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Sony Android tellies get YouView makeover

Goggle box becomes Google box

Not so porky 4k

The remote looks like last year’s model but for 2015 it has a new feature: voice control. Press and talk and you can get the TV do things that not-so-smart TVs never used to do, like search for actor info or browse the web for images. “Show me images of the Eiffel Tower” brought up a gallery of different photos sourced from the web, which look pretty good on a big screen and that’s the idea. No doubt this picture search functionality will be popular in the home to view all kinds of erections.

Sony Bravia X90

The X90 features a hoop-style bracket. It hangs from the wall as if hinged from the top to enable access to the back panel interfacing

Oh, and if you lose the remote down the back of the sofa, voice control is available from Android and iOS apps with Sony’s TV Sideview.

Last year, the arrival of Sony’s FDR-AX100E Handycam brought 4K shooting to the masses for around £1,800. This year’s 4K consumer shooter, the FDR-AXP33 is smaller and cheaper at £999, featuring Balanced Optical SteadyShot – in short, the lens has some kind of suspension mount that minimises camera shake. While not exactly a first, Sony’s optical image stabilisation hasn’t been fitted to its 4K Handycams before.

Sony 4K Handycams

Phonecams aside, dedicated 4K shooting gets smaller and cheaper with the FDR-AXP33 due in March

If the prices keep tumbling then 4K content will become more prevalent, even if it is just stuff for the family video album. The stumbling block is the video format. The consumer models use XAVC S for 4K shooting which means you’ll either have to transcode for older editors or have the latest version of Adobe Premiere CC, Apple Final Cut Pro X or Sony’s Vegas Pro 13 Edit, all of which cost more than a few quid.

Fortunately, Cyberlink’s PowerDirector 13 Ultra supports XAVC S and is going for £63 at the moment, which might not be a first choice but is looking better than ever these days and would probably be enough to keep most amateurs happy.

Sony 4K Handycams

That's more like it, a Handycam that fits in your hand

And if you can't be bothered with editing, the FDR-AXP33 has a built-in projector and an HDMI input so you can either watch what you've shot or keep the kids quiet with a crowdpleasing movie from your phone.

The Sony FDR-AXP33 Handycam will be available from mid-March for £999. ®

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