.

What will Sony think of next? Commercial after the jump…

Read [Akihabara]

Sony already jumped to number one in worldwide LCD sales in Q4 of last year, but they ain’t stopping there.  At CEDIA yesterday, Sony introduced the two bad-boys pictured above.  Both displays are 1080p Bravia LCD, with 1920 x 1080 pixels (making them 1080p) and HDMI inputs.  Since the blacks have never been the greatest on LCDs, Sony’s trying to improve that with their new Advanced Contrast Enhancer which they say brings the contrast ratio up to 7000:1.  I’m no monitor guuru, but I know that’s an outrageously hi ratio.  1000:1 is typically what people look for in a reasonably-priced decent display.

Sony also added a “wide color gamut cold cathode fluorescent lamp,” which is a backlighting system along with a chroma signal processor so the color spectrum can keep up with your new 1080p.  The one on the left (KDL-52XBR2) will run you $6,800 and the right (KDL-52XBR3) prices in at $6,500.  Both displays will be available in November in time for the holiday season.

Read [Sony] Via [Gizmodo]

Sony announced an expansion of its BRAVIA flat-panel LCD television line, including several new models with native 1920 x 1080 full high-definition resolution panels and HDMI inputs with 1080p capability (to get higher definition as per their marketing). The line features six new models in 40- and 46-inch screen sizes and a 32-inch set featuring 1366 x 768 (WXGA) screen resolution Back again in Sony’s design is the elegant floating glass, which makes that XBR model look even more expensive on your wall.

At the top of the new line is the XBR3 series including the 46-inch KDL-46XBR3 and 40-inch KDL-40XBR3.  With native 1920 x 1080 panel resolution and three HDMI inputs with 1080p capability. The models have Sony’s Live Color Creation technology, side speakers, a built-in ATSC tuner, PC input, two high-definition component, one S-video and three composite inputs. The KDL-46XBR3 and KDL-40XBR3 models will ship in September and be available for about $5,300 and $4,300, respectively.

The new XBR2 BRAVIA models feature the same 1920 x 1080 screen resolution, however, these two models feature a silver bezel that can be replaced by one of five different colored bezels (red, white, blue, black and brown) for custom integration into any décor. They will be available for about $5,000 and $4,000, respectively.

The 32-inch KDL-V32XBR2 model has a 1366 x 768 screen resolution and is set to ship in September for about $2,500.

The V2500 series offers 1920 x 1080 native high-definition resolution models with two HDMI inputs with 1080p capability and the BRAVIA Engine and Live Color Creation technologies. The black bezel, V2500 models feature a space-saving bottom speaker design that helps the sets fit easily into existing AV cabinets. The KDL-46V2500 and KDL-40V2500 models will ship in September for about $4,500 and $3,500, respectively.