Sony Corp.

Sony Pictures Pondered Purchasing ‘Fast Lanes’

by Sohrab Osati | May 12, 2015 | 0 comments

As it stands, net neutrality has prevailed for the better in the US. While that doesn’t mean corporations like Verizon and Comcast won’t do everything in their power to derail it, it’s been a victory for those of us who understand the power of an open and fair web. Still, it’s hard not to see why companies such as Sony Pictures and others would have liked a world without net neutrality and unlike the basis that drives Verizon and others (greed), their thoughts behind it actually make some sense.

Sony to Send Financial Support to Nepal

by Allegra Osati | Apr 30, 2015 | 0 comments

In the wake of the tragic earthquake in Nepal, which has claimed thousands of lives and caused a devastating amount of damage, Sony announced today that the company, along with its group companies, would offer financial support to help relief efforts.

‘Video Unlimited’ Renamed to ‘PlayStation Video’ on Android

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 28, 2015 | 0 comments

Since the start of the year, Sony has been busy renaming and killing services that didn’t match up with its plans moving forward. Under this house cleaning, Sony ended its attempts at competing in the music streaming space and in doing so, killed Music Unlimited. Luckily for those on PlayStation, the service was replaced by PlayStation Music, which is actually a skin for Spotify as the service is entirely powered by them. In order to simplify its naming structure, Sony has also renamed their Walkman app on Android to simply Music. As Sony themselves put it:

Not all people make the connection that Walkman is about music. So, to simplify for all our users, we are changing the name to make it easy to understand what this app gives you: Music

Now Sony is renaming another one of their services.

Sony Xperia Z3 – 4K Day Footage

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 17, 2015 | 1 comment

One thing that makes the Sony Xperia Z3 unique compared to other phones out there is its ability to record in 4K. Having a computer that’s capable of editing 4K, I wanted to put the Z3’s powerful camera to the test and so I headed down to Santa Monica to shoot some footage. My goal throughout this was to treat the phone and in turn the produced footage as if I was an everyday consumer. That means despite being edited together, none of the footage, video or audio, has been altered in any shape.

If you have a TV or computer that’s capable of viewing 4K footage, be sure to click the settings button on the video and select 4K. For everyone else, you can still view the above video in 1080p.

Android 5.0 Lollipop Arrives For Sony Xperia Z2 & Z2 Tablet

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 8, 2015 | 0 comments

On the heels of announcing Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Xperia Z1, Z Ultra, and Z3 Dual, Sony has also revealed that they’ll be bringing the latest OS update to additional devices as well. Unlike the said updates which will arrive next week, you can look forward to Lollipop on the Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet starting today.

Sony Sums Up Their Own Lost Decade Without Realizing It

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 2, 2015 | 6 comments

Just the other day, we reported on the Sony Premium Sound memory card for the upcoming Walkman NW-ZX2. Part of their 2015 fleet of products, the latest Walkman, priced at $1,200, is designed to offer premium sound with support for lossless music, including Hi-Res audio and noise cancelation among other premium features. Having had a chance to use one at CES 2015, I can certainly attest to its premium finish and lavish features but that on its own means little as I, like most people, could never afford such a product.

Alongside the new Walkman, Sony will also release their Premium Sound micro SDXC memory card along side the new Walkman which fetches a price of $160 for a 64GB card. For comparison, you can purchase the Sony 64GB SDXC Class 10 UHS-1 R40 Memory Card for $28 on Amazon while more premium SDXC cards fetch a higher price tag of $60. Clearly targeting the premium market, surely Sony has specific consumers in mind and is anticipating some form of demand – right?

As it turns out, not really, as even they don’t know if anybody will want them. Sony’s comment and my take on the matter after the jump.

Sony Sells Majority Stake in Olympus

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 1, 2015 | 0 comments

If you rewind to 2012, you’d likely remember the big news between Sony and Olympus. With the once-giant also struggling and suffering losses left and right, Sony saw it as an opportunity to invest and in turn bought $645 million worth of shares, or a little over 10% of the company. While Olympus was and is still widely known for their cameras, Sony was eyeing Olympus’ lucrative medical imaging business which they’d been independently investing in as well. Now, nearly three years later and with a lot less money in the bank, Sony is cashing out of the venture.

Details after the jump.

PlayStation App 2.50.8 Goes Live for iOS (iPhone/iPad), Brings With It Major Tweaks

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 25, 2015 | 0 comments

Ahead of the PlayStation 4 system update 2.50 release which promises to be a big one, Sony has updated the PlayStation app on iOS devices. With PlayStation App 2.50.8 on iPhone and iPad, you can expect a redesigned homepage and enhanced abilities, like the ability to delete trophies with 0% achievement progress. The PlayStation App 2.50.8 Changelog awaits you after the jump.

Sony Plans “Aggressive Capital Investment” In PlayStation

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 23, 2015 | 2 comments

It’s no secret that Sony Electronics has been struggling for well over a decade now. With TV sales and mobile not being the growth driver the company had once thought, PlayStation is quickly becoming the darling of Sony. Having the PS4 continue to put out blockbuster numbers alongside a rich history with gamers doesn’t hurt either. While always an important part of the company, Sony now sees PlayStation as one of its key divisions and a growth driver for the company as a whole. In fact, Sony sees entertainment as one of its key assets and equally plans to double down on Sony Pictures and Sony Music as well.

When it comes to PlayStation, they plan on an “aggressive capital investment” that will hopefully bring with it “sales growth and profit expansion.” After the jump, for details.

Sony, HBO & Showtime Want Fast Lanes for Web TV

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 19, 2015 | 0 comments

In a rather strange turn of events, Sony along side HBO and Showtime are asking internet providers, most notably ~~the devil~~ Comcast about being treated as “managed” service. If granted, this would allow them to differ from other internet traffic on their networks and have their own direct lane to consumers. With PlayStation Vue, the internet TV streaming service that’s beginning to roll out, it isn’t strange to see Sony on a list of names requesting such a treatment. What makes the whole thing odd is that fast lanes are explicitly blocked by the FCC’s new net neutrality rules which just passed. However the new rules services like VOIP and VOD can have their own lanes which leads to a grey area.

Sony SmartWatch 3 Review – Great Hardware Meets Lackluster Android Wear

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 17, 2015 | 5 comments

Sony has always been, at its heart, a hardware company. During the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s when the Japanese giant ruled the consumer industry, it was because of their amazing hardware which defined the analog world. After all, we all had access to the same TV feed or cassette tape but it was the hardware that gave your unit a design that begged to be shown off or the extra clarity during the World Cup. In the early 2000’s, much of this began to change as the world shifted away from hardware at the forefront to software being the key differentiator. After all, Apple was not the first to the MP3 market, but thanks to the integration of iTunes, they were able to create a device far more compelling than their competitors.

Fast forward to today and many of the well-known and multi-billion dollar tech companies that we know of, like Facebook and Netflix, don’t even make a single piece of hardware yet they’re with us at all times. With Sony unable to adapt to a software-driven world, the company began to fall behind well over a decade ago, which is coincidentally the last time they were properly profitable. In that time, we’ve seen Sony’s dominance in tech (excluding PlayStation) fade all but away. So what does this have to do with the SmartWatch 3? Quite simply everything. Imagine a modern product in a hot and growing market that Sony could develop and solely focus on the hardware while a company known for their software could develop the UI that makes the essence of that product.

The Sony SmartWatch 3 is that device. Hardware that is pure Sony and software that is totally Google in the ever-growing wearable category.

Yes, Sony is Ditching the ‘Walkman’ Name on Mobile

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 2, 2015 | 14 comments

Eagle-eyed readers will have likely spotted that, on all promotional materials for the just-announced Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet and Xperia M4 Aqua, a certain branding is missing. Specifically, the music app is no longer called Walkman and is instead referred to simply as ‘Music.’ Alongside Music, you’ll find other media related apps like Albums, Video, PlayStation, and Lifelog. This has caused quite a bit of debate among Sony fans and what it could mean. Some have wondered if it had to do with the end of Music Unlimited or if it’s more related to Sony closing down or spinning off parts of the company that are no longer working.

The answer is, however, much less exciting, though it’s reflective of where Sony is today and a change that will be coming to other Xperia devices.

Sony Reveals New Management Structure

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 23, 2015 | 10 comments

In order for Sony to adapt to the new market and consumer realities, some major changes are needed. Ever since taking the reins of Sony, Kaz Hirai has been on a mission to shake up the company as much as possible. While things have gone slower than some would like, Sony is changing. Under Kaz, Sony has spun off parts of the business previously thought holy, like TV, and sold other divisions, like their VAIO PC business. Now, Kaz is once again shaking things up and this time, at the executive level.

Sony’s new management structure with more clearly defined roles and responsibilities can be found after the jump.

Sony Launches New Mid-Term Strategy (2015-2017)

by Jonathan Nolan | Feb 18, 2015 | 10 comments

On Wednesday Sony Corp. unveiled its mid-term strategy update for the period FY2015-FY2017.

Sony is setting “profit generation and investment for growth” as the theme of its mid-range corporate plan from for the next three years. That means that any divisions running losses better run and hide. Sony won’t keep them. The emphasis of language on profit retention and boosting throughout the news release suggests that any endeavors not proving to contribute directly to profit or growth won’t be tolerated. The key focus now above everything else is to boost profit throughout all businesses and the overall message seemed to be aimed particularly at Sony shareholders. This new plan comes into effect from April.

A few main points that Sony announced:

That they will be spinning out the Sound and Video units, which will become wholly owned by Sony
A plan “to deliver to investors a consolidated Return On Equity (ROE) of more than 10% and a target for consolidated operating profit of more than 500 billion yen for the Sony Group in FY2017”
There was not talk of selling the Mobile division, though it is now considered a threat to financial stability and ‘partners are being considered’

Read on for the full details.

PS4 PlayMemories App Gains 4K Support

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 17, 2015 | 0 comments

If in your arsenal of entertainment devices you have a PS4 and a 4K television then the following news is specifically for you. Sony has updated the PlayMemories App on PS4 with 4K support. For those unfamiliar, PlayMemories syncs your photos between your different devices (think iCloud & Photo Stream) for easy access and consumption. While 4K video is something new for consumers, digital cameras have been able to capture at that resolution for many years. Now those with a 4K TV will have an easy way to consume their photos. Details after the jump.