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Sony Corp on Friday unveiled its new Bravia liquid crystal display televisions with value-added functions.
Features of the new HX850 series include Opti-contrast panel, LightSensor Technology and X-Reality PRO picture processing engine that makes depleted images clearer, sharper and more vibrant. With two USB ports, you can download music and movies from the Internet by connecting a computer to the TV. You can also enjoy a video call with people in other locations. Shopping online is also possible via the TV screen.
The 55-inch model is expected to cost around 300,000 yen.
Sony is counting on its new Bravia lineup to rejuvenate its cash-bleeding television business.
Incoming CEO Kazuo Hirai said last month that TVs were a vital part of the once-mighty company and vowed the division, which has been haemorrhaging money for the best part of a decade, would be back in the black by 2014.
"I view televisions as very important and an integral product category for Sony," Hirai said. "It's one device that most consumers have in their home to enjoy all their visual content, sometimes audio content as well. I think it's very difficult to imagine Sony getting out of the TV business. It's basically at the center of every entertainment experience."
In common with other television makers, Sony has been hit hard by fierce competition and decreasing margins, with consumers seemingly less willing to put down big sums for cutting-edge living room technology.
© Japan Today/AFP
11 Comments
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Takuma7
Been doing this with my Sharp TV's for over two years. Got Netflix and US Hulu too all via VPN.
nath
Anyone who has a PC can do that now.
smithinjapan
Wow! And how many years since iTunes was created?
gogogo
They will be bleeding even more if they think this is anything amazing
oberst
the model has more possibility than the TV
horrified
Yeah, me and my hdmi cable from the computer have been doing this for the last 4 years. And the shows I get don't have commercials.
888naff
also..."Sony's OLD TVs allow users to download videos, music from Internet"
Cletus
Wow what's the big deal about this. Why would l pay 300,000 yen to do this when l can buy a WD live tv unit now for 10,000 yen and it does all the same things and allows you to watch you tube, and listen to internet radio on your tv and also allows you to watch your pc content on your tv wirelessly. Sorry Sony but this has been around for a while and your prices are a bit too high when there are cheaper and as good alternatives.
lostrune2
A Google TV (some even made by Sony) can be had for around US$500 nowadays.
Chop Chop
Other Company and TEAC are making LCD TV which can record TV program, replay program and recording on one channel and watching on other channel. In some model, you can even hook to Internet and watch movie and download to via USB ports on TV. SONY peoples are sleeping in the dark. That's why the company has huge lost. Wake-up SONY!