January 8th, 2009
CES 2009: Sony launches eco line of Bravia TVs, adds Internet Widgets to XBR, Z series sets
At yesterday’s news conference, Sony introduced a few novel products for the company, but when it came to HDTVs, there were no major announcements. Along with adding 240Hz refresh rates and its InternetLink features to more sets, the biggest news was a new series of energy-efficient TVs that fall under the new Eco line of Bravia TVs.
The new VE5 series consists of 40-, 46, and 52-inch models that use a hot cathode fluorescent lamp rahter than the cold variety that most LCDs utilize as a backlight. Sony claims a 40-percent reduction in energy usage thanks to that switch. The sets also come with a Presence Sensor that can detect when no one is in the vicinity of the TV and turns the picture off. There’s also a Energy Saving Switch that allows the VE5s to use nearly zero watts of power when in standby. In terms of core TV specs, the models include 120Hz refresh rates and four HDMI ports. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but Sony plans to release the sets this summer.
The hit of last year’s CES, the diminuitive but spectacular (and spectacularly expensive) 11.1-inch OLED set, was on display at Sony’s booth along with 21-inch and 29-inch prototypes. New additions using this technology were supposed to be announced in this morning’s keynote address by Sony Chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer, according to the hints dropped at the press conference, but nothing surfaced.
Otherwise, attendees were handed a fact sheet with a bunch of model numbers and specs, but nothing that leapt off the page. The XBR9 and Z series will feature 240Hz refresh rates, while the lower-end V series come with 120Hz refresh rates. Sony is also introducing its Bravia Internet Widgets, which display streaming info in a similar manner as many of Samsung’s new sets, for these lines, which come with a built-in Ethernet port and are also DNLA compliant for streaming content from your network to the TV. The company has added a 32-inch 1080p model to the XBR lineup, though it has a 120Hz refresh rate unlike the rest of the XBR 9 series.
As with the Eco line, pricing has not been announced for the new XBR, Z, and V series Bravias, but they’re due in the spring.
Sean Portnoy spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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