In memory of the king of pop.
Sony To Also Distribute Spielberg’s Tintin
Sony Pictures and Paramount Studios will both be handling Steven Spielberg’s 3D movie, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. The movie is slated for a 2011 release where Sony Pictures will actually release the movie during the months of October and November internationally, followed by November 23 by Paramount in the United States. A synopsis of the film
Jamie Bell stars as the title character, Tintin, an intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig as the nefarious Red Rackham. From a screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, and featuring a supporting cast of Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook.
The film is the first of a planned series of 3D performance capture movies based on the character. Peter Jackson is scheduled to direct the second film, and a third film has been announced, but no director is yet attached.
As SlashFilms puts it “The early international release makes sense as the property is a lot more popular overseas. The reception from European audiences and critics will be a nice transition for American audiences who aren’t as familiar with the character”.
SonyDeals: Bravia 40-Inch 1080p For $725
It’s summer time and that means lots of spare time to play games and movies right? Well what better way to do it then on a 40” 1080p Bravia? Check out the KDL-40V4100 for $725. Not too bad huh?
Sony Alpha A500 Coming?
If the above screenshot is any indication, Sony is looking to add to their ever expanding lineup of DSLR with a new 500 model. With Sony’s current Alpha series, Sony is able to cover a wide range of consumer needs, from the more consumer oriented, to the professional. One weak point in the current lineup though, is the lack of any DSRL with HD Video. Could the Alpha 500 be that model? More so, does the Alpha 500 even exist or is this screenshot from SonyStyles Canada page really a mistake or just a place holder. Time will tell my dear Watson…
[Via Photorumors]
Updated: Sony Ericsson Picks Up MicroSD, Ditches Own Memory Stick Micro
In some of the latest Sony Ericsson models, we have seen the lack of Sonys own Memory Stick Micro, their version or competition to the MicroSD that many cellphones use. This holds true in their upcoming K850 and the newly announced Satio and came to us as odd but we figured, it was due to the development methods and partners with those models. Will today, all that is cleared up as Sony Ericssons Global Marketing Director Fortuné Alexander, stated that the company is “moving in that direction” when asked about dropping the Memory Stick Micro line in favor of the MicroSD.
As a user of Sony products, it’s not fun to see the company give up on their on smaller formats, but from a business practice, I’m beyond glad. A problem Sony is currently having is that they are fighting far too many battles. If there is an electronic device or format, Sony has a version. Many times, (looking at you BetaMax and Mini Disc Players), they were indeed superior but because the company is do divided up, they cannot poor in the real amount of resources needed to fend and advance that product/brand or format. With one less format to worry about, it means that the costs of their devices can potentially come down as the tap into a universal format and in hopes, also make more money, because they can sell a MicroSD to lets say 400 million phones versus a Memory Stick Micro to only 20 million phones (all numbers being made up). Maybe Sony is indeed serious about moving to a more open format.
Update:
So here is an odd twist to the story that makes no sense. It seems that Sony is indeed ditching their M2 for MicroSD and so one would assume that this would be a company wide policy but in fact, during the E3 announcement of the new PSP Go, the unit will be using…you guessed it, Sony’s Memory Stick Micro. Now, I understand that products will be in different development cycles and such but one would assume that ditching M2 would be a company wide policy and that the PSP Go would also adopt MicroSD as they are extremely similar in size.
[Via Engadget]
Sony Still Losing 10% On Each Playstation 3
Sony CFO Nobuyuki Oneda noted during Sony’s earning report that even though with huge surge of the PS3 over the last 2 years, Sony is still losing 10% on every PS3 sold, meaning roughly $40. So even with price cuts and cutting down of internal parts (like the PS2 emotion engine,two USB ports from four and no more card reader), Sony is indeed losing money and this makes us think, if the rumored PS3 price cut comes true during E3, will Sony continue to lose more? Or will the new PS3 model with a smaller Cell processor (the eventual 45mm) and blu-ray player with lower costs help Sony offset their losses on each unit and actually make money, if these cost cutting methods can be made.
Sony To Release Bigger eReader to Compete With Kindle DX?
Although Amazon is the creator of the Kindle, like most companies, it doesn’t actually make all the parts. In this case, PVI is the company behind the e-paper and is the sole creator of it. During an interview with DigiTimes, they company started that they believe Sony will release a bigger eReader to compete with the Kindle. If anything, I’m surprised that they haven’t yet as they were first to this market. The second which is a bit of a downer now is that color e-paper wont be out till 2010, versus their original goal of 2009.
Sony Ericsson Satio To Launch In October
Earlier this year, during the Mobile World Congress, Sony Ericsson showed off a new phone, code named at the time Idou. Well, today comes news that the Idou will be called the Satio and will launch sometime in October. Some key features of this phone include:
- 640 x 350, 3.5-inch touch screen
- 12.1 Megapixels (take that Palm Pre and iPhone combined)
- Dual-Band HSPA
- Xenon Flash
- MicroSD expansion with an 8GB in the box (Is Sony looking to get rid of the Memory Stick Micro?)
Facial Recognition From Sony Ericsson, Plays Your Moods Song
A new patent was recently discovered from Sony Ericsson that while listening to our music, your device will change the song depending on your mood. The example is based on the idea that while you hold your Smart Phone, through the camera, a picture of your face will be taken, scanned and pending on your mood, a corresponding song will play. Of course as all patents go, I wouldn’t give this a second thought for something like this could be many years out or something that may just never work.
[Via Slashgear]
Sony Working On PSP Music Store? More Like PSN
A few websites are running with the news that Sony is looking to create a PSP music store. The theory goes that with the eventual death of the UMD drive on the PSP and the potential integration of build in flash drive and added Memory Stick expansion slot, Sony is looking to turn the PSP into an iPod Touch competitor, much like the touch is competing with the PSP/DSi.
Although I dont doubt such intensions, there is one piece of this story that I reject and feel like everybody is missing. Why would Sony just create a PSP music store? Do we forget that the download service was truly born for Sony on the PS3? (we will forget Sony Connect and such). And that at last E3, the movie side of the PSN store was born. So why would Sony suddenly just limit their music to the PSP? I think that the PSP is part of the puzzle, sure but this should be a PSN Music service. We must not forget that and I know im beating a dead horse, but Sony is a music company as well. Plus, Sony makes many devices like their new X1000 Walkman that is designed to head to head with the iPod Touch. So why limit the reach of your audience. It’s not like there is a separate iTunes music store for the iPod Touch vs. other Apple Products. In fact, the potential success of iTunes is the story of, sell music at a loss, but make the hardware like AppleTV, iPod Touch more appealing.
Sony must do the same thing with their PSN store if they are going to survive the next shift in the electronic industry. Just like how the PSN store made its way to the PSP, the Music side must a PSN service that Sony equipment can will tap into. Not a hardware to hardware specific service. Plus, wouldn’t those who use such a service (consumer) but happier knowing such a service will work with 15 of their Sony devices verses 1? And more so, what better way to lure content provider by saying that we have a reach of 80 Million (PSP+PS3, but hopefully, much more Sony devices in the future) then just 50 million (PSP users).
Sony Vaio P Ditches Vista, Hugs XP
Well it seems like 3 years into the launch and everybody is still trying to find a way to ditch Vista. Originally launching with Windows Vista, the Sony Vaio netbook P series will now rock Windows XP (Home) when it relaunches under VGN-P50. Also new will be a standard 2.0GHZ Atom Z550 processor, as apposed to the previous 1.33GHZ. You can now also select up to a 256GB SSD (Sold State Drive). Prices will be kept at the traditional $900. Look for a Japanese June 6th launch. No word on the US but I’m assuming were not far behind.
I must say, I’d love to get one of these units because between being on my full setup at the house and being on the go with the iPhone that has my Twitter and WordPress Apps, it would be nice to have something in between to work on this site with thats small and is super portable. So if your bored one day Sony and have a spare Vaio P sitting around it, Id love to get my hands on one, plus, it would make a great PR gesture! So….Just Contact Us ya?
[Via AkihabaraNews]
Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Player Hits Best Buy
A tipster to Engadget has a photo of a local Best Buy that has the new Sony BDP-S360 for $299. Hit our previous coverage of the BDP-S360 to see all the new features this machine has to offer. Also, for those who don’t need to get their unit today, Amazon has the same player listed for $249, plus free shipping and no tax. Not bad huh?
Sony CEO Howard Stringer On Music, Apple
Recently, Sony’s Sir Howard Stringer sat down with Nikkei Electronics Asia and pledged that Sony would adopt more open standard policy in the future and said, “If we had gone with open technology from the start, I think we probably would have beaten Apple” in the music market. Its been noted that Apple is never new to any market, like the iPod or the iPhone but that they evaluate the market and come in with something simple and elegant. Sony was the king of music players with the Walkman which used the open format of Tapes and even with CD Players, Sony would use, a CD and they were still king. But when the MP3 era began, Sony would make its own specific plays with Mini Disc Players and ATRAC format for their players, which was used with Sony’s Connect Player and SonicStage. The reason neither scenario worked for Sony was that although Mini Disc Players were great and to this day, hold their own, it was something that Sony made and nobody else offered and so this left it to Sony to battle every other brand and format. That’s where ATRAC comes in. Higher quality then MP3 yet more compressed but again, Sony kept the format to themselves and everybody began to adopt MP3 while Sony pushed hard for ATRAC. The train was already missed. Another failed reason for Sony’s Strategy is Sony’s Connect Player. While Apple pushed iTunes with every publisher and now has grown the service to work with the AppleTV, iPhone, to rent and buy movies, Sony couldn’t even always get their own artist (we must remember, Sony Pictures and Sony BMG are large media companies). So as Apple pushed their digital service, Sony kept the service very locked and the selection wasn’t there.
Sir Howard Stringer went on to say, “We can no longer say that we’re right and our customers are wrong. We can’t build only what we want to build.” We hope, that this is new blood being pumped into Sony with a new direction. Mr. Stringer has noted many times that by 2011, Sony hopes to have 80% of its services connected to the web and we hope with this, it means connecting their products to one universal service. More on this vision to come.
SonyDeals: PSP Deal $144
How would you like to get a PSP 3000 for not $169, but for $144, plus free shipping. If your down for that, just hit this link and use promo code65G7RQ11J?M2LH. And remember, your PSP not only plays games, but access radio, has your pictures, movies, MP3, Web Browser and now, access to the PSN (Playstation Network). Plus, you can get on Skype and other great services. So if its your thing, then enjoy.
Sony Is 53 Years Old
Sony is now officially 53 years old and what a 53 years its been. Masaru Ibuka started Sony, humbly, in post-war Japan above a department store. Their opening charter warned, “We must avoid problems which befall large corporations.” Sony then, which was known as Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Company was quoted as saying should “create and introduce technologies which large corporations cannot match” and that the company was founded” and that the company was founded “to establish of an ideal factory that stresses a spirit of freedom and open-mindedness, and where engineers with sincere motivation can exercise their technological skills to the highest level…the organization would bring untold pleasure and tremendous results, regardless of the meagerness of its facilities or the limited number of employees.”
Well, it seems like somewhere down the line, I would say, in the early 2000’s, the vision was lost and Sony fell behind and companies like Apple and Microsoft and Samsung all took aim and gained grounds. With Apple with their iPhone and iPods dismantelling the Walkman and making the Sony Ericsson line irrelevant. Then, Samsung has taken a hard aim at Sony and their television and home electronics lineup. From there, the obvious Playstation vs Xbox battle with Microsoft and of course, smaller fights with the Sony eReader vs the Amazon Kindle and others. But all is not doom and gloom. , Sir Howard Stringer, Sony’s first foreign CEO, was recently quoted as saying that, “We can no longer say that we’re right and our customers are wrong. We can’t build only what we want to build.” Although Sony has a lot of problems, I believe they have the capability with proper leadership to not only fend of competition, but gain back now lost ground. More on that in our next segment.
Sony Not Discontinuing Rolly in the US
A few websites ran a story that Sony was finally realizing that the Rolly makes no sense and was going to discontinue it. We couldnt have been any happier to hear this story as we had talked about this many times before. But it seems like Engadget, decided to contact Sony directly in which case they replied,”There is no truth to these reports at this time.” So for those 7 Rolly owners….yay!
New News Coming
Sorry for the lack of news folks as it’s been pretty dead on the Sony front, except the Playstation side and I try to stay away from those as much as I can but horray for news finally so get ready for some posts
Sony Shows Its Heart (pt2)
Even more hearts to go around from the people of Sony. Check out this second add from them. For Europe of course only.
Sony Shows Its Heart
For fans of Football (soccer), Sony has a new add just for you. For fans of the human heart, Sony also has something for you. And for us tech junkies, Sony wanted us to know that it took parts from its Bravias, Walkmen and VAIO to create this.
PS3 Firmware 2.7 is Live
I just turned on my PS3 and firmware 2.7 is indeed live. Some of the key features are:
- Chat rooms with up to 16 people where you can have live chats while playing a game.
- File sending has been bumped from 1mb to 3mb.
- You can now backup your downloaded movies on an external hard drive and delete them from your main system and transfer them.
So update away!
