Sony

Sony has released two new models in its Bright Era 3LCD business projector series - the VPL-FX500L and VPL-FX30. Both projectors have native XGA resolution of 1024 x 768, excellent lens shift capabilities, feature long-life lamps and filters and have low power consumption even with their high-brightness performance. The FX500L (7,000 ANSI lumens) is suited to large screen applications like those found in lecture halls and auditoriums, while the FX30 (4,200 ANSI lumens) has been created for midsized classrooms, boardrooms and meeting rooms. Read More

There's been a good bundle of componentry pass through the TweakTown labs this week including QNAP's new 4-bay NAS, Gateway's ZX4800-06 all-in-one desktop and NETGEAR's Powerline AV 200 XAVB2001 home networking solution. The TweakTown team also gives us the low-down on the Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced mid-tower chassis and Sony's Bravia 3D LCD TV. Read More

Sony is developing a new type of AVCHD high definition camcorder with an interchangeable lens similar to DSLR cameras. Still at prototype stage, the camcorder will be equipped with the same Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor used in the new NEX-5 and NEX-3 cameras and will be able to share E-mount interchangeable lenses. Read More

Cameras that combine DSLR functionality and the convenience of interchangeable lenses with a compact footprint have become the new wave in recent times, with the likes of the Olympus EP-1, Panasonic Lumix G2 and Ricoh GXR hitting the market. Now Sony has announced two diminutive additions to its Alpha line of digital SLRs - the NEX-5 and NEX-3. While the NEX-5 - which claims the current title of the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera - is leading Sony's drive into this space, both units feature impressive credentials including a newly-developed 14.2 effective megapixel CMOS sensor, high-speed burst shooting of up to 7fps at full-resolution and, in a first for the Alpha line, a Sweep Panorama mode with 3D compatibility and HD video recording. Read More

With so many variations of smartphones, netbooks, and tablet PCs on the market it's hard to imagine the categories of mobile tech getting more confusing - but they are. Sony has just thrown another unclassifiable beast into the mix with its new VAIO P Series. The first Type P had a sexy and ultra-portable form factor that could be stuffed into one of your larger pockets and while this new Type P might not be a game changer, it certainly has a boat-load of mobile-friendly features. Read More

Either my ears provide a tight fit or I’m just not as active as I should be, but I wasn’t aware that earbuds falling out was a major problem. For those that do experience such heartbreak Sony has come up with a solution in the form of its new Qlasp bud headphones. The headphones feature a nifty “qlasp” that clips to the wearer’s earlobes to ensure they stay put even during the most extreme physical activities. Read More

The TIPA Awards have been run and won for 2010, meaning potential purchasers can make informed purchasing decisions backed by the collective opinions of 28 international photographic magazine editors. The big winners in the DSLR categories were the Nikon D3s (Professional) Canon EOS 7D (Expert), Canon EOS 550D (Advanced) and Pentax K-x (Entry). The Fuji FinePix HS10 took out best Superzoom, while Compact category winners included the Casio Exilim EX-G1 (Rugged Compact), Canon PowerShot G11 (Expert Compact) and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V (Best Compact). Significantly, the Best Expert Camcorder was… Read More

While we wait for bigger, cheaper OLED displays to knock LCD and plasmas off their perch, Sony has released the first field display to use an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panel. The PVM-740 is a 7.4-inch 960 x 540 pixel resolution portable monitor designed for professional users (with professionally deep pockets) that offers picture contrast greater than a CRT display and is less affected by ambient light, allowing images to be viewed even in strong sunlight. Read More

I'm still rocking a launch-era PS3, and it's always felt like an investment rather than a money sink. Since launch, Sony has added DivX/Xvid playback, improved PSP Remote Play functionality, the affordable PlayTV PVR, and in Australia, support for the ABC's catch-up TV service called iView. So it pains me to report on the upcoming firmware update, which removes the Other OS feature from the non-Slim PS3s which were available until Q4 2009 - adding nothing in return. Read More