Christopher

Sony Masterworks released The Essential Lena Horne today, which spans thirty years of the legendary artist’s career, from her first recordings in 1941 to her live recordings of the 1950s and ’60s. This

The Sony DR-GA500/DR-GA200 high-end PC gaming headset is a phenomenal new offering that Sony Europe/Asia Pacific showed off last week made specifically for gamers. The design of the headset is one of the best looking I’ve ever seen because of its open ear design. Many of the high-end PC gaming headsets currently out there have a closed-ear design that becomes quite uncomfortable after extended use. As the current standard for expensive PC gaming headsets is to have advanced sound, the DR-GA500 meets that challenge with incredible audio quality due to the Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder with unique Sony Virtual Phones Technology (VPT) to create convincing 7.1ch 3D surround effects. The signal processing hardware is contained in a compact external unit. With such sound capabilities, gamers have the ability to hear things in games they may have not heard before with lesser headsets. Maximum audio performance is ideal for first person shooter (FPS) games that require your absolute attention. Having great sound means that you can hear enemies in games sneak up on you, or hear greater detail in explosions, gunfire, and other tactical sounds. Here are some more pictures of the headset, starting with the mic extended: ..and here is the mic withdrawn: View the full article

Inside Job is a 2010 documentary from Academy Award nominated filmmaker, Charles Ferguson (“No End In Sight”), and is the first film to expose the shocking truth behind the economic crisis of 2008. The global financial meltdown, at a cost of over $20 trillion, resulted in millions of people losing their homes and jobs. Through extensive research and interviews with major financial insiders, politicians and journalists, Inside Job traces the rise of a rogue industry and unveils the corrosive relationships which have corrupted politics, regulation and academia. Narrated by Academy Award winner Matt Damon, the Inside Job was made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore, and China. The movie was screened at Cannes in May 2010 and is scheduled to be released in the USA by Sony Pictures Classics on October 8th, 2010. One of the first catchy marketing lines being used is that this is “The film that cost over $20,000,000,000,000 to produce.” Be sure to also check out the Inside Job official website and Facebook page. View the full article

Sony is showing off a new cable they have under development for cell phones, officially called “single wire interface” technology, which dramatically condenses audio, video and power transmission into a single cable. Of course, this applies to flip (aka clam shell) phones, which have fallen behind in popularity in the USA to large screen solitary devices like the iPhone, and various Android handsets. However, in Japan, many people still use flip phones, as you can see on one of their largest cell carriers NTT docomo. Sony boasts that normal clamshell cell phones can have up to 22 wires to transmit data and power, consisting of a power wire, an audio wire, fifteen misc. wires, and five differential wires. With this new technology, all of that can be transmitted through one differential wire capable of 940Mbps transmission speeds. Could this mean a new revolution in handset design? Amazing to think of the possibilities. How did they do it? Well, according to the press release, “Sony developed a unique time division duplex and multiplex method that enable packets of data, including video (display, camera), audio, and control signals to be transmitted over a single cable. Furthermore, Sony has enabled the bi-directional transmission of different signals, such as display and camera signals, by incorporating a mechanism that retains individual synchronization. The newly-developed hardware is composed of a digital portion that performs multi-level encoding, an analog portion that transmits and receives signals, and another portion that combines signals with DC power or separates signals from DC power. A unique multi-level encoding that has no DC component enables both high speed transmission with limited frequency bandwidth and DC power supply on a single common cable.” What’s next? Sony is working with a company called ROHM, which has a track record in peripheral tech and they will co-develop and work on the analog portion of the chip. ROHM will then get the IP license for the digital portion of the single wire technology in order to make a chip that has the analog and digital aspects within. View the full article

The Sony rumor mill has been buzzing over four new Sony Alpha DSLR cameras (A33, A55, A560 and A580) set to launch on August 24th. The leaked specifications, which appear to be highly credible, indicate that all of these cameras will be the first DSLR’s from Sony that offer 1080i AVCHD video recording. Several models will also have built-in GPS technology so you can geo-tag your photos and videos. According to Sony Alpha Rumors, the A33 and A55 will have translucent mirror technology (aka pellix), which means that there is no moveable mirror. With the new system, the A33 and A55 are much more compact in design and weigh about 25% less than the Sony A550, with an overall 20% reduction in size. Aside from aesthetics, translucent mirror technology enables the A33/A55 to take a picture in less than a tenth of a second and doesn’t “blackout” after a picture is taken, meaning a full-time live view. There also isn’t the familiar “clap” sound you hear when you take a picture with most other DSLR’s. Let’s take a look at the new models (majority of this information comes from various posts at Sony Alpha Rumors): The A33 ($649 for body, $749 with 18-55mm lens) will have a 14 megapixel sensor with an ISO range of 100-12800. It will have a 1.44 million dot EVF and has 15 AF points (some cross-point). We’re seeing here that it can shoot up to 7fps. With the Multi Frame NR function the ISO apparently can go up to 25600 ISO, and the Auto ISO range maxes out at 1600. As mentioned before, the A33 can also shoot in 1080i (60i) AVCHD video. This model will also be compatible with MemoryStick Duo and Compact Flash memory cards like past Alpha DSLR cameras. The A33 apparently will use the same batteries used in the NEX-3/NEX-5. The A55 ($749 for body, $849 with 18-55mm lens) is a step up from the A33 with a 16 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 100-12800. It is one of the first Sony Alpha DSLR’s to have GPS built-in to the camera to geo-tag photos and videos. It will have a 1.44 million dot EVF and has 15 AF points (some cross-point). We’re seeing here that it can shoot up to 10fps. With the Multi Frame NR function the ISO apparently can go up to 25600 ISO, and the Auto ISO range maxes out at 1600. As mentioned before, the A33 can also shoot in 1080i (60i) AVCHD video. This model will also be compatible with MemoryStick Duo and Compact Flash memory cards like past Alpha DSLR cameras. The A55 apparently will use the same batteries used in the NEX-3/NEX-5. Sony Alpha Rumors has some further specification rumors for the A55. The A560 is more or less a traditional DSLR, and does not feature the translucent (pellix) sensor found in the A33/A55. It has a 14 megapixel sensor with an ISO range of 100-12800. It shoots 1080i (60i) AVC HD video. The A560 has 15 AF points (some cross-point) and will probably shoot around 5-7 fps. We also have read that it will have a swivel display on the back for enhanced usability. This model will also be compatible with MemoryStick Duo and Compact Flash memory cards like past Alpha DSLR cameras. The A580 is more or less a traditional DSLR, and does not feature the translucent (pellix) sensor found in the A33/A55. It has a 16 megapixel sensor with an ISO range of 100-12800. It shoots 1080i (60i) AVC HD video. The A560 has 15 AF points (some cross-point) and will probably shoot around 10 fps. We also have read that it will have a swivel display on the back for enhanced usability and built-in GPS for geo-tagging your photos and videos. This model will also be compatible with MemoryStick Duo and Compact Flash memory cards like past Alpha DSLR cameras. View the full article

At IFA in 2009 and then at CES in 2010, Sony took the opportunity of international electronics shows to announce the group’s first unified brand message, make.believe, to be used globally and unveil animated 2D and 3D logos. Meet the designers whose teamwork and enterprising spirit brought the logos to life in an interview courtesy of Sony Design. Here are the principal designers involved with the make.believe design process: Yamaguchi: The statement make.believe is the first unified brand message used by the Sony Group internationally. But just what form should this message take? How should we introduce it? Answering these questions was the mission of our design team. In the message, the dot plays a pivotal role in joining two different elements—make, representing action, and believe, a frame of mind. You could also substitute hardware and software for these elements. Besides manufacturing electronics (the “hardware” side of our business), Sony produces a wealth of content, including music, movies, and games (the “software” side). The dot in the brand message is the spark that brings the two elements together, the flash point when new value and experiences are created. Just adding the Sony logo is not a compelling way to present these concepts. Instead, we thought of adopting an animated logo as our key visual for introducing the new brand message. Normally we finalize static logo graphics before considering how to animate them, but this time, we took the opposite approach. We also knew that a new age is finally dawning in 3D video. Sony is united in supporting the move to 3D at all stages, from movie production to screening in theaters, from hardware to finished content. It seemed fitting to create versions of the animated logo in both 2D and 3D. But for us, this was an unprecedented challenge. Jogano: In the animation process, I began by creating a traditional 2D logo sequence. This appears at the end of Sony TV commercials, for example, where time is limited. In just 1.5 seconds in Japan and about twice as long overseas, the animated logo had to convey our brand message concepts accurately and memorably. I chose the dot in make.believe as the focal point of the image. The sequence opens with curtains of light emanating from the center. Dazzling rays in two colors symbolize the two concepts of make and believe. The image resolves into a dot, and then the brand message appears. The organization and images are simple, because it was intended to be used by many group companies. No matter what Sony business the logo promotes, it must convey the message clearly and consistently. For this reason, an animated logo that’s almost too simple was perfect. The hard part was 3D optimization of the animation. Objects seem three-dimensional to us because of parallax, differences in focus, and other visual cues, but these cues are not available to us when the object is light. Is it even possible to make light appear three-dimensional? Fortunately, we could call on the resources of group companies Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony PCL. These companies have extensive experience in 3D movie production and technical consulting. Adapting our engineers’ advice to suit our needs, we found a useful approach in design. My solution was to sprinkle some points of light in the background (like a starry sky) and to add lens effects and rays of light. These objects become part of the image as a whole, making it look three-dimensional. 3D optimization was done at Sony PCL and checked using their 3D projection system. It was refined again and again, as we sought maximum effect from a minimal performance. Ultimately, I think we successfully retained the 2D appearance in an immersive 3D sequence worthy of the Sony name. Nagahara: Some sounds are etched in our subconscious and move us more than visual images do—when we know intuitively what product or company it is, just by hearing the sound a product makes or an audio logo. Sony knows the power of sound, and besides our other design resources, we can develop sound design internally. For the audio portion of our animated logos, Nobuhiro asked me to create “the sound of light” and “the sound of the two elements of make and believe.” Not very easy tasks. Manabu and I brainstormed about approaches to take in sound design. It was insightful to consider the dot as a spark. To imitate a kind of ignition, the attack should be sharp, preferably with a serious edge. For the two elements of make and believe, it seemed simplest to combine two contrasting sounds. Fujiki: We had to strike the right balance. Simply playing chords for the words would overwhelm the sound at the point of ignition. What could we add to single tones to link them? We sampled the sound of tapping or striking all kinds of things and created material on a synthesizer, until we had considered nearly 100 sound sequences. In the end, we expressed the elements of make and believe with a set of sounds that includes both treble and bass components. We took a simple, pleasant treble component, added a bass component with impact as an accent, and layered this over the sound of the dot in the animated logo. A distinctive tone is used for the treble component, something between the tone of a musical instrument and the sound of striking crystal glasses. In audio logos, just playing single tones on a piano or synthesizer is not unusual. This time, we sought something different in sound design—something that’s simple but lingers in your memory. Nagahara:The audio portion of traditional animated logos can be in stereo, but 3D animated logos deserve surround sound. People generally have fairly exacting standards in sound. Once you have been enjoying 3D video in surround sound, you’ll find it very strange if the experience is interrupted by a passage in stereo. Instantly, the 3D video realm collapses and you snap back to reality—the spell is broken. To create a surround-sound version of the audio logo, we set up a special production environment in the design office. In brief audio sequences, it’s difficult to create the effect of surround sound. After trying various effects, such as rotating the stereo images, we decided it would be more natural and consistent with the original stereo sound source to have the stereo images simply spread out. Maesaka: We also need to introduce the new make.believe brand message in print and other static media. This includes posters and concept booklets used internally as well as store signage, event displays, and other external media. My task was to adapt a dynamic logo to paper media without diminishing its impact or betraying the intentions of the original designers. To do it, I isolated the most symbolic elements in the traditional (2D) animated logo as resources for graphic design. My creative palette consisted of curtains of light in two colors (representing make and believe) and the glow of the dot. But converting RGB source images to the CMYK color space for printing is not straightforward. The gamut is restricted, and it’s hard to reproduce the original colors in print. What’s more, paper properties, humidity at the time of printing, and other factors cause inconsistency in printed material. We paid close attention to the colors in our first internal posters, which set the standard for printing around the world. Our posters are created in about 40 languages. In printing, it takes a delicate touch to adjust hues, saturation, and contrast to match the original image. And although we’re all members of the same corporate group, graphic design guidelines vary among Sony companies. Our goal was to coordinate these guidelines and ensure a unified message from the group. Anticipating how the Sony logo and make.believe should be combined in graphic design, we created simulations of the print ads, brochures, websites, product packaging, store signs, and all the other static media of group companies that incorporate the logo, all around the world. After feedback from our local companies, we refined the simulations as needed. It was hard work, as we repeated this process. But it all seems worthwhile now that we see the new logo gradually being introduced by Sony group companies. Ikeda: Our logo work was not finished when we distributed the final materials to group companies. Ensuring that it’s used as intended in various areas, media, and scenarios, and that the concepts are conveyed accurately requires ongoing design governance. I’ve been working with the Group Marketing Communication Department (the make.believe project office) to manage overall project progress, help direct the establishment of logo guidelines, and even contribute to related copywriting. What makes it difficult to establish guidelines is the fact that marketing conditions vary regionally and by group company. It would be easy to establish detailed rules on logo usage and prohibit all other usage. But because this would restrict creative expression, we wanted to avoid rules that were too strict. The guidelines we envisioned are not based on the logos themselves but on our brand message and the concepts involved. If there’s a way to convey the intentions behind our message effectively, that’s what we seek, and considering this possibility can inspire local creativity. Toward this end, the department assessed local conditions by asking these representatives how we can express the new group message most effectively, and in this case, to cite any points to keep in mind. Their opinions were discussed by our make.believe working group, and in turn, our conclusions were documented. This process revealed that current guidelines needed to be refined, which slowed our progress. It was nerve-wracking to revise our guidelines so often. But ensuring flexibility in creative expression enabled unexpected, unique forms of promotion around the world, which are now seen at events and in stores. Yamaguchi: Sony group companies represent an array of diverse cultures and marketing strategies. What enables us to understand and adapt to these conditions and speak with one voice (with a consistent message) is a team of in-house designers in close contact with top management. The make.believe logo project demonstrated the advantages we enjoy and was an excellent example of how affiliated departments and companies leverage our combined strengths. View the full article

SCEJ has revealed a new Gran Turismo 5 (Racing Pack) themed PS3 bundle which will be available at retail on the Japanese/European release day of November 3rd for the highly anticipated racing game. We believe this is a Japanese only launch at this point. The PS3 Slim included in the Racing Pack bundle has a brilliant Titanium Blue color, which almost reminds of the shade Sony used with the VAIO TT from several years ago. The PS3 looks quite dapper in blue, don’t you say? We feel the PS3 looks very special with this exclusive color, however, we wish that some sort of logo for GT5 or a car was painted perhaps in white on the top of the console. The Racing Pack bundle features the full version of GT5, and also comes a special 200 page Apex drivers magazine with hints on driving technique, car tuning, future technologies and much more. This guide will probably come in handy considering there are around 1,000 different cars (800 standard, 200 premium) that are playable within this game. To make this package even sweeter, you also get a Titanium Blue DUALSHOCK 3 controller. Images from Game WATCH. Five special “Stealth Models” cars are also included for the user to download from the PlayStation Store, including the exotic Audi R10 TDI, Honda NSX GT500, McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Nissan GT-R GT500. Here is a trailer for Gran Turismo 5 that I found which seems to have emerged from gamescom 2010: View the full article

LittleBigPlanet 2, commonly abbreviated LBP2, is an upcoming, 2010 puzzle video game, centred around user-generated content. The game is developed by Media Molecule and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for the PlayStation 3 console and will be released in November 2010. Players continue Sackboy’s journey after the events of the first game and the portable version. An inter-dimensional vacuum cleaner appears over the skies of LittleBigPlanet and begins to suck up its inhabitants, including Sackboy. Larry Da Vinci, the leader of a secret organization known as “The Alliance”, comes to Sackboy’s rescue saving him from what they call “The Negativitron.” The organization is dedicated to battling with “The Negativitron” and defeating it before it destroys Craftworld. Sony and Media Molecule are showing off a new trailer for LittleBigPlanet 2 at gamescom 2010: Aside from many new additions in regular gameplay, the online community of the game will also be improved with the upcoming LBP.me website. From there, players may synchronize with their PlayStation Network IDs in order to check statistics on their own levels, as well as find new levels from the community, where they can queue them for automatic download when their PlayStation 3 is next online. Further to the official community website, improved API features mean that scoreboards and photos taken within the game can be displayed on a player’s website or blog; website owners may also use the API to add live feeds and data from the game itself. Most of the more than 2 million levels created by users in the first game will carry-over and be playable and editable in LittleBigPlanet 2. View the full article

After what seems like years of failed efforts, there may finally be a simple solution for hacking Sony’s PlayStation 3. Amusingly enough, the person with the golden ticket is an Australian online store called OzModChips, which claims to have the world’s first PS3 Modchip available for the pre-order sale price of $169AUD, all within a USB thumbdrive. Some may ask why would you want to hack the PS3. One of the primary reasons people have wanted to hack the PS3 is that you can copy PS3 games from discs and install them on your hard drive. It would no longer require you to insert a disc to play, and could blow open the door for a massive PS3 piracy renaissance. This would allow anyone to install pirated PS3 games on their PS3′s hard drive. There are also claims that games may run faster on the PS3′s internal hard drive compared to being played on a Blu-ray disc, as the PS3′s Blu-ray drive has a 2x read speed. OzModChips also reports that this hack can run with the latest firmware (v3.41), and can work on any model of the PS3 (including the slim). We are still skeptical of the authenticity of this product and whether or not the world has fallen into an incredible marketing deception by some clever Australians. If the modchip is real, there will be a surge in activity within the PS3 homebrew/hacking scene, and inevitable firmware updates from Sony to counter this development. Read further analysis at Kotaku and Ars Technica. Here is a video of the modchip in action: View the full article

One of my favorite online FPS games for the PS3, MAG, is getting some serious love from developer Zipper Interactive. For those of you who may not be familiar, MAG is a groundbreaking war game which allows you to play in a server with up to 256 players (128 vs. 128), something no other console online FPS currently offers on the market. I’ve played the game extensively and I promise you there is nothing like the true chaos of

EISA is the unique association of 50 special interest magazines from 19 European countries that choose the best of the best in consumer electronics. The editors-in-chief from all EISA member magazines meet each June to decide which of products analyzed in their publications during the past year deserve the coveted EISA Award. There are six main categories, including Audio, Video, Home Theater, Photography, In-Car Electronics Electronics and Mobile Devices and then subcategories within that for various products. Historically, Sony does pretty well in this competition and 2010 is no different. Sony won in five product categories in this year’s EISA awards, including 3D-LCD TV’s, photography/video products, and car audio. We have compiled some great pictures and videos of the winning devices for your enjoyment. Let’s take a look at the products EISA said Sony was the best in European consumer electronics this year: NEX-5 Micro System Camera The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Although the Sony a NEX-5 is the smallest system camera in the world, by using a large APS-C CMOS image sensor it is still able to deliver excellent image quality. The camera is aimed at compact camera users and beginners who want to improve their skills, so Sony has made the user interface simple and straightforward. The extra-large, hinged, LCD screen makes viewing captured still images and Full HD videos a pleasure. Already equipped with Sony’s Sweep Panorama, this will be the first camera to offer a 3D Sweep Panorama mode as well.” Here is some sample footage shot by Sony with the NEX-5: BRAVIA KDL-52HX900 3D-LCD TV The EISA Judging Panel commented: “The Sony KDL-52HX900 delivers tremendous video quality and hyper-realistic results with 2D and 3D sources. Sony’s magic touch is clearly visible in the huge contrast ratio, top-class movement compensation, the superb BRAVIA Engine 3, and the most efficient Direct-LED Backlight yet. Even standard 2D sources may be watched in thrilling 3D due to Sony’s conversion process. The Sony KDL-52HX900 is much more than a TV: it’s an amazing hub for all sources and is even equipped with a versatile Wi-Fi internet browser. This piece of modern art from Sony combines the beauty of a unique design with a maelstrom of technologies that bring the excitement of 2D and 3D cinema experiences to your living room.” I couldn’t resist linking to the great BRAVIA design story video about the 2010 BRAVIA series, which explains the design element of the HX900/HX909: Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V Compact Camera The EISA Judging Panel commented: “If you are looking for a compact camera that packs a powerful zoom but still fits the pocket, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V should be at the top of your list. With its 25-250mm 10x zoom lens and features such as GPS, compass, Intelligent Sweep Panorama, long-lasting battery, 10fps shooting and Full HD-quality video recording, it is an ideal companion for travel as well as everyday events. Using Sony’s Exmor R CMOS sensor the camera is able to work well in low-light conditions, producing images with very little noise.” Here is a video showing off the HX5V in further detail: Handycam HDR-AX2000E High-end Camcorder The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Never before has an advanced consumer camcorder been so similar to its professional counterpart. The HDR-AX2000E combines a complete range of easy to use manual functions with pro-style XLR connectors and a phantom power supply for external microphones. The lens is a 20X wide angle zoom and the three CMOS sensors deliver stunning pictures with great detail, even under extremely low light conditions. A hi-res viewfinder and touch-screen control combine with the convenience of SD and Memory stick recording to offer the enthusiasts the opportunity to make professional quality video at a price he/she can afford.” Here is a video from Youtube of jump ropers in the incredible smooth slow recording mode on the HDR-AX2000: Xplod XAV-70BT In-Car A/V Head Unit The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Making in-car multimedia most enjoyable is what Sony’s XAV-70BT is designed for. Its 7”-screen provides lively pictures. To yield the best sound, signal paths and power supply are completely separated for sound and imaging – a true high quality design. Exclusive features like the “ZAPPIN” function make it easy to find the right song while “SensMe” software is able to analyze the music’s style and mood in order to play a tailored list. A clearly arranged user interface makes all the functionality easily usable – No more trading comfort for performance. This is the difference.” This video goes over some of the functions found within the XAV-70BT: View the full article

EISA is the unique association of 50 special interest magazines from 19 European countries that choose the best of the best in consumer electronics. The editors-in-chief from all EISA member magazines meet each June to decide which of products analyzed in their publications during the past year deserve the coveted EISA Award. There are six main categories, including Audio, Video, Home Theater, Photography, In-Car Electronics Electronics and Mobile Devices and then subcategories within that for various products. Historically, Sony does pretty well in this competition and 2010 is no different. Sony won in five product categories in this year’s EISA awards, including 3D-LCD TV’s, photography/video products, and car audio. We have compiled some great pictures and videos of the winning devices for your enjoyment. Let’s take a look at the products EISA said Sony was the best in European consumer electronics this year: NEX-5 Micro System Camera The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Although the Sony a NEX-5 is the smallest system camera in the world, by using a large APS-C CMOS image sensor it is still able to deliver excellent image quality. The camera is aimed at compact camera users and beginners who want to improve their skills, so Sony has made the user interface simple and straightforward. The extra-large, hinged, LCD screen makes viewing captured still images and Full HD videos a pleasure. Already equipped with Sony’s Sweep Panorama, this will be the first camera to offer a 3D Sweep Panorama mode as well.” Here is some sample footage shot by Sony with the NEX-5: BRAVIA KDL-52HX900 3D-LCD TV The EISA Judging Panel commented: “The Sony KDL-52HX900 delivers tremendous video quality and hyper-realistic results with 2D and 3D sources. Sony’s magic touch is clearly visible in the huge contrast ratio, top-class movement compensation, the superb BRAVIA Engine 3, and the most efficient Direct-LED Backlight yet. Even standard 2D sources may be watched in thrilling 3D due to Sony’s conversion process. The Sony KDL-52HX900 is much more than a TV: it’s an amazing hub for all sources and is even equipped with a versatile Wi-Fi internet browser. This piece of modern art from Sony combines the beauty of a unique design with a maelstrom of technologies that bring the excitement of 2D and 3D cinema experiences to your living room.” I couldn’t resist linking to the great BRAVIA design story video about the 2010 BRAVIA series, which explains the design element of the HX900/HX909: Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V Compact Camera The EISA Judging Panel commented: “If you are looking for a compact camera that packs a powerful zoom but still fits the pocket, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V should be at the top of your list. With its 25-250mm 10x zoom lens and features such as GPS, compass, Intelligent Sweep Panorama, long-lasting battery, 10fps shooting and Full HD-quality video recording, it is an ideal companion for travel as well as everyday events. Using Sony’s Exmor R CMOS sensor the camera is able to work well in low-light conditions, producing images with very little noise.” Here is a video showing off the HX5V in further detail: Handycam HDR-AX2000E High-end Camcorder The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Never before has an advanced consumer camcorder been so similar to its professional counterpart. The HDR-AX2000E combines a complete range of easy to use manual functions with pro-style XLR connectors and a phantom power supply for external microphones. The lens is a 20X wide angle zoom and the three CMOS sensors deliver stunning pictures with great detail, even under extremely low light conditions. A hi-res viewfinder and touch-screen control combine with the convenience of SD and Memory stick recording to offer the enthusiasts the opportunity to make professional quality video at a price he/she can afford.” Here is a video from Youtube of jump ropers in the incredible smooth slow recording mode on the HDR-AX2000: Xplod XAV-70BT In-Car A/V Head Unit The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Making in-car multimedia most enjoyable is what Sony’s XAV-70BT is designed for. Its 7”-screen provides lively pictures. To yield the best sound, signal paths and power supply are completely separated for sound and imaging – a true high quality design. Exclusive features like the “ZAPPIN” function make it easy to find the right song while “SensMe” software is able to analyze the music’s style and mood in order to play a tailored list. A clearly arranged user interface makes all the functionality easily usable – No more trading comfort for performance. This is the difference.” This video goes over some of the functions found within the XAV-70BT: View the full article

EISA is the unique association of 50 special interest magazines from 19 European countries that choose the best of the best in consumer electronics. The editors-in-chief from all EISA member magazines meet each June to decide which of products analyzed in their publications during the past year deserve the coveted EISA Award. There are six main categories, including Audio, Video, Home Theater, Photography, In-Car Electronics Electronics and Mobile Devices and then subcategories within that for various products. Historically, Sony does pretty well in this competition and 2010 is no different. Sony won in five product categories in this year’s EISA awards, including 3D-LCD TV’s, photography/video products, and car audio. We have compiled some great pictures and videos of the winning devices for your enjoyment. Let’s take a look at the products EISA said Sony was the best in European consumer electronics this year: NEX-5 Micro System Camera The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Although the Sony a NEX-5 is the smallest system camera in the world, by using a large APS-C CMOS image sensor it is still able to deliver excellent image quality. The camera is aimed at compact camera users and beginners who want to improve their skills, so Sony has made the user interface simple and straightforward. The extra-large, hinged, LCD screen makes viewing captured still images and Full HD videos a pleasure. Already equipped with Sony’s Sweep Panorama, this will be the first camera to offer a 3D Sweep Panorama mode as well.” Here is some sample footage shot by Sony with the NEX-5: BRAVIA KDL-52HX900 3D-LCD TV The EISA Judging Panel commented: “The Sony KDL-52HX900 delivers tremendous video quality and hyper-realistic results with 2D and 3D sources. Sony’s magic touch is clearly visible in the huge contrast ratio, top-class movement compensation, the superb BRAVIA Engine 3, and the most efficient Direct-LED Backlight yet. Even standard 2D sources may be watched in thrilling 3D due to Sony’s conversion process. The Sony KDL-52HX900 is much more than a TV: it’s an amazing hub for all sources and is even equipped with a versatile Wi-Fi internet browser. This piece of modern art from Sony combines the beauty of a unique design with a maelstrom of technologies that bring the excitement of 2D and 3D cinema experiences to your living room.” I couldn’t resist linking to the great BRAVIA design story video about the 2010 BRAVIA series, which explains the design element of the HX900/HX909: Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V Compact Camera The EISA Judging Panel commented: “If you are looking for a compact camera that packs a powerful zoom but still fits the pocket, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V should be at the top of your list. With its 25-250mm 10x zoom lens and features such as GPS, compass, Intelligent Sweep Panorama, long-lasting battery, 10fps shooting and Full HD-quality video recording, it is an ideal companion for travel as well as everyday events. Using Sony’s Exmor R CMOS sensor the camera is able to work well in low-light conditions, producing images with very little noise.” Here is a video showing off the HX5V in further detail: Handycam HDR-AX2000E High-end Camcorder The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Never before has an advanced consumer camcorder been so similar to its professional counterpart. The HDR-AX2000E combines a complete range of easy to use manual functions with pro-style XLR connectors and a phantom power supply for external microphones. The lens is a 20X wide angle zoom and the three CMOS sensors deliver stunning pictures with great detail, even under extremely low light conditions. A hi-res viewfinder and touch-screen control combine with the convenience of SD and Memory stick recording to offer the enthusiasts the opportunity to make professional quality video at a price he/she can afford.” Here is a video from Youtube of jump ropers in the incredible smooth slow recording mode on the HDR-AX2000: Xplod XAV-70BT In-Car A/V Head Unit The EISA Judging Panel commented: “Making in-car multimedia most enjoyable is what Sony’s XAV-70BT is designed for. Its 7”-screen provides lively pictures. To yield the best sound, signal paths and power supply are completely separated for sound and imaging – a true high quality design. Exclusive features like the “ZAPPIN” function make it easy to find the right song while “SensMe” software is able to analyze the music’s style and mood in order to play a tailored list. A clearly arranged user interface makes all the functionality easily usable – No more trading comfort for performance. This is the difference.” This video goes over some of the functions found within the XAV-70BT: View the full article

Resistance 3 is an upcoming science fiction FPS game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, exclusively for the PS3. Resistance 3 is the third sequel to the best-selling PS3 launch title Resistance: Fall of Man and will be based in New York City. The game will be released worldwide sometime in 2011 and was officially announced at Gamescom 2010 after much speculation and rumors. Gamers have been hounding Insomniac Games to spill the details on Resistance 3 after several events which essentially confirmed its existence early on. On October 11th, 2009, a billboard was spotted in Shreveport, Louisiana, bearing the text “Resistance 3″. The billboard was seen on the set of the movie Battle: Los Angeles, which was being produced by Columbia Pictures. Columbia Pictures is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. When asked to comment by IGN.com, Insomniac Games said “We’ve made no announcements at this time.” Insomniac Games released Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time on October 27th 2009. Insomniac Games have mentioned before that they will alternate between producing Ratchet & Clank and Resistance titles. The billboard was taken down several days after the photo was leaked onto the internet. On November 11th, 2009 an artist by the name of Ben Mauro had put on his LinkedIn profile that he spent three sleepless months from March until May 2009 crafting content for several projects, including “RCF2″ (presumably Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time), “R3″ and some unannounced items. The information disappeared shortly thereafter. Here is the official Resistance 3 trailer which premiered today at Gamescom’s Sony Press Conference: View the full article

Sony is set to debut two new headphones aimed towards gamers, especially those who play long online gaming sessions or frequently use Teamspeak/Ventrilo. There are several options out there from various manufacturers such as Logitech, Plantronics, Razer, Creative Sound and others but many of the options out there have this terrible enclosed ear solution that I find uncomfortable. The new Sony DR-GA500 and DR-GA200 headsets are some of the coolest and comfortable gaming headphones I’ve ever seen. The DR-GA500 package is really incredible, offering an external Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder with unique Sony Virtual Phones Technology (VPT) to create convincing 7.1ch 3D surround effects. This enables the listener to precisely hear where the action is coming from. In my experiences, it is a real advantage in FPS, RTS, MMO, and other strategy games if you have a great audio system. Sometimes when I snipe in games such as Battlefield: Bad Company 2, having a nice headset can allow me to know if someone is about to sneak up and kill me with a knife. There’s also other handy features such as compression and FPS mode. It’s important to clarify the DR-GA200 doesn’t have 7.1ch digital surround sound. The other benefit of these headphones is the comfort aspect – padding aligns the inner portion of the headphone ensuring a comfortable fit for extended periods of time. Plus, with the unique headphone design, you still get incredible sound that doesn’t trap your ears in a cave. The Sony triple enfolding design has its origins in user research underlining the importance of ventilation and avoiding pressure on the ear. Both models incorporate a high quality, compact boom microphone that can be muted as well. View the full article

Subway restaurants and Sony Computer Entertainment America will offer diners and PlayStation fans the opportunity to instantly win PlayStation prizes including select products before they are available to buy in stores. The prizes will total more than 1 million dollars in retail value and will be awarded at the rate of one prize per minute during the promotion period. The Fiery Footlong Frenzy Fueled by PlayStation, will feature SUBWAY restaurants? spiciest sandwiches to date ? dubbed Fiery Footlong subs ? including the spicy New Turkey Jalapeno Melt and the back by popular demand Buffalo Chicken. When they quench the fire with a 32 oz drink, diners will have the chance to win a wide variety of PlayStation prizes, including the highly anticipated PlayStation Move motion controller, before they become available for purchase in stores in September. The program will offer consumers the chance to win the latest in active gaming and entertainment technology, including: PlayStation Move motion controller software bundles; collector?s edition boxes of Gran Turismo 5 and LittleBigPlanet 2 as well as UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves Fortune Hunter Edition; Sony Bravia 3D TV and HDTV entertainment packs; PSP

Killzone 3 is an upcoming FPS game for the PS3 set for release in February 2011, and is developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is the fourth installment in the Killzone series and the first game in the series to be presented in 3D and will be the first to include motion controls using the PlayStation Move. The game picks up immediately after the ending of Killzone 2 and follows the previous games’ main protagonist, Sev, a Special Forces operative fighting for the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance against the Helghast Empire. The game’s story has been referred to being similar to the story of David and Goliath. Sony and Guerrilla Games really tickled everyone at gamescom 2010 with new footage of Killzone 3′s multiplayer mode. These weren’t CG clips or anything like that either, it was real, in game footage showing what I feel is an above average multiplayer FPS. The interface looks crisp and the graphics are outstanding. I love the part where he turns the guys head and breaks his neck. Can you imagine playing a multiplayer FPS like this in 3D? Whoa. I also loved seeing all the different weapons, stationary guns, and the inclusion of vehicles. If Guerrilla Games are smart they will nurture this with DLC over time to keep people playing. View the full article

Sony has announced two new PS3 retail bundles at gamescom 2010 for consumers in many countries (USA, Europe, etc) who want to experience the popular console. The refreshed line up includes a PS3 Sports Champions Move package and a standalone 160GB version. These new capacities for the PS3 slim is basically a continuation of what originally debuted in Japan back in late July. The Sports Champions Move bundle ($399) will be available on September 19th (aka PlayStation Move launch timeframe). It will come with a PlayStation Move motion controller, PlayStation Eye camera, Sports Champions game, and bonus game disc. This should be a compelling option for those who have grown tired of their Nintendo Wii and want to have something similar in function, but more powerful and in glorious HD. Plus, the motion controller on the PS3 is very accurate and has wowed critics in the past. It really feels like the PlayStation Move is going to be a huge momentum push for the PS3 and the PlayStation brand in general. The other model is a 160GB version of the PS3 slim ($299) that comes with a controller and other standard fare. It has all of the same functionality as the current models, including Blu-ray playback, vast library of games, PlayStation Store access (games, movies, etc), Netflix, and a wealth of other features. Many of you have tried the PS3 already so I don’t need to chime on here, but if you haven’t, you really should try and play this console sometime. I’ve put a ton of hours into online gaming with it and it’s fun. It is great to see Sony playing such high capacity consoles as the default model. It seems like the hardware aspect of the console evolves very quickly to ensure competitiveness and strength in the market. A part of me wonders how many people actually fill their PS3 up to near full capacity, though. Do consoles really need to keep racing higher? Will 500GB or 1TB be really necessary? In some places, like Japan and Europe, where you can use your PS3 as a DVR and record multiple HD TV shows at once, sure, but in USA, I’m not so sure. Why can’t Google TV be a PlayStation 3 plug-in or add-on? View the full article

Stuart Redsun is a senior vice president for Sony Electronics Inc. He joined Sony’s corporate marketing team in June 2006 to guide marketing initiatives, reporting to the company’s Chief Marketing Officer Mike Fasulo. Redsun is responsible for designing and delivering an overarching brand strategy in support of the U.S. electronics business, coordinating specific marketing plans for such product lines as 3D, VAIO computers, Cyber-shot cameras and BRAVIA televisions. He also develops, directs and coordinates Sony Electronics’ national advertising and promotional campaigns. Prior to this role he accumulated nearly 20 years experience in brand positioning, marketing and advertising, most recently at mobile service provider Helio where he served as executive vice president of marketing. He has also held high-level brand marketing positions at Motorola, Nike and Gateway. Redsun’s experience includes the development of demand creation programs, managing both consumer and business-focused advertising campaigns, and executing successful global product launches such as the Motorola Razr and the Tiger Woods collection for Nike Golf. Several months ago, Sony Insider had the opportunity to speak to Stuart shortly after Sony’s 3D launch event at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles. Stuart is a really nice fellow, and I could see the passion for his job and the brand as he spoke. In this interview, we learn more about how a chance meeting eventually led to Stuart working at Sony, his average day, and the challenges of creating marketing campaigns. We discuss the challenges of 3D education and the broad efforts Sony are making to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for the average consumer. Amongst many other questions, Stuart also responds to the old 3D adage, “Do I have to wear the glasses?” His answer may surprise you as there is a subtle hint of what is coming in the future. SI: So, why don’t you tell us about how you got started with Sony back in June of 2006 and if you can, be as detailed as possible. Stuart: I was contacted by a friend I knew in San Diego who said that he knows the Sony folks really well, and they were looking for a marketing person so he gave them my name. At the time I had just joined a start up. I wasn’t looking at all for a job and it wasn’t something that had crossed my mind mainly because I had always worked with big companies before, big places, and I was enjoying starting something really small. I then got a call from a headhunter and he asked if I was interested. I really wasn’t. I kept saying no, kept saying no, and finally the headhunter was like “Look, I’m going to be in L.A. Can I please talk to you?” I met him and he knew that I knew the brand, that I had tremendous passion for Sony; it was one of the many brands that I always thought I wanted to work for at some point. Sony is emotionally so powerful to consumers and really all you have to say are those four letters and people get what the brand is about through its quality and innovation. So working for Sony was always an interest, but I just wasn’t looking to do anything else. I just kept telling the headhunter “Hey, I’m very happy. Very happy.” Later on, I was invited by a media company to go to the Grammy awards. I go to the bar (near our suite) during the show, and happen to run into (Sony Electronics USA CMO) Mike Fasulo who also happened to be there. He said “Who are you? What do you do?” ..and mentioned he worked for Sony and I mentioned “Oh wait!”. I recognized his name. I told him, “This headhunter has been calling me about this job and I think they report to you!” We chatted briefly and that was it. A few days later, the headhunter called and said, “Now they really want to meet you!” Mike and I started talking a lot more and laid out the challenges of what they really wanted to do; I felt that it would be a good decision to come on board. The four years since then seem like one year because it’s gone by so quickly. SI: What is the average day for you like at Sony from start to finish. I understand it varies greatly but if you can something detailed for our readers. Stuart: Before I even start my day, I’m still at home going through email because some many of the folks in Tokyo and in other parts of the world have already finished their day. With this in mind, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do, even before you’ve had breakfast or coffee or anything like that. Once I get to the office, a lot of it is meetings with our product team, or meeting with our management on updating marketing plans. There is also meetings with my team, whether that is the marketing side, or communication side and then a lot of time in a typical day is spent either driving what’s next and what’s coming new. The NEX camera, for example, posed the question, “How do we take something that is so innovative, and is such an example of Sony leadership in quality, and do the messaging around how we’ll convey that to the consumer? What will we do online? What we’re gonna do in store?” My job is to really develop the answers for those kind of questions. Also, we look at what we’re going to do in social media with the product, or what we’re going to do from a creative advertisement standpoint. The actual creative advertisement aspect is really trying to get the team to imagine, “Okay, if we are the consumer and we are seeing all these key features, what would that look like?” Those are probably the two largest things that you do throughout the day. I know you have the typical sit meetings, and have lunch, phone calls, etc, but for the most part its trying to boil down to how do we create that excitement for products that are coming close to market. The most exciting part of this job is when we see something new that is coming soon, such as when we saw 3D for the first time. Now we’re at the point where its all coming to market, but when we first saw the initial prototypes we started the aforementioned process. That to me is the most exciting time, because that is when the juices start creatively flowing in your head. At Sony, the great part is we always have all the innovation, and all the technical prowess over the competition. My job basically answers the question of “How do we tell that story in the most exciting way?” SI: How long does it normally take to get a new marketing campaign out from conception (in the pit) to the public? Stuart: Well, there is a difference between how long the process should take and the time we’ve done campaigns in. Sometimes we set expectations that we can get a new campaign out quickly. It really depends on the scale of what we’re really trying to accomplish. We’ve done certain things relatively in a matter of weeks that have been in the early stages of getting consumers to try and give us feedback on something maybe new and different. Something as large scale as what we are doing in 3D, with so many other parts of Sony are involved – pictures, gaming, and music – we really like to look at close to 12 months out to truly develop the full spectrum. That way the campaign feels like Sony in total, and not just one individual product. SI: So, let’s talk 3D. In the last several years, most people have invested a great deal of money into home theater setups – Including large LCD TVs, home theater receivers and speakers. The transition to 3D in the home will require many people to purchase a new television and new home theater equipment that is 3D capable. How are you handling this task of convincing people to upgrade from a marketing prospective? Stuart: I think Sony as a whole has always been about really providing a higher level of excitement through all of the products we provide for your entertainment. I think the transition, for some of these people, could really rely on how you tap into the passion points that’s going to excite consumers most… which are music, movies, games and sports. Those are the things that lead the transition of high definition, and will lead to the transition to 3D as more content becomes available. Everyone is going to want to enjoy in 3D because it is so much more immersive. Later this year when more 3D TV channels start up, that will certainly help with adoption, and certainly as more content becomes available that’s what will drive new purchases of 3D products. Sony wants to be there every step of the way to that higher level of entertainment. SI: So the content will ultimately entice new people. Stuart: Absolutely, another compelling aspect is the phenomenal PS3 3D gaming experience. Our gaming systems already provide an immersive experience, and stereoscopic 3D takes it even further. So, folks who really want that incredible experience will be first to stock up because its certainly better than 2D gaming. Realistically, not everyone will buy into 3D gaming at first and we realize that. In the time that I’ve been with Sony, with every transition in new technology, you always have the folks who say, “Hey, my Sony is so good. The quality of my Sony products are so high. I still have a TV from four years ago and it’s brand new and the color better than all my friends’ brand new TVs they buy.” We hear time and time again that Sony is the pinnacle of quality within consumer electronics. Certainly we will provide the full range of options in 3D depending on that passion point of gaming and sports and music. SI: Is Sony doing enough to make people aware that 3D TVs are not going to cost five thousand plus dollars? It seems that there’s a stereotype with 3D and high cost. Prices for the newer 3D TVs seem to actually be significantly less than that. Stuart: This (event) is the kickoff of our 3D education process. The SonyStyle website has been updated with comprehensive information, and our store content has information about why Sony is the highest quality 3D system you can buy. The information we have in place at SonyStyle also demonstrates that 3D available and affordable from Sony. We also are very clear about the range of models and differences between our 3D capable Blu-ray disc players, cameras and televisions. We really feel that as Sony is the leader in home entertainment, and the leader in 3D, we owe it to the industry to really lead that education on how we’re making it affordable. SI: What is Sony’s response to the everyday consumer saying “Do I have to wear the glasses?” Stuart: The active active shutter glasses aspect of 3D is another education process. Simply stated, we’re doing 3D right. It’s easy to make bad 3D and we’re all gonna make 3D right. Active shutter glasses really give you that much more of an immersive experience. Certainly the things the engineers in Tokyo are working on far exceed the explaination of what we’re showing now, so certainly in time as we bring 3D out to some of the other product categories, we’ll continue to evolve and push the limits of this technology. We urge consumers really to take a look at the active shutter glasses because they are a much different experience to what consumers have tried in the past. SI: I’ve polled dozens of average everyday people and very few seem to actually know about active shutter glasses. How does Sony hope people understand the difference between the active shutter 3D glasses and the polarized 3D glasses that many have used in theaters? Stuart: The big advantage that Sony has in that process is that we have already done millions of demos in our SonyStyle stores. We’ve let people come in since January and educated them over what the active shutter glasses do, what they enable you to do. Or, how our glasses are superior because they block out all the ambient light that get in and ruin the 3D experience. From that hands-on education standpoint, we’ll continue to transfer that knowledge to other retail locations about the glasses. SI: Will we see advertisements for Sony 3D TVs in Sony movies, perhaps before the movies? What about direct placement of the 3D TV within a movie, such as a short scene of dialogue where the characters in a movie are hanging out watching 3D TV? Stuart: The benefits of being part of Sony compared to any other CE manufacturer is we’re already having those discussions. Not just in movies, but Sony Pictures TV shows, our games so you’ll see a lot of that upcoming from Sony as well. SI: Will we see Sony 3D marketing representatives at major consumer electronic stores to help consumers with their 3D purchases? Stuart: Absolutely! We have hundreds of reps. We’re doing whats called “the Sony 3D experience,” where we’re actually going out and educating consumers on the retail floors about the quality advantage Sony 3D has over the competition. We’re gonna be doing thousands of events between now and the end of the year, and even more in the future years to truly educate people why Sony is better but also why 3D is just that much more of an immersive experience. This is the biggest retail demonstration that we’ve executed since HD, which is pretty significant. SI: What is your favorite Sony product of all time, perhaps even one you used when you were younger? Stuart: The yellow Sports Walkman (ed note: model number not given). I remember purchasing it because I wanted to get in shape and start running. I had to have it and I saved my money. I think it was around eighty dollars, and was the most I’d ever paid for anything in my life. It was such a big purchase, and was so monumental to me because that was the first time I think I went into what I’d call “adulthood.” I’d made a major purchase. People purchasing cars or houses, right? This Walkman to me was that type of thing. At the time it felt like, “Alright, this is me making a purchase now and not borrowing, begging or asking.” It enabled me to listen to music outside of the home, or the car, and was perfect for getting in shape. Running with the Walkman made me feel more motivated. It certainly didn’t help me run much faster, but exercising was much more enjoyable. SI: What does make.believe mean to you? Stuart: make.believe is really something that has always been the vision of why Sony was founded. To me, here’s something you can imagine – my Walkman, for example. I wanted to run with music, right? Sony was able to do that. To me, all we did was dust off that spirit and try to give it meaning. To me it means as an employee, my goal is to deliver on that promise the founders started, which was being able to excite more people about the amazing things they can do to bring entertainment into their lives. That to me is really what make.believe is all about. Thanks to Stuart Redsun for taking the time to talk to us, as well as Ana Reyes and James Ferrie for their help with this interview. View the full article

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is a 2010 British-Spanish-American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen and distributed by Sony Pictures Classics in the USA. The latest Woody Allen film, set for release on September 22nd, stars Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto, and Naomi Watts. The film follows a pair of married couples, Alfie (Hopkins) and Helena (Jones), and their daughter Sally (Watts) and husband Roy (Brolin), as their passions, ambitions, and anxieties lead them into trouble and out of their minds. After Alfie leaves Helena to pursue his lost youth and a free-spirited call girl named Charmaine (Lucy Punch), Helena abandons rationality and surrenders her life to the loopy advice of a charlatan fortune teller. Unhappy in her marriage, Sally develops a crush on her handsome art gallery owner boss, Greg (Antonio Banderas), while Roy, a novelist nervously awaiting the response to his latest manuscript, becomes moonstruck over Dia (Freida Pinto), a mystery woman who catches his gaze through a nearby window. Despite these characters’ attempts to dodge their problems with pipe dreams and impracticable plans, their efforts lead only to heartache, irrationality, and perilous hot water. View the full article

Engadget has revealed some incredible insider information about a new upcoming business strategy from Sony Ericsson and PlayStation that will redefine the mobile gaming landscape. The long-rumored PlayStation phone is coming and with these new details it could be an incredibly successful product for Sony. The most tantalizing aspect of this rumor (which we fully believe to be true) is that this will all be based on the Android mobile operating system. (mockup image courtesy of Swedroid) As for the hardware, Engadget notes that the first device created by Sony Ericsson for this new endeavor will have a mixture between XPERIA and PlayStation branding. The possible specifications are jaw-dropping, which Engadget has listed as a “cross between the Samsung Captivate and PSP Go” and they describe in further detail: ..it’s a landscape slider with game controls in place of the typical QWERTY keyboard. The D-pad is here, but instead of the small joystick, the device will have what was described as a “long touch pad” for analog controls, along with standard PSP buttons and shoulder buttons. The phone has a large display, described as being between 3.7 and 4.1 inches with WVGA or better resolution, a 5 megapixel camera that we’re told might not be final, and it’ll likely have a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU on board. The phone is mostly black with some silver highlights, and the gamepad area is white / silver in color. Those who’ve seen the phone say it looks “pretty damn sexy.” As for the operating system, Engadget mentions that this phone will run Android 3.0 (codenamed Gingerbread), signaling that this device will not appear until later this year or perhaps early to mid 2011. We think that 2011 is a more reasonable time to expect a device like this as Sony Ericsson is notorious for announcing products early and releasing products late. This type of device will also require a high level of polish in the user experience to insure a successful launch. Engadget goes on to describe that the Android Market on this phone will most likely sell PlayStation games: Games will be graphically in the range of PSX or PSP games, meaning true 3D gaming is headed to Android. Titles currently being shown off seem to be focused around some older PSX as well as new PSP offerings, with God of War, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and LittleBigPlanet possibly on tap, and future plans for titles which incorporate augmented reality features. Engadget has noted that these high quality 3D games will initially only be available for the first Sony PlayStation phone. However, its entirely possible that in collaboration with other hardware manufacturers (HTC, Samsung, etc), devices made by other companies who implement the required buttons, specifications and layout will also be able to play these games as well. This means the Android and PlayStation endeavor would not be limited to just one phone, but rather on an array of high-powered phones therefore enabling a much larger audience and consumer base. This information means that gaming on Android is about to enter a major revolution; a revolution that it has needed and could also unseat the dominance Nintendo and Apple have enjoyed with mobile gaming. It also means that one day Android could become the dominant platform for mobile gaming. A power play like this could really take the wind from the sails of Apple, who have stolen many consumers from Sony by integrating high quality games in their iPhone. I recently played NCAA College Football HD (by EA) optimized for the iPhone 4′s retina display and the graphics and experience felt on-par with the current PSP. In some ways, Apple has already created the experience of a PlayStation phone by courting major game software companies to make inexpensive, high quality games for its latest device. Regardless, the reaction from the Internet has been extremely positive about the latest details surrounding the PlayStation Phone, which indicates that Sony may have finally figured out the formula to win gamers back from their rivals. The mockup pictures in this post are simply concept images and not final representations of future products. View the full article

Sony Ericsson has a very strong play coming to AT&T in 2010 ? the XPERIA X10. With specifications straight out of Star Trek, is one of the most advanced devices ever released by Sony Ericsson. However, the new iPhone 4, despite its shortcomings, has set the bar in smartphone functionality that is nearly unmatched by other devices. We put the XPERIA X10 (specs courtesy Sony Ericsson) and head to head with the iPhone 4 (specs courtesy of Apple) in a detailed specifcations comparison. The North American market has been dominated by the iPhone family of phones, and it is now even more powerful than before with the updated 4th version. However, momentum behind Android is accelerating quickly with an avalanche of devices coming out for it. Both phones have rich application environments ? the iPhone with App Store, and the XPERIA X10 with the Google Android Market. The XPERIA X10 will come to the USA courtesy of AT&T (and labeled as the XPERIA X10a) on August 15th 2010 for $149 or less with a two year contract; this could be one interesting matchup against the $199 iPhone 4. We?ve highlighted the winner of each category in Green, the loser in Red, and neutral/subjective specs are in Yellow. Any categories left in White we couldn?t make a decision based on incomplete data, or felt was too trivial to really base a winner on. Please leave a comment with anything we?ve missed or errors in our work – we worked hard to make sure this was as accurate as possible. I’ve used both devices extensively and there are certain advantages with the iPhone 4 that does set it apart from the XPERIA X10 or any other phone for that matter. The insane clarity of the retina display on the iPhone 4 is indisputable. Some people will hold the retina display as the feature that makes it better than the XPERIA X10. We feel that the XPERIA X10 does have several features (as we highlighted in green) that do give it key advantages over the iPhone 4, though. The best recommendation is for someone to use both phones and see how they feel, which will be possible after mid August in most AT&T stores. View the full article

After months of delays, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 will finally be available soon in the USA. Slated for an August 15th release, the X10 will be available for only $149 with a two year contract ($130 through SonyStyle). That’s a pretty incredible price for a phone that runs Android (albeit 1.6, but will have an upgrade to 2.0+ in several months), has a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 processor, complete with a 4 inch capacitive touch display, 8.1 megapixel camera with LED flash and 2GB included MicroSD removable storage. However, the thing that truly stands out to me with the phone is display. It?s the type of cell phone experience you just can?t stop looking at because of the huge screen and the lush looking Sony Ericsson theme. The XPERIA X10 will also arrive in the USA with updated firmware which fixes the battery woes that plagued the device when it was first released in Europe – you can enjoy up to 5 hours talk time and up to 11 days of standby time. The phone feels very natural in your hand, and even holding it up to my head wasn?t absurd. It?s really not that larger than an iPhone, but somehow has a larger screen and looks just bloody futuristic. I?ve owned an iPhone for quite a long time and I can honestly say this is the first device that makes me want to try something different. Designs like these totally blow away what Apple is doing right now. And Sony Ericsson is not the only person doing that now. I think a lot of the CE manufacturers are going to hurt Apple in 2010 because they are using advanced functionality such we found in the XPERIA X10, as it has Android, such a striking appearance, and embraces open standards (MicroSD, Mini USB, removable battery). Here are some pictures of the general areas in the phone, including the dialing screen and the contact list (with integrated twitter/facebook updates). I also show off some parts of Mediascape, including album listing, song playback, and songs within album. The last two pictures are the Radiant game loading screen, Google Maps map view, and watching a full screen video (with video control overlay enabled): The XPERIA X10, despite arriving so late to the USA and only having Android 1.6 is still an extremely attractive phone, plus the incoming updates that will raise it to Android 2.0+ will make it even better. This is a great play for Sony Ericsson and yet another stunning Android device to entice consumers away from the iPhone. View the full article

Sony’s NEX-VG10 interchangeable lens camcorder is making the rounds in Japan this week, and one of our favorite tech sites over there, AV Watch, has taken several pictures of the device in action. As some of you may know, the NEX-VG10 is the upcoming camcorder in the NEX series of devices that revolve around using interchangeable lens. The majority of consumer camcorders on the market right now do not have this type of lens system, and the product categories for semi-professional video creation is beginning to blur with the advent of this camcorder and other alternatives such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Sony NEX-5 and the Olympus Pen. Those DSLR’s are pushing companies to innovate camcorders as they are offering the same quality or more that traditional HD camcorders. This latest Sony camcorder has a Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and records in AVCHD (9/17/24mbps) – the 24mbps gives it an advantage over the interchangeable lens cameras out there, but is still behind in comparison to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. And from what we’re reading here, the NEX-VG10 has the same sensor as the NEX-5 and the image processing chip (BIONZ) found within NEX-3/NEX-5. Fortunately, the NEX-VG10 does not have the 29 minute video recording limitation as the NEX-5. Lastly, AV Watch also noted that a free coupon to download the full version of Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 when the product debuts in Japan on September 10th. We also noticed another hands-on with the NEX-VG10 from their sister site, Electric Zooma. View the full article

If you invest in Sony or hold any shares of that company, here is an interesting listen you can tune into. To view PowerPoint presentation and enjoy the audio make sure you have a Windows Media Plug-in installed. Q and A section can be more interesting if you do not care about money talk. All in all, Sony has high expectations (i.e. banking on big time) on 3D products, new NEX models introduced earlier and of course its Bravia and PS3 sales. The shortage of panels was mentioned a couple of times affecting most markets. It looks like the availability of certain Bravia models (e.g. HX900) in Europe is being delayed because of tight supply of panels. Speakers are Executive VP and CFO – Masaru Kato and Senior General Manager , Investor Relations Division – Gen Tsuchikawa. Watch and Listen here. View the full article