Archive for January, 2010

PS3 iPlayer Use Surges in December

The iPlayer functionality on the PS3 could be considered one of the major benefits for owning the console. The ease of use and practical benefits of this feature are certainly popular, but just how popular the catch up television service has become is only just becoming evident.

The BBC has reported that one in eight programme requests on the iPlayer are now made using a games console. As both Nintendo’s Wii and the Playstation 3 have this functionality it is users of these consoles that are leading this surge in usage. The BBC also reported that the number of programme requests has recently hit the one hundred million mark. The popularity of the iPlayer over the last few months has also being reported, the BBC believing that there was a seventy four percent increase in program requests from consoles in the month of December compared to the previous month.

The increased availability of the iPlayer is believed to be one of the major reasons for this rise in popularity. Ultimately the fact that users can now access the iPlayer through their television set via the PS3 means that catching up on missed programmes is now easier than ever.

The BBC have had nothing but praise for the PS3, the first console to have iPlayer functionality added. The response of PS3 users was described as “amazing” and the console is the second most popular device for watching iPlayer programmes after PCs, it is now believed to account for ten percent of users.

Gran Turismo Delayed Once More

For many people the Gran Turismo series is the only driving game worth buying. Since its inception it has purported to be the “real driving simulator” offering gamers an experience that is impossible to find with any other game franchise. There is however mumblings from the GT fraternity with the news that the latest instalment of the series, Gran Turismo 5 is to be delayed yet again. So far GT5 has cost more than £37 million to develop with gamers waiting over four years for the title to be released. Up until yesterday the expected release date for Japan was set to be in March of this year, this however has been delayed, adding to the frustration of Gran Turismo fans.

Whether this delay really affects the European and US GT fans however is questionable. The release date for these countries had not even been mentioned in press statements, but it was expected to be some time in the summer of 2010. The rumour now is that the Japanese release date will now coincide with the rest of the world, still hovering around the summer although many of those who have been waiting for the game will take this news with a pinch of salt. But why has this game taken so long to develop? There is no doubt that the game is as complex as they come but the sheer perfectionism of the Polyphony Digital staff increasingly seems to be counterproductive.

The question remains whether this new game will really be the genre revolutionising title it was promised to be. The game has been in development for so long that there is a chance it will have lost a great deal of ground on titles that are on the market today. Various rumours have circulated that GT5 will have over 1000 cars and over 20 tracks. Car damage has also been added for the first time, although it is claimed that this is one of the main factors for the hold up the title.

Whenever the release does occur, it will doubtlessly be a major event, there are many Playstation 3 owners out there that bought their consoles purely for this title and despite the elongated wait will still be excited about the prospect of a new Gran Turismo game. It is almost certain that to be deemed a success this title will have to truly revolutionise the driving game genre, something that will be extremely difficult to accomplish with the plethora of great games already on the market. Stick with Sony-Insights for further developments on this story as and when they happen.

TransferJet, a New Feature for the Sony Cyber-shot HX5

The new Sony Cyber-shot HX5

More news is steadily leaking through of the latest developments in the world of Sony technology form the CES event.  One of these developments is the Sony HX5, a device that incorporates a 10.1 megapixel camera, an Exmor CMOS sensor for those lowlight situations as well as optical zoom and High Definition video. However despite, the impressive statistics there are a number of other features on this new Cyber-shot that elicit far more excitement.

The GPS tagging feature allows users to tag where their photographs were taken, providing precise information of your travels or even what you were doing on Friday night. Also featured is TransferJet, a docking system that is set to revolutionise the way in which we transfer photographs between devices. All users have to do is simply place the Cyber-shot camera on a special dock and it will automatically place them on your digital picture frame or to other cameras.

Personally I see this as the next evolution for camera usage. Hopefully the mass of wires and cables that were typically of technology in the past will finally yield to a technology that is far simpler, and smarter. Time will tell on the TransferJet technology but you can be sure that Sony-Insights will report on how these latest technological developments are being incorporated into the Cyber-shot range.

Playstation Network Evolves With CES Announcement

Playstation Network (PSN)

Sony’s CES 2010 press conference was bound to hold some surprises and President of Network Products & Services Kazou Hirai did not disappoint. The announcement focussed on the next stage of evolution for the Playstation Network and how devices under the |Sony umbrella will also be brought into the fold. It is believed form the speech that the Network hopes to evolve into a “digital ecosystem” that contains all of the media; music, books, videos and games that are provided by Sony’s entertainment divisions. The model will surely be built upon the current Playstation Network that already offers users access to game demos, full video games, as well as standard definition and high definition movies.

It is believed that the new platform will grow beyond its current Playstation walls, incorporating products such as BRAVIA TVs, VAIO laptops as well as Sony Blu-Ray players. Owners of these items should have access to hundreds of feature films from a range of movie houses as well access to music on the Sony BMG label. This evolution is deemed important enough to create a new company called ‘Sony Network Entertainment Inc.’ This company will not only handle the growth of the network in Japan and the USA but will also make an effort to expand the amount of content available to European territories. However this evolution is implemented it is sure that on demand content as well as streaming and downloading of media is sure to be a major part of present and future Sony devices.

bloggie – Sony Welcomes the Next Generation of Filming Enthusiasts

Sony bloggie MHS-PM5K

Last year Sony gave us the HD Snap, a pocket camcorder that was not only a funky video camera but a device that was extremely portable, fitting into the pocket easily. The HD Snap however has been left behind with the new model for 2010; a range of pocket video camcorders under the name of bloggie that incorporate simple connectivity with outstanding high definition video capturing technology.

As the name suggests the bloggie is clearly aimed at a market segment that places a great deal of emphasis on blogging and adding video clips to YouTube. This generation of movie makers want a device that captures the special moments in life and allows them to be easily uploaded. The bloggie allows for this with an in-built USB arm and software for easy uploads without the need to install anything to the PC or Mac.

The bloggie will also feature a number of different colour finishes for those that wish to accessorise their technology. MP4 video clips will be captured in full HD whilst 5 megapixel still photos are also possible. Sony stalwart features such as SteadyShot and face detection also make an appearance.

bloggie model numbers include the MHS-PM5/PM5K and the MHS-CM5. The PM5 promises to be the most fun with a 270 degree swivel lens allowing you to capture yourself as well as the world around you. An interesting feature is the 360 degree lens adapter that comes with the PM5K, allowing users to capture life in full panoramic views. Specialist software will allow users to watch back their 360 degree creations. With Memory stick PRO DUO and SD/SDHC memory card capabilities data storage is as simple as pie.

The bloggie is due for release in February. Stick with Sony-Insights for a full review once the release has occurred.

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