We're live at the Sony press conference. Sitting directly in front of a wall. Only Sony.
4:06PM - Here we go! It's opening.
4:07PM - And it just opened into another room, where the entire audience -- maybe a hundred or so members of the press -- had to get up and move in. Jebus, Sony, this is SO YOU.
4:15PM
- We're still waiting to get started. "Please take your seats, the press conference will begin in five minutes." They're playing house music. Oh, there's Kaz Hirai, a couple seats over. Hey Kaz. Can we get the DualShock 3 yet?
4:20PM
- Here we go! SVP Corp Comm Rick Clancy. "Welcome to the Sony press conf at CES. Wow, what an audience." Indeed. "We know you've had a long day, so we're going to keep this as lively and entertaining as possible. I guess that's why they asked me -- the CE industry's favorite blogger -- to speak." Umm, isn't that us? Naw, guess not. More after the break.
4:21PM - He's talking about the booth -- three zones: creativity (digital imaging, creative endeavors), HDNA (HDTV, Blu-ray, HD audio products, etc.), and mobility (portables, duh). "And more -- much more." Introducing CMO, Mike Fisulo (sp). Weak, weak applause. Dick Komiyama (chief of SE), weak applause. David Bishop (Sony Pictures Ent.), weak applause. Kaz Hirai (Sony gaming), weak applause. The only people applauding are the execs. And Stringer! "If you're thinking of leaving early, I'd rethink that."
4:24PM - "Let's kick things off, let's get into gear with a new product intro." It's the Rolly. Umm, this isn't new -- but it sounds like Rolly's coming to the US. SVP, digital imaging, Steve Haber is up on stage. "We're always looking for new ways to entertain consumers. When it comes to consumer electronics, all roads lead to Sony." Talking up Sony. "Rolly is a sophisticated piece of technology." Rotating podium. "Like the Walkman years ago, and the Bravia Internet Link, we are creating a new product category." Nope, sorry, you're not, Sony.
4:27PM - Limited edition Rolly in Sony Style stores later in 2008! Welcome to the US. Walkman time. "Frankly speaking, we were cautiously optimistic about our new models in 2007. Our expectations have been exceeded -- the reaction for the consumers in the US has been tremendous. Walkman is being rightfully recognized as a key player in the portable AV space." Talking up the PSP now.
4:29PM - Annnnd he's got the new mylo on stage. We're shocked -- shocked! It's got flash, it's got this, it's got that --
just check out our post. "Several new Vaio PCs." -- Penryn, as expected.
4:31PM - This guy is a serious bore. Oh, yeah, noise canceling headphones -- claims to reduce ambient noise by 99%, never seen those before. And the PRS-505 -- announcing support for PDFs! Sony's announcing new nav devices, now.
4:32PM - 4.8-inch and 4.3-inch displays -- the U57 and U74 GPS devices, featuring the "super suction-cup" to better affix it to non-windshield surfaces (like the dashboard). Both GPS units ship next month. VP of NA for SE (ha), Karen Morris -- "We're expanding our Walkman line of phones for NA, as well as the rest of the globe. SE's line of Walkman phones have redefined the mobile music space, selling 45m globally since September of 2007. Tonight I'm going to introduce two more."
4:35PM - The W760 -- 3G slider. Walkman 3.0 with SenseMe, FM, stereo speakers, has "tilt gaming controls" (i.e. accelerometer), A2DP,, 3.2 megapixel camera, M2 memory, Q108, 2100 tri-band HSDPA (not for the US, what?! We're hoping that was a mistake on screen.). Number two: W350 -- "One of the most inventive Walkman designs yet... dual-face matchbook design." Man, this Karen lady's almost as bad as the last dude. 1.3 megapixel, Q2 2008. Final phone - Z555, "affordable". It has a bejeweled keypad. Gesture controlled ("wave away a distraction"), comes in "dusted rose" and "diamond black". Ok, you lost us. Three new Bluetooth headsets, too.
4:40PM - Now the creativity stuff. New DVDirect can do Blu-ray. Sixteen new camcorders -- including "hybrid-plus" models including up to 8GB of internal flash memory. Five new AVC-HD models, all record in 1080 (not specified i or p).
4:43PM - Talking about the new Alpha -- the new A200. "Designed for mainstream users: faster, lighter, easier to use than its predecessor." Wider LCD, compact body, steady shot OIS, auto-ISO for low light -- due later this month.
4:44PM - TransferJet -- wireless 500Mbps transfer system. They're showing the demo, and it's not working. "It works GREAT." Chortles. "It doesn't generate any interference, look for TransferJet in new products in the future."
\
4:46PM - Time for the HD exec. "There's not another company in the world that has the depth of experience in technology in HD." He's going on about how amazing Sony high def gear and tech is. "Today we're taking the wraps off a new internal BD-ROM drive -- sub $200 -- offering consumers another option to enjoy BD movies."
4:49PM - "You probably all saw the Warner announcement." Yeah, you could say that. Talking about Warner -- not a lot to say about it though! Talking up Bravia Link, which has been on sale for just a couple of months. Sony is expanding Bravia Link with "DMex": Internet Video Link, DVD Link, Input Link -- adds three HDMI inputs, which are remote controlled -- and the Wireless Link, a wireless HDMI system. An HD transmitter to your TV -- up to 200 feet away (yeah, right).
4:53PM - Oh, there's Stringer. But he's not speaking (yet).
4:53PM - Talking about the exit from microprojection, and focusing on flat-panel. "According to NPD, Sony was the leader in market leader in dollars and units -- even with the highest average selling price." Wait, is this guy calling his customers suckers? Two new models: 40 and 46-inch, as well as the 32 and 37-inch 1080p models with DMex. "Ten of these new sets will be full HD 1080p -- which as you'll remember Sony created and popularized years ago." No, Sony, no. You didn't "invent" 1080p HDTV. Nice try.
4:57PM - Showing a prototype - 4k image on a live 82-inch display -- up to four simultaneous 1080p images. Next up: prez of Sony Electronics, Stan Glasgow: "I'm especially gratified this year by our business strides in the US over hte last 12 months. I stood before you in this booth and promised you we'd deliver our Bravia Internet Link -- and we did that. We'd lead in innovation and make inroads with our digital photography, which we did. ... Over the past year, we have become better listeners. For you, in the media, listening is a pre-requisite, but for us it is a learned response." Apparently Sony's sales are way, way up. This year's holiday winners: Bravia TVs, Reader, Walkman players, Blu-ray, digital imaging... ok, so basically he's just naming every product Sony makes.
5:02PM - Talking up partnerships -- the Sony recycling program, Wayport, which is providing WiFi for the mylo through MickeyDee's; Ford is Sony's new car audio partner, although they're not giving any details.
5:04PM - Stringer is on stage for a "significant annoucnement." "Thank you Stan. As you can guess, all of us at Sony are feeling BLU today." Yuk yuk. "I'd like to thank Warner for making the decision to release in Blu-ray." Thanking Iger and Murdoch for being "True Blu...", "I'm sure you want me to say more. But I won't." No wonder they weren't talking up Warner before, that's what Stringer wanted to discuss.
5:06PM - "The name of the game at CES and Sony remains the next champion product. Once in a great while, a product comes along that sets the standard... I believe we have such a product with us, Sony's new OLED television." Oh, it's just the XEL-1. Great. Thanks, Howard, for getting our hopes up. "Have you ever seen a more beautiful television? Even the name OLED sounds like a viking warlord... thankyouverymuch, the executives laughed." "It clearly represents a leap forward in terms of style and design. 3mm thick, 1m:1 contrast, no backlight, etc. Yep, we know. "Be on the lookout for even more innovation from us going forward. The OLED TV is now on sale at Sony Style stores, effective immediately. Glasgow: "We are also displaying a prototype 27-inch display." Stringer is off, now another exec on stage: "Thanks again for coming, enjoy the show." We out!
posted January 6th 2008 7:42PM
Not very happy with the biased personal comments. We came here to get the details and news as you've promised us that 'Engadget is at CES for us'... Sure, you have an opinion & might not be thrilled by these products but other people will be... Not nice at all...
DualShock 3!!!
http://www.sony.com/ces/index.html?XID=O:
nice! i want one now!
just checked it out... looks like a quality blog
This coverage sucked worse than the Sony's announcements they were covering.
I especially love all the "yeah right"'s. Journalism at its finest.
yawwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.... Sony fails.
This is the kind of stuff that starts these fanboy wars. Yeah all the little kids on the internet have opinions and share them on forums but it the sites people look up to that spread this crap. It should have been pretty simple to just type what you see. I would have actually thought putting in your stupid commentary would have taken more time and energy!
Damn what a bunch of bitoches posting comments. Sony didn't announce anything new of importance. So have a coke and a smile and shut the f' up.
If there was a "bitoch" post here, yours was it.
All I can say is, were it not for the irreverent commentary, I would not have read through that press conference. Simply, the most boring collection of non-announcements at a major trade show I've ever suffered through.
It was more like a marketing / investment presentation.
What's up with Engadget BS coverage of Sony comments?? are they anti- Sony or something. wow just wow, I thought that Engadget can put away the fanboyism and get decent coverage on the next Gen gadgets I guess not.
Yeah, because you know Sony totally did invent 1080P.
Only Sony can pull off some BS like this.
Well to be frank, from the sentence it seems that the guy was talking about creating and popularizing(sing?) the sets, not 1080p.
Well, that's how I read it...
I think there are more commenters harshing on engadget than engadget did harshing on sony. Unless they're lying it sounds like the room was unimpressed, minus the sony execs. I was. I don't think there was a single product mentioned that'll I'll ever want or use. OLED maybe, but it's not exactly new. Nor available.
The immediate availability of the OLED display has been the most exciting announcement of the show. I wasn't expecting it until September; if they'd released it on the website, I would have already ordered one.
JET
Jeez Ryan Block, you're the most obvious Sony Hater I've seen for a while. While I'm not a fanboy for any company, I come to Engadget to read tech news, not how you like to degrade a company. Next time, get someone else to go.
Where do they find people like this to run a company?
Man, engadget is just as bias as the next xbot M$ ass-kissing fanboy! Knock after knock after knock on Sony throughout this coverage...don't you losers have anything better to do than make smart-ass comments about a great company?
For crying out loud, give me NEWS, not your opinion of everything and cutting the information short because you deem it 'unnecessary'.
Its amazing, but true. That people will fear and hate those that are better/smarter than they are. Engadget definitely shows their true colors here.
jeez, the writer of this report has a serious anti-sony issue he needs to work out in therapy.
I came here to read unbiased news, not some high school drop out trying to be funny. Ryan, you need to get laid or hit the weed.
People dont come to engadget so they can find out what the mood in the room was like, they come to read about the details on new products from electronics manufacturers. If i wanted to read smart ass backhanded comments about new devices then i could go to gizmodo. The reason i come to engadget is because there is less bias and more reporting of details. This post was the polar opposite, providing absolutely no useful information about the things announced but instead replacing the details with pithy little commments that sound like they came from a middle schooler.
Good coverage expect for your damn comments. Basically half of what you wrote was coverage and the other half was just you commenting :\ More coverage, less dumb comments...
Aren't you guys owned by TimeWarner? You better be careful and keep your journalism neutral or you may have to write for Gizmodo :P
Lamest thing I've read in a while.
Here I am contemplating this wonderful page of new technology at the CES Conference, the only access I had was the lifecasting done by lifecaster legend, iJustine.tv, she did a great job and glad as it gave me a chance to Be There! More is needed.
I am still struggling with fixing a Pioneer Turntable, got it fixed with new belt and now wondering why the brand new PN-240 stylus does not give good sound.........errrrrrrr.....grrrrrr.
I guess I should get an iPod, what to do with all my records, tapes and cds. Hmmmm. come on techies, how do I recycle those? Use or lose? Think Green
hgpe in PA USA
I dont understand why they didnt introduce their blu-ray recorders.
I gave up my mylo for the EEE ... hopefully apple doesn't dissapoint
-----------------------------
http://www.granitecalgary.com