[ October 2008 ]
The world's smallest and lightest digital HD Handycam, with a durable yet lightweight titanium body. With its stylish yet warm brown tone, treatment with durable Premium Hard Coating, and a simple and elegant design which slips easily into a bag or pocket, this Handycam delivers all the pleasures of excellent portability and a brand new style of videography. To achieve the simple square design, particular attention was paid to the details such as the hinge of the LCD panel, the function buttons, resulting in this sophisticated design.To emphasize the slimness, we employed a non-cylindrical lens barrel.
XEL-1 is the world's first OLED TV. The 3mm thick screen has a quality that easily surpasses liquid crystal or plasma. The design enhances the television's thin and light qualities, which in turn amplifies the customer's surprised reaction to the product. The supporting arm is configured to hold the screen from the right side only, suggesting that the 3mm panel is floating. A glossy black color was chosen for the main body to enhance the "jet-black expressiveness" of the Organic Panel. A mirror chrome was selected for the support portion to diminish its presence by reflecting its surroundings.
The Bravia M1 series of 20V/16V digital HD liquid crystal TVs features a compact body with a colorful, pop design. Keenly aware of the desire of younger generations and women to enjoy TV in a personalized environment, these stylish TVs come in a total of 6 colors-silver, black, pink, blue, orange and green-to create a pleasing accent for any room décor. In addition, the customizable "Special Color Edition" available through certain sales channels allows the customer to select his or her own bezel and frame colors. Bezels are available in pink, orange, blue and green, while the frames are offered either in silver or in a similar hue with the color of the bezel. This creates eight potential combinations, catering to today's diverse customer tastes.
This is a video projector for home theater systems featuring Sony's original full HD panel SXRD projection technology. More compact than ever, this new project can be installed on or between shelves, hung from the ceiling, or placed on the floor, giving the user great freedom of choice. The top of the projector case features a glossy black finish, while the stylish, smooth-curved design avoids an oppressive presence. While maintaining a form that looks beautiful from any angle, care was taken to use a shape and colors that achieve intuitive and accurate lens zoom, focus, shift, and other operations even in rooms with the lighting turned down.
Wall-hung televisions are becoming more and more common, creating a trend toward more simplified, décor oriented designs. This home theater system uses a vertical DVD player unit that can be installed on a slim sideboard or be hung on a wall, enabling versatile installation and proposing a new method of incorporating AV equipment into interiors. The main unit liberally uses a glass material in a rectilinear manner, while the speakers are set on two stands to lighten the impression of weight. All these features contribute to a simple, timeless design that clearly stands apart from conventional AV equipment.
The HVR-Z7 is the world's first bayonet-mount, interchangeable-lens handheld video camera. The grip is slanted on the lens' block side to successfully obtain the optimum grip and weight balance. Tilted placement of the cassette deck adds to the compactness of the camera body, while offering an optimum grip position. The reliability, functional beauty and advanced performance of a "professional tool" are expressed in a well-thought-out, logical layout and design for the operating system. This camera also delivers simultaneous, hybrid recording onto tape as well as Compact Flash, greatly reducing editing time.
This is the smallest and lightest Handycam with hard-disk memory. For this model attention was given to realizing a more compact size, improved operability, a stable grip, and other luxurious performance features. The conversion to a sliding connector cover has improved ease of use.
The design uses premium materials worthy of the most advanced model in the W series. Lightweight, highly durable stainless steel is used for the chassis, and a high-grade titanium coating that has twice the strength of pure titanium is applied to the surface. An anti-fingerprint coating protects the surface of the body against fingerprints or smudges, complementing the beautiful gloss of the titanium coating.Zirconia ceramics, which are top class when it comes to strength among engineering ceramics, are used for the lens ring and shutter release button. The shrinkage factor was calculated to obtain the right size, and a beautiful polish then carried out.The subtle contrast between the deep black and glossy highlights, as well as the deliberate, exquisite curves eliminating any sense of dull squareness, represent the ultimate in pursuit of functional beauty that makes the most of the characteristics of materials.
The DSC-T2 is a digital still camera featuring a new concept emphasizing the "shoot" and "view" features, with rich photo album functionality built in. The hardware design clearly expresses this concept, creating a powerful identity. The simple structure, fully flat on both sides and framed in metal, enhances the camera's uniqueness, and the two faces it creates are tangible expressions of the camera's two main functions: shoot and view. By making all other smaller elements flat, the design not only brings out a distinctive look and visual beauty but also realizes a comfortable feel when held in the hand. The colors, which make a strong contrast with the metal frame, also contribute to highlighting the frame design, while the surfaces graphically create a sense of identity as a series.
While carrying forward the cinnabar ring around the mount emblematic of the Alpha brand image and identity, the integrated shape of the cut from the mount to the pentaprism projects a powerful image. This will be the key for the unity of the DSLR lineup series in the future. The design is derived from a quest for optimum shape for ease of use - camera operability has been tested from every conceivable camera shooting range, seeking optimum switch shape and layout, while the grip angle, depth, and hardness are examined to allow natural operation in any environment. The total weight balance for a stable hold has also been considered.
This digital photo frame makes it easy to present and enjoy digital images in public. The minimal design restricts distraction from the multiple photographs being displayed. To avoid becoming a mere substitute for the traditional printed photo frame, the S frame is designed using a unified plate that casts aside the "liquid crystal screen plus frame" format.
The "Sountina" is a unique, high fidelity speaker system. The transparent glass tube, approximately 1 m in length, vibrates to project 3D-sound, 360 degrees from just one unit. It produces a clear, soothing sound in spacious areas that house many people such as halls, lobbies or large living rooms. The three illuminated colors in the organic glass tube can be adjusted, and the accompanying genuine-leather sleeve can be removed. The simple yet sophisticated design adds ambience to whichever space it is installed, proposing a whole new type of audio experience that promotes interaction between people.
The PFR-V1 is a revolutionary new Personal Field Speaker System wearable on the head, created for users who want a highly realistic sound experience. The speakers are positioned diagonally in front of the auricles of the ears. In addition to the directly delivered sound, sound naturally reflecting within the auricle reaches deep into the ear, creating a thrilling sound experience like being at a live musical performance. With a style that departs completely from conventional headphones, the PFR-V1 delivers natural, open-field sound with no interference. Form and function have become one: the speakers are lifted away from the face to reduce reverberation. The innovative frame design not only yields reduced weight but also provides a light and airy look.
This series of headphones was designed to suit the modern person's active lifestyle, adaptable for usage while at the gym, running, or dancing. Much as Sony pioneered the idea of portability with the original "Walkman", these headphones provide unique wear ability. The design focus is on "energy," akin to that of a pole that is bent with force - flexible and yet strong. It is this energy that is built into the headphone shape.
The "Rolly" audio player offers a new way to enjoy music through a combination of sound and movement. With no hints of the highly elaborate mechanism and cutting-edge technology it contains, a simple, delicate egg shape design makes "Rolly" a user-friendly product operated in a natural and intuitive way. It features light that appears to be emanating from the center of the egg, adding expression to the movement of the device.
The recorder was designed as an easy to use "tool" that provides a sensation of fine sound recording. While incorporating the latest digital technologies, the D50 is designed in line with the analog experience. The angle-adjustable microphones offer a choice between two differing sound-collection ranges. For solo performances or sessions of two/three people, the X-Y configuration position can be selected to record sound sources closer to the mike, producing a straight stereo sound with a sense of space and depth. The recorder can be operated solely with the thumb without having to view your actions.
The "Walkman" S series boasts a textured aluminum, 7.5 mm thick body that weighs in at only 46 gram. The colorful series is equipped with Sony's own high sound quality, "Clear Audio Technology" and a maximum of 40-hours extended playback. The high-end model, with built-in noise-cancellation, sports a refined design featuring luxury hairline processing, while the model targeting young people employs a splashy design full of style and color. The seamless frame, handy size, genuine metallic texture, and easy-to-operate button layout were all implemented in order to maximize the idea of being "pleasing to hold".
VAIO NR is a notebook PC with a sense of quality and ease of use. Based on simple, rounded form, the design focused on the theme of expressing beauty plus value. Care was taken to introduce a pleasant texture for the body; its finely dimpled texture gives a feel like a quality fabric that is pleasant to the touch and gives a sense of comfort with every use. Three color variations are offered, matched with materials bearing the names of Grant, Silk, and Wenge.
The VAIO CR is a notebook PC based on the concept of "presenting one's own personality elegantly." With the color variation provided, the user can choose a color and coordinate it with his or her own style.The top surface of the display is layered with multiple coatings to obtain a high quality finish with deep luster and brightness. Along with the "luminous trim," which trims the edge of the palm rest, this offers a joy of selection just like choosing a favorite fashion item, giving a feeling distinct from any previous PC.For the keyboard, the gaps between the keys are filled to prevent long fingernails from catching. Based on considerations of user images, the color scheme is carefully developed for when the PC is open and closed.
This capless USB memory device connects with little effort, akin to the clicking of a ballpoint pen. During data access, the LED light emanates like a prism confirming that data transfer is in progress, allowing the user to proceed with confidence. Other features, such as the ridging of the casing and the loop for strap insertion ensure ease of use for a broad group of users. The USM-LX/L series is a high-speed model. The USM-LX/L uses unified Sony colors that vary by memory capacity.
The PMW-EX1 is a commercial-use camcorder that uses "SxS" card memory as its recording media. Based on the concept of two-handed holding, the grip can be rotated to facilitate freedom in shooting position. The LCD display can be housed under the mike in front of the handle, achieving a compact, simple style. The inner side of the bottom of the unit is shaped to rest naturally in the hand, for stable shooting.
This packaging is designed to create "an emotional encounter" with the world's first Organic Light Emitting Diode TV (OLED TV). To enable customers to fully experience the wonder and excitement of seeing the thin 3 mm panel at the very moment they unpack the TV at home, we employed a "cake-box" type construction, opening with just one action. Even all the minor parts were a uniform black enhancing the beauty and style and giving it a truly exclusive feel.
This is the first au mobile phone that features GSM compatibility, which allows users to operate the phone in 180 different countries and areas. This global design model is designed to look good in a variety of scenes, both in Japan and overseas, unlike most designs which are intended only for the Japanese market. The simple yet sophisticated aesthetic that crosses national and generational boundaries combines with ease of use as a tool and high functionality. Colors were developed to suit a variety of scenes, from business to overseas travel. Duralumin, a material rarely seen in the mobile phone industry but which is used in making suitcases, is used for its strong, thin, and light qualities. Aluminum is used for the cursor keys. By including foreign language communication software, this model was made with a conscious nod to providing communication tools that go beyond ordinary phone functions.
This model takes the concept of being able to freely change a single panel on a mobile phone, and takes it the extra step of being able to leave a simple core and exchange every other part of the phone. The key area, which has always been a tough hurdle, is now able to have switchable panels. As the external shall deteriorates and gets scratched over the years, or as the user grows tired of the color, the external shell can be completely changed, allowing the user to keep using the same phone for a long time. Panels made of metal provide the user a feeling of joy by owning something of high quality. In order for the customer to use the product for a long time, applications that have lasting entertainment value and a wide variety of other content are also included.
The Standby Library is a feature that operates on the mobile phone's standby screen. When the phone is opened or when the standby screen is displayed through some other operation, a piece of trivia or a picture, something from a pre-selected series is displayed in succession. Through this new innovation, the standby screen, which has been rather inconspicuous until now, becomes a focus for the user, who becomes interested in seeing what will come up next, and provides an absorbing new user experience. The feature has even developed to the point of co-developing contents with artists and content holders.
