Sony bravia X series Brochure page 10

8 CUTTING EDGE
It is commonly recognised that all the major
TV networks must broadcast in digital – what is
commonly called digital television (DTV). But what
is often not known is that each major TV network
is obliged to broadcast at least 20 hours of HDTV
content a week (although most broadcast more).
If you want to know what shows are broadcast
in HD they are listed on Digital Broadcasting
Australia's website (www.dba.org.au).
"If you want to watch a program, be it
sport, current affairs or drama, in HD," explains
Colley, "the TV broadcast has to be in high
defi nition, the set-top box or built-in tuner
must be high defi nition and the TV must have a
resolution that can display high defi nition (720
lines minimum). Many fl at panel TV's simply
don't have a suitable resolution screen to see the
benefi t of HD pictures."
While all Sony BRAVIA TVs have a resolution
suitable for HD (720 lines minimum), the new
X Series and SXRD models can boast Full HD
resolutions of 1080 lines. As well, the new BRAVIA
V and X Series have HD digital tuners built in so
there's no need for a separate set top box.
It is also now possible to record programs in
HD. Earlier this year, Sony released a couple of
digital video recorders (DVRs) that can record,
in HD, programs that are broadcast in HD.
SVRHD900
(SVRHD900, pictured below left, with a 250GB
hard drive for $1499 and SVRHD700 with
160GB for $1299). The recorders also feature twin
tuners. This means you can record two separate
HD programs at the same time or watch one HD
program while recording another. Of course they
can also record programs that were broadcast in
standard defi nition as well.
The Full-On HD experience
Digital Television is not the only source of HD
content. There are others, which Sony is perfectly
placed to take advantage of.
The movie studios will be releasing HD versions
of its blockbuster titles. Sony, for instance, plans
to put out an HD version of The Da Vinci Code.
From there, it won't be long before there's a steady
stream of titles available in HD.
Films such as these will rely on a new video
disc format called Blu-ray, which supports high
defi nition. Blu-ray discs can hold up to fi ve times
(50GB) what a traditional DVD can. It is this
extra capacity that allows movie studios to fi t an
entire HD movie onto a single disc.
"However, we must not forget that the screen
is not where the HD experience ends. Sure the
high defi nition pictures will blow you away,"
says Colley, "but sound is 50 percent of t
movie experience and there's no place wh
is more important than when you're liste
a blockbuster with thumping, earth-shatt
sound effects. HD is not just the screen, i
whole package. Sony offers numerous ho
WHAT IS BLU-RAY?
With an appearance similar to that of a DVD
or CD, Blu-ray is the next-generation video
disc format, developed jointly by Sony
and other leading consumer electronic,
computer and content providers.
Blu-ray was created to record, playback and
burn-to-disc high defi nition (HD) video. One
Blu-ray disc can hold up to fi ve times that of
a traditional red-laser DVD, or up to 50GB
on a dual-layer disc, because the greater
precision of the blue-violet laser allows
more data to be stored in less space. This
allows an entire HD movie, such as The Da
Vinci Code , to fi t on a single disc.
Sony is releasing a range of Blu-ray players
and burners, and will also equip its new
PLAYSTATION ® 3 console with Blu-ray. The
format has the support of more than 170
allied companies worldwide, including the
world's biggest computer manufacturers
and electronics makers plus the major
Hollywood movie studios. It will equip us for
the next generation of home entertainment.
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