Review: Sony VAIO C Series (VPCCA1S1E)

Fruity bubbalicious. That’s the first thing that crossed my mind when I first beheld the pink Sony VAIO C. It looked like something Katy Perry and the rest of the California Girls would use and bring along (though it’s not exactly portable) as they set forth to Candyland. It’s definitely one ultra-feminine color for a notebook. But don’t worry guys, the Sony VAIO C also comes in a very neutral and masculine black and white (15.5-inch versions and comes with the option for a screen that can handle 1080p high-definition entertainment) as well as green and orange for the more effeminate.

The VAIO C Series also sports a rubber, machine-washable keyboard cover as well as a transparent overlay that scatter light all over the edges of the notebook and round the touchpad to create a rather subtle glow, which does prove somewhat useful for those who enjoy working in the dark. Of course, that’s a pretty cool feature to have for an entry-level machine. The form/fashion factor is definitely there despite its plastic-ky feel.
For connectivity, you’ve got a Gigabit Ethernet port, VGA and HDMI for video, and both USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports for data on the left. A memory card reader and physical wireless switch is in the front, while headphone and microphone jacks, twin USB 2.0 ports and a DVD writer are on the right.
Now despite its “hey look at me, look at me” design, the C series has an impressive “inside” as well thanks to a dual-core i5, which runs at 2.3GHz but can manage up to 2.9HGz with Intel’s Turbo Boost. It also has 320GB of storage and 4GB RAM alongside the bundled Windows 7 Home Premium.
This laptop is easy to use, especially if you’re the type who doesn’t ask way too much from it, save for a bit of speed when loading and logging onto the “cloud.” And you can’t really use it for too long without being near a power socket. On standby, the VAIO C only lasts about 4 hours. But it does have some other cool features such as the integrated HD webcam with a Sony Exmor sensor for good low-light performance. The systems also include Sony’s VAIO, Assist, and Web buttons that launch Sony’s Media Gallery and VAIO Care software and enable users to access the Web without waiting for a full Windows boot. It also has its own Imagination Studio Suite 2 VAIO Edition for editing, managing, and enhancing photos, videos, music, and more. And the systems can be used with Sony’s Remove keyboard technology so the notebooks can be used to drive other Sony devices like PlayStation 3 consoles or Bravia Internet-connected TVs.
All in all, I found the Sony VAIO C rather befitting of my more lively character. Even the rubber keyboard (which some may find uncomfortable to use) was something I found to be quirky and comfy. It may not be for everyone (design-wise) but hey, if you want to add a little more color into your technology, the Sony VAIO C series will do the job.
Specifications
Screen Size: 14-inch, 1366 x 768 glossy screen, Radeon HD 6470M Graphics
Memory: 4GB RAM, 320GB 5200rpm HDD
CPU & chipset: Intel Core i5-241M
Wireless used: Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n, BlueTooth
Weight: 2.45 kg
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Warranty: 2 years
Price: Php 69,999
What’s Hot:
• Both Fun and neutral colors to choose from
• Rubber keyboard cover and backlit keyboard
What’s Not:
• Short battery life
• Not that portable
Bottomline:
Want something that will brighten your day (and night)? Give the Sony VAIO C series a go and make a shining statement.

G

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Review: Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam

Ever had those moments when you found yourself coming up with a cool gadget idea that combines two or more things?

Enter the ultra-cool Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam. It’s a compact HD camcorder with its own built-in projector. It is ergonomically sound, making it a comfortable fit in your hand in terms of its design and weight, with all buttons and straps well-placed for an overall sleek exterior. Our once wild dreams are now real enough to touch.

Having your own projector fitted into your recording device is as useful and as fun to use as it sounds. The HDR-PJ10 allows you not only to record all your memories in 1920×1080/60p Full HD video, but it also lets you playback all your movies and images on any surface via a high-contrast projector, neatly snuggled to the LCD flip-panel. I had fun recording videos with friends and family, and playing them back on various surfaces (i.e. walls, ceilings, backs of other people) for all to enjoy in an instant.

The projected image itself is surprisingly stunning, crisp and sharp. The projector can flash up to as much as a 60-inch diagonal screen, so all you have to do is find a surface to project on and—coupled with advanced Clear Phase stereo speakers—you have an instant mobile theater on hand to amaze any audience.

Boasting resolutions at 1920×1080 and full HD 60p, picture quality is brilliant as any HD camcorder out there. Its wide angle G lens delivers quality optical performance, color reproduction, and amazingly detailed images—all with an enhanced framing area that eliminates cropping out images on the fringe. Also equipped with 29.8mm focal length, you get a broad enough view for wide-angle shooting, and combined with Sony’s trademark Optical SteadyShot, you can still get clean video shots, especially during active outdoor situations.

My slight gripe with the PJ-10’s imaging capabilities is that still photos are only captured in 3-megapixels. It would have been a delight to also get high-quality photos at the same time to make this device the perfect all-around recording (and playback) gadget but of course, something always has to give.

But one thing I really appreciated was the embedded 16GB flash memory. This addressed my worry about HD video storage since it really will take up huge amounts of space. But with this internal memory size, you can actually record up to 6-hours of HD video footage without even using the memory card slot. The device also has a nice add-on in the form of a built-in USB cable that connects directly to your PC, and is nicely inserted into the hand strap to avoid getting in the way.

In terms of display, the 3.0-inch touchscreeen Clear Photo LCD also delivers the same sharp and clear images onscreen, although I did find response time with a bit of a lag when selecting options, and sometimes the interface of the features menu was rather tedious to go through. This was especially a bother when navigating while on projector mode since you had to toggle the zoom button a number of times just to get to one option, choose another video, or even to clear the display.

The HDR-PJ10 also offers a wide range of shooting modes that stem from the Intelligent Auto mode, as it analyzes your shot and selects settings from 10 different scenes: Landscape, Backlight, Twilight, Spotlight, Low Light, Macro, Portrait, Baby, Walk and Tripod—making you end up with as many as 90 possible setting combinations. Added to this are the slow-motion capture features of Smooth Slow Record, and the Golf Shot that captures a few seconds of motion as a sequence of up to 22 still images (stop-motion style).

In conclusion, the Sony HDR-PJ10 is just one exciting and high-performance gadget because not only does it shoot brilliant HD video, but it also has a high-contrast projector built into the device itself.

Specifications:
TYPE: Digital Video Camera Recorder (1920 x 1080; Full HD 60p) with Projector
DIMENSIONS: 58.5mm x 64.5mm x128mm
WEIGHT: 12.9 oz (w/battery)
STABILIZATION: Optical SteadyShot Image stabilization w/Active mode
ZOOM: 30x (optical)/350x (digital)/42x (extended)
IMAGING SENSOR: 4.5mm Back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS
BATTERY LIFE: Approx. 1.5 hours
DISPLAY: 3.0” Touch-Screen Clear Photo LCD PLUS (230K)
FLASH: Built-in Flash
HD OUTPUT : HDMI Out (mini)/Component Video Out (Component A/V cable)
PROJECTOR RESOLUTION: 640 x 360 (10” – 60” screen)
INTERNAL MEMORY: 16GB Flash Memory
EXTERNAL MEMORY: Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark 2); Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo; SD/ SDHC/ SDXC Memory Card (Class 4 or Higher)

What’s Hot:
• Built-in high-contrast projector
• Captures 1920 x 1080 Full HD 60p video
• 16GB internal memory (up to 6 hours video)
• Built-in USB cable
• Sleek and efficient design

What’s Not:
• Only captures 3-megapixel photos
• Menu gets tedious to work (in projector mode)
• No viewfinder

Bottomline:
The Sony HDR-PJ10 with built-in projector is an incredible all-in-one high-performance recording and projection system that delivers stunning HD videos and images, packed with features, and very easy to handle. It’s at top of its class in terms of feature and design at this price point.

Buy Meter: 9.0

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Sony Releases XBA Series Headphones

When it comes to audio quality, it seems that people may have different preferences. This can become more obvious through choice of headphones. While a certain set of headphones may do for one person, it might not be that sufficient for the other. This is primarily the reason why Sony has recently launched a new XBA series of headphones, set to cater to the different audio quality needs of its customers.
The recent announcement of the new Sony XBA Series of headphones may be a bit too much with a selection of seven different headphones introduced, Sony may have done so with reason. The seven new Sony XBA headphones cater to the different needs of users.
The Sony XBA-1 headphone is the simplest of the group containing a single full range driver for quality sound output. The Sony XBA-2 features an added woofer driver for bigger bass sounds. The Sony XBA-3 features an added tweeter to capture those high frequency sound range and a better sound mix. The Sony XBA-4 comes with an added super-woofer those deeper bass sounds.
Then there’s also the Sony XBA-NC85D with its noise canceling features, the SonyXBA-S65 designed for sporty types with its waterproofing features, and the Sony XBA-BT75 which is the wireless Bluetooth headphone in the series. The Sony XBA Series of headphones is expected to be made available primarily in Asia sometime in November. Is is expected to cost from US$100 to US$475, depending on the type that one prefers.
Image Source: Sony

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Sony CMT CX5 Audio System

Sony UK has recently introduced a new slim audio system in the form of the Sony CMT CX5. This new slim audio system provides not only a means of good quality sound listening, but also something that can enhance a room’s interiors. It is a classic example of stylish design and great acoustics.
The Sony CMT CX5 Audio System is a wall mountable HiFi unit that comes with a slim design to blend along with the usual home decor. Users can play music using a variety of sources which includes via FM radio, DAB/DAB+, CD, USB, mobile phones as well as with the popular iPod or iPhone. The system speakers provide 60W RMS of pure sound power. The new Sony CMT CX5 is set to be available in the UK market by August of this year. No pricing information has yet been provided.
Image Source: Sony UK

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Sony Introduces First Ever External HDD Range

You may have known Sony for a lot of its popular devices and gadgets. But this company has not been known for making some more common devices like its own version of the external HDD. But now, that is going to change as Sony is now introducing the new Sony HD PG5 External Hard Drive.
The new Sony HD PG5 External Hard Drive is Sony’s first ever range of external hard drives. It is a slim and stylish 500GB portable hard drive that features USB 3.0 support for high speed file transfers. This new external hard drive is compatible with the Sony Bravia TV and can be used to record HDTV programs via its USB connection. Using a USB adapter cable this external hard drive can also be used to directly transfer videos from compatible Sony Handycam camcorders without the use of a PC. The new Sony HD PG5 External Hard Drive is expected to come out any time this month in Europe. Pricing details have not yet been provided.
Image Source: Sony

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