New Sony Products, Technologies Define Digital Future at Winter Consumer Electronics Show
LAS VEGAS — January 6, 1995 — Sony marked the occasion of the annual Winter Consumer Electronics Show (WCES) by displaying new products and technologies that, according to Michael P. Schulhof, president and CEO, Sony Corporation of America, will "define the digital future."
"Defining the digital future means much more than merely providing technological advancements…It means changing consumer lifestyles," Schulhof stated in his Winter CES address this morning.
Among the products and technologies on display here that Sony expects will change consumer lifestyles in the coming months and years are:
Sony's newest MiniDisc home recorder, the MDS-302, for recording from a variety of available entertainment sources, includes digital satellite, digital cable audio and home music libraries.
And for keeping in touch anywhere, there's the 1.2-pound Magic Link(TM) PIC 1000 personal communicator, offering a combination of intelligent messaging capabilities that integrate e-mail, fax, telephone, online services and nationwide paging with personal information management software.
Also for people on the go is the CD-ROM Discman(R) player. At just under ten ounces, the double-speed CD-ROM Discman unit provides both full MPC-2 multimedia performance and PC-compatible computers and CD listening for music playback. "Laptop professionals" and students can now access business presentations, research and music through a single device.
"Road warriors" will also welcome Sony's new mobile navigation system that plots a vehicle's location using digital signals from the satellite Global Positioning System (GPS) and CD-ROM to display the data on detailed, digital moving maps. The NVX-F160 navigation system provides local information about restaurants, hotels, entertainment and shopping.
Sony's digital technology is further evident in the DCT-1, a 900 MHz digital cordless telephone that can use up to eight handsets with a single base station. A single handset can be used with up to four different base units.
Sony is also displaying several digital technologies that preview the future of consumer electronics. The High-Density, Multimedia CD specification prepared by Sony and Phillips may be the basis for optical media in the future. One such application is Digital Video Disc (DVD). Movie buffs could collect their favorite prerecorded titles on DVD, offering picture quality better than any current consumer video format, even laser disc. DVD will be able to hold a full-length two-and-a-quarter-hour (up to 135 minutes) motion picture on a single-sided, 12 cm disc, incorporating such special features as "zoom" effect and multi-language subtitles.
For recording, the new Digital Video Cassette (DVC) will offer up to four and a half hours of broadcast quality resolution recordability, and a choice of 2- or 4-channel digital sound. It will also provide such special effects as "instant search" and "freeze frame." And soon the Sony brand Digital Satellite System (DSS(TM)) will allow American television viewers access to more than 175 channels without the expense of a large and unwieldy satellite dish. The DSS 18Pinch diameter satellite dish, set-top receiver and remote control will provide enhanced digital picture quality and sound. Sony expects to offer DSS equipment later this year.
CONTACT:
Technology Solutions, New York
Linda Spelling or Deborah Brown, 212/696-2000
or
Sony Electronics, Park Ridge, N.J.
Leeann Lavin, 201/930-7321
Jeanne Chazotte, 201/930-7952