Forget YouTube over Bravia Internet Video Link, Sony plans on making the dongle relevant this winter by releasing the blockbuster Hancock for viewing to anyone who has the device hooked up to their Sony HDTV. This debut will happen before the flick hits shelves as a DVD and makes for an interesting end-around VOD services, competing movie delivery boxes or any thorny MPAA proposals. Unfortunately its exposure is limited to those with Bravia TVs, a good Internet connection and the $299 device, and willing to pay an as-yet-unspecified amount for the privilege. We're also still waiting to hear the details of Sony's PlayStation 3 based movie network, but we wouldn't be surprised if Hancock -- like Click, James Bond and Talladega Nights before it -- pushes multiple Sony platforms at once.

[Thanks, Tyler]

Another month, another BRAVIA. Not that we're kvetching or anything, though. On the docket today are four new ones from Sony which make up the all new S4000 family. Arriving in 26-, 32-, 37- and 40-inch sizes, the crew showcases Sony's fresh "draw the LINE" design concept and features a deep piano black finish, clean lines, gently-rounded curves and a swivel base to boot. The largest of the four boasts a 1080p Full HD panel, 24p True Cinema mode and the outfit's BRAVIA ENGINE 2 signal processing technology, while the other guys get stuck with the original BRAVIA ENGINE and "HD Ready" panels. The whole lot gets a trio of HDMI sockets,an integrated DVB-C / DVB-T TV tuner and a dynamic contrast ratio at or above 22,000:1. No word on a price / release date, but we're figuring that they land somewhere in Europe first.

Meet the greenest 32-inch TV on the planet, Sony's BRAVIA KDL-32JE1. The set achieves a 232% efficiency rating -- that's just 86kWh/year -- to easily best the 164% rating required for Japan's highest five-star "Energy Saving Label." Spec watchers will find a WXGA (1,366 x 768) LCD, 2,500:1 contrast, 178-degree viewing angle, and range of in/outs including 2x HDMI and 2x component. Yours in Japan starting July 30th for around ¥150,000 or about $1,387.

[Via Akihabara News]

Aw yeah, those svelte Sony XBRs that were leaked back in mid-April have just been confirmed by Sony, and it's going to be a long, sweaty summer waiting for the whole load to land this fall. Kicking things off is the XBR8 series, headed by the 55-inch KDL-55XBR8 and 46-inch KDL-46XBR8 models, which incorporate the outfit's TRILUMINOS three-color LED backlight technology, 10-bit processing, BRAVIA Engine 2, Motionflow 120Hz and Advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO. The 70-inch KDL-70XBR7 and 40-inch KDL-40XBR7 headline the XBR7 lineup, while the XBR6 features sets range from 32- to 52-inches in size. All the gritty details are waiting below -- if you feel like waiting 'til tomorrow for Sony's glacially slow servers to load, that is.

Sony's Bravia Internet Video Link hasn't really gotten much attention, but the little box is growing up so fast -- Sony's just announced that as of today, YouTube content will now be available at no extra cost. That's in addition to channels from Style.com, Sports Illustrated, blip.tv, and others, and YouTube content should pop up in the BIVL's XMB interface just like all the rest. Sounds great -- now to figure out how to RickRoll the sucker.

Sony's 1080p VPL-VW40 projector has been quite intriguing ever since we realized its spectacular specifications sheet ended with a sub-$3,000 price tag, though many were fearing that it wouldn't look half as good as the doubly expensive VPL-VW200. According to the eagle-eyed reviewers at Trusted Reviews, those fears are completely unwarranted. More specifically, the SXRD-based beamer blasted out impressive black levels, an amazing level of detail / sharpness and not even a hint of that messy "screen door" effect found on rivaling LCD PJs. The only real knock was pointed at the less-than-flawless color reproduction and less-than-ideal brightness, but really, we get the idea they were stretching for any reason to believe this thing wasn't without an imperfection. Hit up the read link for the full spill -- but only if you don't mind being talked into buying one.

Pucker up, BRAVIA fans -- it's nearly time to lay a big one on Sony's forthcoming flagships. The 40-inch KDL-40Z4100 and 46-inch KDL-46Z4100 have both surfaced on Amazon with a tantalizing June 1st release date, and just in case your memory is failing you, the pair packs 1080p panels, BRAVIA Engine 2, Motionflow 120Hz technology, four HDMI ports and DLNA compatibility. As for pricing, you'll be forking over $2,299.99 for the "little" guy, while the larger sibling demands $2,799.99. Pretty proud of these guys, aren't you Sony?

[Thanks, Rob]

Read - Sony BRAVIA KDL-40Z4100
Read - Sony BRAVIA KDL-46Z4100

Just to add another variable to your next BRAVIA, Sony's announced a deal with 3M to include some of its optical film technology the company's prismatic films for LCD TVs. Like other partnerships announced on this Friday evening details were scarce, but 3M claims it can make TVs, laptops and cell phones brighter, more energy efficient and more vibrant, so no matter who actually made your next Sony HDTV, it should have an even better look to it.

Look out world, er, Europe, as Sony is debuting a new trio of LCD HDTVs in your neck of the woods. The BRAVIA V4500 line consists of a 26-, 32- and 37-inch model, each of which posses a WXGA (1,360 x 768) panel and the company's own BRAVIA ENGINE 2 technology. You'll also find a 33,000:1 contrast ratio on the smaller two, and the whole lot packs 178-degree viewing angles, BRAVIA Sync and a built-in HD tuner for snagging DVB-T / DVB-C signals where available. There's also the Picture Frame Mode for turning your set into a digital art canvas (USB port included for image viewing), and the three HDMI inputs ensure that your PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and hacked up Atari Jaguar won't be fighting for sockets. Unfortunately, mum's the word on a price / release date.

Truth be told, we knew this gem was waiting in Sony's pocket, but it finally came clean and made things official over in Europe. The 2.1 BRAVIA DAV-F200 home theater system features S-Master digital amplification, which delivers a potent 135-watts of power to each speaker (including the subwoofer). The firm also threw in its S-Force Front Surround technology to help convince your mind that 2.1 is really 5.1, and as for the integrated DVD player, it plays nice with MP3 / photo / DivX discs, too. Better still, the unit includes 1080p upscaling over HDMI along with a built-in USB port for listening to WMA / AAC files, and there's even optical / coaxial digital inputs for other external sources. Regrettably, there's no word on a price nor US availability, but we can say for certain that those across the pond can claim their own this June.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Whoa, Europe. We thought only 5-percent of your HDTV owners even bothered to check out programming in high-def, right? Just days after Sony dished out a plethora of HDD / DVD recorders across the pond comes word that the firm is doubling the annual production capacity of BRAVIA LCD HDTVs in order to "meet growing demand in Europe." More specifically, the outfit is aiming to boost production from two million sets in 2007 to four million sets by the end of 2008, and its Nitra, Slovakia factory is all set to become its largest producer of LCD TVs worldwide. This also means that the amount of employees there will increase from 2,300 to 3,500 by December. Aside from expanding the capabilities of the aforementioned Nitra Technology Center, it will also construct a logistics facility nearby in order to better manage distribution. Now, if only content providers would give these obviously HD-hungry citizens something good to watch, the circle would be essentially complete.

[Via I4U News]

We'll go ahead and nix some lingering excitement in the room: Sony's latest line of Hard Disk Drive DVD Recorders are aimed squarely at Europe. Now that we're clear on that, let us introduce to you the HX and HXD lines, which each posses four units that top out at 500GB. The RDR-HX680, HX780, HX980 and HX1080 all come ready to fetch analog broadcasts, while the RDR-HXD790, HXD890, HXD990 and HXD1090 also include a DVB-T digital tuner. The HDX crew can even be ordered with a CI slot, and the whole posse includes an HDMI port (1080p upscaling included), X-Pict Story, USB connectors, BRAVIA Sync and a dedicated SD HDD Handycam connection. Take a look in the read link for the full chart of specifications. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via T3]

Remember that Sony Internet Video Link for Bravia TVs that we told you about way back in February of 2007? Well apparently the $299.99 units have hit stores, and are now available for your purchasing pleasure. If you'll recall, the pricey boxes allow you to stream internet video, music, and light content (like weather and traffic) into your television via the company's familiar Xross Media Bar interface. Of course, you'll be dropping a pretty big chunk of change on something with fairly limited use, but hey... it's your money.

[Via Zatz Not Funny!]

So it's not like we haven't seen companies file to protect trademarks that actually aren't ever used, but the latest one being shielded by Sony is quite intriguing to say the least. Late last month, Sony filed to protect AppliCast, which somehow relates to "application software pre-installed in television sets to download icons; television sets; LCD television sets; PDP television sets; projection television sets." After a little digging done over at Trademork, it found further information from Sony suggesting that AppliCast could be used in BRAVIA sets to give owners "new ways to enjoy using networks." More specifically, it mentions the utility making it "possible to look up information on the internet while watching television." Yeah, our imaginations are certainly running wild here, but until we see that icon pictured above slapped on a box, we'll be holding down our hopes.

Good news for the pixel-starved: Boy Genius got a hold of a Sony's 2008 BRAVIA roadmap, which includes word of new XBR6, XBR7 and XBR8 LCD displays. We caught wind of the new XBR6 line at CES, along with the KDL-40Z4100 and the KDL-46Z4100, but apparently things are going to get much more interesting in August when the KDL-46XBR8 drops. New features include "Triluminos" RGB LED backlight, Advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO and BRAVIA Engine 2 PRO 1080p video processor. The XBR7 panels measure as large as 70-inches, and will launch in October, but sport features more in line with the XBR6. Everything is naturally 1080p and 120Hz.

Update: We just got ourselves sent a UK version of this roadmap. It's after the break.