» Posts Tagged ‘sony’
I was being overly harsh when I said Sony was bringing a knife to a gunfight with their forthcoming NEX-VG10 — the camera does feature interchangeable lenses, a big ‘ole APS-C sensor, and video-shooting ergonomics that will presumably put DSLRs to shame. But its lack of 24p (which Sony is saving for a yet-unannounced pro version) will mean most people interested in shooting narrative material will have to look elsewhere. Or will they? As it turns out, there may be a way to get 24p out of the camera yet. More »
The Sony DSLR-killer we heard rumblings about before now has a model name, full specs, and a release date. The internet is already lauding Sony’s announced of the NEX-VG10 as a game changer, and in many ways it is: after all, it’s an interchangeable lens camcorder from a major manufacturer that will ship with a host of features missing from today’s DSLRs. The camera utilizes the same Micro Four Thirds APS-C sensor found in Sony’s new NEX cameras — presumably without employing the same line-skipping tricks as Canon’s current crop of DSLRs. It includes full manual control over video features, has a swivel LCD screen (and a viewfinder), comes with a legitimate built-in microphone, accepts E and A-mount Sony SLR lenses, and will actually record to SDXC and SDHC cards (in addition to Sony proprietary Memory Stick Duo cards). Furthermore, the camera will arrive very soon (September) with a very aggressive street price ($2,000). However, it’s missing one crucial feature that immediately knocks it off my list. More »
Sony is joining Panasonic in the post-DSLR camera market with a compact interchangeable lens video camera. It doesn’t have a model name yet, although Sony says they plan to “commercialize” it in Fall 2010 — does “commercialize” mean release? The unnamed camera will take new Sony E-mount lenses (which go with their new NEX-3 and NEX-5 video-capable still cameras) as well as glass from Sony’s existing “a” DSLR line. Here’s a (dramatic!) video of the prototype camera: More »
One of my favorite artists when he was a Fugee (when I was 15), Wyclef Jean has since strung together a frustratingly inconsistent discography, characterized by intermittent guitar playing, occasional repurposing of his own catalog (Wyclef Jean featuring Claudette Ortiz: Dance Like This became Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean: Hips Don’t Lie) moral and/or religious grandstanding, general stonership, on-stage bonership (it came up as I was pulling the Shakira video… which also sounds like a pun), some bona fide hits, some bad covers, some even worse covers… Actually I’m not sure where I’m going with this. If I get the chance to work with him one day, will I go back and delete this post to cover my tracks?
Anyway, this is not one of those “Seen” posts where I share a video I like. Instead, I believe Wyclef’s latest video, “Fast Car,” may in fact be a bona fide New Low in product placement, and thus worth sharing at this particular post-millennial corporate synergasm in time. And while I didn’t expect it to be the greatest music video ever made (after all, the video wasn’t directed by “the best who ever did it“), I at least expected to understand what the hell was going on during the next four minutes. Instead, the corporate agenda on display obliterates all pretense of a sensical narrative, and after watching it a few times I still can’t figure out if anyone had the balls to actually put forth a treatment, or if they just strung together a bunch of shots and called it a day.
Why is “nonsensical” a word, but not “sensical?”
Anyway, Wyclef is on Sony BMG. Paul Simon, featured on the song, is also on Sony. Burnout Paradise, the videogame featured throughout the music video, is currently available on the Sony Playstation 3. At the start of the video, Wyclef’s previous single, the catchy “Sweetest Girl“–which features singing by Niia, another Sony artist–is playing on a Sony TV. A kid walks past a Sony-format tape deck (HDCAM?), with a Sony MP3 player around his neck and a Sony bluetooth headest in his ear, picks up his Sony Playstation controller (note the Playstation itself on the desk), and then e-mails Wyclef on his Sony Playstation Portable (the PSP can e-mail! take note!). Wyclef opens his trunk to grab a Sony controller from in front of another Sony flastcreen. Once inside the Burnout Paradise virtual world (which makes sense, because the song is titled “Fast Car,” and the game has… cars), the white guy stand-in for Paul Simon checks his Sony PSP (while driving at top speed), and to conclude the video, the kid takes a picture of himself on a Sony webcam.
Here is a partial list of companies that did not pay for the video’s production:
Microsoft
Nintendo
Cabot Cheese
Ty: Like you stated though, all you need is a PC that runs iTunes (for now) With the new Apple TV, Apple Decides the Living Room Can Wait
Ty: Ah. Good point. Ever since switching over to Apple I've kind of taken fo… With the new Apple TV, Apple Decides the Living Room Can Wait
William: What I want to see is a device that will bury the cable companies. Time Wa… With the new Apple TV, Apple Decides the Living Room Can Wait
Koo: That's a good point -- all you need is another piece of Apple hardware tha… With the new Apple TV, Apple Decides the Living Room Can Wait