str-da5200es
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Sony @ CEDIA - 26 screenshots of the PSP-inspired receiver GUI
Sony has big plans to reinvent A/V receiver's GUIs. Even though receivers have been equipped with on-screen menus for a couple of years now, we have never seen one that the less-then-technically-inclined can use efficiently. But Sony has taken the cross-bar interface from the PSP along with the upcoming PS3 and worked it into the STR-DA5200ES. They demo'd the interface for us but it just wasn't good 'nough for our readers; we wanted more. Thus we present to you an internal Sony Powerpoint slideshow showing everything the STR-DA5200ES GUI has to offer. NOTE: We stripped out the extra stuff around the images so you can get a better look at the GUI.26 screenshots follow after the link.
Sony reveals new 3200ES, 5200ES 1080p A/V receivers
Sony has dropped two new 1080p A/V receivers, which should go well with the new Bravia LCDs that the company also announced today. First up is the STR-DA5200ES (pictured), a 1080p upscaling 7.1 channel receiver with 120 watts of power per channel which is coming this October for $1,500. Thanks to a Cortez Advanced controller chip the 5200ES can upscale any source connected via HDMI or component inputs: the chip also supports on-the-fly color correction, picture-in-picture, and second room video sources. The other feature that Sony is keen to promote is the new menu system inspired by the Cross Media Bar (XMB) used on the company's PlayStation 2 and PSP game consoles, but the 5200ES also comes with a 30-second auto speaker calibration system and a USB port for hooking up your flash-based PMP for some spontaneous tunes. Sony has also revealed that it is shipping the $900 STR-DA3200ES this month, a receiver capable of passing-through (not upscaling) 1080p signals via the HDMI and component inputs. Like its bigger brother, the 3200ES will also pump out 120 watts over each of the 7.1 channels, although it doesn't come with the 5200ES's funky XMB-inspired menu system. Peep the STR-DA3200ES and the menu system after the break.
PSP XMB crosses over to home theatre
HD Beat is one of my favorite blogs here at Weblogs Inc, and they recently called something "a bigger revolution in home theater than the Nintendo Wii controller is to gaming." Can you guess what they were talking about? They're referring to the XMB interface, but adapted for the home theatre environment. As you know, the PlayStation 3 will also be using a similar design to the menu we've come to love on our PSPs and the upcoming STR-DA5200ES (catchy name) will take the idea one step further. CNET has tons of pictures of the menu in action, and I have to say: it looks pretty sweet.[Via HD Beat]
Sony STR-DA5200ES receiver adopts PSP/PS3-style interface
Sony's upcoming high end home theater receiver, the STR-DA5200ES features HDMI connections, 7.1 audio, video upconversion and everything else you would expect, will share something borrowed from the PSP. No, it's not a UMD-slot, it's the crossbar-style menu that will also be in use on the Playstation 3. You'll be able to access the menu as an overlay while still playing HD video playing behind it, picture-in-picture, and possibly be able to set up your A/V system without an engineering degree. This might be a bigger revolution in home theater than the Nintendo Wii controller is to gaming, a truly user-friendly UI would be a rare boon for users with complex systems. They'll be showing off this and many other components at CEDIA next week, if they really do have an interface that anyone can use the next challenge will be keeping your family away from it so they don't mess it up.
