Sony held the "Dealer Convention 2006" on the 13th, and Impress Watch was of course on hand to see what they had available. The company demonstrated several of their Blu-ray products, including a hybrid recorder with both hard drive and Blu-ray drive, as well as new Sugo Roku recorders, new LocationFree products, and new cameras and projectors. (pictures in this article).

Also shown by the company were several new audio products including several new models of headphones. Perhaps more interesting was the "HWS-NEW" Bluetooth unit that can act as both a transmitter and a receiver. They also showed a few models of headphones that could be used wirelessly, an a transmitter called the "TMR-NEW." Finally, they showed the "SRS-NEW" 2ch Bluetooth speakers. Pictures of all the above products are available here.

We normally don't bother with telling you about what new laptops and such are released in Japan, unless they're truly exceptional, like Sony's update to the VAIO type U. The type U isn't available outside of Japan (perhaps for the better), but Sony today announced they would be throwing a One-Seg tuner to create the "VAIO type U VGN-UX70." Otherwise, it has the same WSVGA 4.5" screen, same CPU, same 512MB of memory, and same 30GB hard drive as before.



Inspired by:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2006/0830/sony1.htm

Press Release:
http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/Info/2006/products_0830.html

Yikes, Sony Ericsson's new "Z610" handset looks buttery. It is equipped with what the company calls a "Magic Mirror" subdisplay that can't be seen while it isn't in use. The Z610 sports a 2MP camera and "Picture Blog" software for photoblogging, as well as TV phone, push email, and RSS feeds. It's slated for release in some markets -- I don't know which -- 3rd quarter of this year. It supports UMTS 2100, and GPRS 900/1800/1900. I don't have any other details, but I don't think it matters. I don't even want to use this phone...I just want to have it in my hands. Anyway, this picture explains it much better than I can.



Inspired by:
http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/articles/0608/23/news075.html

Press Release:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/

Sony's new IC recorder offers MP3 playback and data storage, in addition to the standard range of features.

Not that we expect this one to make it outside of Japan, but Sony has announced a new standalone video recorder that puts PSP-compatible H.264 video on a Memory Stick Duo or PRO Duo.

The recorder is the "MSVR-A10," and it should cost around 25,000 yen (~$210 USD).

It has two video inputs, each with Composite, S-Video, and RCA audio jacks. The "Synchro Record" feature will automatically begin recording when a signal is detected from either input, and it will automatically stop recording when the signal is stopped.

It's also important to note that the recorder supports Japan's new "Copy Once" digital content protection scheme, meaning it can record video from digital sources such as digital TV broadcasts.

Recording is done at 320 x 240, at 384kbps or 768kbps. A 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo should get around 4 hours and 10 minutes at 384kbps, or 2 hours and 20 minutes at 768kbps.

The official product page is here. The Impress Watch article, the source for some of the above information and the image below, is here.

Sony drops the Memory Stick and MiniDisc from their previous NetJuke minicomponent system and the result is the NAS-D5HD.

Sony Corporation and NEC Corporation announced o­n the 27th that they have concluded a formal contract to for the establishment of a joint venture in the optical disc drive industry, as was announced in November of last year.

The name of the new company is "Sony NEC Optiarc Corporation," and establishment is slated for April 3, 2006. The new company will concentrate o­n the development, design, manufacture, marketing, and selling of optical disc drive products.

Mr. Shinichi Yamamura, current Deputy President of Sony Corporation's Video Business Group, will assume the role of president of the company. The capital investment is 490 million yen, with Sony holding 55% of the stock, and NEC the remaining 45%. The company plans to have around 350 employees. In accordance with the establishment of the new company, Sony and NEC have set April 1st as the date by which they are to separate each of their existing optical disc drive product-related companies, which are to be inherited by the new corporation. 

Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060227/sonynec.htm

Sony Press Release (English):
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200602/06-017E/index.html

NEC Press Release (English):
http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/0602/2701.html

Sony's new "HDR-HC3" adds a few features to their previous "HDR-HC1" High Definition camcorder, yet also manages to decrease its size and weight.

Sony, JVC, and Panasonic all announced digital cameras in some fashion today. I unfortunately don't have time to translate the individual articles for each, but I will hit the highlights.

We'll start with Sony's Cybershot DSC-W30.

Finally, two products from Sony for their W41S. The "SRS-A201F" speakers and "DR-NX1SF" headphones will finish off our au coverage for the night.