These DLNA-compliant, 1080p displays come with Ethernet ports, so you can get on the internet and connect to widgets, which include Amazon Video-on-Demand, Youtube, Yahoo and Flickr. It also has a USB port, letting you plug in any USB storage device with photo/audio/video content play the files back on the TV.

The LCDs also features Sony's Bravia Engine 3, 24p True Cinema, a 120Hz frequency and the XrossMediaBar UI.

The W-series will arrive this spring in 42, 46 and 52-inch flavors, but despite being labeled as an "economic" option, there's no mention of pricing as of yet. There will also be an accompanying 3.1-channel AV soundbar that supports 1080p video in. It will hit stores in June for $500.

SONY DEBUTS MORE NETWORKED BRAVIA HDTVS
Models Extend Line-up Featuring "BRAVIA Widgets" and Other Connected Features

LAS VEGAS, March 2, 2009 – Bolstering the recently announced 2009 BRAVIA® LCD HDTV line-up, Sony Electronics today announced a series of additional networked models with full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive (1080p) resolution. This new W-series adds an economic HDTV option, while delivering the same interactive functionality as the recently announced BRAVIA Z5100 and XBR9 models.

The networked models feature an Ethernet connection so the sets can directly access Sony BRAVIA Internet Video content using an existing broadband connection. The service offers one of the largest selections of free and premium movies, TV shows, sports, music and more from an array of partners like Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube®, Yahoo!®, Sony Pictures, Sony Music and many others.

BRAVIA Internet Widgets, provided by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, expand and personalize the experience by allowing you to interact with your favorite Internet content like Yahoo News, Video, Finance, and Flickr® while watching TV shows. Track your favorite sports team, check your stocks, and share photos with friends and family as you watch television.

The 52-inch KDL-52W5100, 46-inch KDL-46W5100 and 40-inch KDL-40W5100 (diagonal) models feature Motionflow™ 120Hz technology for improved sharpness and detail in fast-moving images. They also feature Sony's BRAVIA Engine™ 3, which delivers a crystal clear picture even if the content isn't perfect.

The W-series models are Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) compliant, enabling easy access to digital photos, music and video stored on a PC or other DLNA server using the XMB® interface and the TV's remote control. They also offer a USB input for displaying digital photos or playing digital video and audio files from compatible USB storage devices.

In addition, these models feature:
24p True Cinema™
XrossMediaBar™ (XMB)with enhanced 3D favorites menu
Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen
BRAVIA Sync™
BRAVIA Link Compatibility
4 HDMI inputs

Single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs

Designed to match the W5100 series models, the HT-CT500 3.1 channel sound bar supports features an integrated AV receiver supporting full HD 1080p video and the latest advanced audio codecs. This sound bar theater system will be available this June for about $500.

The new KDL-52W5100, KDL-46W5100 and KDL-40W5100 networked televisions will be available this spring direct through www.sonystyle.com and Sony Style stores, as well as authorized retailers nationwide and military base exchanges.

The 52, 46 and 40-inch sets have a few other green-colored tricks up their sleeves too: A presence sensor turns the off when no one's in the room and automatically turns itself on when you come back into the room. They're also Sony's first TVs with a zero-watt standby switch.

LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH 14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony took another important step on the environmental front today by unveiling a series of highly energy efficient televisions.

The new BRAVIA VE5-series models offer substantial power savings thanks to a zero-watt standby power switch, along with motion and light sensors that minimize energy usage without compromising performance.

The 52-inch KDL-52VE5, the 46-inch KDL-46VE5 and the 40-inch KDL-40VE5 models (all measures diagonally) are also the first to incorporate Sony’s exclusive micro-tubular Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HCFL). The technology helps reduce power consumption by almost 40 percent compared to the company’s other LCD HDTV models.

“Sony is constantly ranked as one of the most environmentally conscious consumer electronics companies in the industry,” said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division. “Our new Eco TVs represent the company’s commitment not only to saving the environment, but also to saving consumers money through lower power consumption.”

Televisions often are left unattended by children or others who become busy and forget to turn the set off when they leave the room. Sony’s Presence Sensor feature solves the issue by automatically turning off the picture when no one is present in the vicinity after a user-set timeframe. When the sensor detects motion, the TV turns it self back on instantly.

The VE5 models are also Sony’s first LCD televisions to offer a zero-watt standby Energy Saving Switch. When not in use, the standby switch can also be manually turned off, cutting power to nearly zero watts. Simply flip the switch back on and the TV is fully operational.

Additionally, the sets feature a light sensor that will automatically adjust the backlight depending on ambient room light. The setting saves energy and improves image contrast by lowering the backlight when it is set unnecessarily high in dimmer room light.

All of Sony’s new 2009 LCD high-definition televisions exceed Energy Star® 3.0 requirements. By employing a range of innovative power-saving features, the VE5-series sets a new standard for HDTV energy efficiency.

On the performance front, the sets feature Sony’s Motionflow™ 120Hz technology for improved sharpness and detail in fast-moving images. The models also offer a USB input for playing audio files from a USB storage device or connecting a compatible digital camera to display photos.

The models are compatible with Sony’s BRAVIA Link modules including the BRAVIA Wireless Link, BRAVIA Input Link and BRAVIA DVD Link.

The models also feature:

o The BRAVIA Engine™ 2
o BRAVIA Sync™
o 24p True Cinema™
o 4 HDMI inputs
o Single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs
o Favorites menu

[Sony]

Yes, that's right: Sony's high-end XBR9 TVs—at 52, 46, 40 and 32 inches—ditch the Bravia Internet Module ridiculousness and have it built-in. While it's no LG Netflix TV, you can stream Amazon Video on Demand and YouTube out of the box. The other notable notableness is that they blaze past 120Hz to 240Hz—also behind LG, who's claiming 480, booya. The Z-series is similar, but without the XBR9's wide color gamut cold cathode fluorescent backlight that makes it gives the XBR9's colors that extra pop.

On the low-end front, the V-series TVs coming it at 40, 46 and 52 inches, are getting Sony's 120Hz Motionflow and Bravia Engine 2. The S-series crams 1080p into increasingly smaller sets: 52, 46, 40 and 32 inches. And the L series is for your kitchen or bathroom—I don't really see what high end trickle down they are the beneficiary of though.

SONY DEBUTS INTEGRATED NETWORKED TELEVISIONS
Latest BRAVIA Models Offer Interactive “Widgets” and Streaming Internet Video

LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony is bringing built-in, interactive entertainment directly to your television.
The company today announced the first new networked BRAVIA® LCD HDTV models with Internet applications called “widgets” that deliver real-time information, as well as streaming video capability via integrated BRAVIA Internet Video Link capability.
Sony’s new XBR9 and Z-series models feature an Ethernet connection, allowing the sets to directly access Sony BRAVIA Internet Video content using an existing broadband connection. The service offers one of the largest selections of free and premium movies, TV shows, sports, music and more from an array of partners like Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube®, Yahoo!®, Slacker(sm), and others.
Bravia Internet Widgets, powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, expand and personalize the TV experience by adding on-screen applications that provide such real-time information as weather reports, stock ticker updates, financial news, Yahoo! Video, Flickr® images, and additional content.
“Internet-based content is driving the evolution of home entertainment,” said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division. “Our new networked BRAVIA models deliver streaming videos, access to digital files, and real-time information that transforms the television into a true multimedia hub.”
The XBR9 and Z-series models are also Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) compliant, enabling easy access to digital photos, music and video stores on a PC or other DLNA server using the XMB® interface and the TV’s remote control.
Sony’s full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive (1080p) 52-inch KDL-52XBR9, 46-inch KDL-46XBR9 and 40-inch KDL-40XBR9 televisions (screen size measured diagonally) feature a wide color gamut cold cathode fluorescent light (WCG-CCFL) backlight providing a broader color palette. This results in on-screen images with more vibrant, “life-like” colors.
The XBR9 models also include Sony’s new Motionflow™ 240Hz technology, which delivers exceptionally crisp and detailed images with natural motion. The Motionflow algorithm goes beyond traditional 120Hz technology by quadrupling the frame rate of conventional LCD TVs and interpolating three new frames..
The models also offer a USB input for displaying digital photos or playing digital video and audio files from a USB storage device.
These models also feature:

• The BRAVIA Engine™ 3
• 24p True Cinema™
• XrossMediaBar™ (XMB)with enhanced 3D favorites Menu
• Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen

• BRAVIA Sync™
• BRAVIA Link Compatible
• 4 HDMI inputs
• Single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs

Also new to the XBR line is the 32-inch KDL-32XBR9 (31.5 inch diagonal). The full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive model features Motionflow 120Hz technology for improved sharpness and detail in fast-moving images. This model also offers a USB input so you can play audio files from a USB storage device or connect a compatible digital camera to display photos.
Other features include:

• The BRAVIA Engine™ 2
• BRAVIA Sync
• BRAVIA Link Compatible
• 24p True Cinema

• 4 HDMI inputs
• Single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs
• Favorites menu

Sony’s new Z-series models include the 52-inch KDL-52Z5100, 46-inch KDL-46Z5100, and 40-inch KDL-40Z5100 (screen size measured diagonally). The models feature full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive resolution and Motionflow 240Hz technology.
Other features include:

• The BRAVIA Engine™ 3
• 24p True Cinema
• XrossMediaBar (XMB) with enhanced 3D favorites Menu
• Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen

• BRAVIA Sync
• BRAVIA Link Compatible
• 4 HDMI inputs
• Single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs

The XBR9 and Z-series models exceed Energy Star® 3.0 requirements with the assistance of Sony’s LightSensor™ technology and dynamic backlight control that helps save energy and reduce the user’s overall carbon footprint.

The BRAVIA Link modules are currently available online at www.sonystyle.com and at retail outlets including Sony Style® stores and other authorized dealers across the country.
The new XBR9 and Z-series television models will be available this spring online and at and at similar retail outlets, in addition to military base exchanges. More information about all of the new models is available at www.sonystyle.com/TV09.

SONY BRINGS ADVANCED FEATURES TO CORE 2009 TV LINEUP

LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH 14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony announced its core BRAVIA® LCD television models with numerous advanced features here today at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show.
Ranging in screen sizes from 52 to 26 inches diagonally, the nine new models from the V-, S-, and L-series offer high-definition performance at reasonable prices.
“We’ve migrated features like full HD 1080p and Motionflow™ 120Hz technology down to our entry level models, while also keeping in mind that people are seeking versatile, smaller screen sizes for second rooms outside of the living room,” said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division.
Sony’s new V-series models include the full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution progressive display (1080p) 52-inch KDL-52V5100, 46-inch KDL-46V5100 and 40-inch KDL-40V5100. The sets feature Sony’s BRAVIA Engine™ 2 and Motionflow™ 120Hz technology for improved sharpness and detail in fast-moving images. Additionally, they offer the BRAVIA Engine 2, four HDMI inputs (seven total HD inputs), BRAVIA Sync™ for simplified control of compatible devices, and a USB input for viewing digital images or listening to digital music stored on a compatible USB mass storage device.
The V-series also includes Sony’s LightSensor® technology and dynamic backlight control to help save energy and reduce the TV’s overall carbon footprint.
The S-series includes the 52-inch KDL-52S5100, 46-inch KDL-46S5100, 40-inch KDL-40S5100 models, and the 32-inch class (31.5 inch diagonal) KDL-32S5100 unit. These models also feature 1920 x 1080 progressive video resolution along with the BRAVIA Engine 2, resulting in outstanding full HD picture quality.
The S-series all offer three HDMI inputs, as well as single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs. They also employ Sony’s LightSensor® technology and dynamic backlight control.
The versatile BRAVIA L-series models include the 32-inch class (31.5 inch diagonal) KDL-32L5000 and 26-inch KDL-26L5000. These models offer 1366 x 768 resolution and are good options for the bedroom, kitchen or office. Connectivity on the sets include three HDMI inputs, along with single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs.
The V-, S-, and L-series models exceed Energy Star® 3.0 requirements and are compatible with Sony’s BRAVIA Link modules, including the BRAVIA Wireless Link, BRAVIA Input Link, and BRAVIA DVD Link.
The BRAVIA Link modules are currently available online at www.sonystyle.com and at various retail outlets, including Sony Style® stores and other authorized dealers across the country. The new V-series, S-series, and L-series televisions will be available this spring online and at all the same outlets, in addition to military base exchanges. You can find more information on the models at www.sonystyle.com/TV09.

Sony is using this 174-year-old technology to draw attention to the new Bravias' MotionFlow interpolation technology, which guesstimates new frames between existing ones, smoothing out content to display it up to a massive 200Hz.

Weighing over 10 tons and spinning at about 25MPH, the so-called Bravia-drome can be seen above displaying Brazilian soccer player Kaka juggling the ball around a bit, but Geek.com claims the ad was filmed using "a huge crew and tons of extras", so it'll be interesting to see what they manage to come up with. [Sony, Geek—Thanks, Joel]

To inspire developers, Sony's holding a competition for the best application. For your troubles, you could win either a Bravia 40-inch LCD TV, a Vaio TypeC laptop, or a Blu-Ray player, a Cybershot DSC-T77 or one of their new Walkman music players. Just get your app in before January 8th, 2009. [Sony Insider]

The sets, which are out in Japan on March 25, range from $3,700 (KDL-46F1) through $2,700 (KDL-40F1) to $1,850 (KDL-32F1). [Impress]

The 20-inch 20M1 has a 1,200:1 contrast ratio, 2 x 5W speakers, consumes 67W of power and measures 20.9 x 6.7 x 15.6 inches. The smaller 16M1 has a better 1,800:1 contrast, 3W speakers, uses 56W of power and measures 16.9 x 6.7 x 13.4 inches. Both have BS110 digital tuners, terrestrial analog tuners, a pair of HDMI inputs, composite input, analog audio in/out, optical audio out and, curiously, an ethernet port.

The available color schemes are six basic shades with traditional silver/black bezels, and a suite of eight special editions, some of which have tinted bezels around the screen as well as colored frames. Available March in Japan, for $1000 for the 20-inch and around $830 for the 16-inch. [AV Watch]

AW15: Sony's First Bravia Projector [Shiny Shiny]

Sony decided to bring its rear screen TVs as well as front projectors into the Bravia fold, since they seem to be getting a lot of mileage out of that sub-brand. So now they're calling these Bravias, and with their high 1920x1080p resolution, there is no "screen door effect" to be seen even though they use those three LCDs.

Sony admitted in a press conference that its micro-display TVs were losing popularity to its hot-selling and ever cheaper LCD models, but we're still big fans of the rear screen projector, the cheapest way to get a big, sharp and bright screen in HDTV land. – Charlie White

Press Release [Sony]

The linup includes three screen sizes, the 50-inch KDF-50E3000 and the 46-inch KDF-46E3000 (pictured above), both of which are 1080p sets and will ship in July for an undisclosed price, and then the cheaper 37-inch KDF-37H1000 that has a 720p resolution. Just how thin are they? To give you an idea, the 50-inch set is a mere 12.6 inches deep and its 46-inch brother is 11.9 inches thick. That 720p 37-incher will be shipping in May for $1300.

Projection TVs give you a considerable bang for your buck, but we're nonplussed because Sony's not telling us the prices of the the largest-screened members if this new line. That's the biggest part of the story for the rear-screens, so we'll wait for that price before we start gushing over these big honking TV sets. – Charlie White

Press Release [Sony]

It's designed to ensnare DVR owners and lead them to a nonsensical, weak slogan followed by more ad content that archaically and lamely plays off of gender stereotypes.

"Television for Men and Women" tries to be part of that strain of self-conscious-therefore-ironically hilarious stereotype humor, but on top of not being very funny, it's hard to swallow when it's employed to sell TVs. If anything, a C- seems generous. That said, my girlfriend's dad's new 52-inch Bravia is quite gorgeous. Like no other? Maybe. Spectacular? Definitely. – Matt Buchanan

Sony's convoluted Bravia ad [Slate]

Sony also goosed the color in these models, adding what it calls a "wide color gamut cold cathode fluorescent lamp," a backlighting system teamed up with a chroma signal processor that Sony says gives you a wider and more-realistic range of colors. These two arty-looking monitors won't be cheap, though, $6,800 for the shiny piano black model; the silver one is $300 less. Both will be available in November.

But wait! There's more, after the jump.

At the same time Sony was showing off those higher-end models, the company also added a couple of 1366x768 LCDs to the Bravia line, the 40-inch KDL-40S2400 and 32-inch KDL-32S2400 (pictured at right). These don't look too shabby, either, and are cheap at $2600 and $1700. Overall, these are some truly attractive TVs, showing us there might be good reason why Sony suddenly jumped from fourth to first place in worldwide LCD sales in the fourth quarter of last year. – Charlie White

Press Release [Sony Electronics]