A 'TOUCH' IS ALL IT TAKES: SONY UNVEILS NEW BLOGGIE CAMERA

Device Allows Easy Sharing of HD Video and Photos via Social Networks

TORONTO, Sept. 1 /CNW/ - Making its worldwide debut today, Sony's new Bloggie^™ Touch enhances the pocket video camera category by making it even easier to preserve and upload life's spontaneous moments.

The Bloggie Touch (MHS-TS20) captures full 1920x1080p high definition MP4 video and 12.8-megapixel photos on 8GB of embedded memory, offering approximately four hours of HD movie recording.  Its sleek, stylish body sports a three-inch diagonal capacitive touch screen enabling intuitive operation as well as attractive shooting and playback options.

"The new Bloggie Touch addresses the growing need for premium video products with advanced technology in a desirable package at a competitive price point," said Samuel Yip, director of Sony's digital Imaging business.  "We started from the ground up to develop a new system of hardware, software and seamless integration with social network services for an easy, intuitive shooting and sharing experience that anyone can enjoy."

Boasting a clean, innovative design, new Bloggie Touch cameras feature minimal hard keys and a large, vibrant touch screen that automatically adjusts for vertical or horizontal shooting and viewing, enabling customers to shoot video right-handed, left-handed, right-side-up or even upside-down.  You can record video, snap photos, or both at the same time, just by pressing two of three simplified buttons on the device.  An advanced user interface features intuitive "touch and flick" recording control, search and playback operation, as well as a simple Share-it-Later function to tag the clips and pictures you want to post for easy upload when you are online. 

Sony's Bloggie Touch cameras now deliver amazingly high quality video and photos.  Equipped with a F2.8 wide angle lens and a sensitive Exmor^™ CMOS sensor, the new cameras achieve high resolution video and crisply-detailed still photos with less noise, even in challenging lighting conditions.  Additionally, its processor allows videographers to attain 4x digital zoom and auto focus capabilities, including Auto Macro to focus sharply on objects as close as four inches away. 

The ultra-compact, lightweight cameras slip easily into a pocket or purse so they can record your favorite moments anytime, anywhere.  The Bloggie Touch has SteadyShot® image stabilization for smoother footage, Face Detection technology to enhance faces by automatically correcting exposure and a built-in USB arm for easy charging and uploading to a computer.  It even features an HDMI^™ output to enjoy content on your HDTV. 

Simple, Secure Way to Share Photos and Videos

After shooting, it's never been easier to share your favorite videos and photos on the web. By connecting the camera to an internet-connected compatible computer via the built-in USB, pre-installed Bloggie software quickly imports your content and makes it a breeze to edit, organize, and even transfer your videos and photos to popular sharing websites with simple drag and drop motions. It includes direct upload to Facebook^®, Flickr^®, Picasa Web Albums^™ and YouTube^™ photo and video sharing sites.

The built-in Bloggie software also connects to Sony's Personal Space^™ online service that effortlessly shares your photos and videos privately with individuals you select. Personal Space service offers registered users the ability to create Sharing Groups by entering email addresses of friends and family.  Once footage and images have been uploaded, the service sends an email invitation to those groups with a link to view content on your Personal Space service. It's easier, quicker and safer than sending big file attachments via email, and no registration is required by email recipients.

Have Fun Shooting 360 degree Videos

Sony is also offering Bloggie™ Touch (MHS-TS20K), which is a bundled kit option that includes a lens to let you experience incredible 360-degree videos. After attaching the lens, the Bloggie™ Touch camera records amazing 360-degree panoramic videos and photos to capture everything that's happening around you - just clip on the supplied lens adaptor. 360 Videos are now twice the resolution of previous-generation Bloggie™.

The MHS-TS20 (available in silver, black, pink and blue) and MHS-TS20K (available in silver and black) will be available in November for about $230 and $250 respectively.  The Bloggie Touch cameras, and a specially designed protective skin jacket, will be sold at Sony Style® retail stores, www.sonystyle.ca and through the Sony Retailer Network nationwide.

Editor's Note: For additional information about Sony products, your readers can call toll-free at (888) 222-SONY, or visit Sony's web site at www.sonystyle.com. Press releases and digital images are available for the news media at Sony Electronics' news and information web site at www.sony.com/news.

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.
Flickr® is a registered trademark of Flickr Inc.
YouTube^™ and Picasa Web Albums^™ are trademarks of Google Inc. 

About Sony of Canada Ltd.

Established in 1955, Sony of Canada Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, of Tokyo, Japan, a world leader in High Definition.  Sony provides end-to-end solutions through products that include the market-leading Blu-ray Disc™ players, BRAVIA�� televisions, Cyber-shot® digital cameras, Handycam® Camcorders, VAIO® computers, broadcast cameras, IPELA security cameras and video conferencing and many more products that deliver the true entertainment experience.

Sony is one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world with a portfolio that includes electronics, music, movies, games and online businesses.

With headquarters in Toronto, sales offices in Vancouver and Montreal and distribution centres in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and Whitby, Ontario, approximately 1,000 employees support a network of more than 500 authorized dealers and 62 Sony Style retail locations across Canada.

Sony Canada is devoted to the betterment of children, the environment, and the community. Through the Sony Canada Charitable Foundation (SCCF), Sony Canada aims to maximize its support of charitable and philanthropic organizations, including Make-A-Wish® Canada, the United Way of Canada and Earth Day Canada.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information:

Tony Smith
VP- Marketing Communications
Sony of Canada Ltd.
Tel: [phone]
[email protected]

Elaine Nichols
Corporate Communications Coordinator
Sony of Canada Ltd.
[phone]
[email protected]