"Creation Box" makes your old porn videos new

[Taro Toporific]

The odd thing about this $4,800 "CREATION BOX" is the Sony's own website has not heard of it. A search of the exact term "Creation Box" on the Sony Gobal website yields zip, zilch, zero. Sony, sheesh. :roll:

Sony says Creation Box makes old TVs good as new
TOKYO (AP)Jan 12 -Sony Corp. says its new Creation Box makes any TV's images clearer, flicker-free and more vivid, and lets users zoom in for close-ups of on-screen images. But at 500,000 yen (US$4,800; euro3,700), it's not for everyone.
The Creation Box _ on sale by order only starting Jan. 29 in Japan _ is part of Sony's high-price Qualia line. The Japanese electronics giant has no sales target, and no plans so far to sell the product overseas.
The machine, also known as Qualia 001, looks like a black box with a handheld remote control. It uses technology that adjusts TV signals so that images' outlines and textures look shaper and clearer, even on large screens. ...more...

[kotatsuneko]

heh so no more excuses regarding shmup bullet zones

[Kuang_Grade]

Maybe they've just added it in the last few hours, Taro but Sony is a bit odd on how it handles info on the Qualia stuff. I suspect it's a part of their snob marketing plan (rule #1: don't make it too easy to find).

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/QUALIA/jp/

Here's the press release (in Japanese)
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200501/05-0112/

Partial Machine translation (hence the knitting machine reference) below

As beautiful high picture quality image is created with real,
operating image, you propose the new viewing style where it enjoys
"creation box" sale

- The image equipment of the new generation who evolves
according to the change and technological innovation of environment -

QUALIA 001 "creation box" ' Q001-CB01 '

As for the SONY marketing corporation, the SONY individual
image signal processing technology "DRC-MFv2" (digital reality
creation: As multi function buoy two) it loads, from the various image
signals which are input, higher picture quality it outputs image,
operating image such as high picture quality zoom, it can enjoy, it
sells "creation box" "Q001-CB01".

Type name QUALIA selling price incoming order target date

QUALIA 001 "creation box" ' Q001-CB01 '

525,000 Yen (tax removal price: 500,000 Yen) January 29th

To change it is possible the knitting machine, of course even
to the hi-vision signal, from with Kousei detail real to make the
image signal of the television and the standard television signal of
DVD and the like in the image which has material feeling with the
loading "DRC-MFv2". By the fact that the knitting machine is connected
with display equipment such as external image equipment and picture
tube television such as DVD and tuner and thin-shaped television and
projector, it can enjoy more beautiful hi-vision image with a real.

* The entry terminal above the component (Y/PB/PR) or D3 terminal is
necessary in the display equipment which displays the image which is
output from the knitting machine.

* When you connect with the knitting machine the internal tuner of the
television as an external image output equipment, another display
equipment such as projector is necessary.

In addition, this it utilizes the high picture quality creative
technology which is superior, portion of the picture it is possible in
real time to expand to maximum of 9 times (vertical & side 3 times)
(zoom), without deteriorating picture quality almost loading "creation
view" function. While looking at the image which is in the midst of
broadcasting and in the midst of playing back, because to selecting &
to move with top and bottom left and right slanted optional direction
of the picture it is possible the part where zoom we would like to do,
the new viewing style where the viewer adjusts to his own interest and
operates image personally and enjoys, is made possible. Furthermore,
because similar operation also when playing back the image which
photographed with the video camera is possible, being free, you
propose also new photographing style. It is loaded onto the knitting
machine, it was developed in 1997 changes on the basis of the new
conception that the standard television signal furthermore with Kousei
detail it makes "DRC" (digital reality creation) technology, in the
beautiful hi-vision signal with high-level transaction of operation
and. After that, converting image of interlace mode to progressive
mode, it is possible it displays "DRC-MF" (1998), furthermore with
with the taste of the individual, to make, the expression power rich
Kousei small image which it implements "DRC-MF" to change, to
"DRC-MFv1" (2001), and in 2004 even from hi-vision signal real it
makes in image and changes while "DRC-MFv2" and, adding new
performance, it evolved. Although broadcast digital, moves to
hi-vision broadcast from standard broadcast from analog as for the
display equipment as the to large picture it converts quickly, the
liquid crystal and the plasma, the front projector and the rear
projector it diversifies also the image device from the picture tube.
"DRC" technology in order that we answer the needs of high picture
quality conversion with the leading technology which is future in age,
presently continues the research development for further evolution.
SONY the market enters the "creation box" as image equipment of the
new generation who evolves according to the change technological
innovation of environment high picture quality image offers the method
of enjoying the new image over future.

[Taro Toporific]

Here's a cute Japanese girl holding herCreation Box controller just for you.

[FG Lurker]

Some more details on this in English at PC World online:

Sony Qualia 001

You can't get better than HDTV, right? Think again! The Qualia 001 Creation Box is a little larger than a VCR and packs one of Sony's latest digital video controllers. The chip can produce a high-definition image from a standard-definition source, improving on the quality of any conventional video source as well as the appearance of high-definition images.

The chip operates by applying a processing algorithm that sharpens the edges of objects in an image. It also supports 3X zoom, and it adjusts picture quality as the zoom gets tighter on the image.

Sony recently demonstrated the Qualia 001, the latest in its high-end Qualia line. The processed video is noticeably sharper and has more resolution than the unprocessed. The largest difference, to my eye, was in a standard-definition image displayed on a three-year-old Sony plasma display. The unprocessed image appeared a little soft; the processed image, which was stepped up to high definition, was much sharper and altogether better.

Differences, especially in fine detail such as the leaves of distant trees in a landscape shot, are also apparent on some CRTs, as well as on LCD and plasma televisions being fed high-definition video.

Sony's target customers are anyone who wants to improve a television picture, be they home-theater enthusiasts with the latest high-definition audio-visual setup or those who bought televisions a few years ago and have missed out on recent advances in image processing or HDTV. However, the Qualia 001 doesn't come cheap. The device is scheduled to go on sale in Japan on January 29 with a price tag of $5080. Sony does not plan to sell it overseas.

Looks very cool...Except for the price!