Sony Transfer Jet
Sony TransferJet is one of the most exciting and hotly anticipated Sony technologies that has been developed for its range of Cybershot cameras. After doing the rounds at Gadget Shows and in the media Sony has revealed that TransferJet technology will be available within the UK in a matter of months.
Sony TransferJet technology that will be available with some Cybershot cameras and memory cards is basically wireless file sharing like Bluetooth. However, unlike Bluetooth TransferJet requires users to hold devices close together, even touching them. This close proximity wireless technology allows for the rapid transferral of data, according reports the speed is around 187 times faster than traditional Bluetooth. As well as Cybershot cameras TransferJet technology will be available in some VAIO notebooks and if some rumours are to be believed BRAVIA televisions with the aid of a special pad like component. Read the rest of this entry »
GDC 2010
This week sees the annual Games Developers Conference (GDC 2010) and all eyes on Sony ahead of the event despite the fact that they are not providing a keynote speech. The reason behind this intense interest in Sony is predominantly down to some of the rumours that are currently circulating in online and traditional media.
One of these rumours, now well established is that Sony is to announce the official name for the Sony Motion Controller that has been dubbed the ‘Playstation Arc’. This name has not simply been plucked from thin air however; industry commentators have taken everything from the acquisition of the PlaystationArc.com domain by Sony, the filing of a trademark for the name within Japan and even comments by Sony employees and external agencies who are now referring to the motion controller as the ‘Arc’. Sony are to hold a talk at the GDC titled “Introducing the Playstation 3 Motion Controller”, hopefully providing a real insight into how this new device will operate with the system and within games. Read the rest of this entry »
Sony iTunes Rival incoming?
The rivalry between Sony and Apple is to be stepped up with reports that Sony is on the verge of releasing a range of smart phone devices, a multimedia tablet and now an online media store that will rival Apple’s iTunes. The Sony Online Services will directly compete with iTunes providing customers with music and video.
Additionally it is believed that Sony will integrate the Playstation Portable (PSP) into a new mobile phone, creating yet more competition for Apple’s iPhone. As a result, this new “gaming phone” has led to the inclusion of a back catalogue of PSP games within the Sony Online Service. The move will be welcomed by Sony Ericsson who like other mobile phone manufacturers has faced stiff competition from the iPhone since its release. Read the rest of this entry »
Ultra Slim Bravia ZX1
Sony has always had a penchant for the dramatic and aesthetic when designing their products. The latest proof of this is the Awards dished out to Sony from the international Design Forum, a group that has been giving design awards for over 50 years. The iF Gold Award is given to products strictly on a design basis, not taking into account the technology inside at all. The two products given the iF Gold Award are the Sony BRAVIA ZX1 Series and the BDV-Z7 Blu-ray Disc home theatre system.
The Sony BRAVIA Zx1 impressed the panel of the international Design Forum predominantly for its extruded aluminium frame that acts dually as the chassis and the housing. The result is not only chic looks but also an extremely light piece of television equipment, the 40V format LCD TV weighing in at a paltry 12.2kg.
Sony is understandably proud of the BRAVIA ZX1 highlighting the designers desire to create an “exquisitely light look suggestive of a piece of paper floating in mid air”. Such minimalist design combined with wireless technology meaning that the equipment simply oozes contemporary style and elegance. The BDV-Z7 Blu-ray system also received an award for its sleek looks, particularly the tilted back speakers that provide elegant lines as well as optimal performance.
The Playstation Arc controller
Rumours are still abounding that the PS3 motion controller will be labelled as the Playstation Arc. As previously reported, the Games Developers Conference next week is likely to be the place any official announcement will take place but in the last few days there has been further fuel to the fire due to one interesting development.
According to various reports Sony have now trademarked Playstation Arc in Japan; leading many to believe that Arc is going to be the name of Sony’s new motion controller device. Adding to the speculation reports are also filtering through that Konami have filed a trademark for a new game titled ‘Gradius Arc’. These latest developments join the newly registered PlaystationArc.com and hearsay evidence that some employees have been using the Arc title as the most forthcoming evidence for the name of the new Sony Playstation motion controller. Read the rest of this entry »
Fire up COD again, PS3 is back online!
After the panic that spread throughout the gaming world yesterday; the result of the old “fat” PS3 consoles seemingly being crippled by a clock and date malfunction with the error code 8001050F, it now seems that Sony Playstation have now fixed the problem according to a statement on the US Playstation Blog.
After warnings from Sony that PS3 owners should not use their consoles yesterday the all clear has now been given. The statement on the Playstation Blog announces that “[Sony] are aware that the internal clock functionality in the PS3 [older units] recognized the year 2010 as a leap year”. The problem seemed to occur due to the switch between February 29th and March 1st with the internal clock failing to carry out the date change successfully. This confirmed many theories that were espoused yesterday by industry commentators and gamers alike that the bug was a Y2K+10 issue and that because of the incorrect date on PS3 consoles they were unable to connect with the PSN servers. Read the rest of this entry »
Solutions to the PS3 Error
The wires are alive with news that the Sony Playstation Network has experienced a major error. The problem however seems to go further, with owners of the older PS3 (the larger, glossier version of the device) experiencing problems with not only accessing the PSN but also playing titles offline that use the trophy system. Reports also suggest that the error is also affecting purchases from the Playstation Network such as premium themes and downloaded games. The current error code is PSN 8001050F.
The advice at the moment is to leave your PS3 switched off until Sony has found a solution to the problem.
The cause of this malfunction is currently being debated across the entire internet; the general consensus is that the older versions of the PS3 have experienced a problem with the date. Specifically, the device, which has a hardware clock believes there to be a February 29th this year and is experiencing problems when trying to rectify the issue internally. This Y2K+10 problem is believed by many to have led to the aforementioned issues. Read the rest of this entry »
Sony Cybershot W380
Recently launched, the Sony Cybershot (Cyber-shot) DSC-W380 is a compact digital camera that packs an impressive punch. With a plethora of features to help produce stunning images the Sony Cybershot W380 is certainly a technologically adept compact camera. Here is a breakdown of the specs and features for all those snappers out there.
In terms of features the Cybershot W380 boasts 14.1 megapixels for superb detail as well as five times optical zoom and a 24mm wide angle for enhanced group shots and landscapes. Additionally a 720p HD movie mode has been added with a Clear Photo LCD measuring 2.7 inches to view images and video. These features however pale in comparison to some of the clever technologies that have been included in the DSC-W380. Read the rest of this entry »
3D Blu-ray over HDMI 1.3?
With the many rumours and stories circulating the media of 3D TV and Blu ray players capable of 3D playback it seems that Sony have not forgotten the millions of PS3 owners out there. Earlier in the year it was announced that in the coming months PS3 owners could have a 3D capable Playstation by the way of a firmware upgrade.
This however led to some confusion amongst owners and industry commentators as it was highlighted that without a HDMI 1.4 connection, 3D Blu ray would be impossible as no update to a Sony Playstation’s software would change the physical makeup of the device. Gizmodo however have reported that this may not exactly be the case, arguing that a loophole is clearly possible. Read the rest of this entry »
All new Bravia 3D TV at CES 2010
The 3D TV bandwagon is certainly gaining considerable momentum, particularly since this year’s CES in Las Vegas. The latest 3D TV developments have come from Sony with their announcement that three Bravia ranges capable of faithfully recreating 3D images will be hitting the market soon, just days after Samsung and Panasonic made similar statements.
Of the models it is the LX900 that will be 3D capable out of the box whilst the HX800 and HX900 will need an add on. These TVs however seemingly offer more than a 3D experience, the HX900 for example provides viewers with Full HD 1080p resolution and a technology labelled as “Intelligent Dynamic LED”. The technology actively alters the backlighting of sections of the screen in order to heighten contrast levels and provide a richer picture. Read the rest of this entry »
