System Requirements

The operating environment of VAIO Media must meet the following requirements.
Server
Client
Computer
  • Sony VAIO computers with Windows Vista or Windows XP preinstalled
  • Devices capable of transferring media that can be played back with VAIO Media.*1
  • Sony VAIO computers with Windows Vista or Windows XP preinstalled
  • Sony VAIO computers upgraded to Windows Vista using the Windows Vista upgrade program
  • Sony VAIO computers upgraded to Windows XP using the Windows XP upgrade program
  • Devices capable of playing back media received from the server.
Software
VAIO Media Integrated Server 4.1 or later, and one of the following software applications.*2
  • Windows Media Center
  • VAIO Zone
  • Giga Pocket version 5.0 or later
Other hardware
Any device with network connection capabilities, such as network adapters.
*1
Depending on the server, there may be limitations on some of the functions that clients can use. For details, see "Precautions and Limitations".
*2
Only required when watching television or video. The television function may not be available in some countries or regions.
Formats Supported by Clients and Server
When you access compatible media on the server from a client through your network, the server converts the format of the file to match the settings of the client. This format conversion depends on the settings of each client.
When using VAIO Media-compatible devices other than computers to enjoy media, the formats must be converted to formats supported by the server and/or clients. Refer to the devices' documentation and take care of the following:
  • When a VAIO Media-compatible device other than a computer is used as the server, you must convert media to a format supported by VAIO Media.
  • When a VAIO Media-compatible device other than a computer is used as a client, you must convert media to a format supported by the client. It is not possible to enjoy other types of media.

The following table shows formats before and after conversion.

Type of Content
Original Format
Format When Delivered
Music *1
Music file organized by SonicStage *2
  • ATRAC3 or ATRAC3plus (Not converted)
  • RAW (linear PCM)
WAV (linear PCM)*3
  • RAW (linear PCM)
MP3 (MPEG1 Audio Layer-3)
  • MP3 (MPEG1 Audio Layer-3) (Not converted)
  • RAW (linear PCM)
WMA (except for copyright protected content)
  • WMA (except for copyright protected content) (Not converted)
  • RAW (linear PCM)
Photos
BMP
  • BMP (Not converted)
  • JPEG
JPEG
  • JPEG
GIF
  • GIF (Not converted)
  • JPEG
TIFF
  • TIFF (Not converted)
  • JPEG
PNG
  • PNG (Not converted)
  • JPEG
Videos *4 *5
TV program recorded with VAIO Zone
  • MPEG2 (Not converted)
TV program recorded with Giga Pocket*6
  • MPEG1 (Not converted)*7
  • MPEG2 (Not converted)
TV program recorded with Windows Media Center
  • MPEG2
MPEG1
  • MPEG2
MPEG2 (program stream)*8 *9
  • MPEG2
DVR-MS (except for copyright protected content)
  • MPEG2
HDV *10
  • HDV (Not converted)
  • MPEG2 (only possible with a model capable of HW transcode)
AVI (DV-AVI, DivX*11, etc.)
  • MPEG2
WMV
  • WMV (Not converted)
  • MPEG2
MP4 *12
  • MPEG2
TV *13
Video signal from a TV tuner
  • MPEG1*14
  • MPEG2
External input signal (only possible with televisions equipped with an external input signal connector)
  • MPEG2


*1
The following audio files are converted to RAW format (linear PCM) before delivery. As a result, they may not be able to be played when the network bandwidth is low.
  • ATRAC 96/128/160/192/320/352 kbps
  • ATRAC Advanced Lossless
  • Content recorded without copyright protection using software such as SonicStage.
*2
As a general rule content obtained from a music distributor is excluded.
*3
Audio files in 5.1 channel WAV format are downmixed to 2 channels during conversion.
*4
If Giga Pocket is installed on the server, video conversion cannot be performed while Giga Pocket is recording.
*5
Except for HDV format files, video with a picture size larger than 720 x 576 cannot be converted to MPEG2 format for playback.
*6
Cannot be played when embedded with duplicate control data produced by CGMS-A (Copy Generation Management System - Analog).
*7
Limited to video files saved in MPEG1 format at the time of recording with Giga Pocket.
*8
Playback and server operations may not be able to be performed properly when attempting to play the following types of videos.
  • Videos with a time stamp that does not start at zero
  • Videos with a time stamp that is not continuous
  • Videos in which, for example, the screen size or aspect ratio changes during playback
*9
If the original content does not meet the following conditions, it is modified in order to meet the conditions. This is to enable it to be played back on many clients.
 
MPEG2
Video
Format
MPEG2 PS
Video codec
MPEG2V
Resolution
(NTSC) 720 x 480, 352 x 480, 352 x 240
(PAL) 720 x 576, 352 x 576, 352 x 288
Bit rate
2 Mbps - 9.8 Mbps
Frame rate
(NTSC) 29.97 fps
(PAL) 25 fps
Aspect ratio
4:3, 16:9
Audio
Audio codec
MPEG1 Layer 2, AC3
Sample frequency
48 kHz
Audio bit rate
-
Audio channels
-
*10
Files of this format are delivered by the server without being converted. As such, clients that do not support the HDV file format cannot play these files.
*11
You must install the appropriate codec on the computer used as the server to convert DivX files.
*12
Only certain VAIO models can use this function.
*13
TV broadcasts can only be distributed from some VAIO models equipped with a TV tuner. The TV function may not be available in some countries or regions.
*14
Only possible when the server is a model equipped with Giga Pocket.
  • Even with content in the Original Format column, video may appear fuzzy or the content may not play properly depending on the file.
  • WAV format files with an 8 bit sampling rate are not supported.
  • In order to record and store TV broadcasts on the server, your computer must be equipped with a TV tuner. Also, recording methods may differ depending on your computer model.


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