Category Archives: Sony LED TV
Sony Bravia Sharpens Web-Video Streams For Big TV Screens
Want to dump the $75-a-month cable or satellite-TV service? There are plenty of options to help satisfy that TV fix, and they continue to improve as more consumers cut the cord and turn to the Internet for video content.
A report released this year by market research firm Nielsen found that homes with broadband and no traditional pay-TV service — a base that increased by 23 percent from late 2010 to late 2011 — stream video twice as much as the rest of the population.
One way to view Internet content on the TV is to hook up the set with a streaming player or a video gaming console such as an Xbox 360.
The past couple of years have given rise to smart TVs, which can connect to a Wi-Fi network without the need for an external peripheral.
And in 2011, Sony introduced technology that helps improve the quality of Web content designed for smaller screens when they’re streamed to the big screen.
For the past couple of weeks, I tested a 46-inch Sony smart TV — the Bravia HX820 — that features the X-Reality Pro video processing technology. Sony says X-Reality Pro can improve the quality of all content from Blu-ray movies to low-resolution, highly compressed Web video. For my test, I focused on streaming video from Netflix and user-generated clips on YouTube.
The Netflix videos appear crisper when compared with the same stream to my 5-year-old 42-inch HD LCD via a PlayStation 3. In addition to the X-Reality Pro technology, refresh rates and other factors may also play a role in the improvement.
The technology’s impact on YouTube videos was more impressive. Clips that are already a little grainy on my 23-inch computer screen actually looked just as good, if not better, on the 46-inch TV screen.
Sony says the X-Reality chip analyzes each individual pixel, which allows the engine to know that a white blob in the foreground of a building is actually a seagull flying across. Then the system looks into its database for the best matching pattern and restores detail lost in compression and transmission. That’s a simplified explanation of how the technology works.
Technology that optimizes Web content for the big screen can be a game changer as more consumers cut the cord, and especially for those who want to watch foreign content that’s available only on YouTube or through special packages from a satellite-TV operator.
But it is expensive. Sony wouldn’t break out how much of a premium the technology adds to a TV. But for comparison’s sake, a 46-inch Sony Bravia 1080P LCD without X-Reality Pro sells for $700 on Amazon, while the set I tested was listed at $1,600last week. The difference in price isn’t solely because of X-Reality Pro because the HX820 is a 3-D LED TV.
Andy Vuong : 303-954-1209 or facebook.com/byandyvuong
Article source: http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_20551929/sony-bravia-sharpens-web-video-streams-big-tv
Sony KDL37EX723B 37-inch 200hz 3D LED TV – UK Review
Sony has been known for its wide range of consumer electronic products and for the quality that each of the product boasts of. Continuing this trend of quality products, Sony brings to you the Sony KDL-37EX723 3D LED TV that provides great 3D entertainment right in the comfort of your home.
Superb 3D Images
Capable of providing excellent 3D realism and best of the web features, the 3D TV is definitely one to go for in case you are looking for a 3D upgrade. Equipped with 200Hz technology and sporting a ultra slim look, this Full HD 3D TV will provide you with visuals like never before.
Sony has put in the X-Reality picture engine that renders amazing visuals and the Edge LED backlight that provides superb picture contrast and colour intensity whereby the overall picture is rendered smoothly, with a natural hint to it.
Wi-Fi Content
In the world of connected entertainment, the KDL-37EX723 LED TV packs all the features of a standard TV and beyond that the features of an Internet TV. You can stream a lot of internet content and services right through to your TV using a Wi-Fi adapter and access content from YouTube, Facebook and BBC iPlayer. In case you go for the optional camera and microphone you can even make free voice and video calls through Skype.
Energy conservation is also a feature of the TV and with ambient and light sensor modes the TV automatically detects the light levels in your viewing environment and adjusts the picture accordingly.
Freeview and DNLA Compliant
The Freeview HD tuner, USB PVR (Personal Video Recorder), DLNA streaming features will further broaden your entertainment arsenal.
The Sony KDL37EX723B 37-inch 200hz 3D LED TV is available from Amazon U.K – Click HERE.
Article source: http://www.itproportal.com/2012/04/30/39997-sony-kdl37ex723b-37-inch-200hz-3d-led-tv/
Sony LED TV Thins Out 2012 Range
Sony has dropped over half of its existing Sony LED TV line-up, with only nine TVs to be released this year. The line-up has been simplified from 2011’s 22 models, with the NX series discontinued and the HX and EX series consolidated into four models.
Sitting at the top of the range is the Sony HX850. Evolving from last year’s Sony HX820, the HX850 uses local-dimming edge LEDs and Sony’s updated X-Reality PRO picture engine driving a Full HD 1080p LCD panel. Sony rates the TV with its MotionFlow XR 800 moniker — 200Hz refresh rate with a scanning backlight for better motion performance. According to Sony Australia’s managing director Carl Rose, the HX850 is unmatched for picture quality: ““Put simply, we believe the BRAVIA HX850 is the best TV on the market.
Smart TV
We’ve done our research and we know that while the advent of Smart TV is changing the way we watch TV, the number one consideration when choosing a TV to buy is still outstanding picture quality — something we will never compromise on.” The Sony HX850 competes with LG’s full-array LED back-lit LM9600, Samsung’s local-dimming Series 8 LED TV, and Panasonic’s VT50 plasma, all of which tout improved picture quality over last year’s models. The HX850 will be available in mid-May in 55in and 46in sizes, with prices still to be confirmed.
The Wider Sony LED TV Range
The rest of Sony’s line-up includes the HX750, which is available in 55in, 46in, 40in and 32in screen sizes, the 46in and 40in EX650, and the 26in EX550. The HX750 loses the HX850’s local-dimming LEDs and Corning Gorilla Glass screen finish, but still has built-in Wi-Fi and full access to Sony’s Entertainment Network and app line-up.
The upcoming Sony EX series TVs are differentiated by size and screen resolution: the EX650 is a Full HD 1080p edge LED TV in the larger 46in and 40in screen sizes, while the EX550 is a 26in 720p model. Both the EX650 and EX550 can both access Sony’s Entertainment Network.
Pricing and Availability Guide
HX Series
HX850: Full HD (1080) picture quality, Dynamic Edge LED backlight with Local Dimming, X-Reality™ PRO Picture Engine with 3D Super Resolution, Motionflow™ XR 800 technology, Frameless Monolithic Design with Corning Gorilla® Glass, Built-in Wi-Fi, Skype™ ready, One-touch access to the Sony Entertainment Network™ and apps
Size: 55in, 46in
Availability: Mid May
Price: $2 – 2,500
HX750: Full HD (1080) picture quality, Dynamic Edge LED backlight with Frame Dimming, X-Reality™ Picture Engine, 4x High Speed 3D Panel with Motionflow™ XR 400 technology, Built-in Wi-Fi, Skype™ ready, access to the Sony Entertainment Network™ and apps
Size: 55in, 46in, 40in, 32in
Availability: Now
Prices: $3299, $2699, $1799, $1099
EX Series
EX650: Full HD (1080) picture quality with Edge LED backlight, X Reality Picture Engine, Motionflow™ XR 200 technology, Clear Resolution Enhancer, Wi-Fi, LAN-ready (optional Wi-Fi adaptor), Sony Entertainment Network™
Size: 46in, 40in
Availability: Mid May
Price: TBC, TBC
EX550: Full HD (1080) picture quality with Edge LED backlight, X Reality Picture Engine, Wi-Fi, LAN-ready (optional Wi-Fi adaptor), Sony Entertainment Network™
Size: 26in
Availability: June
Price: TBC
Accessories
TDGBR750: Active 3D glasses, titanium and lightweight
Availability: May
Price: $179
Check out the Sony HX850 Range at Amazon – Click HERE
Topic:-
Sony LED TV Range
Article source: http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/422764/sony_thins_tv_range_2012/
Sony KDL-32EX524 review
Menu system
Sony recently gave its Xross Media Bar (XMB) menu system an overhaul and this set uses the updated version. One of the key differences is that when you now call up the menus, they don’t completely obscure the programme you’re watching. Instead, the video feed is reduced in size and shifted towards the top-left of the screen. This leaves room for a rotating menu bar at the bottom and a vertical sub-menu bar on the right-hand side.
The new system looks quite sleek and the animations and graphical effects are smooth. However, although it’s quicker to use than the old XMB menus, we still don’t think it’s the easiest system for novices to get to grips with. Nor is it the fastest to use when you’re looking to tweak an individual feature or setting.
Sometimes you find yourself shuffling around the menus, wasting time, just trying to find the place where the settings you want to change or services you need to access are located. Some of the blame for this can be laid at the icons that Sony has used to distinguish between the different menus. You just can’t tell at a glance what many of them are meant to represent as they’re too similar in appearance.
The electronic programme guide (EPG) for the onboard Freeview HD tuner is, however, one of the better ones to be found on current TVs. When you call up a channel, it’s shuffled to a video thumbnail in the top left-hand corner of the screen. Next to this is a summary of the programme that you’ve got highlighted in the EPG. Below this is a large grid showing eight channels’ worth of data.
The EPG is responsive when you’re moving around it and if you hit the Option button on the remote, you can quickly set favourite channels or switch to browsing by genre, such as movies or sports.
Digital media and Internet features
Despite coming in towards the budget end of Sony’s line-up of LED TVs, this model does have two USB ports, as well as both Ethernet and Wi-Fi support. However, its media playback capabilities are mixed, like a lot of the latest Sony TVs we’ve had in for review.
Although it will play Xvid and DviX files, both locally via USB or remotely across a network from a PC or NAS drive, it refused to play our selection of HD MKV files. That’s disappointing as most Samsung and LG models now support the MKV format, which is becoming an increasingly popular one for high-definition videos on the Internet. Nevertheless, it did play a range of MP3 music tracks, as well as JPEG pictures, without any problems.
For quite some time, Sony’s online features were the envy of its rivals. However, the Bravia Internet TV platform is starting to lose ground to Samsung and LG when it comes to the breadth of content available and, more specifically, the range of Internet apps on offer.
The video side of things remains reasonably well stocked. In the Internet video menu you’ll find the BBC’s iPlayer as well as Five’s Demand 5 catch-up service. Other welcome services include Lovefilm, YouTube, Dailymotion, Sony’s own Qriocity Video Unlimited movie rental offering and some content from Sony Entertainment Television.
Where Sony’s Internet platform really falls behind its competitors though is in its support for apps. There’s just so few of them on offer here. You only get Twitter and Facebook, widget support for Picasa and Skype (although you need an optional camera and mic to even launch this), and an RSS news reader.
There’s an Internet browser, but unfortunately this doesn’t support Adobe Flash, so you can’t view video on some websites. The lack of decent support for apps on Sony’s Internet platform may be one of the reasons why it was toying with Google’s TV operating system on some of the devices it was showing at the recent CES show in Las Vegas.
Design and connections
The 32EX524 isn’t quite as sexy-looking as some of Sony’s higher-end models, but it’s still got a decent design. The set is fairly slim for a 32-inch model and the piano-black bezel around the screen is quite narrow too.
There’s a nice brushed metal effect on the panel directly beneath the display, but unlike the models further up the range, this one doesn’t have a row of touch buttons across the front. Instead, you’ll find a column of traditional buttons on a small panel behind the right-hand edge of the TV.
Take a peek around the back and you’ll see that Sony has been quite generous when it comes to ports. Rather than the three HDMI sockets that we usually see on 32-inch models, this one sports four, with one side-mounted and the other three found on the back panel. The rear is also home to a full-sized Scart socket, a set of component inputs, an optical audio output and an Ethernet port.
Along with the extra HDMI port, the side panel on the left also houses two USB ports, a headphone socket, a CAM slot and a standard VGA port for connecting the display up to a computer. You couldn’t really ask for more in terms of connectivity from a 32-inch model.
Audio quality
Sony has taken a leaf out of Panasonic’s book when it comes to how it’s mounted the speakers on this set. The chassis flares out towards the bottom to provide some extra space for the speakers. However, while this does give them a tad more presence and definition for dialogue, it doesn’t unfortunately seem to help their bass performance much.
They’re certainly a lot lighter on low frequencies than most of Panasonic’s recent TVs. This isn’t hugely noticeable on standard TV fare like soaps and quiz shows, but you do feel the loss with action movies and music channels.
In the audio menu you’ll find just bass and treble controls, rather than the graphic equaliser that many other brands sport. Sony has added a basic virtual surround mode, which does add a touch of extra width to the stereo image. So, overall, while it’s not a stand-out audio performer, it certainly doesn’t disgrace itself.
Picture quality
The 32EX524 doesn’t exactly deliver the last word in picture performance, but the images that it produces do have their strong points.
The X-Reality picture processing chip does a good job of upscaling standard-definition images so that they look crisp and sharp on this model’s 1080p-resolution panel. And if you slap on a Blu-ray disc, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by just how much detail the set manages to wring out of 1080p feeds, despite its relatively small screen size. Colours are also generally punchy and have a pleasing warmth.
This model’s LED backlighting does help it to deliver very bright images. Its black levels are quite deep too, but sadly the contrast performance is somewhat lacking. This is true even after you’ve had a good go at tweaking the settings to improve things. As a result, darker scenes tend to look muddy and gloomy because the set’s panel just can’t render finer contrast details.
Another issue that raises its head from time to time is motion blur. The lack of 100Hz processing on this model means that the picture tends to degrade and blur when there’s lots of quick motion on the screen. For example, when there’s a fast camera pan during a football match, the image tends to look a touch smeary.
Conclusion
The Sony KDL-32EX524 certainly isn’t without its flaws. Motion handling could be better and we would have liked to have seen more contrast in its pictures.
It’s still a stylish set with a decent line-up of Internet video services and good upscaling of standard-definition channels. However, we think it’s easily outclassed by LG’s feature-packed and similarly priced 32LW550T.
Topic:-
Sony 32 Inch LED TV
Sony LED TV Rev iew
Sony KDL32EX524 Review
Article source: http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/tvs/sony-kdl-32ex524-review-50006725/
Sony TV With Internet
Sony TV With Internet - The Sony XBR Range
There is a new wave of television in the market that comes in the form of Sony TV with Internet. Internet enabled TV sets, or Smart TV sets, as they are sometimes called are the future of home entertainment through your TV in the here and now. They really do bring something different to your home and offer new and rich entertainment for your entire family.
Quite simply, they offer you a new television experience. Sony is helping lead the way with their new Sony XBR range of LED and 3D TV sets.
HD TV With Internet
This new series combines the latest in Sony HD picture quality with the highest speeds in Internet connection available. With their own integral browsers and Wi-Fi included they offer a whole range of new online content for you as well as a smart search facility which allows you to to discover content online much faster.
The early HD TV sets were really awkward to set up, but the new Sony Internet TV sets are a real breeze. Setting up the Internet on a Sony XBR is a snap, a plug and play method which is easily explained in the service manual. You can even set up DVD or Blu-Ray players with ease and still have the internet connected.
Check Out The Sony TV With Internet Range at Amazon For The Best prices – Click HERE
Sony TV With Internet
Sony TV with Internet provides users with the best in entertainment from all over the World Wide Web. With Internet TV, you can watch on-demand videos and movies (Netflix, Amazon Video on demand), along with your favorite YouTube channels. You can also access everything from online music to the weather report.
And being full 1080p HD an XBR will allow you to watch all of this glorious new content that you now have access to with a new crispness, clarity and quality that has been missing from online content. Watching online movies or missed television shows has become a much more pleasurable experience. You don’t have to hunch over or crowd round small, poor quality computer screens any more just to catch up on missed shows.
These amazing new Sony TVs also allow you to play online games now with a new visual quality (and in 3D in some cases). The latest range of Sony televisions with internet is staggering. All of these televisions are brimming with features to bring some pretty advanced technology within your grasp. Not only that, but to also make it relatively easy to use and enjoy! A key feature I believe.
Smart TV Is Here To Stay
Having only recently experienced Smart TV for an extended period, I genuinely believe the new Internet TV sets can bring families closer together in a number of ways. Not only do they act as a home entertainment hub for the home, they can also allow you to connect around the globe. You see, these Sony Smart TV sets can use Facebook, Twitter and even talk over Skype clearly (in HD) – it looks as if the other person is just sitting on the other side of the glass! It’s amazing to be able to sit down on the settee in front of the T.V and chat to friends and relatives in Vancouver…as if they were in the same room. It really is quite remarkable.
Social networking has never been easier with the Sony XBR range of televisions. Not only are Facebook and Twitter available on Sony televisions, users also have access to built-in social networking apps to keep you fully connected with your friends and family.
That’s all well and good, but what about the picture quality when you’re actually watching T.V though? After that, I know the primary reason I buy a T.V is to watch my favorite shows and movies in High Def. or 3D.
I have watched quite a bit of the new Sony XBR range of 3D LED TV sets and I am super impressed. First up, I have to say, you will pay a little more for a Sony TV, but you do get quality.
Sony XBR – Stunning Pictures
The XBR range includes all of the latest Sony image technology like Motion Flow 960 for superb image stability, even during fast action sequences, local dimming for stunning and deep blacks meaning incredible contrast and Corning Gorilla Glass (yes it’s real) which enhances the brightness and vibrancy of the image.
The question I always ask, though, is what does this mean for my viewing experience?
Well, the bottom line is you getting a stunning viewing experience. Even now, after five years of viewing and reviewing HD TV I am still in awe of the quality of image on the top of the range LED TV sets. The Sony XBR range is brilliant, no two ways about it, and is definitely in the awesome category. The addition of Sony TV with Internet is the icing on the cake of what is just a superb overall viewing and entertainment experience which I highly recommend.
Topic:-
-
Sony TV
-
Sony XBR
-
Sony Internet TV
-
Sony TV With Internet
