MUMBAI: At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas consumer electronics giant Sony Electronics demonstrated its advancements in high-definition (HD) entertainment and the breadth of its HD products.
The corporation's diverse spectrum of content and technology assets were highlighted to illustrate a consumer HD leadership position which it claims to be unmatched in the industry.
Sony Electronics president and COO Hideki "Dick" Komiyama noted the Sony Electronics' double-digit sales growth and market share strength. At a media briefing he cited a solid holiday season performance for the US electronics business. He noted that Sony's products, such as its HD, LCD-based Grand Wega microdisplay televisions were proving to be the key drivers for success.
Meanwhile Sony America's chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer focussed on Sony's convergence strategy. This will lead to a horizontal age where technologies and resources are leveraged across product and business groups among the various electronics and entertainment related operations.
He said, " 2005 is the year when Sony will fulfill its digital promise by creating a formula that melds electronics, video game entertainment, movies, music and other forms of entertainment, and becomes more networked and converged than ever before." Elaborating his point with Sony's holistic approach to high-definition Stringer said, "From pictures to electronics -- both consumer and professional -- to computer entertainment, Sony is heading down a path where no other competitor dare tread."
Stringer focused on other technologies that he claims make Sony like no other when it comes to putting HD in the hands of consumers. For instance the corporation's recently launched HDR-FX1 consumer camcorder was the first to let consumers capture all the power and nuance of high definition in full 1080i resolution.
The company touted new ways to show high-definition video such as the new 80-inch Chromavue screen with black screen technology, designed to reflect ambient light for an enhanced home theater experience even during the daytime.
Sony also heralded the Blu-ray optical disc as an important growth engine for HD content with demand streaming both from consumers and the content community in the US. Sony suggested that its first products using blue laser-based optical technology would be available in the US sometime in a year or two.
Emphasis was also placed on such proven successes as LCD technology. It is predicted to be the standard of choice for watching HD content in the coming year. The first LCD panels from the Sony/Samsung joint manufacturing venture will hit the US in a few months time.
Sony also attributed its HD leadership to exclusive technology like 3 LCD which improves the viewing experience by optimising colour reproduction full-time, across the entire screen.
Another product that adds to Sony's HD prowess is Vegas 5 software from the company's professional development division. It offers HD audio and video production support to meet the creativity needs of HD video.
