Christopher

Attention all Bravia Internet enabled TV users and classical music lovers – Sony just made a deal with the Berlin Philharmoniker and added the Digital Concert Hall, the orchestra s online service, to Sony’s roster of BRAVIA Internet Video content. The concerts are said to be streamed in full HD high picture quality and stereo sound quality. And the best thing about it, it is provided for your enjoyment for zero dollars! Learn more about this new channel addition below. “Sony today announced that owners of the company s Internet connected BRAVIA HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc”! players in the United States will be able to access premium performances of the Berliner Philharmoniker through the BRAVIA Internet Video platform. In addition to the US, the performances will also be available to Sony customers in Japan, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. Based on the agreement with Berlin Philharmoniker, Sony will offer access to the archived concerts from the Orchestra s Digital Concert Hall, dating back to the beginning of the 2008/2009 season (approximately 60 concerts in total), via BRAVIA Internet Video. The concerts will be streamed in full HD high picture quality and stereo sound quality. The agreement with the Berlin Philharmoniker adds the Digital Concert Hall, the orchestra s online service, to Sony s roster of BRAVIA Internet Video content. Streamed directly to connected select BRAVIA and Blu-ray Disc players, the service enables a worldwide audience to enjoy the orchestra s concerts with the touch of a remote control. Thanks to this collaboration, the orchestra will be the world s first cultural institution to deliver their artistic content to networked home entertainment products. It s a wonderful opportunity for our customers to enjoy the concerts of the Berliner Philharmoniker from the comfort of their own home, said Norio Ohga, Executive Advisor of Sony Corporation. I am really excited that we re able to make a host of first-rate concerts accessible to BRAVIA and Blu-ray Disc owners across the world. Olaf Maninger, solo cellist and board member of Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation sees this project as a great chance to embrace our worldwide audience. He said that the Orchestra is excited to continue the collaboration with Sony and believes that it makes a real difference to people to access concerts just with their remote control whenever they like.” View the full article

Get Low is a film starring Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. The film is written by Chris Provenzano and C. Gaby Mitchell, and directed by Aaron Schneider. It also stars Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray, Lucas Black, Gerald McRaney, Bill Cobbs, Andrea Powell, Rebecca Grant, and Scott Cooper. The film is slated for a July 30th, 2010 release date and had a lot of buzz at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film will be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. For years, townsfolk have been terrified of the backwoods recluse known as Felix Bush (Robert Duvall). People say he’s done all manner of unspeakable things — that he’s killed in cold blood; that he’s in league with the Devil; that he has strange powers — and they avoid him like the plague. Then, one day, Felix rides to town with a shotgun and a wad of cash, saying he wants to buy a funeral. It’s not your usual funeral for the dead Felix wants. On the contrary, he wants a “living funeral,” in which anyone who ever had heard a story about him will come to tell it, while he takes it all in. Sensing a big payday in the offing, fast—talking funeral home owner Frank Quinn (Bill Murray) enlists his gentlemanly young apprentice, Buddy Robinson (Lucas Black), to win over Felix’s business. Buddy is no stranger to Felix’s dark reputation, but what he discovers is that behind Felix’s surreal plan lies a very real and long—held secret that must get out. As the funeral approaches, the mystery– which involves the widow Maddie Darrow (Sissy Spacek), the only person in town who ever got close to Felix, and the Illinois preacher Charlie Jackson (Bill Cobbs), who refuses to speak at his former friend’s funeral – only deepens. But on the big day, Felix is in no mood to listen to other people spinning made—up anecdotes about him. This time, he’s the one who is going to do the telling about why he has been hiding out in the woods. View the full article

In Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, the main character Old Snake (one of the greatest video game heroes of all time) exclusively used an iPod within the game. Fans around the world relished in a broad music collection and it seemed likely that the old adage applied: once an Apple, always an Apple. However, in conjunction with the launch of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP), Sony has released an exclusive limited edition 2GB NWD-W253 (aka NWD-W252) wearable Walkman that has a green, beige, white, black and gray camouflage print and great looking red Walkman logo. It will be available in limited markets starting in June. And as you can see, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has released an exclusive image of our hero Snake wearing the W253, clearly showing that traditional earbud fitting just can’t cut it when things get tough. And this Walkman is plenty tough, as it is water resistant (far better than last year’s model, apparently). Six pre-installed music tracks from the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker soundtrack are also included in the Walkman, and a special in-carton code unlocks original designed characters in the game. Konami was true to the 70’s timeline of the game by including iconic past Walkman models in Peace Walker as collectible items, including the first-ever cassette-based TPS-L2 that made its debut in 1979. The W253/252 features MP3/WMA/AAC/Linear PCM (DRM not supported) compatibility, ZAPPIN song search, and has integrated 13.5mm EX Series headphones which offer a secure, comfortable fit and that sweet Sony Walkman sound. quick 3-minute charge gives enough power for 90 minutes listening time. A fully charged battery offers up to 11 hours uninterrupted listening time. Supplied Content Transfer software allows simple drag-and-drop transfer of music files and playlists from Windows Media Player or iTunes. View the full article

Sony Japan has notified its users that many of its 2010 Cyber-shot camera models are compatible with SDXC memory cards, which are currently available at 64gb (and will one day be offered up to 2TB). This is pretty exciting news for people who wish to use such media with cameras, as there is up to 15MB per second write speed and huge capacities. The compatible cameras include DSC-HX5V, DSC-TX7, DSC-TX5, DSC-W380, DSC-W350, and DSC-W350D – which are also compatible with traditional SDHC / SD Memory Cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, and Memory Stick (with adapter). According to one Sony Japan support website, I see however that you may have problems viewing/transferring content on a SDXC card that is inside a camera or camcorder connected to a Playstation 3, certain Blu-ray Players, and certain external Sony DVD writers. Sony also links to a support page (near the bottom) that updates Window Vista and Windows 7 to support SDXC cards above 32GB storage space. This would fix the issue where a Cyber-shot with a SDXC card inside cannot transfer photos or video because Windows can’t comprehend a card of that size. View the full article

At the dawn of a new decade, Sony has once again pushed the bar for design and innovation. If you really think about it, Sony does create some of the most uniquely styled devices that truly differentiate it from the rest. That may sound totally pompous, but I’ve seen what else is out there and when something like a Crocodile Skin VAIO P pops up I laugh to myself. The guys at Sony Design are like “Hey HP/Apple/Dell/Samsung/Asus/etc, this is where we are at now – a black crocodile skin textured lifestyle PC.” And the others respond “Hey, we don’t really make those fancy lifestyle things you are talking about there, we make netbooks, notebooks, and laptops.” Sony Japan counters, “Well, our P can fit in a pants rear pocket.” And runs away. Maybe that didn’t happen, but the new black crocodile skin VAIO P is pretty cool looking. We just wish they would offer these kind of luxury editions in an appropriate luxury retail space, such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman and other similar institutions of high fashion. Take this VAIO P, run a super limited in number in the USA, and place it next to the purses at these aforementioned stores. That way when the couple is purse shopping and the lady is taking her time, the hubby can get check this out. Notable features in this year’s version of the VAIO P vary from region to region. This Crocodile skin VAIO P is (for now) an exclusive in Japan, and has some interesting exotic hardware options such as the Atom Z560 with Intel US15X Chipset (266MHz GPU), 256GB SSD, and 12.5 hour extended battery. This is pretty nice on top of the one touch resolution button (changes it from 120dpi to 96dpi), GPS with compass, location search for finding necessities (google maps), instant-on web browser (no OS needed), and more. They also made it an audiophile’s dream by incorporating noise canceling headphones once again this year. And one of the newest additions, two buttons are on the left side of the screen (for left and right click) and to the right there is an optical sensor that allows you to control the mouse (there is a mouse controller in the keyboard as well). There is also a built-in gyroscope, also known as an accelerometer that can detect the direction you are holding the notebook and change screen orientation making it easy to read long lines of text on the 8 inch (1600×768) screen. Other notables include 2 USB ports, 802.11a/b/g/n, bluetooth, and the fantastic Windows 7. It also has compatibility with Remote Play so you can view video or play games from your PS3 at home. View the full article

The Society for Information Display (SID), the leading global organization dedicated to the advancement of electronic-display technology, and DisplaySearch, the worldwide leader in display market research, has noted that Sony Electronics’ President and Chief Operating Officer Stan Glasgow will deliver the keynote address during the SID DisplaySearch Business Conference, which will be held during Display Week 2010 (May 23-28) in Seattle. Glasgow will describe Sony’s vision of the future, with 3D emerging as the next great platform for home entertainment. Drawing upon Sony’s work on implementing 3D capabilities in its professional cameras, digital cinema 4K projection systems and other equipment, as well as consumer products including TVs, Blu-ray disc players, and gaming consoles, Glasgow will provide a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities in the 3D platform. Because in 3D, ’seeing is believing,’ Sony will be creating a 3D cinema experience within the SID DisplaySearch Business Conference using their 3D equipment. Specifically, they will use a Sony SRXR320 3D Projector and a Silver Screen to show the 3D images and distribute 3D glasses for attendees. Attendees will be treated to a mixture of content from Sony and other content providers, including movies, live sporting events, gaming and other entertainment. The release of numerous 3D movies has created a tremendous amount of interest in 3D beyond the cinema. But in moving from the cinema to the home, there are additional challenges. In his presentation, Glasgow will describe Sony’s concept of the “lens-to-living room” ecosystem for 3D, encompassing content creation, processing, delivery and viewing in the home. “We are thrilled to have Mr. Glasgow serve as the keynote for the SID DisplaySearch Business Conference,” noted Paul Semenza, DisplaySearch Senior Vice President. “Sony is a pioneer in 3D, in regards to both TV and content, and Glasgow’s presentation will be beneficial to all those in the 3D display supply chain.” View the full article

Sony is developing a new type of AVCHD high definition camcorder, set for the market this Fall, which features key technologies powering the newly announced interchangeable lens digital camera, NEX-5 and NEX-3. The new camcorder will be equipped with the same “Exmor” APS HD CMOS sensor to be used in NEX series. In addition, the camcorder will be compatible with “E Mount” interchangeable lenses developed for NEX, and also the wealth of “A Mount” interchangeable lenses from the existing “α” DSLR camera lineup via a mount adapter. By combining these features, Sony aims to market a camcorder capable of generating a variety of creative expressions in HD quality. View the full article

At long last, Sony has revealed to the world two of the most fascinating cameras they have created in recent memory. The new NEX-3 and NEX-5, destined for the market in July, are DSLR-quality cameras that feature an APS-C image sensor in a shockingly small form factor. These aren’t DSLR’s, though – they are Mirror-Less Interchangeable Lens Cameras that have a sensor as good as a DSLR. As you can see, the polycarbonate casing of the NEX-3 and magnesium alloy NEX-5 look vastly different than mostly anything else out there, but most certainly don’t sacrifice on features. In fact, these 14.2 megapixel cameras have a CMOS that is undoubtedly larger than Micro Four Thirds, and can shoot at a maximum of 4592×3056 resolution. The large sensor creates a more narrow depth of field, which some have said is closer than that of a 35mm SLR. Many of you who have been following this camera closely know some or all of this information already based on the accidental postings of the NEX specifications earlier. However, what you have not read yet is that this camera is able to shoot panoramic pictures in 3D. That’s right – 3D panoramic pictures in a firmware update that will come later. It won’t be able to shoot regular pictures in 3D, however. The NEX series can also shoot regular 226-degree horizontal or 151-degree vertical panoramic shots. We truly love that the NEX-5 can shoot 1920×1080i AVCHD video (at 17 Mbps) and the NEX-3 can shoot 720p MPEG-4, which should look quite stunning through the variety of advanced lens that will be available. Plus, the NEX cameras have HDMI out to share those photos, videos, and 3D panoramic shots. They also have built-in stereo microphones for high-quality audio recording for those HD videos. And another great aspect of the small NEX series is the super crisp fold out 3 inch LCD screen, which is home to a vastly improved menu that enables you to quickly take the perfect photo and manipulate a variety of settings. Both should support Memory Stick Duo and SD(XC) memory cards. Sony Alpha Rumors posted some hard specifications of the NEX-3 that we agree with: SONY NEX-3 Specifications Image Sensor: 14.2 million effective pixels. Metering: Multi pattern, centre-weighted and spot. Sensor Size: APS-C-sized CMOS (23.4

LittleBigPlanet 2, commonly abbreviated LBP2, is an upcoming puzzle platformer video game for the Playstation 3, centered around user-generated content. The game is developed by Media Molecule and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for the PlayStation 3 console and is expected to be released at the end of 2010. Unlike the first game which was marketed as a platformer, LBP2 is being marketed as a “Platform for Games”. The game will be backwards compatible with all of the 2 million user created levels from the first game. 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 Sucker. The organization is dedicated to battling with The Sucker and defeating it before it destroys the whole Cosmos. " />" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"> While still retaining the three-layer, 2.5D nature of the original title, with the player controlling their Sackboy characters, players are not restricted solely to platforming levels, and can now choose to create many types of levels including racing, and puzzle and role-playing games. The player may also chose to create and customize their own heads-up display to accommodate their game type. New animation recording options are available and players will be able to create full-motion cut-scenes to go with their level design, as well as record their own sound effects for use in the level. Multiple levels can also be linked together, so that finishing one level immediately takes them to the next in the series. A new tool to assist in gameplay creation is the “direct control seat”. This allows players to assign specific actions, such as button presses or Sixaxis motion control, to specific aspects of their gameplay design. Players are not restricted to using the direct control seat on level elements, however, and they may use it to direct the actions of the player’s Sackboy character, allowing greater freedom of movement; Media Molecule made this design choice in response to the large number of homages to early platforming games, in which players had to “hide” and manipulate the Sackboy character in specific ways to replicate the style of gameplay. In addition to this tool, more gameplay items, similar to the Metal Gear Solid paintball gun released as downloadable content, will be available, beginning with a grappling hook; Media Molecule plans to regularly update the game with further items. Enemy creation has also been improved. Players can now create “Sackbots”, which are non-player characters whose AI can be controlled by the level creator. Options include determining weak points on the Sackbots, as well as programming routines for the AI to follow. Sackbots can be customised using costumes and decorations in the same way that the player character is and the AI for may be copied and pasted between mulitple Sackbots. Sackbots may also be controlled by the aforementioned direct control seats. As stated previously, all downloadable content from the first game will be usable in this sequel, including all user-made levels from LittleBigPlanet. Players will be able to use a keyboard and mouse to edit levels. Sony has also confirmed the title will be compatible with Playstation Move. View the full article

Sony’s ultra-mobile P series is set to be the first Vaio to support Remote Play. The small VPCP119KJ (245

Yea, you heard it, SonyStyle retail stores that you may have come across in the US, conveniently located in the shopping malls will be renamed to Sony stores, that simple! I am a bit surprised by this move to rename its retail stores, but I guess Sony as a whole is being unified in many ways and Sony style will remain within its retail idea. Let’s see what other new things will be happening within the stores. No word on renaming Sony Centres in Europe yet, but the trend has been set in Nagoya Japan with its new Sony store that just recently opened its doors. View the full article

The Ghost Rider sequel is moving forward, but it may not be with Nicolas Cage. New York Magazine’s Vulture section states that to retain the rights to Ghost Rider, Columbia

Remote Play is expanding beyond the PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Sony Computer Entertainment America plans to release God of War: Ghost of Sparta exclusively for the PSP (as a UMD and download) later this year. Developed by Ready At Dawn Studios, the acclaimed team that brought you the best-selling God of War: Chains of Olympus, in collaboration with Sony Computer Entertainment’s Worldwide Studios Santa Monica Studio, God of War: Ghost of Sparta will combine intense action, an elaborate new storyline, stunning graphics, and depths of scale never-before-seen on the portable platform. “Excitement for the God of War franchise is at an all-time high and we’re thrilled to continue that momentum with God of War: Ghost of Sparta,” said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. “This new adventure will showcase Kratos on PSP like never before in an experience that fans and newcomers can enjoy on the go, anytime, anywhere.” Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ghost of Sparta is a single-player game that allows players to take on the powerful role of Spartan warrior Kratos. This new adventure picks up after God of War concludes, telling the story of Kratos’ ascension to power as the God of War. In his quest to rid himself of the nightmares that haunt him, Kratos must embark on a journey that will reveal the origins of lost worlds, and finally answer long-awaited questions about his dark past. Armed with the deadly chained Blades of Chaos, he will have to overcome armies of mythological monsters, legions of undead soldiers, and amazingly dangerous and brutal landscapes throughout his merciless quest. Utilizing state-of-the-art visual technologies, the development team has made significant strides to give players a realistic feel that has never been seen before on PSP or any other portable platform. The game showcases higher quality environments and characters, giving an unmistakable realism to Kratos’ newest quest. Providing over 25% more gameplay, God of War: Ghost of Sparta will feature fluid, life-like characters, a robust weapon system, new magical powers, weapons and navigational abilities, many more enemies on screen, and a greater number of boss encounters, truly bringing the experience to life, all while on the go. View the full article

Sony Computer Entertainment America has detailed the PlayStation Protection Plan, an extended service offer for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PSP (PlayStation Portable). Under the new program, PS3 and PSP owners in the United States can purchase an extended service plan of one or two years that begins after the original one-year manufacturer’s limited warranty expires. PSP owners can also choose the Accidental Damage Plan, which adds coverage for cracked-screen damage in the event of an unexpected drop. The PlayStation Protection Plan offers peace of mind to consumers interested in enhanced coverage for a great value, along with the added security of knowing all services will be performed with the direct backing and support of SCEA as the original manufacturer. The PlayStation Protection Plan is available to PS3 or PSP owners (both the PSP-3000 and PSPgo systems) who are still within their one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty, as well as new purchasers. The PSP Accidental Damage Plan must be purchased within the first 30 days of owning a PSP system, and the plan is effective beginning on the purchase date. Starting this month, consumers can purchase the PlayStation Protection Plan by calling 1-866-716-7669. With the PlayStation Protection Plan, consumers can extend the same coverage from the original manufacturer’s one-year warranty for one or two additional years. The pricing includes all shipping charges and repairs, which are performed by PlayStation-trained service technicians using official parts at SCEA-authorized repair facilities. The PlayStation Protection Plan is available beginning in May 2010 and will be priced competitively. – PS3 – 1-year extension ($44.99) or 2-year extension ($59.99) – PSP – 1-year extension ($29.99) or 2-year extension ($39.99) – PSP with Accidental Damage – 1-year extension ($39.99) or 2-year extension ($49.99) “The PlayStation brand has long been synonymous with the highest quality in engineering and design, and it’s because of the reliability of the PS3 and PSP systems that we can offer the PlayStation Protection Plan,” said Glenn Nash, vice president, operations, SCEA. “We have heard from consumers that they’re interested in an extended service plan that’s backed directly by SCEA and leverages our technical expertise. While both the PS3 and PSP systems are designed with future-proof technology and built for long lifecycles, we’re looking forward to offering this service to consumers looking for added peace of mind.” And for those of you interested, here is a list of what is not covered under the Playstation Protection Plan: WHAT IS NOT COVERED: Rust, corrosion, insect infestation, mysterious disappearance, transport, environmental conditions such as sand or dirt. Any Product failure related to theft or burglary, loss, abuse, negligence, vandalism, acts of war, fire, weather related damage, unusual atmospheric conditions, or acts of God. Repairs to Product, including parts, or Product replacement covered by the manufacturer?s warranty, manufacturer?s recall, or similar manufacturer?s incentive or repair program (regardless of whether or not the manufacturer is doing business as an ongoing enterprise). Operational or mechanical failure of Your Product which is not reported to Us prior to expiration of this Service Plan. Normal maintenance, such as cleaning and/or customer education/training. Problems that existed in Your Product prior to the effective date of coverage under this Service Plan, which are known to You. Screen imperfections (if applicable) in Your Product such as “dead” or bright pixels within the manufacturer?s original service specifications. Products used commercially such as retail displays, rentals, leasing, or in arcade systems or other custom application. Damage caused by improper home wiring or grounding including external connections such as antennas or cable televisions. Damage to other connected devices such as televisions, monitors, receivers or other AV equipment. Damage due to spilled liquids or immersion of Product in liquid. Damage caused by non-approved or non-licensed peripherals or accessories. Repairs due to failures caused by the use of non-compatible, non-original equipped hard disks. Shipping or transportation damage, improper installation or setup, user facilitated minor adjustments and settings as outlined in the Product manual. Accidental damage not covered under the PLAYSTATION PROTECTION PLAN ? ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE coverage. Accidental screen damage (only applicable to the PLAYSTATION PROTECTION PLAN). Intentional or incidental damage or gross neglect. View the full article

“Not Myself Tonight” is a new song by the Sony Music (RCA) recording artist Christina Aguilera. The song serves as the lead single from her forthcoming fourth studio album, Bionic. The track was written and produced by hip hop writer and producer Ester Dean and Polow da Don. The song, along with its accompanying music video, was positively received by critics, praising Aguilera’s return to her style in 2002’s Stripped; however some were critical, calling the song and video “unoriginal”. The video itself features a strong sexual theme with scenes of S&M and bondage, as well as scenes in a church and several prestigious-looking buildings. Aguilera sporting several hairstyles and outfits, including many which were dominatrix-style. Actress Jenna Dewan appears in the video as a woman that Aguilera straddles. The video was inspired by several artists. James Montgomery of MTV News compared her scenes in the church to a slimmed down version of Madonna’s scenes in her video for “Like a Prayer”. He also said that the S&M features in the video were reminiscent of her video for “Human Nature”, commenting, “The influence on “Tonight” is pretty evident, most notably in Christina’s leather get-ups, her dominatrix attitude and the sultry chair-related activities she engages in throughout.” The video also pays direct homage to Madonna’s “Express Yourself” in the scene where Aguilera wears a monocle, where she crawls on the floor and reaches for a bowl, and in the “dancing in the rain” scenes. In the bowl scene, she later pours black milk on herself, similar to what Christina Milian did with black oil in her “Dip It Low” video. Aguilera goes back and forth between several hairstyles in the video, which have been compared to styles of Bettie Page, Lady Gaga, Beyonc

Rumors of Sony integrating Intel hardware and Google software into a television are heating up once again, thanks to the WSJ and Bloomberg. Sony is apparently moving forward with integrating a custom Atom processor (usually found in netbooks) and a special version of Android (codenamed Dragonpoint) in TV’s. Why? The purpose of this venture is running Android-based software on Sony TV’s and set-top boxes, which could enable new functionalities and create a new software development ecosystem. Currently, the “app” world is pretty much limited to mobile devices. The possibilities are endless – a web browser for your TV, for example. Android integration into your TV could also enable a Google-styled search service, which allows users to access and search programming from the Internet and satellite (and possibly cable) providers. Logitech, a juggernaut in computer peripherals, may also be on board with a keyboard that can also work as a remote control, according to Bloomberg. The news may possibly become official as early as next month at the Google I/O conference on May 19/20th, according to “people familiar with the matter.” View the full article

The U.S. Green Building Council Institute recently announced the newest U.S. facility to earn the prestigious – the Sony Electronics (SEL) headquarters building in San Diego. The LEED certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. “When we began laying out initial plans for our headquarters, we knew we wanted green to play a major role in its construction,” said Ed Cotter, Executive Vice President, Sony Electronics. “As a major consumer electronics company, we take sustainability very seriously and seek out efforts to reduce our environmental footprint wherever possible.” The building design integrated a number of green elements in accordance with the Green Building Council’s LEED requirements, including 80 bicycle racks, 140 spaces reserved for vehicles opting to carpool, and 76 set aside for fuel-efficient vehicles, to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. “Climate change remains a big environmental problem throughout the globe,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “But innovative companies like Sony Electronics are helping address the issue through local solutions such as building sustainable facilities.” SEL maneuvered more than 92 percent of the building construction debris away from local landfills. In addition, open space accounts for 29 percent of the lot, with vegetation making up 52 percent more than double the requirement. Building materials, local resources Nearly 15 percent of the buildings materials are local, garnered from within 500 miles of the sites location in the Rancho Bernardo community. A minimum of 75 percent of the wood used in the framing, flooring and furniture is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council a non-profit organization that promotes the responsible management of the world s forests and 47 percent of the building materials have been manufactured using recycled materials. Water efficiency The buildings use of low-flow water fixtures ensures rates of water usage up to 47 percent lower than current codes, in conjunction with the use of condensate water from air-conditioning units. The building also captures 90 percent of storm water runoff onsite. Energy and atmosphere SEL designed its headquarters to maximize energy performance by 22.6 percent with the installation of lighting sensors throughout the building in addition to variable speed drives for A/C units. Solar panels are installed on the building’s parking garage to collect energy for the local utility company, a feature that offsets nearly five percent of the total energy cost. The buildings designers also optimized the use of natural lighting in its construction 75 percent of the facilities total square footage receives natural sunlight. This information is a press release that originally appeared on Sony Electronics News; photos by Costea Photography. View the full article

Sony has made a few changes to the core hardware of the PS3 that should hopefully get them closer to the hardware break even point. The Reality Synthesizer (RSX) Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) has seen some changes during the PS3 life-cycle. Initially it was 90nm during launch, later it was reduced to 65nm, and now another change to 40nm. Reducing the chipset is not only inline with industry reductions of larger chips, but it also serves to reduce power consumption and heat which is crucial in a relatively tight space. To date the PS3 Slim units have not experienced the YLOD (yellow light of death) in mass quantities, and this revision should help to reduce that phenomenon. This new version CECH-2100A contains a few other changes as well. The power supply weighs less, the heatsink is more simple,the internal cooling unit is much smaller as well resulting in an overall lighter console. Further the XD DRAM configuration was changed from being 4×512Mb to 2×1Gb. This is very similar to the future layout that Goto-san described back in 2006. PocketNews performed the tear down and examination of the system. They also took a look at power consumption and how it relates to the new version: Model Name CECH-2000A CECH-2100A XMB Menu (Still wallpapers) 76W 67W XMB Menu (Main Theme) 83-86W 71W Top Menu torne 92-93W 76-77W torne program recording and viewing 84-87W 73W FFXIII Cut Scene 96-107W 78-83W FFXIII Game Menu 83-84W 74W BD playback 88-91W 77-78W Power Off – Remote Play Standby 9W 9W While it’s not currently available in the US yet, Amazon.co.jp has it available. Lower power consumption, less heat and cheaper manufacturing costs is a win for everyone. Images courtesy of PocketNews View the full article

SonyStyle Japan is teasing with a new ultra mobile VAIO and their VAIO website is also showing a new campaign called We are Coming-Out Generation mentioning the same ultra mobile term.

With no major reports from users since it’s release, firmware 3.30 is safely in the wild. Here is a rundown of all the new features: Trophy enhancements ?- Now you can more easily sort trophies in the [Trophy Collection] and [Comparing Trophy] sections. Sorting can be done with [Trophy Collection] in the [Game Category] and also when comparing trophies with your friends in the [Friend Category] Trophy Folder (Title List) can be sorted by game name/ by title according to the date in which you earned your last trophy (ascending/descending) Add-on list (Group list) can be sorted by original/the date in which you earned your last trophy (ascending/descending) Trophy list can be sorted by original/trophy name/grade/date of obtaining the trophy (ascending/descending) 3D Support – System prepped for stereoscopic gaming Now for a few not so obvious ones, as the sixthaxis noted below: BD Audio Output Settings Direct and Bitstream Direct – Set to output audio with the original digital signal prioritized. Mix – Set to output audio that is first mixed with sound effects such as button sounds and then converted to bitstream

Taylor Swift, the lovely Grammy Award-winning country pop singer, songwriter and actress is the latest addition to Sony’s

One of the things that other systems, like Boxee, have going for them is app support. The ability to integrate apps into an existing system and expand it’s capabilities is something that more and more devices are adding and the PS3 is now no exception. MLB.tv is now available on the PS3 in quite an impressive way. According to PLAYSTATION.BLOG, the app supports the following: MLB Scoreboard ? See a schedule of today?s games (and set options to control whether or not you see the scores) Home and Away Feeds ? Choose to watch either the home or away broadcast feed HD quality video and DVR functionality ? watch a live game in HD (with Live Game DVR functionality that lets you pause and rewind live games of fast-forward back to live game action) Season Archive ? Want to re-live a great moment? Go back and watch games you?ve missed from earlier in the season. Scrollable Linescore ? Go directly to any half-inning to watch only that portion of the game. Favorite Teams/Calendar Schedule ? Scroll through the entire 2010 Major League Baseball schedule in calendar format or designate your favorite team(s) to see the schedule for that team. To see it in action, check out the video here: Talk about a feature list. What effectively makes me say “Like zoinks Scoob!” is the integration of DVR functionality. It’s now starting to approach the utopian IPTV future of a la carte services I have always dreamed of…ok well it’s a start. Given the PS3’s growing install base, let’s hope more and more content providers make the leap to the PS3. View the full article

Qriocity is a streaming video on demand service (e.g. no download) partially introduced by Sony earlier this year during CES, and was set to debut on 2010 Sony BRAVIA TV’s, Blu-ray players, and several home theater systems in February. The service wasn’t activated until yesterday for the aforementioned devices and the related website is now live. It’s significance is so strong that it is a main icon on the XMB and as a button on many 2010 Sony remote controls that belong to networked TV’s and Blu-ray players. Qriocity has hundreds of HD ($5.99) and SD ($3.99) movies initially available, with titles from 20th Century 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, The Weinstein Company, Lionsgate, Warner Brothers, Universal, MGM, and of course Sony Pictures. You can view on the Qriocity website which movie titles are available. According to several of my sources, the catalog will receive consistent, healthy updates to make it attractive to consumers. The interface was very quick, and is aesthetically pleasing – miles beyond what the traditional consumer is probably using with cable or satellite on-demand services. Every movie has a trailer. I’ve already watched a HD movie trailer on Qriocity, and with the wireless connection the TV was using (an EX series BRAVIA with the included UWA-BR100 Wi-Fi adapter on a 802.11g connection) the results were pretty good – somewhere around 720p-1080i. Qriocity judges your Internet connection and plays a bandwidth optimized version. With higher bandwidth connections (very easy in many markets), it could be that kind of solid 720p/1080i that leaves you satisfied. I would definitely love to see what the picture quality looks like in a 802.11n environment, or hardwired through ethernet. What’s also interesting is that the PlayStation Network Terms of Service was altered yesterday with specific mention of Qriocity, which basically reveals that Qriocity is also coming to the PS3 (and possibly PSP): To access Sony Online Services, you must create an appropriate Sony Online Service account (either a PSN account or Qriocity account). Through Qriocity’s Video on Demand service (“VOD”), you may purchase and view content using selected BRAVIA televisions or Sony Blu-ray Disc players (“VOD Devices”). Through PSN, you may purchase content and services offered on either PSN or Qriocity, such as new levels for your favorite games, comics, movies, television shows or original programs. You may view your content using SCEA-authorized devices, including a PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) systems, personal computers and VOD Devices. You will also be able to participate in SCEA’s online community in PSN and PlayStation Home, (including chatting via voice and video with your friends) and play games online. Existing PSN accounts will not have to create a separate Qriocity account to enjoy the benefits of Qriocity. If you’ve created a Qriocity account, you may transition that account to a PSN account. Sony Online Services may not be available, or may not be supported, in some countries and some languages. How to enable Qriocity now - Connect your BRAVIA, Blu-ray Disc Player or home theater system to the Internet. Use your remote control to navigate to the Qriocity icon on the XMB (XrossMediaBar) and select ‘Link an Account’. Here you will find your device activation code needed. Go to the Qriocity website and sign into your account (you can use your PSN ID, or create a new account). Select your device and click the “Activate” button. Follow the instructions. It’s very easy, and after trading a few letters around I was watching a trailer quickly. * – If you already purchased a 2010 BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Player or home theater system and the Qriocity service is not active, go to Settings > Network > Refresh Internet Content. Run the update, and then return to the XMB – several new Qriocity options should be available on the far right. View the full article

Qriocity is a streaming video on demand service (e.g. no download) partially introduced by Sony earlier this year during CES, and was set to debut on 2010 Sony BRAVIA TV’s, Blu-ray players, and several home theater systems in February. The service wasn’t activated until yesterday for the aforementioned devices and the related website is now live. It’s significance is so strong that it is a main icon on the XMB and as a button on many 2010 Sony remote controls that belong to networked TV’s and Blu-ray players. Qriocity has hundreds of HD ($5.99) and SD ($3.99) movies initially available, with titles from 20th Century 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, The Weinstein Company, Lionsgate, Warner Brothers, Universal, MGM, and of course Sony Pictures. You can view on the Qriocity website which movie titles are available. According to several of my sources, the catalog will receive consistent, healthy updates to make it attractive to consumers. The interface was very quick, and is aesthetically pleasing – miles beyond what the traditional consumer is probably using with cable or satellite on-demand services. Every movie has a trailer. I’ve already watched a HD movie trailer on Qriocity, and with the wireless connection the TV was using (an EX series BRAVIA with the included UWA-BR100 Wi-Fi adapter on a 802.11g connection) the results were pretty good – somewhere around 720p-1080i. Qriocity judges your Internet connection and plays a bandwidth optimized version. With higher bandwidth connections (very easy in many markets), it could be that kind of solid 720p/1080i that leaves you satisfied. I would definitely love to see what the picture quality looks like in a 802.11n environment, or hardwired through ethernet. What’s also interesting is that the PlayStation Network Terms of Service was altered yesterday with specific mention of Qriocity, which basically reveals that Qriocity is also coming to the PS3 (and possibly PSP): To access Sony Online Services, you must create an appropriate Sony Online Service account (either a PSN account or Qriocity account). Through Qriocity’s Video on Demand service (“VOD”), you may purchase and view content using selected BRAVIA televisions or Sony Blu-ray Disc players (“VOD Devices”). Through PSN, you may purchase content and services offered on either PSN or Qriocity, such as new levels for your favorite games, comics, movies, television shows or original programs. You may view your content using SCEA-authorized devices, including a PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) systems, personal computers and VOD Devices. You will also be able to participate in SCEA’s online community in PSN and PlayStation Home, (including chatting via voice and video with your friends) and play games online. Existing PSN accounts will not have to create a separate Qriocity account to enjoy the benefits of Qriocity. If you’ve created a Qriocity account, you may transition that account to a PSN account. Sony Online Services may not be available, or may not be supported, in some countries and some languages. How to enable Qriocity now - Connect your BRAVIA, Blu-ray Disc Player or home theater system to the Internet. Use your remote control to navigate to the Qriocity icon on the XMB (XrossMediaBar) and select ‘Link an Account’. Here you will find your device activation code needed. Go to the Qriocity website and sign into your account (you can use your PSN ID, or create a new account). Select your device and click the “Activate” button. Follow the instructions. It’s very easy, and after trading a few letters around I was watching a trailer quickly. * – If you already purchased a 2010 BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Player or home theater system and the Qriocity service is not active, go to Settings > Network > Refresh Internet Content. Run the update, and then return to the XMB – several new Qriocity options should be available on the far right. View the full article