SONY make.believe

I answer 3D questions daily on our 3D experience website. The most common two questions I get are “When can I buy one?” and “how much are they?” – I am beyond excited to say that I  have the highly anticipated answers to share.

Today Sony announced that its 3D capable BRAVIA HDTVs are now available on SonyStyle.com.  These models are available for pre-sale on SonyStyle.com set to ship to homes early next month. Now for those soccer fans out there, I say not to worry. We have select models available in our Sony Style stores across the US + the 46″ BRAVIA HX800 Series 3DTV online  beginning today so fans can catch all the 3D action in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™  s in South Africa (broadcasted in 3D).

The first of the 3D models are the LX900 series. Models come with a FULL HD (1920x1080p) LCD with Edge LED backlight display. The LX900 features the chic Monolithic Design (you can learn more about the unique design here), includes 2 pairs of active shutter glasses and has full integrated HD 3D technology. This series includes incorporated Motionflow™ PRO 240Hz technology for smooth motion viewing (especially great in high action scenes), integrated Wi-Fi® wireless network capabilities (802.11), BRAVIA Engine™ 3, and USB/DNLA photo/music/video playback. It also boasts an Intelligent Presence Sensor which detects motion in the room which helps the environment and our wallets. Screen sizes range from 40-60 inches (diagonal) and start at around $4,000.

Next up is the XBR- HX909.  Featuring the new Monolithic design, the XBR-HX909 is capable of 3D viewing with the addition of Sony’s active shutter glasses and sync transmitter (sold separately); about a $200 investment (excl tax). The glasses are available on Sony Style for about $150 along with the emitter ($50). Newest among the XBR family, the HX909 incorporated Intelligent Dynamic (local dimming) full array LED backlighting which improves contrast and dynamic range by local dimming that controls LED backlight level by area. This way detail is maintained in the dark areas and other areas are driven to near peak brightness. Intelligent Dynamic LED backlighting also reduces unnecessary light emissions, creating deep blacks vs. conventional LED backlit displays. Other features include: Motionflow™ PRO 240Hz Technology, USB Wireless-LAN adapter ready for easy wireless network connection (adapter sold separately), OptiContrast™ panel, BRAVIA® Internet Video, BRAVIA Engine™ 3 with Intelligent Image Enhancer, along with USB and DLNA® photo/music/video playback. Offered in 52 and 46 inch (diagonal) screen sizes, the HX-909 starts at about $3,500.

The HX800 Series is also 3D ready (meaning glasses and sync transmitter are sold separately). Ranging in sizes from 40 inches to 55 inches (diagonal), this model starts at about $2,100. For those die hard soccer fans out there or those looking to be one of the first to brag about Sony 3D in the home, very limited quantities of the 46 inch and 55 inch HX800 series models are available now at your local Sony Style store. Features include: a Dynamic Edge LED backlight display, Motionflow™ PRO 240Hz Technology, USB Wireless-LAN adapter (adapter sold separately), BRAVIA® Internet Video, BRAVIA Engine™ 3, along with USB and DLNA® photo/music/video playback.

In addition to playing back those new 3DHD Blu-ray Disc movies and video games you’ve been longing for, the new LX900 and HX909 and HX800 HDTVs can create a simulated 3D image from a standard 2D movie or TV show, giving you maximum viewing flexibility.

These TVs are also capable of playing back standard and HD content/programming you currently enjoy today. It is important to note that any content that isn’t native 3D (so up-converted from 2D to 3D) is good but it’s like sugar substitute good. Good but never as great as the real thing.

If you own a PlayStation®3 and are planning on buying a 3DTV, then you will be able to watch 3D content on your TV capable of 3D playback through your PS3™. The current plan is to offer PlayStation 3 owners two separate firmware updates.The first firmware update is available now and enables 3D gaming, followed by another firmware update to enable 3D Blu-ray Disc™ playback which is expected this fall. For those who own our 3D ready Blu-ray Disc Player or Home Theater models, you can now access your firmware to enable 3D playback.

So I guess the big question is “What about content?”. Well, for folks who purchase and register one of these new TVs, they’ll receive the mother load of 3D freebies including a copy of Sony Picture Animation’s Blu-ray 3D title, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”, the Blu-ray 3D title “Deep Sea” and online voucher codes for new Stereoscopic 3D games for PlayStation 3 from the PlayStation®Network including full game downloads for WipeOut HD, SuperStardust, a partial game for PAIN and the demo for MotorStorm (Pacific Rift). 3D gaming is here! Plus, I’ve got news to share there. Today, Sony is hosting a 3D event at Sony Pictures in Culver city where our unique end-to-end 3D platform will be presented by key Sony executives across electronics, games and movies. To get live updates from the event, you can follow @SonyElectronics on Twitter. And don’t worry. If you’re like me and can only spare a few minutes cruising Twitter before you boss starts to give you bad looks, we’ll post a wrap up here on the Sony blog tomorrow.

If you haven’t yet tried Sony 3D, its definitely worth a spin and you’ve got other questions about 3D, don’t be shy. That’s what we’re here for and feel free to ask your question by posting a comment.

Tags: 3d