Earlier this year, we translated an article about Sony's LF-X5 "LocationFree TV."

What happens if you take the "TV" out of that? You end up with the LF-PK1 "LocationFree," a box that serves up TV broadcasts over LAN and the Internet. If you've been looking for a way to watch Japanese TV programs outside of Japan, this could be the product for you as it requires no subscription. All you need is a buddy in Japan who is willing to setup o­ne of these boxes in their "mansion" and you're good to go. This could end up being the TV service for Sony's PSP that the company has been hinting at for some time.

More details inside.

Sony will release o­n October 1st a new model of the "LocationFree" that allows users to view TV broadcasts and programs stored o­n recorders at home from abroad, over the internet. The setup concists of a "LF-PK1" base station and "LFA-PC1" client for Windows, where each is Open Price. The price of the base station is estimated around 33,000 yen, and the Windows client around 2,000 yen.

Although in the previous "LF-X1/X5" models the setup involved a base station and LCD screen client, the new setup instead uses a Windows software client -- this allows for wireless TV viewing via notebook PC and such. Because of this, when compared to the over-100,000 yen LF-X1 or X5, the price is far lower.

The LF-PK1 base station features an internal wireless LAN access point that has 5GHz (IEEE 802.11a) and 2.4GHz (IEEE 802.11b/g) band support (a and b/g used exclusively). It also features an internal VHF/UHF/CATV tuner and MPEG-4 encoder. It can wirelessly transfer video/audio signals that are sent to it from its antenna input, external tuners, recorders, and so o­n to client software installed o­n PCs.

However, the new model base station is not compatible with the existing LCD TV portion of the LF-X1. But the X5's base station is compatible with the "LFA-PC1" client software. The latter however is unable to utilize the easy setup features, and must be setup using advanced mode. Furthermore, the company said that it may add devices that can connect to the LF-PK1 in the future.

Notebook PCs that are connected to the same LAN can be used as "wireless LCD TVs," and the client software features a remote controller function. The base station itself offers an AV mouse jack, so that data provided by the client software's remote function can be relayed to A/V equipment. However, because the base station's o­n/OFF cannot be controlled, it needs to be left o­n all the time.

Also, the device features a "NetAV" function taking after its predecessors, that allows realtime viewing of video from connected TVs and A/V devices from external locations. Video that is connected to the base station at home can be viewed from hotels, public wireless LANs, and so forth using the internet.

The MPEG-4 format is used for transmission. It supports a VBR function with a maximum of 2Mbps, and will automatically adjust this bitrate depending o­n the user's connection speed. A manual mode is also available, allowing for connections of under 150kkbps. This would mean connection is possible in locations where internet connections are slower, such as o­n airplanes. According to Sony, "it's good enough so that news programs can be watched even o­n 150kbps connections."

While the major functionality is the same as current LocationFree products, the new model's network setup process has been simplified. When used with a router that supports UPnP, it can be done in as little as 3 steps.

Basically, you connect the base station to your router. Install the client software, and get the PC ready o­n the wireless LAN. Push the "Setup Mode" button o­n the back of the base station to set it up, and click o­n "Base Station Settings" in the client software. After answering 3 questions that will be displayed by the setup wizard, you're ready to go.

This easy setup process employs a DNS server used by Sony specifically for LocationFree, so that even if the user's house has a different IP address, each base station they have will remain o­n the same IP address. Meaning, users need not sign up for any "Fixed IP Address" services from their ISP, and can access their LocationFree without problems from external locations. Previous models supported this same function in their advanced settings, so those without UPnP routers can still take advantage of this service.

The client software does not allow for recording; it is playback o­nly. The base station to client software ratio is 1:1, and transmitted data is encrypted using an independently developed algorith. However, up to 4 base stations can be used. o­ne house can share a base station, but o­nly o­ne user can be connected at a time.

Included with the base station is a 30 day trial of the client software. Client software will be offered via CD-ROM and available at stores throughout Japan, but the company is also looking into offering the product via download. o­nly 1 person can use the trial per included CD-ROM.

The base station itself takes up about half of the volume when compared to that which was included with the LF-X1/X5. The tuner supports analog VHF/UHF/CATV. Input jacks include 1x S-Video, and 2x composite + analog audio. The external dimensions are 46 x 128 x 183mm (W x D x H), and it has a weight of 470g. A stand is included. The client software supports Windows 2000 and XP.

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-Introducing 2 more products that support LocationFree this year

Mr. Kiyoshi Nishitani, Senior Vice President Corporate Executive, said "in a few years time, the word 'ubiquitous' anywhere-anytime video will be prevalent. However, there haven't really been any related products or technology released, so the word has become somewhat stale."

He explained, "This LocationFree puts that 'ubiquitous' into action. To breathe some life into the idea we'll call it 'live streaming,' but the concept is 'ubiquitous.'"

Continuing, Satoru Maeda, the chief of the LFX project, part of Sony's HENC Video Division, gave a brief summary. He said, "LocationFree does not intend to replace products that already exist, but to coexist and compliment them. As a product with some originality, it can also combat the declining price of AV products."

Regarding the future development of the concept, he said "we plan to announce two more products that support LocationFree before the end of the year. I can't tell you what sort of products they'll be, but they'll probably surprise you." He expressed that in order to establish the LocationFree market, they'll be actively developing products.

Responding to doubts about the ability to transmit video from devices connected to digital tuners and the inability to block commercials, he said "this is a solution that is not just broadcasts -- it can reproduce the environment of someone's own home. We're aiming for personal use, and are going at it with verification and encryption during transmission. This shouldn't create any problems for copyright holders."

Note: Certain portions of this article have been highlighted with red text for the sake of users coming from this PSP-Vault article.

Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050905/sony.htm

Press Release:
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200509/05-0905/