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Sony launches Blu-Ray Notebook product
MUMBAI: Sony today unveiled a portable multimedia PC with Blu-ray Disc technology that packs power and entertainment into a compact package. Part of a series, the new VAIO FZ notebook comes in multiple configurations, including a premium and standard model. The premium version plays Blu-ray Disc high-definition content so you can enjoy movies in full 1080 HD resolution, as well as record, store and play back personal content on high-capacity BD media. |
Weighing less than six pounds, the FZ notebook is designed to maximize LCD real estate integrating space-saving, engineering refinements throughout the chassis. Combined with Sony’s patented XBrite-HiColor technology (on the premium model), the result is a 15.4-inch widescreen display that produces razor-sharp details and crisp, bold colors within the “footprint” of a much smaller notebook. The FZ premium model also has an HDMI™ connector so you can connect to a high-definition television. Sony Electronics senior VP VAIO product marketing Mike Abary says, “With the premium model, we are bringing the power of Blu-ray to a portable PC at an unprecedented price of about $2,000. Now consumers can enjoy stunning HD entertainment on their terms— virtually anywhere, any time.” |
The new PC incorporates an Intel Centrino Duo processor technology and built-in 802.11n wireless LAN technology for high-speed, wireless computing with greater range and reliability than ever before. A compatible 802.11n access point is required. The model comes pre-installed with the Windows Vista™ Home Premium operating system. The FZ notebook includes multimedia controls just above the keyboard. With the push of a button the user can go straight to his/her CDs, pictures — even watch movies — without ever booting up the operating system (on the standard model). And with Sony’s original Sound Reality technology, the FZ notebook offers professional-quality, high-resolution surround-sound. The new model also comes loaded with LocationFree software so you can “place-shift” live TV, access your personal video recorder or DVD player, and view that content on your notebook via the Internet (base station and broadband connectivity required). An integrated camera and microphone let you send video messages. You can enjoy this feature with free video messaging services, such as AOL Instant Messenger, and stay connected to family, friends and co-workers with user-friendly chat and video mail functions (broadband connection and third-party services required). The FZ notebook supports ExpressCard, letting you port data at incredible speeds. This makes it easy to transfer video and large files from external devices to your PC. The unit also includes S-video, which enables convenient connectivity to televisions, cameras and projectors. It also supports all versions of Memory Stick Flash media. |
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
