11/06, 2:15pm
Nintendo head says Wii HD not happening
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has again taken time to deny rumors of an advanced Wii shipping next year. Following assertions by analyst Michael Pachter that a new model is due in 2010, Fils-Aime tells Gametrailers TV that Pachter is the only one making such claims and that the rumored console is "not happening." Fils-Aime doesn't talk about whether or not the Wii will be updated at any point in the future but is emphatic that a replacement isn't coming soon.
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11/04, 6:05pm
Sony VAIO P gets US upgrade
Sony tonight upgraded its extra-small VAIO P netbook in the US to keep in sync with Windows 7. The new models now all run Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional and with this change alone should run much faster than the older models bogged down by Vista's steep requirements. They likewise have been brought into step with Japanese updates and have the option of up to a 2GHz Atom, a 256GB solid-state drive and a champagne-colored shell.
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11/04, 2:35pm
Walmart confirms day of deals
Yesterday's leak of Walmart offering several sales on consumer electronics products has been confirmed today by the big-box electronics retailer. The one-day deals are slated to start on Saturday, November 7th at 8AM. The leaked image matches Walmart's official products down to the prices and includes an Xbox 360 Arcade gaming console coming with a $100 gift card for $199. The headline offering, according to Walmart, is a 46-inch plasma HDTV with 1080p resolution and three HDMI ports for $788.
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11/03, 12:20pm
Consumer Reports marks electronics shops
Apple leads in brick-and-mortar retail stores but is no match for more universally oriented stores online, Consumer Reports says in its December issue (subscription needed for results). Of all major physical retailers, Apple scores the highest in a reader study. Although tied with Costco for an official 90-point score, it ranks highest through its perceived product quality, customer help and the ease of the buying process.
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11/02, 10:55am
Subsidized Sony VAIO P at Verizon
Wireless provider Verizon will soon add the Sony VAIO P netbook to its subsidized lineup, according to a Monday Phone Arena leak. Thus far, Verizon offers the Gateway LT2016U, HP Mini 311 and Mini 110 netbooks, but the VAIO P would be the smallest and lightest of the four. The system should be the standard 8-inch netbook but will have a built-in modem with both EVDO and GSM support.
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10/29, 6:00pm
Apps on Win 7 PCs still slow vs Apple
A series of tests have revealed that even newer Windows 7 PCs are being bogged down by unnecessary software that makes them run much more slowly than Macs. Comparing factory versions of several notebooks versus clean models, PC Pro finds that Acer and Sony systems take about two whole minutes more to boot because of the "crapware," or third-party utilities and trial apps, preloaded out of the box. They also consume roughly 1GB more extra active RAM and also rob the system of as much as 2.4GB of space in Acer's case.
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10/29, 11:05am
Nintendo Wii rumored to get Netflix streaming
Leaked images that were not made public reveal the Nintendo Wii will soon get Netflix streaming capabilities, StreamingMedia reported on Wednesday. The source is said to be someone involved with the project, who confirms the development is already in testing stages and the arrival of the service is due fairly soon.
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10/28, 10:15pm
IP related to LCD TV technology
Sony has resolved a dispute with Vizio over the latter company's patents involving technology used in LCD televisions. Rather than fight the battle in court, Sony decided to become a licensee for rights to use the technology from Vizio's patent portfolio.
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10/28, 3:25pm
Sony VAIO LT, JS2 all-in-ones at risk
Sony this afternoon launched a recall of AC power adapters for two of its all-in-one desktops for a potential shock hazard. All VAIO JS2 and LT desktops sold between September 2005 and today that use a particular AC adapter, the AC19V17, are believed at risk of shocking owners following four reports outside of the US of the adapters short circuiting on their own. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recall affects about 69,000 devices that also include Sony's PRBX1 and PRFE1 VAIO Docking Stations for notebooks.
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10/28, 1:20pm
Microsoft Signature PCs arrive at retail
The Windows PCs at Microsoft's first retail stores are deliberately purged of the third-party apps they would normally carry, employees and eyewitnesses have confirmed. Product Advisor Jared Marino explains these systems, regardless of the brand, are considered Signature PCs and won't include any unnecessary third-party software. In exchange, they come preloaded with the normally optional Windows Live Essentials pack as well as extras like Bing 3D Maps, Security Essentials and the Zune client.
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10/27, 4:20pm
Hitachi, Toshiba join Sony in anti-trust query
Hitachi and Toshiba's optical drive divisions have also been implicated in a US Department of Justice investigation regarding possible antitrust abuse, according to another Monday WSJ report. As with Sony, not many other details were revealed, and executives at both Hitachi and Toshiba say they will fully cooperate with the investigations. Hitachi's optical drive business is a joint venture with LG, with Hitachi owning 51 percent of the operation, while Toshiba has the same split with Samsung.
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10/26, 3:50pm
Sony being investigated by antitrust agencies
Sony is being subpoenaed by the US Justice Department regarding its US optical drive division, says a Monday WSJ report (subscription required). The company's Optiarc America division, which sells optical discs and drives for computers, is now under investigation for antitrust concerns. While not many specifics were revealed, Sony did say both the Justice Department and other, unidentified agencies outside of the US are "investigating competition in optical disk drives."
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10/26, 7:05am
PS3 Netflix deal breaks Xbox exclusive
Netflix this morning broke its once-exclusive Xbox 360 deal with Microsoft by offering Netflix for PlayStation 3. The link will let any US-based PS3 owner with a Netflix subscription stream movies and TV shows online; they can also add movies to the queue and rate titles. Early on, the service will depend on customers owning a free Blu-ray disc that draws on BD-Live for Internet access, but the service should eventually be integrated into the PS3's firmware.
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10/23, 11:40am
Analyst sees Apple winning mobile gaming
The iPhone platform could overtake rivals Nintendo and Sony for the lead in growing handheld gaming in as little as five years, a DFC Intelligence report says. The analyst group believes portable hardware from the Japanese companies is likely to still lead in terms of sheer units in the future but believes growth has "peaked" for devices like the DSi or PSP Go where Apple's platform is still climbing quickly. By 2014, the iPhone and iPod touch are expected to be the only major devices still seeing significant growth.
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10/22, 5:10pm
Slacker to phase out G2 player
Slacker will stop building its only hardware digital streaming music player, the G2 in the second half of 2010, according to a Wednesday WSJ report. The 2GB device was launched in 2007 and grew to include 4GB and 8GB capacities. Slacker is still selling a 4GB version for $129, while Best Buy has some 8GB models in stock, priced at $249.
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10/22, 1:50pm
Sony digital photo frame has built-in printer
Sony announced the price and release date for its DPP-F700 photo frame with built-in printer on Thursday. The device was introduced less than a month ago in Europe and includes a 7-inch screen with 800x480 resolution, 1GB of built-in memory and an integrated photo printer that can produce a 4- by 6-inch print at 300x300dpi resolution in 45 seconds. Users can edit images before printing, with options that include enlarging, reducing, cropping, adjusting brightness, contrast, hue and sharpness as well as including a date stamp or a border.
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10/20, 4:15pm
Altec intros amp-like portable speaker
Altec Lansing on Tuesday introduced a new gaming console speaker system, its Stage-Gig. Resembling a guitar amp, the amplified speaker is made to work with Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and DJ Hero titles on any gaming console. The 6.5-inch woofer contains a horn-loaded silk tweeter and has 40W of power. For easy portability, a carrying handle is built in, and the device can be daisy-chained with others thanks to a built-in AC outlet and RCA connections.
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10/20, 1:50pm
Sony to release new entry-level HDTVs in 2010
Sony has plans to release its lowest priced LCD HDTVs early next year, the B-series, according to market contacts speaking on Tuesday. Digitimes claims Sony will release 32- and 40-inch models in the B series aimed at competing against budget brands like Vizio. The former will be priced at the equivalent of about $460 or less, well below Sony's typical pricing. The move is expected to bring back Sony's market lead in the LCD HDTV segment.
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10/19, 1:15pm
Sony prototype shows 360-degree 3D images
At the upcoming Digital Content Expo in Japan scheduled for October 22-25, Sony will demonstrate a prototype 3D display that will project images viewable from all around the device without requiring that viewers wear 3D glasses. The 360-degree display uses an LED light source to emit the images, which have a 96x128 pixel resolution and can show in a full 24-bit color range.
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10/15, 4:55pm
Cineworld bans notebooks from its movie theaters
UK movie theater chain Cineworld has introduced a new policy that does not allow patrons to bring in notebook PCs to the auditoriums, UK resident Jeremy Nicholas wrote on his blog. The policy was supposedly introduced to help fight piracy, where bootleggers go to see a movie and record it with an electronic device. Nicholas, however, was denied entry despite his Sony VAIO's lack of an integrated webcam, making it impossible to record the main attraction.
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10/15, 4:20pm
Slim PS3 with larger drive due Nov. 3
Sony in mid-afternoon revealed that it will launch a 250GB version of the PlayStation 3 in North America. Previously only due for Europe bundled with a game, the US and Canadian version will only include the higher-capacity hard disk, which more than doubles the existing slim PS3's capacity. The extra storage is pitched as a help for downloadable games as well as those who download movies from PSN in HD.
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10/15, 9:55am
Google e-book store due next year
Google today set out official plans to launch its own paid e-book store. Known as Google Editions, the service will be one of the few truly universal stores and will work with any device that has a reasonably modern web browser, including most computers, smartphones and even normally locked-down devices like the Amazon Kindle. Unlike some web book services, Google's store will let users cache a book locally for reading when they're offline.
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10/14, 4:50pm
Sony Ericsson Aino supports PS3 Remote Play
Sony Ericsson has begun shipping the Aino, the first handset to support Remote Play on Sony's own PS3 game console. The Aino is a touchscreen slider, another first for the company, and was introduced alongside the Satio this spring. With the Aino, users will be able to turn on or off their PS3s, navigate the XMB interface and access the web as well as DRM-free media saved on the drive.
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10/14, 3:20pm
Toshiba unveils Win 7 PCs with no clutter
Toshiba on Wednesday updated its notebooks with Windows 7 and a rare promise among Windows PC makers. The company promises that all of its systems running the new OS, including its touchscreen models, will go without any icons on the desktop except for the default Recycle Bin. System performance should get a boost as the PCs will run as little software in the background as possible, in many cases only running anti-virus tools.
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10/08, 9:20am
PSP sales triple, PSN downloads double
The launch of the PSP Go last week shot Sony's total PSP hardware sales up 300 percent in the US, according to the company's local communications director Patrick Seybold. He wouldn't break down the ratio of the new PSPs versus the old, UMD-supporting PSP-3000 but told Gamasutra that it was evidence of "strong" interest in the handheld system as a whole, not just the new model, over the first few days. The PSP-3000 is normally $200 in a bundle with one or more games and is widely assumed to be the backup choice for those who consider the $250 PSP Go too expensive or limited by its download-only catalog.
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10/07, 8:20pm
Sony launches VAIO CW
The last of Sony's three notebook updates Wednesday evening was the VAIO CW. It brings a 16:9 aspect ratio 14-inch display (versus 16:10 before) and is the first mid-range Sony notebook to carry Windows 7. In keeping with earlier VAIO C systems, the CW is style-centric and comes in glossy colors both on the outer shell and on the palm rest.
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10/07, 8:05pm
Sony launches VAIO X netbook
Sony's unveilings tonight were highlighted by the VAIO X. The 11-inch netbook crossover is billed as the lightest ever notebook and uses a carbon fiber shell to reach a weight of just 1.6 pounds. As it's based on a smaller and cooler running Intel Atom chip, the system can also afford to be extremely thin and measures 0.55 inches thick across its whole length.
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10/07, 7:40pm
Sony VAIO L brings touchscreen, Blu-ray
Sony at an event tonight launched a trio of new systems, starting with its first touchscreen PC. The VAIO L supports Windows 7's own multi-touch elements for scrolling and zooming through content without needing special software. Like Gateway and HP, Sony has its own custom touch portal, here called Media Gallery, that lets users rely on touch to edit photos and videos.
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10/07, 5:55pm
Sony gives VAIO P netbook new OS, CPUs
Sony provided a glimpse of updates to come to the US on Wednesday with a British update to the VAIO P. The 8-inch netbook has primarily updated to add Windows 7 and should run faster on similar hardware as a result thanks to better performance on low-end hardware. At the same time, Sony has upgraded the processors themselves. Two P31 variants have the 1.86GHz Atom Z540 (versus 1.33GHz or 1.6GHz most older models) while the P39 runs on a 2GHz Atom Z550.
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10/07, 2:35pm
Ultraportable VAIO X to carry high price
Sony's VAIO X will ultimately be a larger but lighter version of the VAIO P if a pair of leaks (one, two) prove accurate. Although undecided on the choice of processor when it first teased the system, Sony is reported by Engadged as using a 2GHz Atom processor to help achieve its 1.5-pound claimed weight and slim profile in spite of the 11-inch frame. It would also have a solid-state drive of an unknown capacity.
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10/06, 6:05pm
Sony shows custom 56-inch, 4K monitor
Sony at CEATEC is showing one of its most advanced displays to date. The 56-inch TRIMASTER SRM-L560 monitor has a near-4K resolution, which translates to 3840x2160 pixels or four times the resolution of 1080p. Despite this, the LED backlit TV has a 176-degree viewing angle from all sides and is meant to be a color-accurate preview for video pros and others who need large screens.
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10/06, 10:40am
Sony shows OLED mobile electronics prototypes
At CEATEC, Sony is showing off three portable consumer electronics prototype products that use its flexible OLED technology. Conspicuously missing was an OLED TV from the electronics giant, such as its 21-inch OLED prototype shown off earlier in the year. The non-functioning VAIO notebook Sony did showcase was behind a Plexiglas case and was not powered on. It also was seen before, and sports a 0.2mm thick flexible screen that covers both the screen and keyboard area.
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10/05, 6:35pm
Sony VAIO X may be ready in November
Sony's VAIO X ultralight could be ready next month and have a second notebook follow along if a rumor tonight proves true. The 1.5-pound notebook would ship in November, according to CrunchGear, and would be a direct replacement for the VAIO TT. A strategy of the sort implies it will use a low-voltage Core 2 Duo, which would support Sony's claims of extra-long battery life.
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10/02, 10:30am
Sony vows natural 3D, 240FPS camera tech
Sony has said it's developing a single lens 3D camera capable of capturing left-eye and right-eye images simultaneously, all at high frame rates of 240fps. The new system eliminates the need to correct the image in existing half-mirror 3D camera systems, which use separate lenses for the left and right eyes to adjust the parallax range and therefore the amount of depth. Zooming or focusing in these systems results in discrepancies in the optical axis, image size and focus where Sony's invention is accurate.
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10/02, 8:00am
Sony preps strong wireless power
Sony finished the week with word of one of the first wireless power systems that could supply significant amounts of energy. The approach uses a magnetic resonance technique that has the device operating on a frequency receptive to that of the energy itself. In doing so, the current form of the invention can supply up to 60W of power over about 19.7 inches, or enough to power many notebook computers and some smaller TVs.
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10/02, 7:00am
AUO to cut e-reader prices in half
AU Optronics (AUO) said on Friday that it hopes to slash the price of e-book readers in half within two years. The Taiwan area company explained to FT that it hopes to use its experience in making LCDs, as well as the sheer scale of its production, to make the e-paper displays affordable enough that they can lead to much less expensive hardware. A $150 reader could be available in 2010, while a $100 reader will ideally ship in 2011.
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10/01, 10:25am
Sony updates PSP to 6.10 firmware
In sync with today's launch of the PSP Go, Sony today launched its version 6.10 firmware update. The patch gives all PSPs a new SensMe feature which, much like most Walkman players, sorts music by an automatically generated mood or genre, such as "extreme" or "dance." In a special twist for PSPs, though, SensMe can use the clock to set the mood by the particular time of day. The interface is also much more visual with large album art and a pseudo-3D interface.
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09/30, 4:40pm
Dell, LG, Lenovo suffer criticisms
Activist group Greenpeace has released a new edition of its Guide to Greener Electronics, which ranks major high-tech corporations in terms of their alleged environmental friendliness. Among the companies favored by Greenpeace's press efforts is Apple, which the group notes recently disclosed its carbon emissions. Apple has risen in rankings from 11th to 9th, aided not by the disclosure but by being the "most progressive" computer maker in terms of removing product toxins.
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09/30, 10:45am
SanDisk boosts gaming system storage capacities
SanDisk on Wednesday announced it has released memory cards meant specifically for portable gaming systems such as Sony's PSP Go and PSP as well as the Nintendo DSi. All significantly boost the storage capacity of said systems, with the PSP Go's capacity doubled by the new 16GB Memory Stick Micro M2 card. There is a 32GB Memory Stick PRO Duo and a Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo of the same capacity for the PSP from Sony, while the DSi gets an 8GB SDHC card.
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09/29, 2:00pm
Sony photo frame has built-in printer
Sony will soon release its DPP-F700 photo frame, which also includes a built-in photo printer. The 7-inch screen on the frame sports 800x480 resolution, and there is 1GB of built-in memory. Users can display the current time in a choice of 21 templates. The integrated printer can create 4x6-inch prints at up to 300x300dpi resolution. The prints uses TruFast technology, meaning they are resistant to fingerprint marks, water and discoloration when exposed to light. Photos stored on the frame can be printed in less than one minute.
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09/29, 10:25am
Sony outs DRX-S70U-W DVD drive
Sony today added a designer USB-based DVD rewriter tailored for notebooks. The DRX-S70U-W is only just larger than the drive itself and records single-layerDVDs at 8X; it can also burn rewritable discs at the same speed and dual-layer 8.5GB discs at 6X. The drive is powered by the USB bus and is intended first for netbooks and ultraportables where optical storage isn't built-in.
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09/28, 4:05pm
PSP Go launch software
The PSP Go when it launches this week will already have a substantial catalog and ways to buy many games in shops, Sony said today. A total of 225 games should be available to download that will include both regular games, some PSN-only games and PSP minis. The console maker also promises to IGN that it will sell "game cards," or physical vouchers for the games themselves, for those who still expect to buy games in retail shops.
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09/28, 10:00am
PSP Go part by part dissection
A teardown of Sony's imminent PSP Go has revealed the handheld to be unusually accessible. iFixit notes that the system is kept together through typical Phillips screws and that the battery can be replaced, including without breaking the "void if broken" seal as long as the user is skilled. It's also a high capacity battery that holds 930mAh -- more than the Nintendo DSi's 840mAh or the 789mAh of the iPod touch -- though the large screen means its battery life is roughly similar at three to six hours depending on the task.
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09/25, 4:10pm
PSP UMD conversion plan axed
Sony today revealed that it has scrapped its UMD conversion plan for those upgrading to the PSP Go. The handheld maker told Kotaku that "legal and technical reasons" have prevented it from giving free PSN downloads to owners that can prove they have UMD copies of their games. It hasn't said what these reasons are or how likely it is that an alternative will be available in the future.
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09/25, 12:45pm
250GB PS3 bundles confirmed for the UK
Sony will bring 250GB versions of its new slim PlayStation 3 gaming console to the UK, bundled with various video games and Blu-ray movies, Pocket-lint reported on Friday. Priced at the equivalent of $455, there will be one bundle that includes FIFA 10 and another one with Need for Speed: Shift. On October 1st, more bundles will be introduced, including with two various Platinum titles and one with the open-world game inFamous.
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09/24, 7:45pm
Price down to $185 USD from $215 USD
Sony has reduced the price of its PlayStation Portable devices in Japan. The basic PSP now sells for 16,800¥ (~$185 USD), which is approximately $30 below its previous price of 19,800¥ (~$215 USD). The discount applies to the full range of colors which now includes black, silver, white, blue, red, yellow and green.
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09/24, 3:40pm
Bookeen keeps prices low of Cybook Opus e-reader
Bookeen has delivered its promised e-book reader, the 5-inch Cybook Opus. It is meant as a simpler and more affordable alternative to the likes of the latest Amazon Kindle and Sony Readers. It lacks a touchscreen and at just a third of a pound is much lighter than either. Internal storage capacity is 1GB, which can hold as much as 1,000 books. A microSD memory card slot lets users expand the memory capacity.
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09/24, 11:45am
PS3 motion control on track for spring
Sony at the Tokyo Game Show solidified its plans for its PS3 motion controller. Although still unnamed, the wand-like controller now has common PlayStation buttons and a trigger. It further shares the force feedback technology from DualShock 3 controllers and and will run on a lithium-ion battery instead of disposables.
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09/24, 10:15am
PSP Bluetooth stereo headset unveiled
In preparation for the launch of the PSP Go, Sony this morning launched several accessories headlined by a receiver that works beyond the company's own handheld. The Bluetooth Stereo Headset Receiver will turn any 3.5mm headphones or headset into a wireless set. While designed with the PSP Go in mind, it can pair with as many as eight devices and fits standard Bluetooth profiles: it can be used for basic calling on a cellphone but will also relay stereo audio over A2DP for devices like the iPhone or iPod touch and has a set of playback controls for those devices that support AVRCP.
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09/24, 7:50am
PS3 Final Fantasy XIII and 1m slim PS3s sold
Sony kicked off the Tokyo Game Show with a special model of the PS3 for Japan as well as word of runaway sales for the slimmer model worldwide. The company's home country is receiving a special Final Fantasy XIII Lightning Edition of the console that both gives it a 250GB hard drive, making it the first to get the extra storage, and adds a special white design with pink artwork of the game's central character Lightning on the top. The model doesn't include a copy of the game but should ship for the equivalent of $455 on December 17th.
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