Sony is sticking with all things 3D, despite recent research which shows that consumers are becoming “bored” with 3D other than in the gaming market.Late yesterday afternoon, the company who has resorted to slashing costs in Australia in an effort to stimulate faltering sales, launched several products, including 3D TVs, 3D Vaio laptops, and 3D-capable digital cameras and handycams.
There was also a new Sony Ericsson smartphone, the Xperia Arc, which can do double duty as a remote to control 3D Bravia TVs.
Nearly all of the products on show, are no longer made by Sony, who has progressively moved to third party manufacturers to make, and in some cases design, a product, which Sony then sticks a label on.
Shots from 3D games on Sony’s PlayStation and Blu-ray discs were also in evidence.
But there was not a whisper of news at the Sony Sessions event at the Establishment watering hole about any forthcoming Sony tablet, 3D-capable or otherwise.
Sony remains one of the few major consumer electronics companies without a tablet PC – or announced plans for a forthcoming release.
Last month saw publication of trade whispers about an alleged plan for an odd-looking tablet to reach the market in September. It’s said to sport a bump on its underside, rather like a part-rolled magazine, that acts as a desk-rest or a grip for carrying. But Sony Oz execs remained silent on this yesterday.
New Vaio laptops include Sony’s first 3D models, dubbed the F series. They feature Full HD 3D displays based on the frame-sequential “shutter glasses” method used with Bravia LCD 3D TVs. The notebook has a built-in 3D transmitter and comes with a single pair of 3D shutter glasses.
There’s also a button which allows users to convert 2D images, videos and games into 3D at the click of a finger.
Powered by an Intel quad-core i7 chip, and with a 16-inch Full HD display, the F-series is due in mid-March at $3899.
Non-3D Vaio laptops include the ultra-light (1.46kg) 11-inch “Y” series with an AMD APU processor including graphics, starting at $749. It might look like a netbook, but Sony reckons the APU delivers full laptop power.
And for “people who want to be noticed” there’s the new “C” series Vaios, which come clad in colourful light-emitting plastic (LEP) skins that glow in dim light. Prices start at $1499.
