Sony introduced on Thursday a New flexible OLED display prototypes, new VAIP laptops as well as Wifi-enabled Cybershot camera at CES.
Sir Howard Stringer, chairman and chief executive officer of Sony Corporation, delivered the opening keynote address today at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show at the Venetian Hotel's Palazzo Ballroom in Las Vegas.
Mr. Stringer addressed the current financial crisis, and said "the consumer electronics industry will prevail because, despite the difficult economics, everyone is still innovating."
Sony said on Wednesday sales of some of its best-selling products exceeded expectations during the U.S. holiday season and is hoping to stoke consumer demand in 2009 with new products.
He introduced the "CES Seven," a set of universal imperatives for creating the best user experience in the networked age and a strategic roadmap for future success: Embracing the fusion of industries as today's reality; adopting a service-enhanced philosophy from the initial design of products to the retail level; developing devices that are multi-functional, a fundamental feature that will be at the heart of product development for at least the next decade; supporting open technologies because consumers expect services to work with any device; advancing the new shared experience; creating new value chains by offering "must-have" products that drive related purchases; and going green because consumers want big screens and big sounds, but a small carbon footprint.
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Mr. Stringer also talked about Sony's unique position as a company strategically positioned in the areas of hardware, software, network services and entertainment content and as a leader in the technologies of tomorrow, including television, Blu-ray, digital cinema, 3D and wireless devices.
He unveiled the
VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC, a device that fits into a jacket pocket that has built-in GPS and can be used anywhere in the U.S. with no Internet connection required.
Mr. Stringer announced the WiFi Cyber-shot G3 camera, the newest in the Cyber-shot line. With the touch of a button, the camera sends photos directly to any Web site without the need for wires or docks. The WiFi Cyber-shot, which is available now, can also send photos to a networked BRAVIA television.
Sony also introduced its flexible OLED prototype - a television so thin it can actually bend. In the future, the technology might allow people to own a screen that could fold as easily as a magazine that displayed content in color and dynamically updated itself daily. Called "Flex OLED", Sony's 2.5-inch protoype displays in the resolution 160?120 and it is just 0.2mm thick.
Possible aplications of this flexible OLED display include use in electronic books (electronic paper), or even as part of a bracelet Walkman, that will display artist and song information wrapped around your hand.
Sony is now also trying to develop an online network built on its popular PlayStation gaming consoles, a similar effort to Microsoft's Xbox Live service.
Sony Group Executive and Sony Computer Entertainment President Kaz Hirai talked about the company's aggressive efforts to bring the interactive element of PlayStation to networked content and services, specifically via PS3 and PlayStation Network. He highlighted the Sony video delivery service, with its portable content, and the recent release of PlayStation Home, a digital town square where people come together online and can play, shop, hang out and watch movies together.
Sony showcased its 3D technology, including 4K projectors and HD cameras, with 3D video of last weeks' FedEx Orange Bowl. Keynote attendees were invited to watch the Sony-sponsored live 3D broadcast of the FedEx BCS National Championship Game that evening in Las Vegas.
Sony also exhibited a 3D game and console. The company said that it might consider adding 3D capabilities to the PS3 game console, as soon as the standard for three-dimensional Blu-ray Disc be established, possibly in the end of 2009.
Mr. Stringer was joined during the presentation by Tom Hanks who demonstrated prototype eyeglasses with built-in video screens that can show full-length movies.
Information about Sony's 2009 line of LCD HDTVs is available
here.