Audio Video News

Anyone heading to Japan anytime soon? If so, could you pick up one of these for me? Sony's released two versions of this new VAIO media server, with a whopping 1TB or 1.5TB of storage. Looks kinda like a whopper too. The 1TB model, VGF-HS1 will retail (for now, only in Japan) for $570, and the 1.5TB VGF-HS1S streets for $760. That's plenty of room to store HD videos to display on your Sony (or any other) HDTV. The distinctive shape is designed to match the VAIO TP1 home theater system. Behind that sleek facade lies inputs for all sorts of formats.  Wanna see what they play?

The VAIO servers both have a small LCD screen for instructions, and have inputs for Sony's own MemoryStick, USB, SD, and Compact Flash. Copying a card into the memory is done with the touch of one button. Doesn't get much easier than that. Both have gigabit Ethernet and DLNA compatibility, and play a laundry-list of formats. Ready? AVCHD, MPEG2, HDV, JPEG, BMP, PNG, WAV (woohoo-- lossless CD storage!) MP3, AAC, WMA, and Sony's last stand for ATRAC. There's no word yet if Sony's going to release the VGF-HS1 or VGF-HS1S outside of Japan, but let's hope so. If not, lemme know if you're heading to Tokyo for some fresh sushi anytime soon; my passport just expired.-Leslie Shapiro