Sony Spotlights Digital Entertainment Solutions For The Home Network
Coming into crystal-clear view for the home entertainment crowd this year is the emergence of a new class of digital television sets that feature enhanced interoperability. To channel consumers into this exciting new digital frontier, Sony Electronics is showcasing direct-view and rear-projection HDTV sets with the secure i.LINKÆ IEEE1394 digital interface that will serve as a control center for two-way communication with other digital home entertainment gear - such as digital satellite receivers, digital cable set-top boxes, digital video recorders and digital camcorders. ""With the i.LINK connection, the audio and video home entertainment universe is finally converging to form a seamlessly integrated and unified home networked environment,"" said Vic Pacor, Senior Vice President of Television and Digital Media Products at Sony Electronics. Pacor added that additionally with the i.LINK interface, copyright protected high-definition content can be transferred securely between set-top boxes and these new DTVs. ""The networked world begins today with the next generation of DTVs with built-in i.LINK interface and Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP),"" Pacor noted. ""The lifestyle appeal of networked television is the simplicity and convenience it affords in providing easy access to digital content from multiple A/V appliances."" According to Pacor, by leading the industry with IEEE 1394 i.LINK solutions that take advantage of the speed and versatility available from emerging broadband networks, Sony has set in motion the dynamics to build on a consumer-friendly digital entertainment platform. To ensure the integrity of digital content distributed throughout the networked home, Sony has implemented the DTCP - a solutions-oriented approach designed to safeguard digital content from unlawful use. Through these initiatives, Pacor suggested that Sony is helping to pave the way for the delivery of premium high-definition programming via all broadband pipelines including satellite and cable distribution. Broadening The Appeal Of Digital Television In addition to resolving high definition content in 1080i and the 16:9 aspect ratio, the sets also include powerful bridge technologies. The second generation of Sonyís new digital televisions feature DRC-Multi Function. This new Digital Reality Creationô circuit allows consumers to take full advantage of todayís content, such as DVD titles and NTSC network broadcasts, and view them in their choice of 960i or 480p resolution. Standard-definition (480i) content can also be displayed as either 960i or 480p. Also, with the addition of a new Multi-Image Driver (MID-X) chip, viewers can simultaneously watch NTSC and high-definition programming side-by-side with Flexible Twin-Viewô Two-Tuner Picture-And-Picture on all next-generation digital television models. The New Class Of Digital Televisions Taking center stage this year are two new direct-view and four rear-projection DTV models. Building on the reputation of the first generation KW-34HD1 HDTV, Sony is introducing a new linuep of FD TrinitronÆ WEGAô sets including a second-generation 34-inch KW-34HD2 and a 36-inch screen size with 4:3 aspect ratios, the KD-36HD2. These models are expected to sell for approximately $5,500 and $5,000, respectively. In the big-screen projection arena, Sony is introducing the 57-inch KWP-57HD2 and 65-inch KWP-65HD2. Both DTVs feature 16:9 aspect ratio screens. These big-screen HDTVs are expected to sell for about $6,000 and $7,000, respectively. In addition, Sony will market a 53-inch KDP-53XBR500 model and a 61-inch KDP-61XBR500 model, both featuring conventional 4:3 aspect ratios that allow high-definition content to be displayed as a 16:9 image in full 1080i resolution. These models are expected to sell for approximately $5,500 and $6,500, respectively. These new HDTVs will be available late this summer. The year 2000 Sony DTV lineup includes fully integrated digital tuners to receive and decode all 18 ATSC formats. Whether on a conventional 4:3 or a wide-screen 16:9 display, high-definition content will be viewable as a 16:9 image in full 1080i resolution. All sets also include DolbyÆ Digital decoders. For enhanced network connectivity, the new Sony DTVs feature two rear i.LINK ports for integrating multiple A/V components, as well as two component video inputs (HD) and an NTSC output for VCR recording. The 16:9 wide-screen models are also equipped with a front DV input for i.LINK connectivity to plug in and view high-resolution images in either standard (4:3) or wide-screen (16:9) aspect ratios with no loss in picture quality. ""With these new product advances and enabling DTV technologies, Sony is in a leading position to create a window to a world of new home entertainment lifestyle opportunities while being responsible to the needs of the content community,"" Pacor concluded. Source: Sony Electronics