High Definition Handycam® Camcorder HDR-CX7

For the first time ever, record high definition directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo® media. The compact size of this camcorder combined with its miniscule recording media make the HDR-CX7 high definition Handycam® camcorder a joy to use. Ultra-lightweight and easy to carry, it features a professional-quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens and Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization for stunningly sharp high definition video. Plus, its large, 2.7" wide Clear Photo LCD Plus® display featuring touch panel SwivelScreen® technology makes it simple to view what you're recording?at almost any angle.

Estimates Price : Rs.36,000

Features

3.2 Megapixel (Gross) ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor
1/2.9" ClearVid CMOS Sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (1080 lines of resolution - HD Mode or 530 lines of horizontal resolution - SD Mode) and still image performance (6.1 Megapixel). Unlike traditional CCD Imagers, CMOS Sensors require less power, providing better battery performance.

Switchable HD/SD Format Recording
The HDR-CX7 is capable of recording and playing back both High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video recorded on Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media (sold separately)

x.v.Color™ Technology
x.v.Color technology can capture or display nearly twice as many (1.8x) viewable colors than currently possible. This provides a more accurate and vivid color range, for a more natural, lifelike overall experience.

10X Optical / 20X Digital Zoom
The optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, the Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.

Professional Quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* Lens
Carl Zeiss lenses have an advanced optical multi-layer coating that offers less glare and flare with increased contrast. This results in vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation and perfect renditions of subtle tones. The additional T* coating on the lens further reduces unwanted glare and flare.
2.7" Wide4 (16:9) Hybrid Touch Panel Clear Photo LCD Plus™ Display (211K Pixels)
The 2.7" Wide (16:9) LCD screen provides excellent viewing clarity with improved resoltuion. The 211K pixel LCD screen rotates up to 270 degrees for multiple viewing angles providing sharp, detailed images for monitoring or playback, and the widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9 mode and composing shots even easier.

Smooth Slow Record
By increasing the record rate from 60 fields per second (fps) to 240 fps for 3 seconds allowing you to capture 3 seconds of fast motion and play the video back in 12 seconds. This is great for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight. In addition, record an audio track to narrate what is being seen in the video.

Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Media Slot
Capture still images up to 2848x2136 resolution, directly onto Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Media for easy trasfer to PCs for emailing, printing or shairing with other compatible Memory Stick PRO Duo™ devices.

Dual Record
While recording video in High Definition you have the ability to capture a 4.6 Megapixel still image directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media.

Super SteadyShot® Optical Image Stabilization System
An advanced form of Sony's SteadyShot Image Stabilization system that controls an even higher range of shake and vibration frequencies. This optical stabilization system achieves an even higher level of smoothness without degradation of vide like some digital stabilization systems.

Tele Macro Function
Useful for shooting close up shots, but without having the camcorder casting a shadow on the subject. Images shot in the Tele Macro Mode will have the subject properly focused with the background unfocussed so that the subject stands out.

Active Interface Shoe
Provides a location directly on the camcorder on which to add optional accessories while providing power and two-way communication to those accessories.

Built-in Intelligent Flash
For added clarity and detail when taking pictures in low-light situations, the built-in flash improves pictures and reduces shadows.

Super NightShot® Infrared System
With Sony's NightShot® infrared system, capture video in total darkeness (0 lux) up to 10 feet away. Super NightShot mode automatically adjusts the shutter speed to increase picture brightness and clarity. Color Slow Shutter mode allows you to record in low light situations with full color detail by slowing down the shutter speed.

Scene Selection Modes
Scene Selection modes make recording easy even when filming in challenging situations. Choose from Beach, Candle, Fireworks, Landscape, Portrait, Sports Lesson, Spotlight, and Sunrise & Sunset.

Picture Effects
Get creative when recording or playing back your videos with Sony's Picture Effect Modes. Effects available in Camera mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia. Effects available in Playback mode: Monotone, Pastel and Sepia.

Fader Effects-2
Enhance your personal videos by adding professional looking fader effects. Choose from Black and White.

InfoLITHIUM® Battery with AccuPower™ Meter System1
Charge the battery at anytime because unlike NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries, Sony's rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries are not subjected to a life shortening "Memory Effect". Sony's exclusive AccuPower™ meter displays the battery time remaining in minutes, in either the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Stamina® Battery Power Management System
Using the optional NP-FH1000 InfoLithium® Battery, the HDR-CX7 can continuously record up to 5 hours (LCD) on a single full charge, providing extra long battery life.

On Screen Zoom and Record Buttons
For additional control of the camcorder, the HDR-UX7 features Zoom and Record buttons on the frame of the LCD screen. This allows the user more flexibility when holding the camcorder, especially in overhead or low angle shots.

Easy Handycam
Using a camcorder can be intimidating for some people, so with a press of the Easy Handycam Button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder are "locked out" leaving only the buttons essential for recording operational.

One Touch Wide Angle Shooting
Easily switch between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios for shooting, with just the touch of a button.

Manual Focus
Allows the user to manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows the user to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.

Multi-Language Menu
Change the menu display from English to English (Simplified), Canadian French, Latin American Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese.

VAIO® FZ Series Notebook PC with Blu-ray Disc®

Fusing mobility, power and style, the VAIO® VGN-FZ180E/B notebook is designed to exceed your entertainment and computing needs.

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7300 (2GHz, 4MB L2 Cache)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium


Features

Mobile entertainment and power to spare. The VAIO® VGN-FZ180E/B notebook features Intel® Centrino® Duo processor technology and the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor for lightning-fast speed and embedded A/V controls for one-touch access to your music, movies and pictures. An included CD/DVD burner and the streamlined instant search and automated security features of the Windows Vista™ Home Premium operating system make burning discs and navigating through programs fast and easy. And viewing your friends and family while video chatting on the gorgeous 15.4" widescreen LCD with XBRITE-ECO™ technology is so lifelike, it's almost like being there.

More display for your dollar
The thin-and-light VAIO® FZ notebook packs big power and even bigger entertainment into a small, portable package. This unique 5.75 pound1 with standard battery PC combines all the benefits of a 15.4” widescreen display2 with the dimensions or “footprint” of a much smaller notebook. The VAIO FZ is designed to maximize LCD space with advanced space-saving engineering techniques implemented throughout the chassis, including a reconfigured battery and motherboard design. The result is a brilliant, 15.4” widescreen display2 in the body of a portable, thin-and-light notebook.

Experience Blu-ray Disc® media playback
Watch movies in the best high-definition picture quality available today with the VAIO® FZ Premium notebook, the world’s first thin-and-light Blu-ray Disc®-enabled notebook12. Until you experience movies and concerts on Blu-ray Disc® media, you won’t know just how good high-definition can be. With pristine Full 1080 HD resolution and stunning clarity, Blu-ray Disc® technology is an impressive new way to enjoy your entertainment. Blu-ray Disc® also enjoys the most extensive industry support as it is backed by more than 85% of consumer electronics companies, seven of the biggest movie studios, the world's two largest music labels, plus PLAYSTATION® 3 and leading game companies.

Elegance and sophistication
With subtle sophistication and undeniable elegance, the lightweight VAIO® FZ notebook is crafted with an aesthetic touch and careful attention to detail. From its exciting entertainment functions to its brilliant XBRITE-HiColor™ display, the VAIO FZ is a beautifully designed, thin-and-light mobile entertainment center.

XBRITE-HiColor™ LCD technology
By applying engineering techniques from our BRAVIA™ high-definition LCD TVs to our new and improved XBRITE-HiColor™ LCD technology, we've created a notebook PC display that reaches an incredible color contrast of 90% - without increasing LCD power consumption. With richer greens and fresher blues than ever before, the new and improved XBRITE-HiColor™ LCD technology reproduces vivid colors and delicate contrasts with uniform brightness. Far superior to the 40-50% color reproduction of most notebook PCs, the VAIO FZ notebook with new and improved XBRITE-HiColor LCD technology delivers an incredibly luminous display that reproduces 90% of the color spectrum.

Entertainment controls
An A/V fan’s dream PC, the VAIO® FZ notebook includes a full set of dedicated multimedia controls just above the keyboard. A round A/V interface jumps out of the clean design of the VAIO FZ, adding a unique and practical touch to its sophisticated appearance. These intuitive music and video controls are user-friendly, so you can easily control your CDs, DVDs, pictures and home movies with the push of a button.

Sony Releases PSP Firmware 3.50

A few days ago, Sony had come out with firmware 1.80 for the PlayStation 3. One of the striking features of that update was the ability to use the PSP to access their PS3 via the internet. Now, the PlayStation Portable firmware update 3.50 will add the Remote Play functionality to Sony’s handheld.

Though you won’t be able to play PS3 games (obviously) or access DVD or Blu-ray movies using the PSP Remote Play, you will be able to listen to music, watch compatible videos, pictures and access your friend lists. The PSP firmware update 3.50 will also allow gamers to receive news and other RSS feeds as Sony has added an RSS channel guide for the handheld console.

Hmm… it is nice of Sony to add such features to the PSP, which will make it more cool than before. It would be even better if they include more interactive features to the PSP in the future.

Sony unveils its new 3D universe

Sony described Home as a 3D social networking service

Sony is hoping to replicate the success of social networks and Second Life with a feature called Home.

Playstation 3 gamers will be able to meet, chat and share content with friends inside a 3D universe.

"It's about community, collaboration and customisation," said Sony's Phil Harrison at the Game Developers Conference, in San Francisco.

Gamers can buy furniture and clothes, while publishers and retailers are also expected to offer 3D spaces.

Mr Harrison said the games industry had to learn from the success of the web 2.0 movement

This is not just about Sony brands and Sony games - it's a much wider network of connected spaces Phil Harrison, Sony

"We want to start a movement called Game 3.0. It's about emerging entertainment, powered by the audience at the centre of the experience."

Home is similar to Second Life, the popular 3D universe for PCs and Macs. Gamers can create avatars - online versions of themselves - and buy new clothes and create their own homes.

Mr Harrison described Home as a 3D social networking service.

Dynamic advertising - including high definition video - can be pushed into the 3D universe.

The service launches in the autumn and Sony hopes it will answer critics who feel the firm has been overtaken by Microsoft in the online gaming arena.

Home players will be able to buy clothes and furniture

Sony is hoping companies outside of gaming will want their own spaces inside Home.

"This is not just about Sony brands and Sony games - it's a much wider network of connected spaces," said Mr Harrison.

"There will be individual locations dedicated to game publishers, game developers, and titles.

"Over time it will extend to non-game brands."

Mr Harrison also debuted titles for PlayStation 3 at the San Francisco conference that would leverage the success of social networks such as MySpace and FaceBook.

An online version of karaoke title Singstar will let gamers share video clips of their vocal efforts and leave comments for other players.

"The industry is on the threshold of a new era of creativity, collaboration, communication and commerce embedded into an experience to empower games," Mr Harrison said.

Sony Unveils High-End LCD Displays

Everyone was surprised when Sony killed the Trinitron line of desktop displays-the Trinitron series had long been recognized as some of the best CRTs on the market, regardless of the size. Another shock came when Sony announced that they were ceasing production of all displays entirely, including their modest LCD lineup. It seemed that Sony was out of the display business entirely. Then, this week came another surprise.

Sony's getting back into the fiercely competitive LCD display market with the new Luma series of widescreen displays, and to rise above the competition of the Dells and the Samsungs and the NECs, they've decided to aim squarely at high-end graphic designers and video editors who need some of the features Sony claims the Luma displays will offer. The new Luma lineup sports two 20-inch models (the LMD-2050W and the LMD-2030W) and a 24-inch model (the LMD-2450W). The LMD-2030W is geared specifically towards people doing a lot of video production, and has several inputs on the back of the display, including HDMI, composite, RGB, component, and standard DVI. The LMD-2050W and the 2450W both offer the same inputs, but add on features like side-by-side video, built-in closed captioning, Sony's proprietary Chroma-Tru color processing for accurate colors (a feature that graphic designers will appreciate), and both support 1080P input for high definition video.



The new displays are scheduled to start shipping in May, and no pricing has been announced, but it's clear that these kinds of displays are not aimed at the general consumer or even the home video/photo enthusiast. Expect to see very high prices, but for those in the video processing or graphic design business who might benefit from these kinds of features, it may be worth it to have them all rolled into the same display.