By Patrick Avenell
SYDNEY: Sony today opened the doors to its own home, or ‘uchi’ in Japanese, to showcase a range of new products that will be available for Christmas 2008. Speaking at the event, Sony Australia managing director, Carl Rose, said that Sony did not want to be ordinary, and stressed that Sony’s goal is to scale the heights of wireless connectivity across almost all of its products.
Showcased at the event was the new 200Hz Bravia Z4500, which was officially launched last month at IFA in Berlin. Sony boasts that this model has the world’s fastest LCD frame rate. Sony Australia product manager for Bravia, Jan Ergen, said that “Sony is committed to establishing BRAVIA as the number one LCD TV brand by setting benchmarks in picture quality, technical innovation and product design”. This product will be available in December, with no suggested price currently available.
Also unveiled was the VAIO TT series, which Sony claims is the world’s smallest and lightest notebook PC to feature a Blu-ray player and burner. “VAIO has a proud tradition of releasing world first technologies and the VAIO TT series notebook is another chapter in this impressive story of innovation,” said Sony Australia channel manager for VAIO, Jun Yoon. The VAIO TT17 will be RRP $3,999, while the TT15 will be $2,999. Both will be available on 16 October 2008.
Before showing off its new products, Rose said that Sony’s overall goal was to have 90% of products networked and wireless by 2020. This echoes the vision set forth by Sony chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer at IFA earlier this month.
“Our vision is to be the leading global provider of networked consumer electronics and entertainment,” said Rose. “As a company that thrives on possibility, our new line-up and the showcase we’ve created are an expression of this vision and of our brand personality.”