Sony Corp.

Sony’s 4K Projectors Now DCI Compliant

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 30, 2011 | 13 comments

Sony has long been part of the film industry, both as a film studio; owning Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures, and Screen Gems and as an equipment provider with their professional lineup of cameras and viewing screens which help bring the movies to the screen. Being a big supporter of all things HD and 3D, Sony is now contributing to the movie screens as well with their lineup of 4k digital cinema projectors. Sony is of course no stranger to the cinema realm with Sony’s audio SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound) being a standard audio format for movies. Now, the Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (“DCI”) has deemed Sony’s new 4k digital projectors as DCI complaint which provides 8.85 million pixels, more than four times that of full HD. Another feature of these digital based projectors (rather the film based) is that they also provide access to servers which can stream movies directly to the projector. This alone gives directors the ability to fine tweak their movies till the last day and release as many versions as they want (different versions for different projectors and cinemas like IMAX, 3D etc.) and be practically carried on a hard drive. If a movie is instead brought over on traditional film, weeks before the film release, the movie needs to start creating and producing the different versions which physically need to then be shipped to cinema locations. Of course, it’s also in Sony’s best interest to make sure that audiences get the most out of their cinema and 3D experience., seeing how the company also offers a full lineup of consumer HD and 3D products.

Hit the jump for a full press release.

Sony Pictures Signs Tom Hanks to Play Captain Richard Phillips

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 29, 2011 | 16 comments

Sony Pictures has just signed their long time star Tom Hanks whose recent Sony Pictures films include The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons to star in the book adaptation of A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea. The book is based on Richard Phillips memoirs, when the ship captain gave up his freedom in exchange for his crew in the 2009 Somali Pirates attack which had the captain captured for 3 days before Navy Seals rescued him. Billy Ray who recent writing credit include State of Play will team up with the producing team of The Social Network to bring this film to the screens. There is no current release date or director attached to this project.

Sony’s 2011 3D Bravia Prices Reveled (NX720, HX820 and HX929)

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 28, 2011 | 16 comments

During the month of May, Sony is planning on unleashing the majority of Bravia televisions that we got to see during CES 2011 and now, we finally have prices to accompany these sets. The pricing structure is as follows, starting with the KDL-NX720:

46″ KDL-46NX720 $2,099
55″ KDL-55NX720 $2,899
60″ KDL-60NX720 $3,499

The series then continues with the KDL-HX820:

46″ KDL-46HX820 $2,599
55″ KDL-55HX820 $3,399

Lastly is Sony’s flagship lineup, the XBR-HX929:

46″ XBR-46HX929 $2,999
55″ XBR-55HX929 $3,799

The only unknown at this point is the 65″ XBR-65HX929 which is set to ship in August 2011 and frankly, this is the one I’m most interested in. Currently I own a 60″ Sony SXRD and the idea of downsizing to a smaller TV is frankly not in the cards while a bigger TV is something I’m willing to save for. If you are looking for a little more detail on Sony’s 27 new 2011 Bravias, checkout our previous coverage where we go over all the different series and features. What do you think about these new prices and which series would you consider to purchase?

[Via 3D-Display-info]

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 to Get Android 2.3 After All

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 28, 2011 | 39 comments

Wow, call us shocked, surprised, and happy for Sony Ericsson owners but before we get into the details, lets back up a little bit to see how all of this unfolded and why this news is actually a big deal. Sony like many other handset makers was left in turmoil after the introduction of the iPhone with no particular plan of action to counter Apple. Like many others, Android seemed the sure way to fight off Apple and with Google continuously updating and expanding Android, Sony Ericsson like others could instead focus on making their build personal and their phone unique. During 2010, Sony released quite a few of different Android phones, ranging from the Xperia X8, to the Xperia X10 Xperia X10 Mini and Pro. Though fine phones on their own, compared to the slew of handsets in the market, the Sony Ericsson phones all shipped with out dated Android builds. In fact, when Sony shipped the Xperia X10 in late 2010 with Android 1.6, most other developers has already been shipping with Android 2.1 and were transition to Android 2.2, seeing how Android 1.6 had been out for almost a year. This left Sony’s handsets at a disadvantage, with an older, more problematic build, compared to other devices. Sony did however promise to deliver a new Android build and during the last few days of 2010, they did manage to give the Xperia X10 series a bump to Android 2.1 which again was already outdated. Soon, Sony announced that they had no plans to release any further updates for their 2010 phones. Irony would of course set in only a few weeks later when Sony released their Reader App for the Android Market which required Android 2.2 or higher, leaving out Sony’s entire lineup of phones.

That was 2010 and since then, Sony has recognized that they have made mistakes during that period and have stated that 2011 will be different. With the current batch of new phones that are set to arrive, we have every intension to believe Sony’s claims, and now, we are more confident then ever that though they might not become the top Android maker quite yet, there is some form of strategy being put together behind the scenes. You see, Sony has realized that it’s in their best intentions to give their older phones a bump of new life and that is exactly what they are doing. Sony Ericsson has announced that the Xperia X10 will be jumping from Android 2.1 to Android 2.3, specially, the Android 2.3.3 (the latest) build in late Q2, early Q3 of 2011.

We plan to bring an upgrade to Android Gingerbread for the XperiaTM X10 to generic trade kits end Q2 / early Q3 this year.

[Via Sony Ericsson Blog]

NEX-7 Rumors Rise Again, Set to Look Like Old Konica Minolta A2?

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 28, 2011 | 9 comments

The NEX-7 has been an interesting camera in Sony’s lineup. That is, it’s a camera that does not exist, yet there have been plenty of rumors regarding it and a strong demand for it. Sony currently has the NEX-3 (which is being refreshed shortly) and NEX-5 which is a beefed up NEX-3 with a better body and better sensor with gives the camera 1080 recording over the NEX-3’s 720p. It seems that consumers still want more, a beefier NEX which would be more for the professional. Whether I want this camera aside, this tends to baffle me a tad as the entire point of the NEX lineup has been to offer pro features, yet target the audience who is intimidated by DSLR. If people want something more professional then the NEX-5, why won’t they just consider the Alpha lineup? Despite that, rumors now have it that the engineers at Sony are basing the NEX-7 on an old Konica Minolta. Those not familiar with the electronics world will note that Sony bought Konica Minolta over 5 years ago.

When you look in front of the new Sony NEX 7 with the 24mm Zeiss mounted, the new camera looks like a twin of the Minolta Dimage A2 – a really small nice pro body.

Although I firmly believe that there is a NEX-7 somewhere in the labs at Sony, I don’t believe we are close to a public release as Sony is famously horrible at containing leaks and we have yet to see anything, other then rumors on this device. As always, take these rumors with a hint of salt and I personally don’t believe that the form factor will change much from the current NEX lineup. Hit the jump for one more shot of the Konica Minolta A2.

[Via Electronista]

Sony Ericssons Xperia Play Grabs Gameloft’s BackStab as Exclusive

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 27, 2011 | 4 comments

Sony has a lot riding and a lot to prove with the upcoming Xperia Play which was previously believed to be the PlayStation Phone. With a focus on gaming, the Xperia Play is designed to feed the hunger of those who want a smartphone and like to game while on the go. Now that we have an understanding of the pricing scheme that will set on games, Sony Ericsson has announced Gameloft’s BackStab will be exclusive on their device for 30 days when it launches in Q2 of 2011. If you look at the pictures of the jump, what should be immediately apparent is that this is not your average smartphone game. Set in colonial times, there are luscious 3D environments with a gameplay that is designed for fights with multiple enemies at once. That’s all that we have on the game currently but will report back, once more information is released.

As always, hit the jump for the full press release and for additional pictures of BackStab.

Veronica Belmont Tells You Why to choose a Blu-ray Player Instead of a DVD Player

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 26, 2011 | 18 comments

With the United States starting to peak its head out of recession and towards recovery, Sony believes that this is a great time to remind consumers about Blu-ray and why the format is superior over DVD. Although Blu-ray has done well as a format, capturing on a weekly bases, 20-30% of packaged media sales, the format was released and hit with the global recession. As consumers started to tighten their wallets, the first things to take a hit were more premium offerings like Blu-ray. Now, with the help of Veronica Belmont, Sony is once again reminding consumers what Blu-ray has to offer and it’s not just better video and sound. Having started purchasing Blu-ray movies before I had a Blu-ray player in anticipation of picking up a PS3 a few months later at launch time, a few years later and I’m currently 300+ strong in my Blu-ray collection with my eyes shifting towards a 3D collection. How about you? Are aboard the Blu-ray wagon? If not, what’s holding you back?

Hit the jump for Veronica’s video.

Sony Announces Another Pro-Consumer Camera, the HXR-NX70J

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 25, 2011 | 4 comments

Hot on the heels of the NEX-FS100, Sony has announced another pro-consumer camcorder, the HXR-NX70J. Currently set to arrive in Japan in Q2 of 2011, the HXR-NX70 builds on Sony’s planned expansion into the pro-consumer market. Some features of this compact professional camera include:

6.65Mpix Exmor R CMOS Sensor
Fixed G Series Lens with a 10x optical Zoom
AVCHD 1080/60p at 28Mbps
SD videos in MPEG-2 PS
96GB of internal memory
Memory Stick and SDXC Cards

Priced at 330,750 Yen ($4,000), this camera offers many pro features though it’s not as versatile as the NEX-FS100 which of course is almost $2,000 more. There is currently no US date announced but can’t imagine that will hold true for long.

PS3 Firmware 3.6 Video Overview with Cloud Game Saving

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 25, 2011 | 5 comments

Sony recently released PlayStation 3 firmware 3.6 which enabled users to set a controller auto-off timing of their choice and more importantly, gave PlayStation Plus users access to save game files to the cloud. In todays video, we go over the features, show you how to use them and answer your questions.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Games to Range from $1.50 to $16

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 25, 2011 | 3 comments

As we continue to learn more and more as we get closer to the North American launch of Sony Ericssons gaming focused, Android Smartphone, the Xperia Play. By now, it’s apparent that even though this new phone will feature all the staples of a modern Android phone with the latest Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread, the real focus of the Xperia Play is gamers out there. Not only will the Xperia Play have access to nearly all Android based game with its 4-inch, 854 x 480 multi-touch LCD screen, but also exclusive games, designed for certified PlayStation Suit Android phones which have the capability of playing PlayStation One games. With the Xperia Play being the first of the PlayStation Suit certified phones to hit the market, all eyes were on the pricing scheme that would follow and as we have now learned, it’s really nothing to write home about. As in, prices are expected to be between $1.50 and a high of $16 which is fairly normal on both the Android Market and iOS Appstore. Of course, at the end of the day, it’s really in the hand of developers to set the price for their game but going off these numbers, it seems that Xperia Play users will not be hit with some form of premium pricing, just because they have a gaming enabled smartphone.

[Via MCVUK]

Kevin Butler Helps You Talk Trash, #SHAFT

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 24, 2011 | 20 comments

Sony has released a series of new ads, featuring the now iconic and brand representing, Kevin Butler. This time, KB is here to promote the PlayStation 3 exclusive MLB The Show 2011, and help gamers talk a little trash while playing. Think you have what it takes to SHAFT with the pros?

The PSP Turns 6! Happy Birthday!

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 24, 2011 | 34 comments

6 years ago today, Sony took the first steps at transforming the PlayStation division and being Nintendo’s first true competitor in the mobile gaming segment with by releasing PSP-1000 in North America. Offering at the time unmatched graphics which frankly, the just released Nintendo 3DS still cant compete with, Wifi, Bluetooth, online gaming and movies, music and photo viewing capabilities, the PlayStation Portable has come to sell over 67 million unit’s during these last 6 years. During that time, the PSP has seen a fair share of tweaks, with the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 getting slimmer and yet offering a better screen and battery lifetime. Sony has also tweaked the PSP via firmware updates, giving the handheld access to the PlayStation Network which gives allows users to downloadable movies, games, themes, comics and more, directly over the air. Over a year ago, Sony would also release the PSPgo which was based on the PSP platform with one noticeable difference, a lack of UMD drive which had powered all the previous PSP models and current PSP-3000 in favor of downloadable content only. Though the PSPgo has not been the success that Sony had hopped for, Sony has always stated that the PSPgo was more of a test and an advent to the upcoming NGP. Recently, Sony dropped the price of the PSP-3000 to $129 and with exclusive games like God of War, Metal Gear Solid, SOCOM, Final Fantasy, Killzone and LittleBigPlanet, the PSP continues to be the corner stone of what a next generation portable should be.

PSP Launch, March 24th, 2005

Sony Announces NEX-FS100 with Super 35mm Sensor

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 24, 2011 | 2 comments

Before the analogue to digital transition took place, there were generally two classes of camera and camcorders. The consumer product segment which generally carried a top price of $1,500 and the professional grade which started in the low $20k range and really skyrocketed from there. For those who wanted more out of their shooting experience, whether it be for fun or had their own small business or movie idea, the avenue more often then not either lead them towards rentals which is still expensive or a second mortgage. That was 10 years ago, but today, with the advent of digital camera’s and camcorders, consumers have access to a wide range of both camera and camcorders which enable to shoot without compromise and only have their own skills and creativity be their limitation.

Sony has long catered to the general consumer and though they are a top brand in that field, their equipments are really defined in Hollywoods backlots and sound stages where their professional grade equipments capture the footage that comes to the silver screen. Being a manufacture that caters to both crowds, Sony also been actively expanding its proconsumer lineup which starts off at $2,000 with the NEX-VG10 which offers Interchangeable Lenses. Now, Sony is adding another contendtor to the family, the NEX-FS100 which starts of $5,850. So what does this extra bump in price get you?

Super 35mm sensor that shoots 1080p 60fps content at up to 28Mbps to SD, Memory Stick (or an optional 128GB SSD)
Output uncompressed 4:2:2 footage over HDMI
Swiveling 3.5-inch LCD display
1920x1080P Slow and Quick Motion (Over & Under Cranking)
Detachable grip, handle, and viewfinder tube

Hit the jump to see a gallery and video overview of the NEX-FS100

[Via SonyStyle]

PlayStation Move Continues to be Sold Out at GameStop

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 24, 2011 | 6 comments

It’s been almost 8 months since the PlayStation Move was introduced to the market and it’s been almost 8 months of sold out inventory. Designed to cater to both the casual and hardcore gamer with titles like Resident Evil 5, Killzone 3 and the upcoming SOCOM 4, the PlayStation Move was an effort on Sony’s part to extend the reach of the PlayStation 3 platform while giving gamers one more way to interact with their content. Having experiencing the sellout first hand as it took my own family over a month to get me two PlayStation Move Controller and Navigation Sticks for Christmas and after 3 weeks of waiting for my PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter, I’m still empty handed, I believe it when GameStop announced today that they are having a hard time keeping these units on the shelves.

“We have struggled to stay in stock on the Sony Move controllers; there’s a tremendous amount of demand for that,” said GameStop’s Tony Bartel. “Provided we can get more into stock, we should see some strong growth there as well.”

[Via IndustryGamers]

Those Sony Ericsson Windows Phone 7 are ‘old prototype’

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 19, 2011 | 0 comments

Before Sony Ericsson put the company’s full resources behind the Android platform, many wondered if Sony would expand into different platforms and back the new and upcoming OS from Microsoft, Windows Phone 7. Sony Ericsson France CEO Pierre Perron went on record with a simple note likely, pointing to the fact that there would too many limitations and the company would “run the risk of standardizing [their] smartphones.” Still, many wondered what a Windows Phone 7 would look like from Sony and now thanks to images, we have a clue. Though these pictures are from an old prototype, you can see that Sony was keeping a design structure similar to some of their upcoming Android devices, which feature a slide-out keyboard with the home button and back button at the bottom. We remind you though that these are indeed old and it is very doubtful that Sony will get behind the Windows Phone 7 platform.

[Via Slashgear]