There were many PlayStation-exclusive games on display at PAX Prime this year, and none came close to the massive crowds drawn by StarHawk, the exciting new sequel to WarHawk on the PlayStation 3. I had a chance to talk to Jay Van Beveren (HawkStar Jay), the Community Manager for StarHawk at PAX Prime about StarHawk’s storyline, gameplay, features, additions and refinements to the WarHawk formula. Hit the jump to check out the full StarHawk interview.
Fans of the recently released Mortal Kombat (2011) can go on a trip down memory lane with tomorrow’s release of the much rumored and long awaited Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection for download on the PSN. The game collection will include Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2, and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Hit the jump for more information and a trailer of the game.
Thanks to the FCC, we’ve known for some time that Sony is planning on releasing the PRS-T1, a new e-reader that will add to Sony’s Reader lineup. Now, thanks to a Dutch retail site, we have some additional specs to share with you as well. The site pegs this new reader at 6-inches with a 800×600 e-ink screen, which will be capable of multi-touch gestures like pinch to zoom, which should come in hand when you need to enlarge text. For those who are always into learning new things or may need help with their reading, Sony is also including a built-in Wikipedia and Google search, which can be activated by simply pushing down on a word. Thanks to a new plastic body, the PRS-T1 will also be shedding some weight, dropping down to 6 ounces, versus the 7.6-ounce weight of the PRS-650. The juiciest part of all this might however be in the layout of the buttons, which are very similar to buttons on Android devices. Beyond that, there isn’t much information to prove or disprove the inclusion of some form of Android OS built in. With the device passing through the FCC for approval many months ago, we imagine that we won’t have to wait too long to find out the answer to that.
[Via Engadget]
One of the big surprises during Sony’s E3 2011 press conference was the reveal of a new 24-inch LCD, PlayStation-branded 3D TV. This unique TV would bundle, at the time, Resistance 3, which has since changed to Motorstorm Apocalypse, one pair of 3D glasses and HDMI cable for $499. What sets this TV aside from others, besides the low entry price point, is the TV’s capability of displaying 2 different images at once. This means that, as long as you have another pair of 3D glasses ($69), you and your buddy can play Resistance 3 or Motorstorm Apocalypse multiplayer on the same TV, without actually seeing each other’s screen. This 1080p TV is capable of delivering this via the 3D glasses by pumping a separate 720p 2D image to each pair of glasses.
For those who also want pure 3D, the PlayStation 3D Display is capable of delivering pure 1080p 3D via your cable, PS3, or Blu-ray player as well. It should also be taken into account that this is a fully-fledged 2D HD TV as well, which is capable of taking any normal input like all traditional TVs and should not be treated any differently. Sony has yet to set an official date, though we can confirm that it will be some time in November. Sony has also decided to match similar offers from GameStop and Amazon by also including Resistance 3 in the bundle, though you will need to place your pre-orders by September 30, 2011 for that deal. With R3 slated to come out September 6th, fans who want the game when it comes out will still have to purchase the game on their own as your pre-order is only good for when the product ships and Sony will not be giving you R3 ahead of the TV’s launch.
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The PlayStation 3 has been a unique gaming console from the beginning. A machine with a dedicated hard drive no matter which version you bought, native Blu-ray playback, and an architecture that lends itself to improvement. Over time, PlayStation 3 users have seen vast enhancements and features added to their machine, from a revised PlayStation Store, to XMB access during games, to 3D playback, and a host of video services. Just over a week ago, Sony also added NFL Sunday Ticket to their ever-expanding lineup that now includes:
Sony Ericsson will soon be releasing a new accessory for their Xperia line of phones. Dubbed the LiveDock, this smartphone dock allows you to charge your phone and watch videos in landscape mode. Sony will also be releasing a LiveWare manager application that allows you to launch specific apps like a clock or photo slideshow that will take advantage of the phones horizontal placement. Those who purchase multiple LiveDock units can also set which application they would like to launch automatically when connected to the dock. An example would be to have your slideshows launch when docked at home while a clock appears when docked at work.
The power management and phone attachment will be handled via a microUSB for power, and a USB port for connecting USB devices. Come Android 2.3.4’s release, the LiveDock will get boost of functionality from some unlikely devices. That’s because users who plug a USB keyboard and mouse or a PS3 controller via USB will be able to control their Xperia smartphone from that given input device. Even Xbox 360 controllers will work! The video below from SE-First should give you a good idea how the device will work.
After the jump, you can find a list of compatible phones, as well one additional picture.
The successor of the popular NEX-5 is finally here and as expected, is called the NEX-5N. This midrange and mirrorless camera from Sony might seem identical to the NEX-5, but is capable of offering a heck of a lot more and will probably be more than enough of a camera for those who are not willing to venture into the NEX-7 territory. First, let’s get the specs out of the way.
Can’t wait to get your hands on the Sony’s new flagship DSLR, the Alpha A77? Or maybe you’re like us and you simply can’t afford one but would like to learn all that you can from it. If you answered yes to either of those or you just like techy videos, then this video should help tide you over. Sony’s own SGNL channel put together an Alpha A77 preview during which they give you a video overview, demo out some of the features, and explain some of the new technology in the Alpha A77.
From what you’ve seen of the Alpha A77, is this the right camera for you or do you prefer something else from the Alpha lineup? Let us know in the comments section.
A little under a month ago, Apple released their latest operating system, Mac OS X Lion. As with all new operating system launches, there tends to be some unforeseen consequences and this time, the victim happened to be Sony’s Bloggie software. We’ve previously covered the Bloggie software on the Mac and quickly, after Lion’s release began to get hear from Mac users that the Bloggie software would no longer function under Lion. After launching the application, users would discover a white window, instead of software loading. Even users who had attempted to redownload the software were faced with the same problem; no matter what, the Bloggie software would not work on Lion.
As many of our regular readers know, my actual paying job is being an Apple Consultant, and over the years, I’ve built a great relationship with Sony and their staff. I quickly contacted Sony and they put me in touch with one of their engineers. After exchanging some console logs, Sony has been able to create a fix which is documented in the video after the jump. Sony has said that they will have a software update in the works, to ensure proper compatibility with Mac OS 10.7 though no given timeline has been put in place. After the jump, you can find a quick video walkthrough and the given steps needed to enable this fix.
Like clock work and as expected, Sony opened the flood gates this morning by announcing a bevy of new cameras which will continue to build and strengthen the companies Alpha and NEX line of cameras. Sony knows that in order to further gain market share in the DSLR market and to bring in users from the Nikon and Canon crowd, they need more then just dazzling camera bodies. That’s why, along side of their new camera’s Sony also announced three new NEX E-mount lenses, one new Alpha lens and confirmed the rumored LA-EA2 mount adaptor which we had previously reported on that will allow NEX cameras to use Alpha A lenses without losing any functionality. More details, including specs, images and pricing after the jump.
There is so many leaks from Sony’s camera department right now that it’s hard to keep track of them, let alone make a unique opening paragraph or photo pun, that it makes me shutter (see what I did there?). After giving you the Sony Alpha A77 specs and even telling you the differences to expect between the A65 and A77, the only thing that is left (besides an official confirmation of their existence) is to show you more pictures. You will find more official pictures after the jump which show you the flagship A77 from some different angles. Sony is expected to launch a series of new Alpha cameras on August 24th, including the NEX-5N, NEX-7, Alpha A65 and Alpha A77. Stay tuned as we bring you more leaks and coverage as they happen!
Who would have thought that the PS3’s most requested feature is only possible on its upcoming handheld brother, the PlayStationVita?
Sony revealed the Vita’s full specifications last week at Gamescom; and according to Sony Worldwide studios President Shuhei Yoshida, the PlayStation Vita will ship with 512MB of RAM that will allow the system to actually support the much-wanted cross-game chat function with the Vita’s Party feature. He had also said that the Vita actually has more RAM than the PS3.
The PS3 on the other hand will never be able to do it as the system only has 256MB. And when a player starts a game, all of the system’s available memory is dedicated to that game, which negates any chance of multitasking. That means, there is literally no memory left to do any voice-chat outside of the game that is being played.
In an interview with Eurogamer, SCE Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said this about PS3 cross game chat:
“Once a game gets RAM we never give it back, it’s not possible to retrofit something like that after the fact.”
Well, at least players can still enjoy the cross-game chat feature on their Vitas, since it’s never going to be added to the PS3 in the future.
One of the unique features from Sony Ericsson’s Xperia line of Android phones is Timescape. This is a new native app, built from the ground up by Sony, which is designed to bring together Facebook, Twitter, text messages, and missed calls in one window. The app not only lets you view the latest information, but also to respond back, directly from within the app. Thanks to a new Gmail plugin which can be found in the Android Market, users can now also view emails from Gmail right within the Timescape window. However, keep in mind that the Gmail plugin is not developed by Sony and does have some limitations—like the inability to open the specified conversation and the void of contact images.
[Via Xperia Blog]
We’ve known for sometime now that Sony’s S1 and S2 tablets were aiming for a fall window but would have never guessed that they meant early fall. Reports peg the Sony S1 tablet to be released during the first two weeks of September which is right around the corner. Till now, we’ve been accustomed to calling the device by its codename and it seems that the actual name isn’t far off. The official name given will be a lackluster Sony Tablet S, demoting it from Sony’s usual catchy and unique names like Bravia, VAIO, Cybershot, PS Vita, and Walkman. No details yet on the name or time table for the S2 but we have to imagine that it will carry a similar name scheme.
With the release date nearly upon on, we can also confirm some further specs. The Tablet S comes with a 9.4-inch (1280×768), a front facing 3.0megapixel camera and 5.0 megapixel back camera. Sony is also planning on releasing a extensive line of accessories to further support their tablet ecosystems. This includes a wireless keyboard, docking station, and a micro USB to USB cable which will allow you to plug compatible USB devices to the Sony Tablet S like USB flash drives and Sony’s Bloggie cameras. Currently, a $599 launch price point is being thrown around though that could change at any time and Sony has yet to hint at their pricing scheme.
[Via Engadget]
For nearly 8 months now, we’ve known about the 2011 XBR line, the HX929. Previously, we’d reported that the lineup consisted of three sizes, a 46-, 55-, and 65-inch. Till now, we had all the specs and pricing from the 46″ and 55″ flagship 3D TVs from Sony and during this time, Sony had even released a firmware update for the lineup. However, pricing and dimensions of the top tier 65-inch model had been nonexistent before today. With the 65-inch XBR-HX929 finally hitting Sony’s online store for pre-order with an September 4th release date, we can finally report to you the missing information which you will find after the jump, including specs.
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