Posts Tagged: Sony

QHD+ Is Good Enough For Sony As It Quits 4K Phone Displays

Since 2015, only Sony has put 4K displays on smartphones, and they even did it last year. But finally, that will be coming to an end, and consumers might be better off.
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The Morning After: Sony offers 100 free movies to its PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers

Sony has released its own movie streaming app for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. There’s a decent perk for subscribers of PlayStation Plus Premium: Members get access to a library of up to 100 ad-free Sony Pictures films at no extra cost. 

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Sony

Sony says the lineup includes Looper, Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, Elysium and Resident Evil Damnation. The company also plans to add some anime content from Crunchyroll to Sony Pictures Core, and it added that benefits for all PS Plus subscribers are on the way. It should go a little way to rationalizing the recent increased price of the PS Plus Premium plan.

Given Sony’s big push to turn its gaming franchises into movies and TV shows, it makes sense for those franchises to return to the PlayStation. And if Netflix can do games, PlayStation can do movies, okay?

— Mat Smith

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Samsung’s $ 30 Galaxy SmartTag 2 arrives on October 11 with an all-new design

A single model that supports both Bluetooth and ultra-wideband.

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Samsung

Samsung has unveiled the SmartTag 2, its AirTag-like tracking device and successor to the original 2021 SmartTag. Unlike the original, which had both Bluetooth and ultra-wideband (UWB) variants, the new version combines both features in a single model. It’s now IP67 dust- and water-resistant, but it still only works with Samsung smartphones.

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Netflix nabs the iconic Dead Cells for its ever-growing games library

The streamer also announced a sequel to Slayaway Camp.

Netflix’s game studio is slowly but surely dropping new titles, adding around 40 mobile releases in 2023. One such game is the universally acclaimed Metroidvania/roguelike action gem Dead Cells, just announced as part of the streamer’s Netflix & Thrill promotion for Halloween. Dead Cells: Netflix Edition appears to include the full original game along with all kinds of DLC. A traditional Netflix subscription gives you access to the game on both iOS and Android devices. There’s also a Dead Cells animated series in the works. Interestingly, there’s no home for it yet, but this move certainly hints that it could premiere on Netflix.

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Engadget’s guide to the best smartwatches

Will the Pixel Watch 2 make it?

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Engadget

The wearable world is filled with high-quality options, and a few key players, like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Fitbit Versa, have muscled their way to the front of the pack with their smart features. Chances are, if you’re reading this guide, you’ve probably already decided it’s time to upgrade whatever gadget’s on your wrist. We walk you through the crucial specs and features you should look for.

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Amazon’s first satellites to launch October 6

The company will test its answer to SpaceX’s Starlink service.

Amazon’s Kuiper satellites will soon make their debut in orbit. Project Kuiper is Amazon’s answer to SpaceX’s Starlink service. At the moment, its plans entail launching 3,200 satellites over the next six years to form a constellation of internet connectivity to far-flung places. The company says it’s on track to deploy its first production satellites in the first half of 2024 and to start beta testing with commercial users.

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The Gmail app for Wear OS is finally available

There’s still no Calendar support.

Google has finally released a version of Gmail for Wear OS to accompany the launch of the Pixel Watch 2, as originally spotted by 9to5Google. The company teased this feature back in May at I/O — it’s been a long time coming. Google hasn’t offered a direct way to access Gmail with its smartwatches, outside of notifications. And it made Gmail…

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-sony-offers-100-free-movies-to-its-playstation-plus-premium-subscribers-111549132.html?src=rss

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Olivia Rodrigo is teaming up with Sony for limited edition purple earbuds

Pop star Olivia Rodrigo has completely redefined herself with her new album GUTS, drawing on the kind of punky guitar growl that defined so many successful musical acts in the 1990s. She’s also teaming up with mega-corporation Sony to release a pair of limited-edition earbuds that draw on the basic design of the company’s successful LinkBuds S line.

These are basically a color swap of the standard LinkBuds S, with a “unique violet marble pattern” the company says was designed by the Grammy-winner herself. Rodrigo backs up this claim, stating she was “so excited” to help create “a limited edition LinkBuds S in the color violet,” going on to say that she “can’t wait for my fans to experience GUTS in this way.”

While deferring to a large multinational corporation isn’t exactly in the spirit of the music Rodrigo drew from on her latest album, there’s one cool techy tidbit here. These earbuds can access custom equalizer settings tuned by Rodrigo and producer Daniel Nigro. These settings offer an “optimal listening” experience of her two albums on major streaming services.

As with all LinkBuds S models, the new Rodrigo-flavored earbuds offer robust active noise-canceling tech, 360-degree spatial sound support, LDAC 3 for high-resolution audio and a transparency mode adjusts for ambient noise. The earbuds are also environmentally-friendly, more or less, as many components were manufactured using recycled plastic materials from automobile parts and reclaimed water bottles.

The LinkBuds S x Olivia Rodrigo cost $ 200 and preorders start today directly from Sony and via a number of authorized dealers. This isn’t the first high-profile team-up between Rodrigo and a large company in support of GUTS. Back in April, she partnered with Meta’s Instagram to advertise a feature that allowed users to add music to slideshows.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/olivia-rodrigo-is-teaming-up-with-sony-for-limited-edition-purple-earbuds-110006126.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Sony and other music labels sue Internet Archive for digitizing old records

The Internet Archive is facing another lawsuit over one of its conservation projects. Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and a handful of other music labels have filed a lawsuit against the nonprofit organization, accusing it of copyright infringement for digitizing, "willfully upload[ing], distribut[ing] and digitally transmitt[ing]" pre-1972 sound recordings. In particular, the labels are suing Internet Archive for the Great 78 Project, which seeks to preserve music recorded on 78rpm discs. 

The labels call Internet Archive's efforts "blatant infringement," involving music by artists that include Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong. They also listed a few examples of "iconic recordings" available through the Great 78 Project, such as White Christmas, Sing, Sing, Sing, and The Christmas Song

The companies said the the songs preserved on the project website are already available through streaming and other music services, so they "face no danger of being lost, forgotten, or destroyed." But the organization explained on the project portal that there's "still research value in the artifacts and usage evidence in the often rare 78rpm discs and recordings." 

The plaintiffs disagree, writing in their complaint that Internet Archive's activities "far exceed" the limited purposes of preservation and research. "Internet Archive unabashedly seeks to provide free and unlimited access to music for everyone, regardless of copyright," they added. The labels are asking statutory damages of up to $ 150,000 for each protected sound recording, and that could add up to $ 372 million for the listed recordings, according to Bloomberg.

Internet Archive is also embroiled in a legal battle with a group of US publishers led by Hachette Book Group over the National Emergency Library. The organization lent out digitally scanned copies of books through the program during the height of the pandemic, which the publishers described as "willful mass copyright infringement." A federal judge ruled against Internet Archive for that particular case, though the organization is planning to appeal that decision.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-and-other-music-labels-sue-internet-archive-for-digitizing-old-records-110108988.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Best true wireless earbuds deals: AirPods, Beats, Bose, Sony

There are a lot of great wireless earbud deals taking place right now, and we’ve rounded them all up to make big savings easy to grab.
Digital Trends

Sony Bravia TV owners can soon take Zoom calls from the couch

Sony Bravia TVs will be the first hardware to support the upcoming Zoom for TV app on Google Play. Although remote work has dwindled as corporations beckon their underlings back to the office, those still enjoying work-from-home or hybrid arrangements could soon attend virtual meetings from their living room couches. It follows Apple’s WWDC 2023 announcement that FaceTime is coming to Apple TV (via mounted iPhones) later this year.

Bravia TVs don’t have built-in webcams, so you’ll need to buy a Bravia Cam to make the setup work. In addition to enabling Zoom calls, the $ 200 accessory can adjust sound and picture settings based on your location and distance from the television. It also allows you to control your TV with hand gestures without picking up the remote, enables a proximity alert that detects when kids sit too close (as they’re wont to do) and adds a power-saving mode that dims the screen if nobody is watching.

Split-panel image. On the left, a rendered figure sitting on a living-room couch with his TV's brightness set to max. On the right, the same figure sitting on an ottoman closer to the TV with the brightness tuned to around 70 percent.
Sony

Sony says the Zoom for TV app will be available for Bravia TVs “by early summer.” The company’s head of Bravia product design, Shusuke Tomonaga, said, “This partnership will make it possible for our customers to enjoy more realistic video communication on a large TV screen in the living room, enabling them to be more connected with the people they care about, whether they are working from home, learning remotely, or just catching up with friends and family.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-bravia-tv-owners-can-soon-take-zoom-calls-from-the-couch-213024871.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Amazon is having a big sale on Sony wireless earbuds right now

Amazon has slashed the prices of various Sony wireless earbuds, including an $ 82 discount on the Sony WF-1000XM4 with the active noise cancellation feature.
Digital Trends

Sony and Honda will open pre-orders for their first EV in 2025

Sony and Honda have announced (PDF) that they're planning to start accepting pre-orders for their first electric vehicle model in the first half of 2025. Their joint venture, which they've simply named Sony Honda Mobility Inc. (SHM), is hoping to start deliveries in the United States by spring of 2026. In Japan, deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of 2026. According to Reuters, the companies are considering a European launch, as well, but they have no solid plans for the region at the moment. 

The companies didn't give us a glimpse of the vehicle they're working on during the event, and they didn't mention anything about its pricing or its battery technology and range. They did say, however, that they're planning to focus on online sales like Tesla does and that the first model will have a "somewhat high price range." Honda will manufacture their first model at its facility in North America, while Sony will be in charge of developing the vehicle's software system and sensors. SHM is aiming to develop a Level 3 autonomous driving system, which means its cars will eventually have the capability to drive itself in certain conditions.

Reuters also said that Sony's software system will offer a monthly subscription for entertainment and other services, providing SMH with recurring revenue. The company is even looking into providing new types of in-vehicle entertainment, including those based in the metaverse. SMH Chairman and CEO Yasuhide Mizuno said during the event that the joint company is "speedily" developing its first vehicle. He said that SMH can't miss taking pre-orders in 2025, as the firm believes that year will be a turning point for vehicle electrification. 

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

How Sony unintentionally defined the skate video

In 2022, Tony Hawk is a household name, skateboarding is an olympic sport and it’s possible to master digital laser flips in any number of video games on TV. It wasn’t always like this, though. Early skate screen media consisted mostly of skeptical documentaries or whimsical California dreaming-style chronicles. Things changed when, in 1983, Stacy Peralta – who managed the ragtag team of skaters that Tony Hawk was a member of – effectively invented the modern skate video. Thanks to its performative nature, skateboarding would soon form a symbiotic relationship with the technology that showcased it.

The VHS invasion

Peralta claims he hoped a few hundred copies of his first video might find their way into the new VHS players that were taking the US by storm. “From the get go, videos were more lucrative than they thought they were going to be: It’s this sort of famous thing that Stacy [Peralta] says that the first Bones Brigade video, they thought they were just gonna write the costs off as a marketing cost, but actually they made a load of money on it.” Author, professor and skateboarder Iain Borden told Engadget. The success of The Bone Brigade Video Show, and the titles that followed, exposed skateboarding to many more new eyes along with an all new revenue stream for the struggling “sport”.

Documentary filmmaker Stacy Peralta at Skate One/Bones Brigade located in Goleta, CA on November 07, 2012. Peralta is using a revolutionary grassroots marketing campaign to get fans to see his movie
Al Seib via Getty Images

In the ‘80s Peralta and his Bones Brigade team dominated on-screen skateboarding, typically on vert ramps, including several moviecameos. But Peralta’s polished style and squeaky-clean team wasn’t for everyone. Right at the end of the ‘80s, H-Street – a more grassroots skateboarding outfit – released Shackle Me Not and Hokus Pokus with a focus on street skating. Not everyone had access to a ramp, but everyone lived on a street, meaning this new style was much more accessible with the videos almost serving as a how-to manual.

According to Borden, H-Street put cameras in skaters’ hands to film each other and the change of pace and dynamic in videos shifted away from Peralta’s more conventional approach. This new format – skaters shooting skaters – complete with slams, skits, music and pissed-off security guards would become the template for the next decade. Not least thanks to another new technology that was about to land.

The VX1000

In 1995, Sony released a camera that would define how the skate video looks (and sounds) right to this day. At around $ 3,000; the DCR-VX1000, was the first digital camcorder in Sony’s consumer lineup. The relatively affordable price, coupled with its small form-factor and new, digital tapes – MiniDV – made it the perfect camera for gonzo filmmakers seeking professional results. The fact that footage could be easily transferred to a PC with a nascent technology called i.Link (which you might know as “FireWire”) meant anyone with a computer could now make videos entirely at home.

The VX1000 only really solidified its legendary status among skaters once it was coupled with the Century Optics fish-eye lens. “The fisheye was amazing. The audio was incredible. The colors look great. It had a handle built into it so you can follow somebody while riding a skateboard,” videographer Chris Ray told Engadget. “There hasn’t been another impactful camera in skateboarding like that. I don’t think there ever will be.”

The first consumer digital video camera from Sony, the VX1000 is pictured in a marketing shot.
Sony

Ray says he still uses audio from the VX1000 on his modern productions. “I pull a library of VX audio and I add those to the snaps, the lands, the grinds, things like that into my skate films because nobody has made a camera that has audio that’s even close to as good.” Ray clearly isn’t the only one to think so, as this $ 300 modern replica VX1000 mic just for skateboarding attests.

To complement the sound, the colors the VX1000 put out would also become something of a hallmark of a good skate video. The bright, punchy hues the camera produced were the perfect match for the blue Californian sky contrasted against the beige and asphalt found in strip mall parking lots and other urban, skate-friendly locations. Before long, footage shot with anything else felt passé. “People were still making skateboard videos on other cameras,” Ray said, “but this was, like, the one you were taking a lot more seriously.”

Ask any skater what the golden era of skate videos is and you’ll get a different answer, but objectively the year 2000 ushered in a period of where some of the most impactful, high budget skateboarding movies ever were made, and most of them were shot with the trusty VX1000.

A man with a tattoo of the Sony VX1000 video camera on his head.
Chris Ray

Menikmati, from shoe company éS and Modus Operandi by Transworld set the tone. Both came out in 2000 and heavily showcased the VX1000’s distinctive look and sound. Both are also very high profile releases in the skate scene, which only serves to fully solidify the camera’s status as the de facto tool of choice. Not to mention a badge of cool in its own right. “I mean, it’s on skateboards. I’ve got skateboards on my wall with the camera on it. People make keychains, there’s tattoos.” Ray said. “It’s still iconic to this day.’

Redefining the standard

Of course, there’s a problem looming over the horizon. A 16:9, High-Definition problem to be precise.

For all the VX’s strengths, the whole TV industry was undergoing its biggest change in standards, perhaps ever. Widescreen TVs had been steadily replacing 4:3 CRTs and the new “HD” resolutions were making SD content look horribly outdated. Not everyone was a fan of the new aspect ratio, either. “I couldn’t get myself to fully go HD because it was a lot harder. You’re talking about a 16:9 image. You don’t want to cut the wheels off and you don’t want to cut their head off when you’re filming skateboarding.” Ray said.

Worse, in 1999 Sony did release a follow-up to the much-loved camera, the VX2000, but it was a flop with skateboarders. Not only was the new aspect ratio harder to work with, the VX2000 had an inferior mic and, crucially, wasn’t compatible with the Century Optics fisheye (or specifically the “Mk1” of that lens that everyone wanted). Skateboard filmers needed to find a new sweetheart.

Skate Mental VXR1000 board

“It’s funny because the Panasonic HVX200 came out. That was really hated by a lot of skateboarders. But now, today, the HVX200 is the preferred camera of HD by skateboarders.” Ray said. In fact, filmers weren’t pleased about having to give up their precious VX1000 at all. “I was working on a Transworld film, and we talked about how there’s this transition between VX1000 and going HD. And skateboarding was not happy about it.” Ray added. (Years later a petition was also started to campaign for Century Optics to re-issue the Mk1 lens, which it ultimately did – albeit a limited run of 300).

Around the same time, a little gaming franchise known as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skateboarder was taking the gaming world by storm. The popularity of the PlayStation 2, and its ability to play DVDs, was the perfect way for a whole new generation to discover skateboarding. (Not to mention one of the goals was to “unlock” various bonus skate videos.)

Tony Hawk might have been luring in new blood, but in 2007, the hotly anticipated (in skate circles) film, Fully Flared, was about to signal another big change in skate video history. Renowned skate Director, Ty Evans, was still using the VX1000 but this would be its last outing in one of his productions, Ray said. Evans championed the VX from the start with Modus Operandi, but Fully Flared (which Ray also worked on) represented the passing of the camera baton. The send off was marked with explosions and effects never seen before in a skate movie.

For the ‘gram

There was another important event in 2007: The launch of the first ever iPhone. Within a few years, almost everyone had an HD camera in their pocket. Likewise, a whole other product category would come along to change how we record things – the action cam. Between the smartphone and the GoPro, suddenly everyone was a skate videographer. Or as we call them today, a “creator.”

Unlike many sports, professional skateboarding is mostly financed through individual sponsorship deals. Some skateboarders do compete for prize money, but brand deals are typically the primary source of income. This means that being on video is directly related to your standing among potential sponsors. Thanks to slow-mo on the iPhone and the popularity of GoPros, being in a skate video wasn’t reserved for the stars any longer, in fact, you’d have a hard time being noticed by sponsors at this point if you weren’t making yourself seen in videos.

ROME, ITALY - JULY 03: Nyjah Huston of the USA in action during the men's Final of the World Street Skateboarding Rome 2022 at Colle Oppio park, on July 3, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

The rise of the internet was transformative for most industries, but skateboarding is nothing if not adaptive. YouTube was first, but before long Instagram became the spiritual home for all things skate video. Now you can attract fans directly, see your stats in real time and record your best tricks without having to lug about a large camcorder or hit the editing suite. And thus, the 30+ minute skate video was swiftly usurped by short, often single-take clips or even individual tricks.

No longer did you have to wait months or even years between doses of on-screen skateboarding, now it was on demand, bite sized and in never-ending supply. But with this convenience and supply came a dramatic shift in focus.

The social media age hasn’t just changed how the media is made and consumed, it’s changing who gets to be seen and sponsored. “What I’m seeing now is kids are inspired by other kids, kids that are their age. I’m not seeing the like, 35 year old pros inspiring. The 15 year old kid, his favorite skater is this guy that’s not even pro, that I’ve never heard of,” Ray said.

Like with other industries that fell foul to the internet, the age of big budgets and splashy releases might be gone, but other opportunities have filled their place. Two of the most followed skaters on Instagram right now are Nyjah Huston and Leticia Bufoni. Both are accomplished, exciting skateboarders who have cultivated their own personal brand and style over recent years. Bufoni, in particular, has played a hugely important role in making skateboarding more accessible to young women.

“I think the rise of female skaters has absolutely been aided by the fact that people can access and see people like them skating,” Borden said. But with new technology comes new pressures, especially for creators. “They have to produce something every day, every week. And we you know, I mean, the pressure to do that must be extraordinary.” Borden added.

DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 23: Leticia Bufoni of Brazil competes in  the Women's Street Final at the Dew Tour on May 23, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The shift to Instagram also echoes how vert skating in the late ‘80s lost favor to the new and exciting urban skating that emerged in the early ‘90s. Just how street took place in spots that were accessible to the viewer, Instagram places videos from your skater friends neatly in between clips (or “parts”) from the pros, blurring the lines between you and “them” even further.

For many years, what tricks were cool, who was cool at doing them and what that coolness looked like was heavily influenced by what was in the skate videos of the time. Today, that has reversed and now we get to see skaters from different backgrounds and influences taking their favored pastime to new places.

This movement from the media fringes to social media platforms could have killed the “classic” skate video off, and some might argue it mostly has. In reality, it’s given directors and videographers more license to address broader issues in skateboarding culture. Skategoat (2021) for example follows Venice-native Leandre Sanders through his teenage years where the only thing stopping him following his siblings into gang culture is skateboarding and his journey to turning pro nearly a decade later. There’s no VX1000 audio samples or crunchy color or fisheye shots, just a sincere look at someone’s life being saved by their passion for skateboarding. Likewise, Netflix’s Stay On Board, follows trans-man Leo Baker as he navigates developing a career skateboarding with his own very public journey of self-discovery.

Of course, the more traditional video does live on, it just no longer holds the monopoly on what skateboarding should look like. Love for the past obviously lives on, meaning you can, of course, find VX1000s modded to bring them up to modern standards but the industry has realized there’s more to be gained from current tech than that of the past.

More than almost any other marginal entertainment genre, the skate video has repeatedly proven it’s happy to reinvent itself. “I think technology has been nothing but helpful. I think that we have to embrace it,” Ray said. “There’s more people out there filming, there’s more people out there being noticed. There’s more people skateboarding and there’s more people buying skateboards. I think it’s a win for everybody.”

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Sony will launch its new Xperia smartphones on May 11th

Sony is still making smartphones and has announced that we can expect new Xperia phones to be announced on May 11th. The video teaser (embedded after the break) doesn’t give too much away but it does show that we can expect to see the Xperia 1 IV to be announced during the launch event. We […]

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Sony doesn’t want you to take off its unique-looking LinkBuds

If you think that earbud design has plateaued, take a look at Sony’s new LinkBuds earbuds that feature a hole to let ambient sound in while making sure you can still hear your content. Sony thinks that the $ 180 LinkBuds are so good that you’ll never want to take them off. Designed to be small […]

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Sony is making it harder to buy PS3 and Vita games

Sony may be keeping the PS3 and Vita stores alive, but that doesn't mean it will be easy to shop. Kotakunoticed that Sony is shutting down credit card, debit card and PayPal store payments for its older consoles on October 27th. From then on, you'll have to either load your virtual wallet (through the web or another console) or rely on gift cards — you can't just buy games directly.

The company didn't explain the decision in a notice to customers. We've asked Sony for comment.

Whatever the reasoning, the reduced payment options send a not-so-subtle signal: Sony would really, really like you to stop buying games for older consoles and move on to a PS4 or PS5. That's unsurprising when the PS3 is 15 years old and has the aging store infrastructure to match, but it's not very reassuring if you're hanging on to a PS3 or Vita to play classic games.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Fox Sports used a Sony A7R IV to give NFL broadcasts a cinematic look

Fox Sports used a Sony A7R IV during a broadcast to give NFL fans a more intimate and cinematic experience, according to a tweet from NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo and article by Sports Video Group (SVG). The relatively inexpensive rig was deplo…
Engadget

Sony explains how PS4 accessories will work on PS5

Sony has clarified how both PS5 and PS4 accessories will work with its next video game console. First, let's get the old DualShock 4 out of the way: it'll work with PS4 games that are backwards compatible on the PS5, but it can't be used for next-gen…
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Sony indefinitely delays ‘The Last of Us Part II’

Naughty Dog has just about finished work on The Last Of Us Part II. It's taking care of the last few bugs and then the long-awaited sequel should be all set. However, Sony has delayed the game for a second time. It's pushing back the release…
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Sony is prepping another Xperia Compact phone with a 5.5-inch screen and Snapdragon 655

It’s been a while since we’ve seen an Xperia Compact device, but it turns out that particular flavor of Sony phones isn’t dead yet. A new leak suggests that another upper-midrange Xperia Compact is set for release very soon. This unnamed phone will reportedly use a 5.5-inch display with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 655 CPU, which […]

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Sony officially kicks off their new 360 Reality Audio format on the Xperia 1

Sony is no stranger to proprietary formats for audio and video. Sometimes that pays off, like with Blu-ray, but sometimes it’s just a massive headache for everyone before eventually dying off and leaving some devices useless, like Sony memory sticks for cameras and the PlayStation Vita. Is that going to stop Sony from trying the […]

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Sony is crowdfunding a wearable air conditioner

Are you struggling to cope with the heat outdoors? Sony might have a solution, if not as soon as you might like. The company's First Flight program is crowdfunding a wearable air conditioner, the Reon Pocket, that slips into a pouch in a special t-…
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Sony built an IoT chip with a 60 mile range

Sony is quietly launching a chip that could change how e-bikes, cars, street lamps and all kinds of other connected devices can relay information. The module, when installed on any IoT object, will allow it send data to Sony's proprietary low-power w…
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UK investigates Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony over game service practices

Do you feel that game console giants hold you over a barrel by making you subscribe to a service to play online? You might have an ally in your corner. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority is investigating Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony to see…
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Sony is trying to avoid turning into the next HTC

Sony is easily one of the most prestigious electronics companies in the world, but that hasn’t ever really helped their mobile division out. Their smartphones, while good, struggle with marketing and competitive pricing, and just never seem to have that “it” factor to compete with heavy hitters from Samsung and Apple. Sony doesn’t really have […]

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Sony officially discontinues the PlayStation Vita

You knew the PlayStation Vita wasn't long for this world, and now it's official: Sony has discontinued the last two Vita models. The move marks the last step of a long, gradual phase-out that included a halt on first-party games in 2015, the discont…
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Sony was accidentally blocking Kodi on their smart TVs, but a fix is coming

Now that the CES fun is out of the way, it’s time to get back to the regular news, like major manufacturers screwing up simple things. That’s what we’re all here for, right? Anyway, turns out Sony has been blocking Kodi from being installed on their recent smart TVs running Android TV, and while it’s […]

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Sony delivers better audio on the Xperia XA2 and XA2 Ultra

Sony has announced some new software updates that will be coming to the Xperia XA2 and XA2 Ultra to deliver an even more premium audio experience for users. Sony’s phones typically already try to offer better sound quality with the company’s own ClearAudio+ and Clear Bass technology, but now the devices will also support High-Resolution […]

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Mid-range Sony Xperia XA3 breaks cover in latest leak

Sony has finally started to shift some of their phones’ design language, and while they still definitely feel Sony-esque, they’re starting to move forward in a meaningful way. This time we’re getting a glimpse at the Xperia XA3 that’s pushing that trend forward. The Xperia XA3 (and XA3 Ultra) will be mid-range options in Sony’s […]

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Sony gives in, will allow Fortnite crossplay on the PS4

If you’ve kept up with the drama of cross-platform play and Sony’s stubbornness, you probably would have never guessed that the company would be randomly announcing crossplay in the middle of the week, but that’s where we are. Sony has released a statement that from this point forward, they’re opening up crossplay on the PS4 […]

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Sony will stop making physical PS Vita games in 2019

The PS Vita might still attract new fans thanks to indie releases and JRPGs like Persona 4 Golden, but they're clearly not enough to prevent its impending death. According to Kotaku, Sony's American and European divisions are ending the production of…
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Sony shrinks its Digital Paper E Ink tablet

Sony is one of the few companies persisting in E Ink stylus devices, despite the fact that they're way less practical than a tablet and surprisingly expensive. It has just unveiled a new model, the DPT-CP1 that helps (a bit) on the latter count. It's…
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Sony recruits Khalid for its next VR music event

Google and Samsung have been adding tons of virtual music experiences, both live and pre-recorded, to their respective line-ups this year. So where does that leave Sony? You'd think a corporation that straddles both industries would be the most likel…
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Sony may finally let you change your PlayStation Network name

Many a gamer has had regrets about their choice of username — xXxDeathCrusher420xXx might not be quite so appealing in adult life as it was in your teenage years. And for PlayStation fans, that's been a big problem when your PSN name has always been…
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NVIDIA SHIELD TV gets Google Assistant with Sony Bravia TVs coming soon

Google Assistant is popping up everywhere, just recently integrating itself with almost 90 of LG’s smart appliances. And as of today, its available on Android TV. Starting with NVIDIA SHIELD TV and coming to Sony Bravia TVs in the coming months, users can find the latest movies, check the score on the big game, dim […]

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Sony announces the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, both running Android Oreo

Sony has taken the wraps off a set of new Android smartphones, both of which are running the latest and greatest Android Oreo. Meet the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact. Both devices feature a slight redesign of Sony’s typical smartphone design language, but you’ll still recognize it from a distance almost immediately. What Sony wants […]

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The Xperia XZ1 clearly belongs to Sony, just look at this leaked press render

This Xperia phone looks a lot like the rest of them. Mobile industry insider Roland Quandt took to Twitter to share an image of the upcoming Xperia XZ1. It’s a phone rumored to have a 5.2-inch Full HD (1920×1080) display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, and a 19MP rear camera. All fairly standard specifications […]

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Sony adds Amazon Alexa support to its 4K HDR TVs running Android TV

If you own an Amazon Echo device and a Sony 4K television (2017) with Android TV, you can now control your television by voicing your commands to Alexa. Thanks to a new firmware update for your Sony 4K TV, Alexa can control the power, volume, switch inputs, and change channels. You can even ask Alexa […]

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Use Alexa to control Sony 4K TVs with your voice

Another day, another Alexa skill, right? Well the latest set is pretty useful if you feel like talking to your TV actually responding when you yell at it. With Sony's 2017 4K models with HDR and Android TV you can turn them on and off, adjust volume,…
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Sony is losing its grip on the indie market

Here we go again. In 2011, Microsoft was the indie king. The industry was just blossoming thanks to services like Steam and Xbox Live Arcade, which introduced independent games to huge, hungry audiences. Indie Game: The Movie was about to debut, giv…
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Sony may release two new phones at Mobile World Congress 2017, reports say

According to recent reports, MWC 2017 may be a big show for Sony. In fact, the company may release two new phones at the event, one of which is rumored to be the follow-up to last year’s Xperia X.

The post Sony may release two new phones at Mobile World Congress 2017, reports say appeared first on Digital Trends.

Android Army–Digital Trends

10 great Xperia X cases to safeguard your shiny new Sony phone

If you’ve been seduced by the rounded body and 5-inch display on the Xperia X, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t pick up any dings or scratches. Check out some of our favorite Xperia X cases, whether you’re in need of a little protection or style.

The post 10 great Xperia X cases to safeguard your shiny new Sony phone appeared first on Digital Trends.

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Sony Xperia X Compact and Xperia XR specs revealed

Just yesterday we reported on an image leaked by Evan Blass showing the Sony Xperia X Compact that is believed to be ready for an unveiling at IFA 2016. Up until now, no specifications for the device outside of a 4.6-inch screen were known. The same was true for another device, the Xperia XR, that […]

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Report: Sony phones crash least often, Nexus phones are updated fastest

According to a recent report from Apteligent, Google Nexus devices have the best overall user experience when it comes to Android phones. In second place is Motorola, though some suggest this could change under Lenovo’s guidance.

The post Report: Sony phones crash least often, Nexus phones are updated fastest appeared first on Digital Trends.

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Sony unveils Xperia E5, XA Dual, and X Dual, midrange phones set to debut overseas

Sony’s unveiled new, mid-range Xperia smartphones bound for developing markets later this year: the Xperia E5, XA Dual, and X Dual. They’re a bit pricey for what you get.

The post Sony unveils Xperia E5, XA Dual, and X Dual, midrange phones set to debut overseas appeared first on Digital Trends.

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Sony quietly adds the Xperia XA Ultra to its already existing X lineup

Sony will be moving forward with none other than its X-series of smartphones. The latest addition being the Xperia XA Ultra, aimed at the upper mid-range category. Sony just launched a new smartphone called the Xperia XA Ultra. The handset features a 6-inch display with a Full HD resolution and is powered by MediaTek’s MT6755 processor. […]

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Android News, Rumours, and Updates

A question for the ages: Why the hell can’t you buy a Sony phone in the U.S.?

Sony’s mobile division has struggled to make an impact in the U.S. despite plenty of interest in the Xperia smartphone line-up. Why is that?

The post A question for the ages: Why the hell can’t you buy a Sony phone in the U.S.? appeared first on Digital Trends.

Mobile–Digital Trends

Sony unveils the Huis universal remote, featuring an E-Ink screen

Universal remotes haven’t changed much since they were first introduced, but Sony is changing that with its new Huis universal remote, which uses an E-Ink display to show different controls for every device it’s used with.

The post Sony unveils the Huis universal remote, featuring an E-Ink screen appeared first on Digital Trends.

Cool Tech–Digital Trends

Sony Xperia C6 render leaks

Sony_Xperia_C6_render_leak_013016

Sony will be holding a press conference at the upcoming MWC 2016 trade show, just like it normally does. Unfortunately, the next Xperia flagship won’t make an appearance. However, Sony may be prepping some other handsets for a release. Yesterday, a render leaked of what appears to be a yet to be release Sony-branded smartphone.

Sources say that the leaked render is of the Sony Xperia C6. Most of the design elements are similar to that of other Sony handsets. The most notable design element here is the handset’s razor thin bezels along the sides. Based off of rumors, the Xperia C6 could house a 5-inch display with a Full HD resolution. The handset may also include an octa-core processor from MediaTek, the Helio P10. Judging from these specs, the handset will be a mid-ranger, hopefully with an affordable price tag.

Based off the leaked render, the Xperia C6 will come in three colors, a dark grey, a silver, and a goldish-colored model. Perhaps we’ll find out more on the handset at MWC 2016, which is set to begin on February 22 in Barcelona.

Source: OnLeaks (Twitter)
Via: Phone Arena

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PlayStation sells well (again), but mobile is hurting Sony

Sony made money. Again! The company saw in tiny increase (0.5%) in sales compared to the same quarter last to 2,581 billion yen (or $ 21.5 billion), but income now stands at $ 1.69 billion. This quarter's financial results was yet more balancing (and c…
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Despite rumors, Sony is not working on an in-house chip

Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai denies recent rumors concerning a possible in-house chip and the sale of Sony’s mobile business.

The post Despite rumors, Sony is not working on an in-house chip appeared first on Digital Trends.

Mobile»Digital Trends

Sony Xperia Z5 review: A decent phone overshadowed by the competition

At the start of 2015, Sony effectively gave up on making smartphones in the hope of recapturing former glories. Its mobile division now loses the company nearly $ 2 million per day even after being slimmed down to a fraction of its former size. The…
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Did Sony just tease the Xperia Z5 on Twitter?

It appears Sony may be continuing its awkward bi-yearly flagship smartphone launch schedule, if a new tweet hinting at the Xperia Z5 coming to IFA 2015 is to be believed. The company will reveal all during the IFA tech show next week.

The post Did Sony just tease the Xperia Z5 on Twitter? appeared first on Digital Trends.

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The Sony Xperia Z3+ can be pre-ordered for £549 in the UK

17_Xperia_Z3_+_Black_Group

Sony launched the Xperia Z4 in Japan just over a month ago and it was a low-key affair and we wondered if this ‘successor’ to the Xperia Z3 would be released globally. Yesterday Sony announced that this ‘Xperia Z4‘ would, in fact, be marketed as the Xperia Z3+ outside of Japan, with the handset becoming available from June 15th. Now we have news that Sony’s latest flagship is already available for pre-order in the UK.

26_Xperia_Z3_+_GroupYou can pre-order the SIM-free Xperia Z3+ in white, black or copper from the UK online retailer, Clove, for £549 ($ 845), with stock slated to arrive towards the end of June. We have a recap of the handset’s specifications just below. Are you interested in upgrading to Sony’s Xperia Z3+?

Specifications:

  • 5.2-Inch TRILUMINOS™ Display with 1920 x 1080 resolution (Full HD)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa-Core processor 4 x cores @2.0GHz + 4 x cores @ 1.5GHz (64-bit)
  • Adreno 430 GPU
  • 3GB RAM
  • 32GB Internal storage
  • 20.7MP Rear-camera, Exmor RS for mobile, Flash
  • 5.1MP Front-facing camera with wide angle lens
  • MicroSD card support (up to 128GB)
  • Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, WiFi
  • Dimensions: 146 x 72 x 6.9mm
  • Weight: 144 grams
  • Battery: 2,900mAh
  • Waterproof/Dustproof: XPX5/8, IP6X
  • Cap-less MicroUSB port

Source: Clove 

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