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Miura with Diab at the Sony section of Fifty One East at Lagoona |
Global electronics and entertainment giant Sony is poised to launch commercially in the next three to four years, glasses-free 3D TVs, Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) TVs and 4K technology consumer products, Sony Gulf managing director Osamu Miura told Gulf Times.
“Research is progressing on glasses-free 3D TVs that offer better picture quality, OLED TVs that provide brighter, crisper picture while consuming less power, and 4K technology consumer products which deliver four times the resolution of High Definition (HD),” he explained.
In town for the opening of Sony’s long-time partner Darwish Holding’s flagship Fifty One East store at Lagoona, Miura, who is completing three decades with Sony, was one of the founding members of Sony Gulf in 1989. “We already have the technology for glasses-free 3D TVs and a competitor has launched a product. The technology is being used in our 3D handycam, but it is a very small LCD, if you want to enjoy it on a big screen, it takes time. The current technology cannot satisfy the demand of people, so we are developing it further,” he said.
Sony has started promoting the OLED technology for professional monitors in broadcasting and medical fields by introducing a 10 inches product first.
“We like to concentrate on the new technology (OLED), rather than on LCD or LED. In another three or four years, the OLED technology will come to consumer TVs on a massive scale,” Miura predicted.
The evolution of technology beyond the HD format has led to the emergence of 4K technology and Sony has already introduced a 4K projector.
“But to show 4K quality, we need software. Now we have a software company, which is working together with our hardware and technology wings and within three or four years, 4K should come to consumer products including handycam,” he said.
Asked about the products that could be expected from Sony in the first and second quarters of 2012, Miura stressed on the camera segment, especially the Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) category.
Sony has great expectations for its new Alpha SLT-A77 DSLR, introduced in October this year, and the NEX series of mirrorless cameras.“The supply situation, which is not enough at all because of the recent Thai floods, is expected to return to normal from January onwards,” the official said.
Miura believes the Alpha A-77, which uses the unique Translucent Mirror Technology in DSLRs, can create a sensation in the prosumer market.
Combined with use of an electronic first curtain, the camera featuring a 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor captures 12 frames per second, the fastest for any camera, with less noise and vibration.
“Sony has appointed famous Lebanese singer Maya Diab as brand ambassador for its DSLR range,” Miura said.
Sony cameras have more than 30% market share in Qatar in the compact segment, and 20% in the Middle East.
Sony Gulf Marketing Communication division general manager Mathew Mathai explained that NEX, which offers interchangeable lenses and very high quality images without fuss and weight, as the biggest growing market now.
“Sony Network Walkman is really striking back at the iPod,” claimed Miura who observed that customers are recognising the ‘better audio quality’ and the availability of Android technology in its top-end model which has the highest market share in Japan.
Recalling that Qatar was announced as Sony’s top market worldwide in March this year with 40% local market share, he said that this status is being maintained, thanks to the partnership with Darwish Holding which owns Fifty One East. “Qatar is a very important market for Sony,” he said.
Miura also claimed that Sony continues to be number one in the TV market in Qatar, though it is in serious competition with another brand for the top slot in the Middle East.