Without much warning or leaks, Sony has announced a new Action Cam (HDR-AS20) to join the company’s growing line of mountable cameras. The Action Cam AS20 provides many features of its predecessors like 170-degree wide-angle views, SteadyShot image stabilization, Zeiss Tessar lens, and Wi-Fi. The latter feature allows you to connect to Sony’s own Live-View (Remote RM-LVR1), which can be purchased separately, or to the free iOS/Android app. So what’s changed? Let’s talk details.
Last week, Sony announced a host of new features that would be coming to their Action Cam lineup, thanks to a new firmware update. The Sony Action Cam AS30V Firmware Version 3.00 brings with it improvement to the auto exposure function, and the ability to operate multiple cameras using an RM-LVR1 (Live-View Remote). After the jump, the Sony Action Cam AS30V Firmware Version 3.00 upgrade guide awaits you.
A few days ago, we reported that Sony is bringing some new functionalities to the Action Cam AS100V. Most notably of these features is the ability of the GoPro competitor to broadcast live video via Ustream. The new firmware update which must first be downloaded to your computer can be done either on a Mac or PC. After the jump, the Sony Action Cam As100V firmware version 1.00 upgrade guide awaits you.
If you’ve been wanting to live stream your adventures and own a Sony Action Cam then listen up. Sony has released a new firmware update that gives the Action Cam AS100V the ability to broadcast live video through Ustream. Thanks to the Ustream integration, Sony has also incorporated social network alerts which automatically broadcast your live stream to the platforms of your choice. In addition to live streaming, the new Action Cam AS100V firmware 1.00 also brings with it new functions in still image shooting which include:
Unfortunately for owners of the Sony Action Cam AS30V, live streaming is not feature they’ll be getting but the new firmware update does bring with it other changes.
The imaging gurus over at the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) have just awarded Sony no fewer than 4 ‘best in category’ awards, including for best mobile imaging device with the QX series. You may remember the popular QX camera attachments for smartphones which raised the game in the mobile camera wars, bringing a professional tier to our beloved gadgets. Both models filled up various regional Amazon most-purchased lists for some time and earned a resoundingly positive response in the smartphone community as a genuine new standard for mobile photography.
Sony’s other wins came in the best action cam, best camcorder and best CSC professional categories.
TIPA is represented by imaging professionals on 5 continents and this year the ceremony took place from April 3-5 in Vancouver, Canada.
Come check out the four winners.
4K just got yet another big push, this time at the world’s largest football event; the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Sony announced a deal with FIFA to produce the Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Film in 4K Ultra HD, and three full matches including the final. This year the World Cup will take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July.
ESPN in the US has just signed Sony to supply studio cameras for their new Digital Center 2 studio production operations in Bristol, Conn. The Center is a 193,000-square-foot facility due to air this May.
Charity Lemonade Stand with Hugh Hefner
Now that we are just a few days away from the end of Sony’s financial year, the company has reported a 16% rise in sales of image sensors compared with 2012. This news should help the company maintain it’s pole position in the lucrative smartphone image sensor market. Sony has twice purchased more factories to boost CMOS sensor production as currently demand is expected to outstrip supply within two years. The Japanese electronics giant has benefited from the cultural rise of the ‘selfie’ along with a flourishing global smartphone market.
But this is more than just a case of being in the right business at the right time. Smartphone sales may be thriving, but not all manufacturers are benefiting. In just a few years, Sony has completely changed it’s strategy regarding access to their coveted image sensors. Under the leadership of the previous CEO Sir Howard Stringer, the plan was to limit competitors access to the technology. Now under CEO Kaz Hirai, any company looking to supply their phones with Sony’s image sensors are absolutely welcome, it seems. It’s an overhaul from being ‘alone in the sandpit’ to ‘selling lemonade on a hot day’.
Rival Samsung chose Sony to supply the Galaxy S4 with Japanese tech but has now started taking this production in-house. This presents a formidable new competitor in the CMOS market. How did Sony get to the top of this market and what is Sony’s plan to stay dominant?
Sony has proven itself once again in design terms, with no less than 26 of its products earning the seal of approval from the iF Design group, with three products earning a gold award. In individual company achievements, Sony ranked the third highest awarded company, ahead of rivals Apple and LG.
iF is an international group that recognises excellence in product design. It is their aim to “strengthen public awareness of design” and their logo has been an illustrious global standard of design for over sixty years. This year’s event took place on February 28th in Munich, Germany.
It probably surprises few that Sony would do well with awards for design. The company has always raised the bar with iconic and effortless designs with current class-leaders in the Xperia Z2, the PlayStation 4 and the luxury X9000A Bravia TV line to name but a few.
Read on to find out which Sony products earned gold and which two awards come at a bittersweet time.
The financial results for the past three months of Sony Corp. were released today, forecasting a net loss of 110bn yen ($1.1bn) for the financial year ending March. This a revision downward from a previous prospect of 30bn yen profit.
The company reported a significant boost to sales and operating income, lifting the stock price. PS4 and Xperia smartphone and tablet sales were strong, as expected. All segments reported increased year-on-year sales and operating revenue, except for devices.
Sony has bit the bullet and sold of it’s PC business and is pushing out the TV division to a wholly-owned subsidary. This leads to impairment charges and write-offs with 5,000 job cuts planned before the end of the 2014 financial year. The PC business is sold to Japan Industrial Partners Inc. to “enhance the autonomy of the business”.
Read on the for full story.
While GoPro is still the go-to company when it comes to MP4 cameras for adventure seekers, Sony continues to improve its Action Cam with each generation. At CES 2014, Sony announced the 3rd generation Action Cam HDR-AS100V with a lighter body design and splashproof housing. Much like the iOS ecosystem, what makes GoPro units so appealing is the host of accessories that are available for them.
To help make the Action Cam more attractive, Sony is offering a slew of new accessories like a Head Lens Protector, Handlebar Mount, and more. All the announced Action Cam accessories can be seen in our video preview after the jump.
At CES 2014, Sony updated their Action Cam line of MP4 cameras which compete directly with GoPro. This 3rd generation Action Cam (AS100V) contains the same design language as its predecessor but don’t be fooled by that. While it may look unchanged from years before, the HDR-AS100V offers a host of improvements like a new splashproof design which means that you can now record in the rain without worry of frying your unit. It’s worth noting that splashproof and waterproof are two different concepts and for those looking to do underwater recording or water activities, a waterproof case will still be required.
Another improvement this year is in what Sony hasn’t included which is weight. Compared to its predecessor and rival GoPro units, the Action Cam AS100V weighs next to nothing at 2.4oz. Other features include built in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy syncing with computers and mobile devices like iOS and Android via the PlayMemories Mobile app. After the jump, our video preview awaits you.
It’s award season – and Sony has won no less than five Product of the Year awards at the annual European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA), awards, the largest editorial multimedia organization in Europe. The seductive Xperia Tablet Z won outright in the coveted Tablet of the Year 2013-2014 category, a stunning victory in Sony’s attempt to set new standards in the rapidly expanding tablet sector. Other accolades went to two Sony cameras, a Bravia TV and a HT receiver in a thrilling night.
Thanks to the Taiwan’s NCC Agency, we learned late last week that Sony would be soon announcing the NEX-5T. While not a lot of details are known about the camera, a registry like that points to a near future release. Not to be outdone, a Korean Agency has let it slip that Sony has just registered the NEX-FS700R and NEX-FS700RH. If those models sound familiar, that’s because the NEX-FS700 is a current 4K camera from Sony that also happens to be priced far below the industry darling RED cameras. Like the NEX-5T, we have no details to go off of, other than the camera does exist and is likely being announced in the coming weeks. What we do know, however, is that, judging from their names, the two new models very carry over the 4K tradition with improvements and not a radical shift as the series model number has stayed the same.
Software updates can be a magical thing and make it feel like it’s Christmas all over again. Over the past few years, we’ve seen software updates turn the PS3 from a hardcore gaming machine to a rich media hub with a host of new apps. Now, Sony is applying a bit of the same software update magic to Action Cam, their take on the Go Pro. Thanks to the latest update, the Sony Action Cam (HDR-AS15) will be able to record at 1080p 60fps versus the previous 30fps. Those who like to adventure under the sea and own the underwater housing will want to listen up as the new update allows for better white balancing when submerged. But Sony didn’t stop there.
During CES 2013, Sony quietly introduced their 2nd generation 3D Digital Recording Binoculars. Not a lot was known about the units at the time but Sony has since opened the floodgates and there’s plenty to like this time around. The DEV-50V is a followup DEV-5 that was announced and released nearly two years ago. While keeping true to its core by offering a technology packed digital recording binoculars that can capture video 1080p 3D, the DEV-50V has improved upon its predecessor in every way. Those familiar with the previous model will note the sleeker and much smaller design which helps bring down the weight to 1.14 lb, a 30% reduction. The new housing is also water- and dust-proof, allowing the unit to be used in rain and other wet circumstances without fear of frying your expensive binoculars. However, the real magic of DEV-5V is all under the hood.
