Category archives: Sony

 

 

Sony SmartWatch now available in the US for $150

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What’s the most useful smartwatch of them all? If you guessed Sony’s, you’ve got reason to smile: we just got word that it’s finally available here in the US of A. As expected, the SmartWatch costs $150, while those colorful (read: not black) wrist bands are priced at $20 a pop. To recap, the watch pairs with Android phones over Bluetooth, using a free app available in Google Play (if you happen to own a Sony handset, you should find that application pre-installed). Like any smartwatch worth its salt, this one lets you read emails, texts and social updates on the device. Meanwhile, the list of mini apps is approaching 60, as of this writing, and already includes biggies like Facebook and Google Maps. After getting hands-on not once but twice , we can say the rubber strap is comfortable and the 1.3-inch OLED display responsive, though the apps are a mixed bag in terms of usefulness. Tap-to-like on Facebook? Genius. A remote for your phone’s camera? Unabashed gimmickry, if you ask us. Using the watch to call someone in your contacts list? You’ll need a Bluetooth headset for that feature to be truly handy. Other favorites of ours include the ability to find your lost phone (even if it’s set to quiet mode), as well as stream photos and other media from your phone. You can even respond to incoming text messages with a preset reply (e.g., “I’m busy. What’s up?”), though good luck using that canned response a second time when your friend gets back to you 10 seconds later. In any case, is all that worth the $150? That’s a conversation you best have with your wallet — in read-only format, naturally. Continue reading Sony SmartWatch now available in the US for $150 Sony SmartWatch now available in the US for $150 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Sony | Email this | Comments

 

PS Vita gets (another) firmware update, free-to-play Montezuma Blitz available now

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It’s been barely a week since the last one , but Sony’s now begun rolling out firmware version 1.67. It’s another meaty download, weighing in at just under 100MB, although there’s no detail on what it changes — we’re still exploring the update. Following the refresh, you can also pick up the PS Vita’s latest free game, Montezuma Blitz , a Bejewelled -style puzzle game. However, it’s not the first game to be offered up free on the Vita and some pesky in-game purchases taint that freebie status a little. Both the update and game are available to download on your Vita now. PS Vita gets (another) firmware update, free-to-play Montezuma Blitz available now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink The Verge | PlayStation blog | Email this | Comments

 

Kaz Hirai reveals 'One Sony' turnaround strategy, will cut 10,000 jobs

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Freshly minted Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has revealed his plan to turn around Sony’s fortunes and as rumored, it includes significant cuts. Two days ago, the company revised its projections for the 2011 fiscal year to reflect a $6.4 billion loss. The One Sony plan includes reducing headcount by 10,000 in the 2012 financial year, a number that also reflects jobs leaving Sony as businesses are sold or otherwise reorganized, and will cost it 75 billion yen ($926 million) during 2012. Currently, the plan is to focus on digital imaging, gaming and mobile for growth, until those three make up 70 percent of its total sales in 2014. As far as its beleaguered HDTV business, it’s going forward with the plans announced during CES to streamline the product line, reduce its costs, and return to profitability by 2014. Looking forward, there’s slightly fuzzier promises to “develop and commercialize” OLED and Crystal LED technology. Beyond those the idea is to expand in emerging markets, as well as medical and 4K related technologies. There’s more details in the press release after the break and presentation slides linked below, we’ll let you know if there’s any more information revealed on a conference call later on today. Continue reading Kaz Hirai reveals ‘One Sony’ turnaround strategy, will cut 10,000 jobs Kaz Hirai reveals ‘One Sony’ turnaround strategy, will cut 10,000 jobs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Sony | Email this | Comments

 

Sony Xperia Sola hits the FCC, gets dissected by regulators

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Sola, Pepper , MT27i — it’s got many names, and now it’s got the official thumbs up from American regulators. The Sony Xperia Sola made an appearance at the FCC, got itself torn asunder and even dragged along its user manual. Beneath the rather underwhelming 3.7-inch 854 x 480 LCD is quite a collection of antennas, including NFC, 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 and a quadband GSM radio. Of course, all that is being powered by a serviceable, but hardly barn-burning, 1GHz dual-core processor and saddled with Gingerbread. (Though, Sony promises an ICS upgrade will be delivered this summer.) Check out the source link for all the regulatory filing fun and to see the Sola splayed open on a table. Sony Xperia Sola hits the FCC, gets dissected by regulators originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments

 

Sony Xperia S heading to Canada on April 17th, exclusive to Sony Stores

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Still patiently waiting to find out when Sony’s NXT child will hit Canadian shelves? According to the Japanese outfit, residents of the Great White North can finally expect the Xperia S to make a grand entrance on April 17th. The handset is set to be sold exclusively at Sony Stores around the country, but unfortunately, there’s no word on how much it’ll cost. That said, we do know that the 4.3-inch Gingerbread device will only be compatible with Rogers network, so Xperia lovers on Telus and Bell need not apply. So, not all Canadians can grab the new Sony slab, but at least some of you can before your neighbors down south. Continue reading Sony Xperia S heading to Canada on April 17th, exclusive to Sony Stores Sony Xperia S heading to Canada on April 17th, exclusive to Sony Stores originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink MobileSyrup | | Email this | Comments

 

Sony unveils E Series 14P laptops with gesture-based controls

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They may not be the thinnest or most powerful machines Sony’s ever introduced, but the new trio hopes to catch a few hearts here and there. A follow-up to those flashy VAIOs we saw a while back, these E Series models are each packing a 14-inch, 1366 x 768 display, an Intel Core i3 2550M CPU with 4GB of RAM and your choice of AMD Radeon HD 7670M or Intel HD Graphics 3000 — all while promising up to seven hours of battery life. Run-of-the-mill specs aside, Sony’s Gesture Control feature will allow you to swipe between pages and adjust bits like music playback — though, at the moment it only works with Windows Media Player, IE9, PowerPoint and PowerDVD. The company’s yet to reveal the 14P’s price tag, but in the meantime you can decide which color best suits you by checking out the gallery below. Gallery: Sony VAIO E Series 14P press shots Sony unveils E Series 14P laptops with gesture-based controls originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink SlashGear | Sony (Europe) | Email this | Comments

 

Sony revises projections, sees $6.4 billion net loss for 2011

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While we wait to hear Kaz Hirai’s new plan for Sony , the news is getting worse before it gets better. The company just announced new projections that are more than double the net loss it predicted in February for the fiscal year 2011, to the tune of $6.4 billion. The reason? According to Reuters , it’s additional tax expenses that are causing the pain, as Sony says it’s “due to the establishment of valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets, predominantly in the U.S.” There is a silver lining to this cloud however, as the company is projecting an operational profit of 180 billion yen ($2.2 billion US) in 2012, compared to a loss of 95 billion yen ($1.16 billion US) last year. There are already predictions that Kaz will announce significant cuts in jobs and bonuses on the 12th, and from the numbers in the PDF linked below you can see why. Sony revises projections, sees $6.4 billion net loss for 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Reuters , Sony (PDF) | Email this | Comments

 

Sony to cut 10,000 jobs and slash bonuses, says Japanese newspaper

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There have been some major adjustments at Sony HQ already, but Japanese business sheet Nikkei reckons they’re nothing compared to what’s on the horizon. It reports that, come an announcement on April 12th, Kaz Hirai will reveal plans to clear out 10,000 jobs by the end of this year — that’s six percent of his workforce. The paper also says that seven execs, including chairman Howard Stringer, could be asked to forgo their bonuses, as the company concedes a $3.2 billion loss for 2011. It’s a just a single report and it’s entirely possible that none of this will happen, but merely the hint of such austerity could perhaps serve Hirai’s interests, even if he ends up being less drastic when Thursday comes around. Sony to cut 10,000 jobs and slash bonuses, says Japanese newspaper originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink CNET | Nikkei (subscription required) | Email this | Comments

 

Sony Xperia P hits the FCC, siblings nowhere to be seen

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It was only two days ago we learned that the Xperia P might be coming to America in some form, and now it’s landed at the FCC for the usual hoop jumping. Thanks to the report, we can at least be sure that it’s bringing quadband GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900), HSPA capability, WiFi b / g / n, GPS and RFID (NFC) to these shores. There’s no carrier-specific souvenirs we can see at this time, however. So, if you’re holding out for some high-end Xperia action, it looks like you might have to wait a little longer, or just bite the P-bullet. At least you’ll get a taste of some of that WhiteMagic. Sony Xperia P hits the FCC, siblings nowhere to be seen originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 06:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments

 

Sony CEO Kaz Hirai to reveal new strategy on April 12th

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If you want to pick up some tips before appearing on The Apprentice , or perhaps you’re just want to know how Sony plans to wriggle back from a predicted $2.7 billion loss this fiscal year (its fourth concurrent in the red) then cancel all your plans for April 12th. Sony Corp will be holding a briefing on that date to share its rescue strategy plan with the shareholders, and the world. In attendance, of course, will be the newly minted CEO Kazuo Hirai, who’ll no doubt be taking the opportunity to assert his position for the first time. Details of the call are in the source, just resist the temptation to scream “You’re Fired.” Sony CEO Kaz Hirai to reveal new strategy on April 12th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Reuters , Sony | Email this | Comments