LAS VEGAS--You probably won't notice the improved image quality on the small screen, but portable Blu-ray players still serve those who want to watch their high-def disc collection on the go.
Keeping that niche of travelers in mind, Sony announced the BDP-SX910 portable Blu-ray player at CES 2012, available this spring. Like any Blu-ray player, it can handle both Blu-ray discs and DVDs. It has a 9-inch, high-resolution screen with a 180-degree swivel, utilizing the same "flip-screen" design virtually all portable Blu-ray players use.
Sony claims battery life of 4.5 hours, which should be enough to get you through about two typical Hollywood movies, although it's half-hour less than the quoted battery life of last year's BDP-SX1000. Connectivity includes an HDMI output, as well as a USB port capable of playing back digital media.
The design and functionality of the this player doesn't seem particularly improved over that of previous models, with the Sony BDP-SX910 looking as chunky as other portable Blu-ray players without any new features.
Unless there's a significant price drop, expect the Sony BDP-SX910 to have pretty much the same appeal as portable Blu-ray players in 2011: almost none.
