Sony Corp.

PlayStation 3D TV Now Available for Pre-order

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 25, 2011 | 60 comments

Sony continues to list items for pre-order this week, following the PS Vita going live on their retail page. Now the PlayStation 3D Display is joining the ranks, ready for your preorder. We’ve previously covered the PlayStation 3D TV in depth, but as a recap, $499 will get a 24″ 1080p TV with 2D/3D support for movies and games, as well one pair of 3D glasses, an HDMI cable, and a copy of Resistance 3 which happens to be in 3D. Though Sony currently has a 12/31/11 as the release date, with Resistance 3 shipping in September, we have to assume that the currently-listed date is nothing more than a placeholder ’til they can nail down an official release date.

[Via Sony]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro Hits the FCC

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 22, 2011 | 27 comments

Much like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray, the Xperia Mini Pro has landed at the doors of the FCC for approval. With a grant from the fine folks at Washington, expect a Q3 2011 release from this Android 2.3 device. With frequencies listed as 900/2100MHS, the Xperia Mini Pro will not have 3G capabilities unless Sony Ericsson releases a different variation for the US. Those frequencies do however give eventual European owners of the device 2G capabilities. Though the lack of 3G might seem a surprise, it really goes along with the original intent of the Xperia Mini Pro: to provide an entry-level Android smartphone. However, don’t think entry as lacking when it comes to the Mini Pro. As we previously discussed in detail, some highlights of the Xperia Mini Pro include:

3-inchMultitouch, scratch-resistant display
Sony‘s exclusive Bravia Engine for smartphones
1GHz processor
720p HD video recording camera
5 megapixel photo camera

Discuss:

Is there a market for low-end smartphones like the Xperia Mini Pro? If internal phone parts are your thing, you can find additional pictures from the FCC take-apart.

Sony Announces New Water-Resistant Walkman NWZ-W260

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 22, 2011 | 30 comments

If running, biking, and hardcore, sweaty gym workouts are your thing, you might want to pay particular attention to this post. Sony is releasing a new water-resistant Walkman NWZ-W260 this August, which is designed to withstand sweat from intense workouts in any weather condition. The Walkman NWZ-W260 also takes into consideration the value of beings hands-free and cable-free, with a unique design which allows you to comfortably place the unit around your ears and onwards to the back of your head. With eight hours of battery life and quick charge technology, which allows you to gain an hour of playback for only 3 minutes of your time, the Walkman NWZ-W260 MP3 player is designed with users in mind from hardware to software. Sony’s Content Transfer software allows you to simply drag and drop songs from either Windows Media Player or iTunes, as long as they are DRM-free. The 2GB version (the NWZ-W262) will cost you $59.99 while the 4GB version (NWZ-W263) comes in at $79.99.

As always, hit the jump for the official press release.

Microsoft Purchases Two Sony-Related Domains. Conspiracy Theories Start in 3..2..1..

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 21, 2011 | 20 comments

When large entities like Apple, Microsoft, and Sony want to promote a particular product, they tend to have specific domains that will help users reach that domain. Sony itself is famous for being a vast company, having entities in movies with Sony Pictures, in music with Sony/BMG, in cellphones with Sony Ericsson, and so forth. Each of these entities then has their own domains (and sometimes subdomains) to promote specific product segments like PS3 and PS Vita. However, what would you say to Microsoft purchasing two new domains with Sony in the name? The Redmond-based powerhouse has done just that, snatching up Microsoft-Sony.com and Sony-Microsoft.com. Though I wouldn’t expect to hear an announcement that Microsoft is purchasing Sony or that the PlayStation Box 720 is around the corner, it is worth taking into consideration that the two companies do work together in a few segments. Currently all Sony laptops use Windows as their operating system and Microsoft has even run a few ads, showing Windows 7 on Sony VAIOs.

Discuss:

What do you think is the cause of Microsoft purchasing two Sony-related domains?

[Via Engadget]

Sony to End MiniDisc Walkman Production

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 21, 2011 | 48 comments

The MiniDisc, like many other formats that Sony has released in the past (Betamax, Atrac) was ahead of its time when it was released in September of 1992. MiniDisc promised to be more portable than cassette tape, while delivering better audio quality and durability. Sure enough, like Betamax vs. VHS and Atrac vs. MP3, the format was superior in every which way that Sony promised. Even once the CD player and CD format began to rise over cassettes, MiniDisc as a format was able to hold its own and offered users an impressive 30 hours of playback on two AA batteries and allowed you to record live sessions directly on them, with instant playback. However, due to higher costs and lack of support from record companies, the format would never come to attract much attention from consumers, instead staying as a product for the pro-consumers of the market.

Now, after 20 years this September, Sony is to end MiniDisc Walkman productions for Japan, where the device is still being actively sold, though in very low volumes. As of March 2011, the MiniDisc Walkman has sold 22 million units. With the rise of the iPod in the last 8 years and growth of smartphones in the last 4 years, Sony sees no reason to invest resources into an already small market. This seems like a highly appropriate move for the company which is currently involved in stiff competitions in many different product segments. The MiniDisc Walkman will be available in stores until current inventories are depleted. Sony is said to continue making the MiniDiscs themselves, as well as stereos that can play back the audio discs. Sony will also keep producing CD Walkmans, though one hopes that, depending on the profit margins and sale volumes, Sony might be tempted to kill off that production as well.

[via Nikkei]

Sony to Release New Optiarc External DVD Burner

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 20, 2011 | 49 comments

Looking for an external DVD/CD drive? Sony is set to release a new slick Optiarc (DRX-S90U) External DVD Burner for the US market later this month. Priced at $70 and powered via USB, this Mac- & PC-compatible drive is capable of Double/Dual layer 8X DVD+R recording speed and 6x DVD+RW while CD speeds clock in at CD-R/RW at 24X.

Hit the jump for a press release and additional photos at 54mbs speeds.

PlayStation Store Update (07-19-11)

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 19, 2011 | 19 comments

It’s Tuesday, the day before the ComicCon preview night and two days before the mayhem that is surely to ensue. As usual, there is a new PlayStation Store update awaiting your PS3 and PSP systems. For those who will get a chance to attend this years ComicCon, keep in mind that PlayStation will have a presence with their 2011 exclusive lineup of games including, Starhawk, Uncharted 3, Twisted Metal and Resistance 3 to name a few. Some note worthy highlights from todays store update include:

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)
Borderlands, BioShock 2, and Mafia II (50% off)
Guerrilla War and Me Monstar: Hear Me Roar (Free for PlayStation Plus members)
Mortal Kombat Warrior Rain ($4.99)

Hit the jump for the full store release.

PS Vita Now Available for Pre-Order

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 19, 2011 | 25 comments

In keeping with recent PS Vita news, Sony has officially listed both variations of the powerful gaming handheld for pre-order. $249 will grab you a PS Vita WiFi while $299 will land you in the WiFi+3G club. Alas, no release date is attached to either model yet though Sony is aiming for a holiday 2011 launch.

[Via Sony]

Sony Demos ‘Face Control’ on the PS Vita

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 19, 2011 | 6 comments

The PS Vita, which is the successor to the PSP system from Sony, is looking more impressive with each new tech demo and announcement from the Japanese electronic maker. Already encompassing an impressive set of specs, Sony continues to show new and exciting features that the device is capable of. In this round, Sony is showing what the PS Vita can achieve via the front-facing camera and processing power. In the demo, two users are engaged in a video chat, but instead of simply displaying your face, you can select from a list of animated character avatars. What’s impressive from the demo is that the avatars are capable of mimicking your facial features in real time during the chat.

There is no particular announcement yet from Sony on how they wish to incorporate this technology or whether video chatting will even be available. However, seeing how the current PSP and PSPgo systems are capable of tapping into Skype, it wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to assume that a similar feature is coming to the PS Vita as well.

[Via Andriasang]

Neil Burger Discusses ‘Uncharted’ Movie. Will Lean Towards Video Game Elements

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 18, 2011 | 24 comments

Fans had something to be happy about when Sony Pictures announced that David O. Russell would be leaving the Uncharted movie adaptation and that Limitless director Neil Burger would be taking his place instead. Though David O. Russell is a talented director, it seems that his take on the game would leave no correlation between the two, outside of the same title and a witty character named Nathan Drake. Now with Neil Burger onboard, the director has started to speak about his vision of the movie.

We’re re-writing the script from scratch, and I’m just jumping into that literally right now, about to close the deal and leap off. Until the screenplay is written you never know who’s going to be acting in it or not. But there are a lot of good actors out there who even look like Nathan Drake and who could do it.

This means that Neil and the folks at Sony Pictures are back to square one with the project and throwing away the family plot elements that Mr. Russell wanted to introduce. Chances are that Mark Walhberg, who was previously attached to star as the film hero Nathan Drake, will probably be out as well. Many rumors are indicating towards Limitless, A-Team, and Hangover actor Bradley Cooper as the new leading man, though there is no real substance to go off of.

Mainly we’re beginning from scratch and going back to the videogame… It’s really one of the most cinematic videogames, and one that has really developed characters. So, you know, there’s a lot of cool, really intense things that, if they work for the film’s story, I want to use them.

[Via SlashFilm]

Breaking: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Gets Priced at Verizon. Just $99

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 18, 2011 | 2 comments

Holy smokes! Just days after AT&T revealed that they will also be getting the Xperia Play, Sony Ericsson and Verizon Wireless have announced that the Xperia Play will be priced at just $99 with a two-year contract. This unique Android 2.3 smartphone was previously referred to as the PlayStation Phone for a good reason. Capable of accessing the full suite of Android apps, when turned sideways, the Xperia Play can reveal a slide-out keyboard, designed for those who want to some serious gaming. In addition to games available in the Android Market, Xperia Play owners will also have access to exclusive PlayStation Certified games. Some tech specs of the Xperia Play include:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread (the latest Android OS)
1GHz Snapdragon processor with Qualcomm Adreno 205 graphics processor
4-inch, 854 x 480 multi-touch LCD screen
Quad-band GSM or CDMA and EV-DO antenna chipset, depending on your country and carrier
5-megapixel autofocus camera
LED flash
Stereo speakers
Bluetooth and WiFi
400MB internal card (comes with an 8GB Micro SD card)

Previously, many had doubted the ability for the Xperia Play to garner much success in the US market without some form of subsidy from a cell phone partner. Now, with a very attractive price, all that stands in the way of the Xperia Play’s success is a good marketing push from Sony Ericsson and Verizon.

[Via Verizon Wireless]

Sony’s New HiFi CMT-CX5BiP System Receives Futuristic Design

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 18, 2011 | 17 comments

We live in a futuristic time with electric cars, tablet computers, and gaming consoles capable of delivering 3D content right in the comfort of our own home. So why should our HiFi stereos look any less intriguing? This must have been the thinking of Sony engineers when they designed the new HiFi CMT-CX5BiP system. This made-for-iPhone (and iPod) player is capable of delivering 40 watts of RMS power from your iDevice, as well CD player and FM DAB / DAB+ radio. With an auxiliary and USB input for audio, non-iDevice owners can use their device of choice as well for music playback. Built with Dynamic Sound Generator X-tra processing for some added flavor to your music, owners of the CMT-CX5BiP can also detach the two speakers and instead choose to wall-mount the pair. Sony’s new HiFi CMT-CX5BiP system will be available in August for the UK market with a yet to be determined price.

Hit the jump for a futuristic press release.

Sony Releases New HD-PG5U 500GB USB 3.0 Hard Drive

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 14, 2011 | 35 comments

For our European readers, specifically those living in the United Kingdom, France and Germany, you will be happy to know that Sony is releasing a new 500GB USB 3.0 hard drive known as the HD-PG5U. This new portable drive, which weighs in at just 180g, will not only help fill in the void of available USB 3.0 drives, but also comes with software that is designed to help speed up your USB 2.0 transfers as well. However, the real magic of this drive is revealed when it’s used with other Sony products like a Bravia LCD TV. Once connected to one, you can directly record live television onto the HD-PG5U and plug it into another Sony Bravia for viewing. For owners of Sony’s Handycam lineup, say the recently announced DCR-SX21E and the DCR-SR21E, you can also plug in your camcorder for direct transfer of your footage with no PC in the equation. This is a perfect solution for a long vacation on which you don’t intend to take your computer with you. From there, you can even plug the HD-PG5U into a PS3 to view back your AVCHD footage via the Filmy app. Other little tidbits include a backup software management system for your PC and a 256-bit security software to help safeguard your files against unauthorised access.

No price point has been attached to this USB 3.0 drive yet, but with a mid July release date, expect that information to be coming soon. Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be any news in regards to a US release but that can always change. Hit the jump for the press release from Sony.

Interview with VAIO Z Designers (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 14, 2011 | 24 comments

Apple has proven over and over again that advancement in technology simply cannot be increased power and hard drive offerings. Instead, technology should also be based on design, and good design should keep technology in mind. Of all the PC manufacturers, I see Sony follow the same design. While HP, Toshiba and Dell give you big hunks of plastic, Sony tends to take the above philosophy into consideration when releasing their new products. This is especially evident in their upcoming S1 and S2 tablets, as well as the recently announced VAIO Z (VPC-Z21V9). The interview, which can be found after the jump, will take you into the mindset of the team behind the VAIO Z, and what they consider when it comes to designing a flagship Sony VAIO.

Sony & Adobe Create Air Apps for Android Tablets $200k Prize

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 13, 2011 | 32 comments

As Adobe’s Flash technology continues a downward trajectory, largely in part to the lack of support from Apple and poor performance on Android devices, Adobe has needed to create something in order to replace the dying format. With the app craze still in high gear on both iOS and Android phones, Flash is no longer the tool that developers reach for in order to create interactive content, so Adobe Air was born. Now, in order to drum up some attention to the format again, Sony and Adobe are teaming up with a $200,000 cash prize for the winner of the developer who creates the best app that can take advantage of dual 5.5-inch LCD screen, found on Sony’s S2 tablet.

The ‘Adobe AIR App Challenge Sponsored by Sony’ contest offers developers a chance to win $200,000 in total cash prizes and the promotion of the application on “Sony Tablet” devices. Adobe and Sony are challenging developers and content publishers to build breakthrough mobile apps optimized for the S1 and S2 tablets. The contest will give selected developers pre-release access to “Sony Tablet” prototypes and the latest version of Adobe tools. Contest categories include Entertainment, Lifestyle and Community, Games, Business and Productivity, and Innovation. A panel of Adobe, Sony and third party judges will evaluate application submissions based on quality and performance, innovation and creativity, as well as overall user experience. The contest is open to submissions from the U.S., Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the U.K.

Those who submit their app by September 16 will have the opportunity to be selected as a MAX Showcase App, win a full MAX conference pass, and more. With a large first place prize in place and the continued innovation offered from developers who work from their home office, this seems to be a great way to both promote Sony’s new tablets, while giving Adobe’s new format some fresh Air (I couldn’t resist the pun).

Hit the jump for the full press release, including contest information.