Sony Shows MS TV Tuner Prototype

Posted By: Ryan Tuesday, March 18, 2003 12:25:11 PM

A photographer caught pictures of a Sony TV Tuner memory stick accessory being shown at CeBit. Late last year, Sony Japan announced that it has developed some of the smallest TV tuner chips designed for PDAs and other mobile devices. When integrated with a mobile device the user would be able to receive and view live broadcast television.

Sony memory stick TV Tuner ~ Click for LargerThe chips announced last year, are the main components that would enable TV reception on mobile devices. Both chips can receive a common radio signal input for VHF (1-12 channel) and UHF (13-62 channel), with an impressive signal/noise ratio of 47 dB. The 401 model achieves this with a low 0.8w power consumption.

The chip – BTF-ZJ401 has just a 1.5 ml volume (25x20x3mm, 3.5g), which is roughly 1/25th the size of other chips on the market today. The main problem for designers of such a small radio units is that it usually contains many induction coils; size of those cannot be reduced endlessly. Sony developed a special chip transforming the radio signal in order to replace all the external coils. Both tuners have a digital interface for simple integration into other digital devices as PDA, laptops and tablet PCs.

A Sony spokesperson stated that the TV Tuner card shown at CeBit was a product concept mock up. As of now, Sony has no plans to commercialize the device.

Thanks to ClieSource for the tip. The picture is from Job Genders CeBit Gallery.

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wow.

Smoother @ 3/18/2003 1:24:56 PM #
This could be a nice tool in the future!

Martyn
www.handdator.com
RE: wow.
skennedy1217 @ 3/18/2003 1:57:54 PM #
Finally, a redeeming quality of the Memory Stick (right after I bought a T|T instead of the TG-50). I hope someone can follow with an SD tuner.

Scott

RE: wow.
ganoe @ 3/18/2003 2:02:02 PM #
> Finally, a redeeming quality of the Memory Stick

"the TV Tuner card shown at CeBit was a product concept mock up. As of now, Sony has no plans to commercialize the device."

Sony was showing mock ups like this 3 years ago and essentially none of them have seen the light of day as a real product.

RE: wow.
I.M Anonymous @ 3/18/2003 2:34:38 PM #
If this came out, I would go out and buy a Clie right now. Seriously. This is the killer app I've been waiting for to upgrade from B&W to color.

RE: wow.
Admin @ 3/18/2003 2:41:42 PM #
Here's an article from Jan '01 on prototype SD cards...

http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1541

RE: wow.
mikemusick @ 3/18/2003 4:13:58 PM #
>...mock ups...

Yep. Not wanting to sound like a broken record here, but Sony's "non-marketing" of cool MS peripherals is becoming just a little cynical. Year after year they show neat stuff at these shows, but it's always an empty implied promise solely done to generate buzz for their platform and proprietary expansion format.

And I'll admit that I bit, too. I bought a T615 on the expectation that the GPS and Bluetooth MemorySticks would see the light of day in the U.S. Wrong.

RE: wow.
MobileMitch @ 3/18/2003 6:26:32 PM #
This is ALMOST as cool as that Handspring Spatula/Springboard unit they showed as concept but never marketed.

What exactly is the news then?

sralmas @ 3/18/2003 2:32:20 PM #
So this is a story that a product is *not* coming out? What exactly is the news here?

RE: What exactly is the news then?
Admin @ 3/18/2003 2:43:59 PM #
Indeed Sony stated that they have no plans to commercialize the device, yet they have already developed/manufactured the chips to make something like this possible. So they are mum on it now, but this is technology that you can expect to see in the not so distant future.
RE: What exactly is the news then?
Raptor1313666 @ 3/18/2003 2:52:15 PM #
Just curious, but didn't Sony also say that the NR70 shown a while back was just a concept mockup?

We've seen what happened there.

And both the Bluetooth and GPS Memstick devices have seen the light of day (granted, very limited light, but still).

So who's to say that this one won't follow a similar route?

-Richard "Raptor" Powell

"Nice guys may finish last, but you know, the company's much better back here."

RE: What exactly is the news then?
Admin @ 3/18/2003 5:46:26 PM #
Yes, the NR70 was once a "mock-up device", great example.

Anyone wants to guess how this will be?

i2oadi2unnei2 @ 3/18/2003 5:14:24 PM #
This would be a great 'gadget' to add to my PDA! But I wonder how much it'll come out as? Hmmm....


...|3eep |3eep!!...

RE: Anyone wants to guess how this will be?
i2oadi2unnei2 @ 3/18/2003 5:16:19 PM #
Ooopsss typo! I forgot to add the word 'MUCH' between "how" and "this" HEEHEE


...|3eep |3eep!!...

Reception

Wiggd @ 3/19/2003 1:37:18 AM #
"Both chips can receive a common radio signal input for VHF (1-12 channel) and UHF (13-62 channel)"

I know that my open air reception even with basic rabbit ear's isn't that great. So the question is, how would you be able to connect an external reception source such as roof mount antena, cable or satellite?

RE: Reception
dustbunny44 @ 3/19/2003 4:16:31 PM #
With your Bluetooth antenna/amplifier ;-).
RE: Reception
crabini @ 3/19/2003 5:55:57 PM #
Any wireless medium (bluetooth,802's) can accomplish by extending or expanding the capabilities of this device, such as satellite, digital cable box, security cameras the list goes on the uses of this device can open up.

RE: Reception
fleegle @ 3/19/2003 10:33:31 PM #
That's all fine and dandy. But the real question is:

Since Bluetooth is only capable for short range operation, why in the world would you want to watch cable/satellite/digital tv on your PDA when you have a huge screen (compared to the PDA) tv in the same room?

"Because it's cool" isn't a valid answer. I'm a geek too but that is just plain stupid. ;-)

RE: Reception
Wiggd @ 3/22/2003 8:36:14 AM #
Ok, follow on question to the blue tooth solution. If I have the TV tuner in the memory slot to watch tv. How am suppose to insert a blue tooth adapter extension device in to my pda when their is only one memory slot, so that iI can get better reception to watch TV in the first place?

Just something to get the mental juices going.

RE: Reception
edi @ 9/25/2003 1:42:50 PM #
Why are you comparing a possible TV enabled palm device with a full TV set? The real question which answers your first one is: "Are you planning to take the TV set with you wherever you go?"

I want one....why do they taunt us like this???

ryuken @ 7/8/2003 10:42:10 AM #
Shame... Id love to get hold of one...guess Ill have to wait for samsungs mobile with an inbuilt tuner instead...whether it ever reaches britain sometime within the next 2 years is another matter....

But Id much rather have it ebedded within a pda.


Have they even realised how much business they're losing ? when they hold out on us?????????



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