SRN Editorial

Sony Announces the DEV-3 and DEV-5, a Digital Recording Binocular. We Wonder Why (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 19, 2011 | 11 comments

Today, Sony unveileved a new and interesting product, a pair of digital recording binoculars called the DEV-3 and DEV-5. However, unlike your traditional binoculars which are only good for viewing, the Sony DEV-3 and DEV-5 have one big trick of their sleeve; to record as well. Both units are capable of recording 1080p HD video while capturing stills with a 7.1 megapixel camera. It also wouldn’t be Sony without them incorporating their Exmor R CMOS sensors which are designed to provide noise free images, even in low light situations. But once again, this digital recording binocular has a trick up its sleeve—or maybe two tricks. Sony opted to include not one, but two Exmor R CMOS sensors in both the DEV-3 and DEV-5, allowing for native 3D 1080p video recording with dual f/1.8-3.4, 0.5-10x optical zoom lenses, and a pair of 1,227-dot viewfinders. Other features include manual focus, SteadyShot, and Image Stabilization. All this puts you at a $1,399 price point for the DEV-3 while those who are looking for some more features can look towards the DEV-5 for $1,999. The extra $600 in this case will get you 10x digital zoom, GPS, a carrying case, and neck strap. Both models will come equipped with Memory Stick Pro Duo and SDXC support for capturing your content, a stereo microphone with an audio input jack, and HDMI-out for playback on other devices.

While all of this sounds fine and I’m sure the device will be more than capable with traditional build quality that Sony provides, I have to wonder why Sony has decided to make such a device in the first place. As I noted, the concept is pretty cool and it seems like a great device to use but I doubt too many family members will opt for a binocular to record their next kid’s birthday party or vacation, and forget business, unless they are in the espionage market. This automatically greatly reduces the market share to a very small niche community who enjoys the great outdoors and has disposable income. The great question in this case than becomes, can Sony, who is notorious for creating great devices but is always been poor at marketing them, really sell enough of these to be worthwhile? Outside of the cost of building one of these, boxing them, shipping them to retailers which will of course be only a limited few providing some form of support, there is still the R&D to take into consideration. When we add all these costs and consider the limited market that will take interest in this device, unless Sony had a 50% profit margin on these (which they don’t), I cannot imagine them ever making a profit on such a device. In a time where many of Sony’s core businesses are hurting, unless I’m missing something about this device and the targeted market, it seems that Sony needs to kill off all niche market products and strengthen their core business. After which, I would be more than happy to see them work on side projects like this which are catered to the small crowds out there. However, till then, Sony has an obligation if not to itself, then to its shareholders, to increase profitability and market share and I don’t believe such devices are the answer to that.

After the jump, a press release, video overview and additional pictures await you.

PlayStation 3 Drops to $249. What This Means For You

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 17, 2011 | 20 comments

Yesterday, during Sony’s PlayStation press conference at gamecom, Sony pulled the rug from underneath the press in the best way possible and announced a price drop for the PlayStation 3. The PS3, which till now has been selling at $299, can now be purchased for $249, effective immediately. This of course makes the PS3 160GB the most affordable that it has ever been while the bigger brother, 320GB unit which had previously gone for $349 has now dropped to $299. That’s not all though; for a limited time, Sony will also produce a 320GB PlayStation 3 package which will include inFamous 2 and a 30-day PlayStation Plus membership for $299, which should be pretty popular this holiday season. So what does this mean for you, the gamers and media junkies out there? Quite a lot, actually.

With the PS3 being at its most affordable price point ever, this means that consumers can once again get the best Blu-ray player out in the market for a low price. Even though the PS3 is now 5 years old, it’s still the unit to beat as Sony continues to pump new features and updates via their free system updates. Some highlights of the PS3’s Blu-ray capabilities include:

Full 1080p
Full 1080p 3D Movies
DVD Upscaling
BD Live Functionality
LPCM 7.1ch, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, AACD

This alone puts the PS3 at the center stage of a home theater but there is a ton more for the media junkie in you. Sony knows that DVDs and Blu-ray films can bring only so muchto your home theater experience and that streaming is a big part of everybody’s lives today. Because of this, the PS3 also features an array of streaming services from all the popular providers with unique apps, designed to give you the best experience possible. Which apps can be had for your streaming pleasure?

PlayStation Store (you can both buy and rent movies/tv shows which can also be transferred to the PSP or PS Vita)(2D and 3D movies)
Netflix
Hulu Plus
Vudoo (2D and 3D movies)
MLB.TV
NHL Game Center
NFL Sunday Ticket
BBC iPlayer (Europe)
LoveFilms (Europe)
Qriocity Movies (Coming Soon)
Qriocity Music Unlimited

If that’s not enough for you, rumors even peg Best Buy and Amazon’s streaming service for the PS3 at some point. For you server junkies, the PS3 can also access any home server in the household and stream your videos directly to your television. But if you’re like me and just watched an Indiana Jones flick and now have an itching fever to live the life of Indy, then the PS3 again has your back with the biggest game exclusives ever. Just to give you an idea of what is in store for PS3 users, the following list will revolve around a 14-month time table.

Gran Turismo 5 (3D)
LittleBigPlanet 2 (3D, Move)
SOCOM 4 (3D, Move)
Killzone 3 (3D, Move)
MLB: The Show (3D, Move)
inFamous 2 (3D)
MotorStorm: Apocalypse (3D, Move)
Dead Nation
DC Universe Online
Resistance 3 (3D, Move)
Journey
Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One (3D, Move)
Uncharted 3 (3D)
Twisted Metal

With free online games and PlayStation Store access, PlayStation Home community, trophies, web browser (yes, it could be better but who knows what updates await us), digital camera support to display your 2D/3D photos, PlayStation Move, PSP and PS Vita compatibility, and more, it’s easy to see why those who purchased the PS3 at $599 five years ago got an ever-expanding machine that has continued to offer them new features with the changing times while anybody who is getting a new unit for $249 is simply getting a bargain. So no matter if you are a gamer or a media junkie, the PS3 is the de facto machine that should be centered in your home theater room, bedroom or dorm room and with the next system update, who knows what Sony might add.

Update:

As soon as this article went out, Sony just announced a new partnership with DirecTV which will bring their NFL Sunday Ticket to the PS3.

Is the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Selling Poorly? UK Retailers Believe So

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 20, 2011 | 8 comments

Sony Ericsson, which was a supporter of Windows Mobile and the CLEO, came late to the Android game and when it did finally, enter, the company was slow to update their devices with the most recent builds of Android. While companies like Motorola, LG and Samsung were fighting tooth and nail for market share, Sony at times would release a phone like the Xperia X10 with a 6-month-old Android-build. All that changed in 2011 as the Japanese and Swedish partnership began to grasp the format. The company who was once behind the times with Android is releasing the second Android 2.3 phone available for AT&T while other Android phones all hold older builds. New phones from Sony Ericsson are unique, like the Xperia Play which has the capability to play PlayStation-Certified games and all other Android Market games with a sliding gaming pad. The Xperia Arc, on the other hand, is capable of capturing beautiful photo and video, thanks to Sony’s Exmor R camera and play them back with vivid details, again thanks to Sony’s Reality Display powered by Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine.

With so much unique and state-of-the-art technology not found in other Android phones, it would be foolish to think that these devices haven’t garnered Sony Ericsson some market share and sales volume. However, things don’t seem to be so rosy, at least according to UK retailers who complain that the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is targeted at the wrong crowd. Whether it be the European commercials or US ones, Sony marketed the Xperia Play as the Android phone for the businessman who wanted to play as well.

Past the jump, you’ll find examples of Sony’s marketing and the UK retailers response.

Nikon D4 DSLR Uses New Sony Sensor

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 6, 2011 | 10 comments

When conversations tend to go down towards brand royalty, they tend to turn humorous as fans of particular companies will line up in the crosshairs and defend one company while completely destroying the opposing company with no regards to the actual dealing behind the scenes. What many don’t realize though is that outside of competition, many of these companies in part work with each other in different aspects and divisions. Sure Apple and Samsung are in a bitter patent battle but Samsung also provides many of the parts for the iPhone and iPad. In the gaming world, the PS3 and Xbox 360 tend to be a case of water and oil yet Sony and Microsoft have recently worked on a new DRAM format together and Sony computers use Windows and Microsoft Office which is where Microsoft makes its majority of its income.

The camera world tends to be no different as Sony, Nikon and Canon continue to battle each other out. So although there are plenty of reports praising Sony and their DSLR strategy and studies showing that Sony currently holds the second highest camera market share and is closing in on the number one spot, fans of other brands will still find some way to skew the reality of the situation and form a narrative that best feeds their mindset. Because of this, it’s always refreshing to find reports where a company is actually using parts from their competitor. In this case, the current Nikon D3X uses a Sony 24 megapixel sensor, a part that can be found in the Sony Alpha A900. Nikon also plans on using Sony sensors in their upcoming D4 DSLR which is rumored to be the same 36 megapixel camera sensors that will be making their way into Sony 2012 FF translucent cameras. So the next time that you want to completely lay waste to a company that you might not be fond of, it might do you well to do some research and see what parts are in your own product and even better to remember that there are people on the other end of that product, not just corporate bricks.

[via SonyAlphaRumors]

Sony Responds to Active Vs. Passive 3D and LG’s Marketing Scheme

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 5, 2011 | 20 comments

LG has recently kicked off a new marketing campaign in which the Korean electronic maker claims that 4 out of 5 people in a 3D TV test chose LG over Sony and Samsung. Of course, with such a bold claim, it’s only reasonable for Sony to respond back, and that’s exactly what they have done. Outside of the nature of the claims lies another debate however: the difference between Active 3D, which both Sony and Samsung use, and Passive 3D, which companies like Vizio and LG use.

Sony starts of the rebuttal by rightly pointing out who the survey was conducted by, which happens to be LG, who is trying to sell you their product. This is like going to a plastic surgeons office and expecting them to tell you that you don’t need something done. Of course LG will do what it can to sway the survey results into something favorable for them. This doesn’t mean that LG is somehow evil and the only company doing this, but it is a factor none the less. On the other hand, Sony points readers towards an NPD study conducted in May 2011 in which “people who walk into a store choose active technology from Sony, and even Samsung, six times more often than they select passive technology like LG’s.” Both Sony and Samsung were quick to note that NPD retail sell-through numbers for last month showing that nearly 90 percent of 3D TV purchases were of the active-shutter variety. Sony goes on to say,

Now, that type of independent research paints an entirely different picture than the claims made by LG. So let me take this opportunity to share some facts about why active 3D provides a better viewing experience than passive 3D.

So what is the difference between active and passive 3D? Passive 3D glasses are generally the 3D eyewear you see at movie theaters with polarized screens and plastic housings. Using filters to split the image, passive glasses are capable of receiving 1080p video, with one caveat. Your eyes receive a total of 1080p, meaning that only 540 lines are delivered to each eye, thus bringing the image quality under what is HD (and 720p of that) and very close to SD which is 480i. With a filter in place, you will also notice a reduced image brightness and clarity. On the other hand, active 3D glasses are capable of and do deliver 1080p to each eye, thus doubling the resolution. With the lack of filter in place as well, your video is brighter and much more crisp. As CNET reported in their own findings,

We expected this difference because, as Vizio, LG, and other purveyors of 2011 passive 3D TVs admit, the system they use halves the effective 1080p resolution, delivering only 540 lines to each eye. We just didn’t expect it to be so obvious. As Matt said, it makes you appreciate how good “1080p to each eye” looks.

Passive 3D

With the lack of resolution, you can surely expect to see a difference in your 3D viewing experience, whether it be playing games in 3D, watching movies or viewing a sporting event like the U.S. Open.

Graphics like the Imax 3D logo also had jagged edges along the curves, and we saw the effects of the jaggies in numerous other areas that included any semistraight moving lines. A tennis match from the U.S. Open provided an even more glaring example: the lines of the court were jagged and the jaggies moved distractingly as the camera tracked player movement.

So if there is total proof that active 3D looks better than passive 3D, why would companies like LG and Vizio adopt it in their televisions? The simple answer is price of the technology. In some ways, passive is already out of date, which makes the implementation of the technology in 3D televisions cheaper and the price of the 3D glasses even cheaper. This means that consumers can expect to pay less for their television set and additional glasses. However, the flip side of this argument is that if you are looking to jump into a new technology, why would you handicap yourself from the start by buying into older technology. Especially if we consider that just last year, Sony’s Active Shutter glasses were priced around $150 for one and today, you can purchase a pair for $139 and the new glasses which are lighter, thinner and rechargeable, compared to last years model for $69. My point is that the cost around 3D continues to drop. Last year, you couldn’t purchase a 3D set from Sony for under $3,000, and you can now find sets that start just over $1,000 and Sony will be releasing the PlayStation-branded 3D TV this fall for $499 which includes active shutter glasses, a copy of Resistance 3, and can play back 2 different 3D images at once. None of this would be possible in the passive shutter world.

Hit the jump to see additional picture comparisons of active 3D vs. passive 3D.

Intel to Make Custom Chips for Sony?

by Sohrab Osati | May 29, 2011 | 6 comments

Usually when it comes to writing articles, I don’t like to stretch out and look for information that isn’t there but the truth of it is, that when the head of a company speaks out, you should listen. Upon that, usually nothing is said without some form of meaning or angle behind it. This brings us to Intel’s CFO, Stacy Smith who recently during an investors meeting discussed the possibility of the company moving beyond their x86 chipset platform and creating custom chips for their clients.

A little backstory on this entire topic will further guide your thought process to that of mine. The x86 platform is the chipset and design in which Intel creates their processors for. Like the Pentium 4, Core Duo, Core 2 Duo and i7 processor of today, all these are designed within a certain design structure and standards and x86 is exactly that. You cannot simply take a i7 processor and attempt to place it on let’s say, Sony’s upcoming S1 and S2 tablets. The flip side of this equation is that you also cannot take Apple’s A4 and A5 custom chips and expect them to power a laptop or at least note yet but that’s an entirely different story and we’re not an Apple blog. Sony has long been a partner of Intel, having first dibs on many of Intel’s newest processors on the PC side. As far back as I can remember, when the Pentium 4 came out or the Pentium M which was Intel’s first mobile processor, Sony was given access to them first, and then the likes of Dell, Gateway and HP would follow. Sony has also used Intel processors exclusively till two years ago when the company decided to use AMD processors in some of their lower offering models.

But today is no longer the computing world of 10 years ago, or even three years ago. Instead, todays hot sectors is mobile computing and I don’t mean laptops. Instead, smartphones and tablets are the real growth sector and the future of computing. This of course does not mean that the laptop or desktop won’t be around in 10 years, but that less people will need them for their everyday use. With exponential growths in that segment, thanks largely to Apple’s iPhone and iPad and now the slue of Android smartphones and tablets, Intel is left in the cold. You see, the x86 platform was never designed for such use. Instead companies like Texas Instruments, Qualcomm and Apple’s custom A4 are powering the mobile scene. This then brings us back to Stacy Smith’s comments.

“If Apple or Sony (SNE) came to us and said ‘I want to do a product that involves your IA (Intel architecture) core and put some of my IP [intellectual property] around it’, I wouldn’t blink,” said Smith. “Then you get into the middle ground of ‘I don’t want it to be an IA core, I want it to be my own custom-designed core,’ and then you are only getting the manufacturing margin, (and) that would be a much more in-depth discussion and analysis.”

The comment of Apple is an easy one to consider, seeing how Apple has been the true growth creator of the mobile segment and continues to push the largest volumes of any mobile device creator. However, Sony comes as a surprise to us, seeing how the company has always been a premium product maker in the PC world. It’s really only been as of late where the company has started to put together a smartphone strategy and we won’t be seeing their tablets till later this year. This then makes me wonder if Sony has hinted at future products like their tablets which will need a custom solution and started to look else place for chips and this is Intel’s way of bringing the company back to the negotiation table.

[Via Barron’s]

Editorial: Those Who Blame Sony for the PSN Meltdown Need to Grow Up

by Sohrab Osati | May 5, 2011 | 47 comments

When I normally start off an article, I like to recap the past events that have taken place in order to give the readers a sense of past and direction for the article. However, covering the PSN fiasco really needs no introduction. What started off as users wondering why PSN was down was soon covered on the PlayStation Blog and a week later, had Katie Couric pondering how Sony would respond to all of this though I’m doubtful if Couric and most traditional journalists have a single clue as to what PSN really is.

Though I’m not surprised by it, I feel like it’s worth mentioning that I am disgusted. Every gaming website out there and non-gaming sites as well are simply doing what our pop culture, TMZ/Kotaku reporting outlets tend to do: come up with some catchy headline to bash the intended target in order to maximize their readership. Facts simply don’t mean much; instead, who can write the juciest, most angry piece they can to, in this case, burn Sony and PlayStation to the ground. To put things into perspective, it was reported again that SOE (Sony Online Entertainment) was just breached as well, with over 24 million accounts being hacked. How many of you can honestly say that you were also aware of the fact that the data was from 2007 and that none of the exposed card data was from U.S. subscribers? On top of that, only 900 of the 12,700 exposed cards were even active. Is this still a horrible situation for those potential 900 victims? Of course, but it’s sure a lot less scary than a headline which reads, “Sony Hacked Again. Another 24 Million Accounts Exposed!”. On top of that, with all the data breaches going on, people are still forgetting the fact that the credit card data was indeed encrypted and hacking into servers is one thing, while getting those informations is another thing. However, nobody wants to report that because it’s boring. Now some might point out and say that we are a Sony centric website and that we don’t want to bash Sony. Fair enough, let’s go along with the story that Sony is a evil giant corporation that only cares about itself, the fans, and buyers of its products.

Hit to jump for my full opinion.

Sony and PlayStation Coachella 2011 Wrap Up (Videos and Pictures)

by Sohrab Osati | May 2, 2011 | 2 comments

During Coachella 2011, attendees were treated to two different presences from Sony, one of which was a PlayStation Loft which housed the brand new Mortal Kombat, SOCOM 4 and Motorstorm Apocalypse, all in 3D. If that wasn’t your thing, you could also play Sport Champions, Killzone 3 and MLB: The Show 2011 with the PlayStation Move. And if that wasn’t enough (surely you are just being picky now), you could listen to music via Qriocity, stream movies from Netflix and chill with some adorable Sackboys and Sackgirls by playing LittleBigPlanet 2.

Now lets say PlayStation just isn’t your thing, but new technology is. That’s where the Sony Loft comes into play. Smaller than the PlayStation destination, the Sony Loft housed Bravia televisions with Sony’s 3D Handycams, VAIO laptops and touchscreen desktops. But free WiFi and 3D wasn’t the only thing Sony had to offer. Coachella attendees could borrow a Sony Bloggie Touch for the day and return to the loft to upload their videos and pictures to Facebook and other social networking sites.

So why was Sony here with some of the latest technologies? It wasn’t to simply offer the only two air conditioned tents, though that didn’t hurt one bit. The crowd who attends Coachella is the demograph that Sony seeks. They’re young, hip, iPhone-equipped and social networking aware. For the generation who attended, technology is not just a tool but a way of life that is interwoven into their everyday routine. But they don’t simply equal another sold product. Instead, when we use our products, we are proud of them and show them to others when we attend a party, head to Disneyland or are simply asked what we took our pictures on. We are an advertising machine and will be loyal to a brand. So when we use our tech, it’s not just in our own dark compound but instead at a social event where we share our experience and hopefully, the brand of product that we use. This social experience, if captured properly, can turn into a great advertising method for Sony, something that no commercial can replicate: a referral or recommendation from a friend.

In the end, for the techies, those looking to escape the sun, and anybody lucky enough to check out a Bloggie Touch to share their experience with online, courtesy of Sony, the experience provided by the electronic giant was a pleasant one. With a helpful staff on hand and both lofts and plenty of products on display to play with, Sony provided a rich experience to the attending crowd while displayed their products in a none intrusive and modern way.

After the jump, you will find videos and pictures from our time spent at Coachella. All videos and pictures were taken on the Sony Bloggie Touch.

Editorial: Sonys PSN Outage Updates Vary

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 26, 2011 | 92 comments

It seems for PlayStation gamers there’s no end to the now full week PlayStation Network outage. The PlayStation Network has over 70 million users that have taken to social media outlets to voice their frustration, which is not only due to the outage but the lack of updates from Sony regarding status of the PlayStation Network.

What has fed the flame is the lack of updates from Sony to its users – Sony has various social media outlets to communicate to their users whatever their need might be to; however, they’ve chosen to stick to their official PlayStation blogs (the Europe and US blog). Which would be acceptable had they posted updated more frequently than every 24-48 hours. Though that can’t be said for both blogs – after a little digging I’ve uncovered the difference in the European and US blog.

Editorial: What PSN Outage?

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 23, 2011 | 6 comments

If you are a PlayStation 3 user, you might noted that we have now entered the 3rd day of the PSN outage. For those not aware PSN (PlayStation Network) is Sony’s free service which allows users access to the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home and to play online games. The official reasoning from Sony is:

An external intrusion on our system has affected our PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. In order to conduct a thorough investigation and to verify the smooth and secure operation of our network services going forward, we turned off PlayStation Network & Qriocity services on the evening of Wednesday, April 20th. Providing quality entertainment services to our customers and partners is our utmost priority. We are doing all we can to resolve this situation quickly, and we once again thank you for your patience. We will continue to update you promptly as we have additional information to share.

Now many of you fellow internets people have slowly begun freaking out, pointing out that you cant play games now. Although I get what you’re saying, I actually don’t. You see, the last two weeks, I’ve been working on beating the single player campaign of RUSE and once I’m done with that, I still have Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 3 and LittleBigPlanet 2 to name a few of the games I’ve yet to beat. Outside of those, plenty of games are not only worth repeating like Uncharted 2, but there is still many trophies to be collected as well (which yes, they will sync once PSN is backup). So I don’t know about you but all my single player games have been playing just fine, I was able to last night watch TRON: Legacy on Blu-ray via my PS3 just fine and yea, those music files on my PS3 still play as well. I know, I know, you can’t play your Call of Duty online but come on people, there is still plenty to experience and do on your PS3. It’s not like I’m asking you to go outside. So how about you guys and gals? What are you doing with the lack of PSN?

[Via PlayStation Blog]

Editorial: Please Back Up Your PlayStation 3. It’s Really Easy

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 16, 2011 | 91 comments

Anybody who has had their computer crash, wether it be caused by a virus or a bad hard drive can attest to the heart break that usually follows when you realize that you haven’t had a backup of your files and now your entire music library, photos, videos and documents is gone. Sure some services allow you to re-download an application or song but in general, most of your content is forever loved. The PlayStation 3 is really no different, especially with it’s easily upgradable hard drive which allows anybody to install upwards of a 500GB hard drive in minutes. And unlike other consoles on the market, many PlayStation3 not only have downloaded games from PSN (and remember, you can always log back into your account an re-download any old purchases), but also store photos, videos, music and interactive elements like Dynamic Backgrounds and Sony’s monthly Qore. As easy as it is to download content into your PS3, it’s just as easy to lose them. A failed hard drive, a spike in the power or heck, your PS3 just deciding to freak out on itself. Once any of these events happen and lets assume that your hard drive is still working, you cannot simply take out your hard drive, place it in another PS3 and continue from where you left off. But there is a cure for this and that is to simply backup your content. Sony has made the idea of backing up extremely simply on the PlayStation 3 as our following video will show. Remember, there is no need to do one weekly, because depending on your hard drive size, they can take a while but a two month backup sure beats nothing.

Our Pitch To Sony-Owned Crackle.com

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 5, 2011 | 1 comment

A while ago, our site had an opportunity to pitch a new idea to Crackle.com which is a video site owned by Sony. Think of Crackle as a mix of Hulu and College Humor with a dash of Funny or Die. Of course the one advantage the site has is that Sony owns it. This means that there are free streams of Sony movies offered on the website. I can’t say our pitch ever went far with Sony but we figured you would like to read about it.

Project Crackle

There used to be a time where content was king. The companies knew that selling content was how they would make money and the consumer went with the flow. There was a theatrical release, followed a year later by a VHS/DVD release and eventually made its way to Pay Per View and then years later to a network for a “Network Premier”. This indeed was a simple setup and made the studios great cash and consumers were happy. Fast forward to today, the internet age. Consumers want things now and on different platforms. They don’t like to wait for the studio cycle and if the studio does not cater to them, they will look other places, legal or illegal. We are not here to argue the idea of torrenting because the truth is, it’s happening and the cat’s out of the bag. Instead, we need to focus on where do we go from here, not how do we go back 10 years.

Media again can be king, but in a different manner. One needs to leverage content like movies and shows in order to sell and make profit else place and Sony is in the perfect position for this. The genius of Apple and its iTunes is that Apple does not make money or if it does, it’s very little from it’s music sales but it’s now the biggest music store and because of the ease that it was offering to its customers, it was able to make the iPod king and bring in a high profit ratio on that product. Their goal is the same with video and they are leveraging the media for profits on the iPad, AppleTV and other devices.

Sony is in a very unique position because not only is it a consumer electronics company, but also in the professional field, it is a media company with Sony and Columbia Pictures, as well as Sony Television and Sony/BMG. With a service like Crackle, Sony can offer its users something that the likes of Apple or Microsoft cannot. With its media collection, Sony can upload its movies and shows like Spider-man and Seinfeld and give its 50+ million PSP and 35+ million PS3 users the capability to enjoy this content free though Crackle. That means, if somebody had to decide between a Xbox and a PS3, the Playstation becomes a higher value for them because of the media content behind it. This also means that Sony has gained direct profit and a new customer, even though the sale might not directly have come from the Media itself. With this media leverage, Sony is using what they have in house, to add greater value to other products that they already have. In addition to that, the more people are aware and happy with your products they further chance you have to win them as a customer because if I enjoy streaming The Karate Kid on my PSP, I might now want to go purchase the Blu-ray version for further viewing. This synergy of Media and Hardware is a unique position that only Sony has, if they choose to empower themselves with a service like Crackle.

From there on, as Google has clearly shown it, the amount of profits that exist within advertising are nearly endless. That means that Sony does not have to limit it’s media content on Crack with just it’s Sony PSP and PS3. Sony can also offer it’s video on other devices like the iPad and web based, but again make it’s returns via advertising. It is a mistake to attempt to charge for such a service because if I as a user need to pay for it, what is to stop me from going to iTunes or the Netflix or worse off for the studio, back to torrenting. Indeed the goal needs to be to give the consumer freedom and power so they come to your content via official channels, and make your profits via hardware and advertising.

Ultimately, this is only one of the avenues that Crackle offers. One would simply be living under a rock if they did not think that Social Media has taken over. People are more connected then ever via Facebook and games that can be played via the web like bejeweled or Farmville. But if you just look at the situation, you will note that Facebook and it’s many games are free. Why is the developer making a game and maintaining it for free? We again go to hardware vs media. The more user a site can have, the more they are exposed to your services. That means that they will see more of your adds, they will click more of your limit edition offers and they will be in your playground as opposed to others. But surely that cannot be the only way to make a profit off of a service like crackle and it’s not. When users spend that much time, you begin to know and learn about their wants and needs. What better market research then to be there, with the users and figure out the upcoming trend and direction. Another avenue that the creators of Farmville and other biggest app store game developers like ngmoco have taken is micro transactions. Offer your game for free but if they want that additional resource, level or weapon, they then can purchase it for a fee or spend 50 additional hours and be exposed to your ads for that period of time. Regardless of the outcome, they are your users now and are spending time with your content which is free. And the more open and social your website is, the more likely that it will draw people towards it’s content because we live in a age where people want to interact and connect with each other.

So in the end, content is indeed still king because what is an iPad with no apps and what is a Playstation with no games. It’s just that we need to look at our media consumption and change the way we leverage and use it. Sometimes, that means offering it for free, in order to make money off of it.

I would love to hear your comments on this pitch. Hit us up on here, Facebook or Twitter.

Sony Has 7 Months to Make Qriocity a Success Before Apple Takes Control

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 24, 2011 | 15 comments

In December 2010, Sony began rolling out Qricoity Music Unlimited, a music streaming service that would enable Sony devices like the PlayStation 3, Bravia televisions, and Blu-ray players to have access to a library of over 6 million songs. The service first launched in the UK and Ireland and expanded quickly to France, Germany, Italy, and Spain in January with the US receiving it in February. The service comes at two price points, with $3.99 a month getting you the basic offerings and $9.99 a month landing you at the premium end of the service. What you think of the price point is an altogether different conversation, but the fact that Sony has been able to offer this service in so many different countries so quickly is something that should not be overlooked.

People often complain that they might not have Netflix in Europe or lack of Qriocity in Canada but the truth of the matter is, most of the time, the blame is placed on the wrong provider. Netflix would love to be in every country and Apple would love to give every iTunes user the same music/movie/TV show access, no matter your residence, but the fact of the matter is that they cannot. This is in part due to complicated copyright laws and country laws. While Universal Records might have have the rights to Lady Gaga in the US, the same might not be true in Europe and while Sony Pictures made Zombie Land, don’t be surprised if in the country you live, somebody else like Warner Brothers or Paramount actually distributed it. Add on top of that different legal requirements of the given country and you can quickly see why it’s not as simple as flipping a switch at Sony HQ and offering a service like Qriocity to other countries.

This brings us back to Qriocity and why it has 7 months to live. First, I have to say that I’m currently using Qriocity and although it’s not a service for me—and it’s not because I use other streaming services—I get it and like it. Many people don’t feel the need to own their music. Instead, they want a radio that is catered to them, and that’s what Qriocity basically is. It is a radio station that gives you access to millions of songs while allowing you to be the DJ. I realize that the future is in the cloud, so services like Qriocity and Pandora will eventually be the way, and Sony knows this too. But there is another slumbering giant that knows this as well. Apple singlehandedly changed the music industry with the iPod and iTunes, and while I won’t be getting into a history lesson about it, it’s an understatement to say that Apple has leverage and experience when it comes to negotiating deals and offering them in a consumer-friendly way.

In late 2009, Apple quietly purchased a small music streaming service called Lala and soon after began building the world’s largest data center. Apple not only knows that the future is in the cloud, but is also building a robust infrastructure to support their future plans. It’s no secret that when Apple releases a product, it’s a big deal, and it’s also no secret that every September, the iPod and iTunes family gets refreshed. With the data center now nearly complete and with two silent years come this September, you can bet that Apple will be announcing an iTunes music streaming service on top of their current standalone iTunes offering.

The minute this happens, Apple will have dwarfed any offerings from the likes of Sony because of sheer scale. Now every Mac, PC and iOS device like the iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, and AppleTV will have access to their streaming service. Mix this with Apple’s relentless advertising campaign and you can see how a service like this will be if not an instant hit, far ahead of Sony’s Qriocity Music Unlimited. But despite these last two paragraphs, this is not a doom and gloom article for Qriocity. Instead, it’s recognizing what Sony is capable of doing if they use their might.

Editorial: Sony Wants to Become a Top Android Handset Maker. Can They Do It?

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 21, 2011 | 9 comments

Sony Ericsson finally got into the Android handset race mid 2010 and its been a bumpy ride for the two company partnership ever sense. Though they offer a few models, starting with the current flagship Xperia X10, followed by the Xperia X10 mini and Xperia X10 Mini Pro, Sony has been unable to gain much traction within the cellphone world (though to be fair to them, the company currently claims that they have 17% of the Android market in Europe). Some might point towards the fact that its been hard to find their devices out of few Sony Style stores and now Best Buy promotion. Other might think that the problem has been with the lackluster Android support that we have chronicled on this site with the Xperia X10 finally getting Android 2.1 in late December, months after devices like the Droid X, X2 and HTC Evo had them. Still, Sony Ericsson has been bullish on its prospects and the company has gone on record, stating that it wants to be the top Android handset provider. Can they do it? Currently, I say no.

Editorial: Why Every Playstation 3 Owner Needs Playstation Plus

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 16, 2011 | 4 comments

Ok, let me scale back: Maybe not every Playstation 3 owner needs this subscription offering from Sony but if you play your system on a regular basis or like a variety of games for your PS3 and PSP, Playstation Plus is an offering you cannot pass on. So first, let’s break down what Playstation Plus is.

Playstation Plus is a monthly or yearly subscription service from Sony for the Playstation 3. Members of the service recieve the following:

Full Game Trials
Automatic Downloads
PS Store Discounts
Exclusive Offers
Free Games and Add-ons
Early Demos
Priority Beta Access

This is a kind of bulleted list of what exactly the service offers but that’s nothing more than just words. So why is this service so compelling? First, if you like to play games, this service gives you access to so many games you might not have played, whether it be from discounts on PSN games or entirely free games. I own so many new titles now for my PS3 and at least 15 titles for my PSP, including Mini Games and the PSone Classics. These are games I honestly would not have normally paid for, not because they are not worth the value, but because I have so many other titles I want to play. But now, I’m getting all of these games to own. If betas are your thing, since the release, I’ve been in the Killzone 3, MAG, and Assassins Creed: Brotherhood betas to name a few. I’ve truly never had access to so many games before and my Trophies collection is loving it too! So again, if you game and you want your gaming experience to be fresh and diverse, Playstation Plus is for you.