Sony has unveiled the Sony FMP-X1, a new media player intended to provide 4K content for its new UHD TV range.
The announcement coincided with Sony’s reveal of the pricing and release date for the Sony XBR-55X900A and XBR-65X900A 4K TV sets.
The Sony FMP-X1 will be available this summer for $699, which works out to roughly £456 going by the current exchange rate.
Curiously, though the Sony FMP-X1 is intended to be a hub for online 4K content, it won’t be able to access any of this until autumn. Until then, buyers will only be able to use the device to stream a selection of 10 pre-loaded films to their expensive new 4K TVs.
Sony FMP-X1 4K Movie Selection
This isn’t what you’d call a stellar selection of films, either. The 10 on offer include Bad Teacher, Battle: Los Angeles, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Karate Kid (2010), Salt, Taxi Driver, That’s My Boy, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Other Guys and Total Recall (2012).
The Sony FMP-X1 will also come with a bunch of video shorts in full 4K resolution, presumably for the dual purpose of showing off to your friends and justifying the considerable outlay you’ve made for this as yet unestablished technology to yourself.
There’s no news of a UK release for the Sony FMP-X1, but from the sounds of it the device won’t be worth buying until September at the very earliest anyway.
Does Sony’s somewhat half-baked launch of the FMP-X1 leave you convinced that 4K is the future? Let us know in the comments section below, or via the Trusted Reviews Twitter and Facebook feeds.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
