MINNEAPOLIS (CEDIA, Booth # 269), Sept. 26, 2002 - Broadening the appeal for compact, high-performance, portable front projectors, Sony Electronics today announced the expansion of the Cineza™ portable LCD projector line, unveiling the VPL-HS10 and VPL-HS2 home theater projector models.

The new projectors incorporate proprietary LCD technology that offers high contrast ratio, enhanced brightness, improved detail with rich colors, as well as the popular SideShot™ feature. The two new portable projectors offer simple set-up and ease of use, provide great value and larger screen entertainment for consumer home entertainment applications.

"With our new Cineza LCD-based front projectors, consumers can now enjoy a large, theater-like experience at home without an elaborate custom installation, " said Tim Alessi, director of marketing for Sony Electronics' Visual Network Products Company. "These new models offer the best of both worlds, strong performance and a terrific value that lends itself to portable applications for an exceptional home theater entertainment experience."

Compact Size, Full-Scale Feature Package
Leading the line-up is the VPL-HS10 model, which offers brilliant performance and can be used on a tabletop or ceiling mounted for screen size of 40- to 300-inches. It incorporates a Wide XGA LCD panel with 1366 x 768 resolution, 1200 ANSI lumens and a 700:1 contrast ratio.

In addition to its outstanding contrast ratio, the VPL-HS10 projector incorporates CineMotion™ reverse 3:2 pull-down technology, and a DVI-HDTV connection that enables copy-protected, high-definition video content to be delivered from a DVI/HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) compatible set-top box, such as Sony's SAT-HD200 HD/DIRECTV receiver.

Numerous inputs allow for home theater content to be delivered from such video sources as HDTV sets, VCRs, and standard and progressive-scan DVD players. It also includes a Memory Stick® media slot for convenient viewing of favorite JPEG images. In addition, the new projector can be connected to a computer using an optional cable.

The VPL-HS10 home entertainment projector features the SideShot2 digital keystone correction, offering maximum room placement flexibility. It conveniently allows users to place the projector on an angle to the screen, yet still project clear images that are centered on the screen. This second-generation feature expands the correctable area by simultaneously adjusting the image both horizontally and vertically for more accurate, centered correction. It can also help save valuable space front-and-center of the room for viewers.

Created for those with limited space (40- to 150-inch screen size) or the need for informal home entertainment for watching movies, playing video games or showing homemade video, the entry- level VPL-HS2 model integrates a wide VGA LCD panel (854 x 480 resolution), 1000 ANSI lumens and a 600:1 contrast ratio.

Both the VPL-HS10 and VPL-HS2 models will be available this fall for about $3,000 and $1,800, respectively.

In addition to the two Cineza projectors, Sony offers a reference standard LCD projector, the VPL-VW12 model, for a complete line of front projectors that meet a variety of entertainment, lifestyle and home theater applications. The VPL-VW12 model is available now for about $6,500.