05/13, 5:54pm
Xperia ZL a strong offering from Sony
Described by Sony as a culmination of its greatest technologies, the Xperia ZL is an attempt to bring the company’s best offerings together in a single device. In many ways the ZL makes good on this goal, offering a superb display, solid camera, and sleek design. What’s even more impressive is the compact frame that Sony was able to pack all of this into. Despite the inclusion of a five-inch full 1080p display, the Xperia ZL is comfortable to hold, and -- thanks to the relocation of the power button -- can easily be operated with a single hand. In our full review we look further into the Xperia ZL's feature set and see if it has what it takes to compete with other top Android handhelds.
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05/13, 8:02am
Sony adds new SBH20 stereo Bluetooth earphones to range
In tandem with the launch of the Sony Xperia ZR, Sony has rolled out a iPod shuffle inspired pair of stereo Bluetooth earphones. The new SBH20 uses a small shuffle-like case to enclose a Bluetooth 3.0 receiver and rechargeable battery, while also function as a remote control for a connected smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled device. The SBH20 incorporates a clip that users can use to pin to their clothing, minimizing the amount of cabling while allowing the connected device to remain stored in a backpack or handbag.
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05/13, 7:51am
Aims to replace paper with touchscreen e-ink display for note taking
Sony has been working on a device for using e-ink as digital paper in an educational setting. Aimed at universities as a replacement for pen and paper-based notetaking by students, the prototype is a 13.3-inch, 1200x1600-resolution, 16-level gray scale e-ink display-as-tablet with touchscreen capabilities, as well as stylus input for drawing and writing.
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05/13, 7:04am
Sony Xperia ZR delivers Xperia Z performance in a 4.6-inch package
Sony has revealed the latest addition to its smartphone lineup for 2013, the Xperia ZR. Like its 5-inch Xperia Z stable mate, the Xperia ZR is notable for its built-in water and dust resistance, rated at IP55 and IP58 respectively. Yet at the same time, it packs the same quad-core Snapdragon S4 found in the larger Xperia Z into a more compact, 4.6-inch device.
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05/09, 11:11am
Appears to be 13-inch version of Sony Vaio Duo 11 Ultrabook
A video clip on YouTube claimed to be leaked from training videos for the Dixons Store Group in the UK appears to show an unannounced larger version of the Sony Vaio Duo 11. Using the same "Surf Slider" hinge found on the 11-inch version, the mystery Ultrabook is shown in the clip to have a 13-inch Full HD Triluminos touchscreen that lines up with the top of the keyboard when propped up.
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05/09, 6:53am
Sony on the slow road to recovery, expects improved sales in 2013
Sony has returned its first profit since 2008, netting $458 million (pdf) for its 2012 financial year. Although it is a positive sign for the company, the result came on the back of lower revenue for its key divisions including cameras, gaming and home entertainment. Restructuring efforts, the sell off of corporate assets and a weaker yen all contributed to a positive outcome for the Japanese tech giant. The announcement confirms its revised estimates for the financial year posted last month.
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05/07, 12:58pm
Uses 5-megapixel camera, unnamed Snapdragon processor
Details of a new mid-ranged smartphone from Sony has appeared online, complete with an alleged test of its 5-megapixel camera. The C1905 is said to be an Android Jelly Bean-based phone that will form part of the Xperia range, and will sit alongside the Xperia L in the company's product catalog, with the leak coming shortly after claimed specifications of the camera-oriented Xperia i1 Honami were reported.
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05/07, 7:43am
Sony revamps 2013 notebook line with new Vaio Fit 14, 15-inch models
Sony Japan has revealed a new lineup of notebooks for 2013 that also carry new branding. The new ‘Fit’ series encompasses a wide range of notebooks that the company is targeting at "students and business users who are looking for a step up and want more of a premium design but still at an entry-level price point." The 14- and 15-inch touchscreen notebooks also span a wide price range, starting at $550 with the high end models topping out at $2,210.
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04/26, 7:00am
Sony highlights the thought processes behind the DualShock 4
Sony is continuing to whet gamer appetites for the impending launch of its PlayStation 4. However, rather than tease the yet to be revealed console, the Japanese gaming giant has returned its attention to the only hardware reveal of its PlayStation Meeting 2013 pseudo-launch of the PlayStation 4. In the video embedded below, Sony’s design team talk about how they worked with developers to revise and improve on the design of the DualShock 3 in making the DualShock 4.
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04/25, 11:34am
Profit for year hits $403 million, beats own estimates
Sony has managed to earn its first annual profit in five years, according to its most recent full-year financial report. Net income for the year ending March 31st saw the company earn 40 billion yen ($403 million), an improvement from the 456.7 billion yen ($6.4 billion at the time) loss earned in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, and beating the 20 billion yen ($213 million) profit it reportedly expected to earn in previous reports.
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04/24, 12:43am
High end optics coupled with Exmor R CMOS, BIONS hardware
The DEV-50V digital binocular set unveiled on Tuesday is the second generation of digital binoculars from Sony, newly redesigned to deliver an improved user experience. In addition to observational capabilities with autofocus, image stabilization and flexible zoom capability, the DEV-50V can record full AVCHD 2.0 video with stereo sound or snap 20.4-megapixel still photos with enhanced low-light capability.
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04/24, 12:24am
Camera smallest, lightest camera to sport a 30x optical zoom
Sony today introduced the Cyber-shot HX50V, a powerful new compact-form camera featuring 30x optical zoom coupled with a 20.4MP Exmor R CMOS image sensor. The device measures 4.4 inches wide, by 2.6 inches high, and 1.2 inches thick with a weight of 9.6 ounces, making it the smallest and lightest camera with 30x optical zoom capability, according to the company.
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04/08, 7:39am
Claims seven patents infringed by Red in cameras
Sony is fighting against high-end camera manufacturer Red's patent infringement lawsuit with one of its own. The new filing, claiming that Red has infringed seven of Sony's patents, has been filed in a Central District court in California, and seeks a number of sales injunctions as well as financial compensation.
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04/08, 6:40am
4K Media Player preloaded with movies, shorts
Sony will be opening up two new Ultra HD televisions for pre-order in the United States on April 21st, alongside an announcement for the company's 4K Media Player and video distribution service. The 55-inch and 65-inch sets, both capable of displaying 4K-resolution content, will be priced considerably less than the $25,000 flagship counterpart, measuring at 84 inches diagonally, but will still retain most of its feature set.
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04/01, 5:40am
Division merger, management reshuffle part of company streamlining
Sony is merging its Computer Entertainment units in Japan and Asia into a single division for the region, in an effort to streamline the business. The creation of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia comes after low quarterly results in February showed Sony's gaming division losing 15.1-percent on sales year-on-year, and an overall net loss of $124 million.
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03/25, 10:26am
Choice of 4G, 3G options, includes dedicated camera button
Sony has opened up online pre-orders for the Xperia ZL to customers in the United States, ahead of a retail release. Available in a 4G version with a 3G-only option expected shortly, the Sony smartphone that Electronista tried out at CES in January can be ordered through Sony itself, with an estimated shipping date of the 8th of April.
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03/24, 7:31am
Sony SmartWatch points the way to the future
Sony released a major update for its year old Smartwatch over the past week and Electronista has spent some quality time with it over the past few days. With the hype starting to grow around possible smartwatch releases by Apple, Samsung, LG and Google this year, the Sony SmartWatch is a good yardstick for what we might expect. However, unlike rumors circulating regarding the smartphone-independent capabilities of the next-generation of smartwatches, Sony’s SmartWatch relies entirely on a companion smartphone to function.
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03/20, 5:32am
New Sony SmartWatch update brings new watch faces, other tweaks
Sony has given its SmartWatch the first major software update since its release. The device reached US shores nearly one year ago in April of 2012, during which time it has received one of two minor software revisions. The new update brings with it six new watch faces as well as other tweaks, arriving at a time where there is renewed interest in smartwatches thanks to reports that both Apple and Samsung are working hard to bring their own devices to market.
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03/18, 7:05am
Sony reveals mid-range Xperia SP and entry-level Xperia L
Sony has revealed its new Xperia SP and L range of smartphones. The SP is a mid-range device and centers on a 4.6-inch 720p LCD display with Sony’s Bravia Engine 2 enhancing imagery further. The new L-range sits in under the SP line centering on a 4.3-inch 854x480 display and an unspecified scratch resistant glass.
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03/15, 2:11pm
Sony VAIO Ultrabook, now $670
Today's deal of the day from TigerDirect.com is on the 13.3-inch Sony VAIO Ultrabook which carries a list price of $920, but has been cut by $250 to $670 with free US shipping. That is $100 less than the lowest price we have seen offered anywhere else. The Sony VAIO Ultrabook features a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 6GB of RAM and a 500GB combo drive with 24GB SSD. A one-year warranty on parts and labor is included from Sony.
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03/13, 2:35pm
Credit given to 'mom-and-pop' retail sales
The iPhone is now the second-most popular smartphone in India, having achieved a 15.6 percent share in Q4, according to IDC data reported by CNN. The shift is attributed to Apple finally accommodating the "mom-and-pop" stores that dominate the Indian electronics market, instead of depending solely on carriers and major resellers. Samsung remained on top of the local smartphone market in Q4 at 38.8 percent, while Sony was in third at 9.4 percent. CNN notes that in the previous quarter, the iPhone wasn't even in the top five.
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03/09, 10:24pm
Software aimed at making switching from iPhone easy
Sony is looking to attract users to its newest Xperia handsets, and it's taking aim at potential converts from Apple's iPhone. In a move to encourage switching from the iPhone to a Sony smartphone, the Japanese company recently rolled out a new version of its Xperia Transfer software. The software is aimed at making it easy to move from an iPhone to a Sony handset and still keep one's information intact.
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03/09, 9:57pm
Stringer to step down as Sony chairman
Sir Howard Stringer, former CEO and current chairman of Sony, will step down from his position in June, it has been reported. The Sony chair's departure comes as the company struggles to regain ground in a number of consumer electronics segments. Sony,according to Reuters has not responded to requests for comment.
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03/01, 5:30am
Sony PS4 screenshots reinforce deep social gaming integration
Sony has published the first official user interface screenshots from the forthcoming PS4 gaming console, following its controversial PS4 ‘unveiling’ last Wednesday. The screenshots are yet another prong in what will now be Sony’s months long slow tease as it leads up to the unveiling of the actual PS4 hardware, possibly at the June E3 gaming conference. The new images reinforce the heavy social interaction and integration that will become a cornerstone of its next-gen gaming platform.
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02/28, 5:47am
Sony sells second headquarters as part of corporate restructure
Sony has announced that it has sold off its Sony City Osaka, Tokyo-based headquarters for $1.2 billion. The struggling Japanese technology giant has sold the property to Nippon Building Fund and an unspecified Japanese institutional investor, but will remain the lessee for the next five years. About 40 percent of the sale will be recorded as part of its operating income for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, with the rest used to retire debt owed on the property.
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02/25, 6:45am
Sony aims Personal Content Station at mobile users for back up
Sony has used MWC to remind people of the virtues of its forthcoming Personal Content Station (LLS-201). The 1-terabyte home storage device is designed to help make it easier for Android and iOS users to quickly transfer the photos on their mobile devices to a back up unit, although it is a snap if your device is NFC-equipped. According to Sony, 80 percent of smartphone users say that they don’t take the time to transfer their photos to a PC.
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02/25, 5:47am
Sony launching its ultra-thin Xperia Tablet Z globally in Q2
Sony is taking its Tablet Z global in Q2 of 2013, after first making the device available in its home market of Japan last month. The device sports similar internal components to the Sony Xperia Z 5-inch Android smartphone that Sony also says is now available through 140 channels in 60 markets. The Xperia Tablet Z will go on sale in the US sometime around April for from $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model that, like all editions of the slate, is both water and dust resistant.
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02/21, 5:50pm
Brief interview addressed price, form factor, future of new console
After a Sony press event yesterday leaving more questions than answers about the Playstation 4, Sony Computer Entertainment of America Chief Executive Officer Jack Tretton fielded some questions from AllThingsD following the event. Topics covered -- and mostly avoided -- included the pricing of the console, Sony's "living room and beyond" strategy, and the lack of a physical console shown at the presser.
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02/21, 9:34am
Interactions limited versus PlayStation Vita
Official PlayStation apps for iOS and Android will allow some limited "second screen" functions with the PlayStation 4, Sony has announced. Users will be able to handle tasks like buying PS4 games, which will then download to the console, or remotely watching other gamers playing. Actual gameplay enhancements will be simpler, such as displaying maps while playing an RPG.
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02/20, 10:56pm
Eight core AMD x86 processor with Radeon graphics drive the console
Updated with statement on used game support Despite little mention of solid tech specs at the reveal, Sony has released a list of technical specifications for the upcoming console. Confirming earlier rumors, the PlayStation 4 runs AMD multi-core silicon, with a "next generation" Radeon graphics processor rated at 1.84 teraflops in the die of the CPU.
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02/20, 6:54pm
Console based on x86 architecture
As expected, Sony's has announced official details surrounding its PlayStation 4 game console today at a special event in New York. The company has focused heavily on social features and streaming gaming, taking advantage of technology refined by acquired company Gaikai, highlighting the ability to run demos instantly and start games while the rest of the data continues to download in the background.
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02/20, 7:12am
Sony pushing interoperability and seamless connectivity
Electronista was on hand today for the Sony Mobile Australia product launch of its 2013 Android flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z. Also at the launch was Sony Australia’s head of consumer marketing, Nicolas Barendson. According to Barendson, 2013 is going to be a huge year for Sony NFC-equiped devices, which the company is marketing as being ‘One-Touch’ enabled.
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02/20, 12:15am
Pair of devices aimed at mid-range market
On Wednesday, Sony Europe officially revealed a pair of new digital cameras. The first model is the APS-C NEX-3N interchangeable lens camera, which has a 16.1MP Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and is Sony's entry-level mirrorless camera. The second model, the A58, is a 20.1MP APS HD CMOS device that utilizes A-mount lenses, and offers translucent mirror technology.
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02/18, 8:10am
NEX-3N has extra zoom lever near shutter, 16.1MP sensor
Press images for two upcoming Sony cameras have apparently leaked online. The new photographs for the Sony NEX-3N show more of the camera off compared to the previously leaked image, and is joined by similar images for the Sony A58, with both cameras said to be revealed at a press conference on the 20th of February.
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02/15, 2:41pm
President's day savings and more
At Jr.com's Presidents Day weekend sale, save $40 on the Sony CyberShot 14MP digital camera which was $120, but has been cut to $80 -- a price drop that makes this the lowest price we have seen on this camera by about $10. Free US shipping is included. The Sony CyberShot digital camera features 14MP resolution, 5x optical zoom, a Super HAD CCD sensor, 720p HD movie capture, Panorama mode and face detection technology. A one-year limited warranty is included from Sony.
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02/14, 3:30pm
Injunction sought for banning, destruction of Sony cinema cameras
High-end camera manufacturer Red is suing Sony for patent violations. A pair of patents that relate to the compression of video in-camera in a “visually lossless manner” have been infringed on by three of Sony's cinema-quality cameras, devices that Red is seeking an injunction for to prevent sales and to have them destroyed.
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02/13, 1:51pm
British streaming service to also show Amazon Studio pilots
Amazon's Lovefilm service in the UK has signed a deal with BBC Worldwide to continue offering BBC content to its customers through Lovefilm Instant. The announcement comes at the same time as the Lovefilm app reaches Sony Bravia televisions, as well as news that it will also stream 11 original TV series test pilots from Amazon Studios.
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02/07, 10:23am
Results show 94.4 percent improvements in mobile, communications business
Sony has made improvements in its finances, according to the company's latest quarterly report. The fourth quarter of 2012 saw revenues hit $22.4 billion, an increase of 6.9 percent from the same period last year, and while it endured a net loss of $124 million, it is a vast change from last year's $1.7 billion loss, and a continuation of its financial restructuring from Q2 results.
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02/07, 6:55am
Sony NEX-3N leaked ahead of official launch
The Sony NEX-3N has made an unofficial early appearance thanks to a Sony Alpha Rumors anonymous source. The site has proven reliable in the past, leaking what would be the NEX-3N predecessor, the NEX-F3 , around a month before it was officially released. Although the site isn’t completely sure when it will debut, it suggests that it could make an appearance at the same event that Sony is expected to unveil its PlayStation 4 console on February 20.
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02/07, 6:28am
Both phones share height, SP appears wider
Images of the upcoming Android Jelly Bean Sony Xperia SP have leaked online. The photographs compares the handset, identified by the model number C530x and codenamed HuaShan, to the current Xperia V, and shows they are roughly the same in terms of length, though the Xperia SP is slightly wider than it's predecessor.
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02/06, 1:12pm
BlackBerry, Nokia, Motorola cede ground
Together Apple and Samsung seized about 103 percent of 2012 cellphone industry profits, and 101 percent in the fourth quarter, according to Canaccord Genuity estimates. Breaking down the 2012 figure, Apple claimed 69 percent, while Samsung took 34. A total greater than 100 is possible because of operating losses at companies like BlackBerry, Motorola, and Nokia.
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02/01, 6:41am
Sony brings the curtain down on MiniDisc
Sony will cease all MiniDisc player production in March, reports Japanese site Ashashi. Originally designed to replace casettes, the MiniDisc format never caught on in that way. However, a loyal fan base in Japan has managed to keep the format alive for the past 20 years until now.
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01/31, 6:57pm
Existing Sony, Microsoft consoles over six years old
Sony is inviting journalists and investors to an event on February 20, with a teaser video implying that attendees will "see the future." The event is called the "Playstation Meeting 2013," predating Sony's Destination PlayStation event that begins on February 25. The video clearly shows the circle, square, triangle, and X found on the PlayStation controller, and has a backdrop of the same blue often found on PlayStation packaging. The website associated with the video lists the time of the reveal at 6PM ET.
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01/28, 12:39pm
Discussions could see console ban lifted in near future.
The Chinese government may reverse its ban on video game consoles in the future. Ministerial figures are reportedly discussing lifting the ban, put in place in the year 2000 in order to protect the physical and mental development of younger members of the population, which could open up the Chinese market for gaming products from Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and others.
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01/24, 6:24am
Gaming network intrusion 'could have been prevented'
Sony has been fined £250,000 ($395,000) by the Information Commissioner's Office of the United Kingdom over the April 2011 hack of the PlayStation Network. The UK authority criticized Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, claiming the online gaming system's infiltration "could have been prevented" if security software used by SCEE had been kept up-to-date, with increased security on user passwords.
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01/20, 7:16pm
Discounts on stock, lines of credit to prolong physical media sales
Major record labels will help keep British music retailer HMV stores running by offering potential buyers heavily discounted stock. Reports claim that Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony, and others will offer whatever company steps in to run the music chain help in keeping physical music and movie sales in the High Streets and away from Internet retailers.
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01/18, 5:10am
Sony sale of New York HQ expected to generate $770 million in cash
Sony has sold off its US headquarters in New York for $1.1 billion, reports Bloomberg. The move is expected to generate around $770 million for the struggling Japanese tech giant and will help to stabilize its finances. Sony says that it will continue as tenants of the building for the next three years as part of the deal it brokered with the Chetrit Group.
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01/17, 2:59pm
New white bundle includes 18-title instant game collection
Sony has launched a new version of the PlayStation 3 in North America, this time in "Classic White." The new console bundle will also have a matching white controller, a 500GB hard drive, the console's largest ever; and a year-long membership to PlayStation Plus, including access to a downloadable collection of PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita games.
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01/16, 7:03am
Sony Mobile takes the reigns for Xperia Tablet z
The next-generation Sony Xperia Tablet specifications may have leaked on net via a couple tweets that have slipped out of China. The current Xperia Tablet S tooks its name from the Sony Xperia S flagship smartphone for 2012 and runs a Tegra 3 quad-core processor. The purported Sony Xperia Tablet Z would take its name from the new Sony Xperia Z, the Japanese company’s flagship smartphone for 2012.
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01/16, 5:44am
Quantum dots to increase color range by 50 percent
Details of 'Triluminos,' a feature of Bravia HDTVs using quantum technology demonstrated at CES by Sony, have been made available. Originally appearing in televisions in 2008 before being pulled due to the costs involved, the technology relies on nanoscale particles called 'quantum dots' in order to increase the color range of LCD televisions by around 50 percent.
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