Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Sony applies for wireless power patent, wants to daisy-chain your energy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/sony-applies-for-wireless-power-patent/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/sony-applies-for-wireless-power-patent/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/sony-applies-for-wireless-power-patent/#comments Sony wireless power patent

As much as we're familiar with wireless power, we know developing a truly contact-free form of charging has a whole raft of extra challenges, such as getting into the sweet spot for power delivery and the potential traffic jam caused by throwing another device into the mix. Sony thinks it has these problems licked through a newly-published patent application. Its method uses location-finding to steer users until they're close enough for the wireless power source to reliably do its job. In some cases, it can use one mobile device to relay power to another, keeping everything fed even if the main power hub is tied up. Multiple power sources next to each other can go so far as to decide which of them should be the one to send power. The patent isn't a certain sign that your VAIO or Xperia is about to cut the cord altogether -- Sony first submitted this vision of the future in 2009. Even so, it gives us hope that our gadgets will one day start charging themselves instead of making us hunt down a wire or charging plate.

Sony applies for wireless power patent, wants to daisy-chain your energy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonecellphonescontactlesscontactless chargingcontactless powerContactlessChargingContactlessPowerlaptoplaptopspatentpatentsSONYUSPTOvaiowireless chargingwireless powerWirelessChargingWirelessPowerxperiaTue, 15 May 2012 21:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony announces its first Ultrabooks, the VAIO T13 and T11, for the European market]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/sony-ultrabook-vaio-t13/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/sony-ultrabook-vaio-t13/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/sony-ultrabook-vaio-t13/#comments Image

Finally escaping its plate glass prison at CES, Sony's unveiled its first Ultrabook, the VAIO T13 and T11. It's set for release next month and currently packing a Sandy Bridge Intel Core i3-2367M processor (no third-generation processor just yet), within a 323mm-thick frame that weighs in at around 1.6kg for the 13-inch version. Storage is a hybrid of a 320GB HDD and 32GB SSD, which promise to juggle fast start-up times with capacity, while a HD web cam beams out from above the 13.3-inch (1366 x 768) display; no word on the res of the 11-incher. There's 4GB of DDR3 memory with Intel's own HD Graphics 3000 on the side and Sony reckons you'll be able eke out up to nine hours from its SSD model. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI output, and USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports. Interested? Then hit up the full gallery of Sony's new Ultrabook below, with a press release thrown in after the break for good measure.

Gallery: Sony VAIO T13 ultrabook

Update: Sony's PR team has clarified that the laptops announced today are intended for the European market in particular. That means you'll have to stay tuned for pricing and availability details specific to the US and other regions.

Continue reading Sony announces its first Ultrabooks, the VAIO T13 and T11, for the European market

Sony announces its first Ultrabooks, the VAIO T13 and T11, for the European market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 03:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core i3CoreI3Intel Core i3-2367MIntelCoreI3-2367mlaptopSandy BridgeSandyBridgesonyt-seriest11t13ultrabookvaioVAIO SVT1311M1Evaio t-seriesvaio t11vaio t13VaioSvt1311m1eVaioT-seriesVaioT11VaioT13Wed, 02 May 2012 03:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO E Series 14P gets Ivy Bridge processor nudge, improved display]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/sony-vaio-e-series-14p-gets-ivy-bridge-processor-nudge-improved/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/sony-vaio-e-series-14p-gets-ivy-bridge-processor-nudge-improved/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/sony-vaio-e-series-14p-gets-ivy-bridge-processor-nudge-improved/#comments Sony VAIO E Series 14P gets an Ivy Bridge nudge

While they may not be the Sony ultrabooks we're still all itching to see, the company's E Series 14P laptops have reappeared with some Ivy Bridge bones. According to Sony Australia, the previously Intel Core i3 processor has been bulked up to a third-generation 2.1GHz Core i7-3612QM, capable of 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost. That's not the only difference, with the 14-inch display boosted to 1600 x 900 and a new choice between AMD'S Radeon HD 7670M or Intel's HD Graphics 4000 to provide the graphical horse power in the updated hardware. The aluminum-splashed laptops, priced at $1,500 AUD (around $1,608 USD), will still house Sony's Gesture Control functions. This should allow you to navigate around websites and media playback with some arm flailing -- provided you're using Microsoft perennials like Internet Explorer 9 and Windows Media Player. These updated specs are tinged with some (minor) bad news; it looks like the pink iteration won't be getting the same improvements seen on the black and white models. Regardless, monochrome fans can hit up the source for all the new details.

Sony VAIO E Series 14P gets Ivy Bridge processor nudge, improved display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>14P3612QMcore i7Core i7-3612QMCoreI7CoreI7-3612qme seriese series 14pESeriesESeries14pGesture Controlgesture controlsGestureControlGestureControlsintelIntel 3rd generationintel Core i7-3612QMIntel3rdGenerationIntelCoreI7-3612qmivy bridgeIvyBridgelaptoplaptopsnotebooknotebookssonysony vaioSony Vaio ESonyVaioSonyVaioEvaiovaio e seriesVaioESeriesMon, 23 Apr 2012 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Japan blends the Torne PS3 TV tuner with 500GB of NAS, calls it Nasne]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/sony-japan-blends-the-torne-ps3-tv-tuner-with-500gb-of-nas-gets/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/sony-japan-blends-the-torne-ps3-tv-tuner-with-500gb-of-nas-gets/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/sony-japan-blends-the-torne-ps3-tv-tuner-with-500gb-of-nas-gets/#comments Image

While the PS3's media abilities in the US are limited to what it can access via discs or over the network, in Europe / Australia (PlayTV) and Japan (Torne) TV tuners stretch things further. Now, Sony Japan has followed those up with the Nasne headless media box shown above. A combination networked recorder and media storage device with a 500GB SATA HDD and tuners for both antenna and satellite TV built-in, it pulls in broadcasts and either records it or streams to up to two other Sony products (Vita, PS3 with Torne app, Vaio PC, Sony Tablet or Xperia phone) on the same home network at once. It will also support streaming of stored media via DLNA, once its software is updated to version 1.5. The capabilities of the Nasne vary depending on the hardware it's used with: PS3 users can connect up to four of the devices to one console, however it can also export video files formatted for offline viewing on the Vita or transfer recorded files to PCs for Blu-ray archival.

Is this a promising example of the "One Sony" synergy Kaz so recently promised? We'll have to wait until the Nasne ships July 19th for 16,980 yen ($211) to find out for sure. Sadly, like the Torne (which will receive its own 4.0 software update this summer) and Blu-ray recorders that came before it's unlikely we'll ever this one in the US, but that won't stop us from dreaming. A press release with full specs follows after the break, check out Engadget Japan for a few more pictures.

Continue reading Sony Japan blends the Torne PS3 TV tuner with 500GB of NAS, calls it Nasne

Sony Japan blends the Torne PS3 TV tuner with 500GB of NAS, calls it Nasne originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlna 1.5Dlna1.5hdpostcrossjapannasnasneplaystation 3Playstation3ps vitaps3PsVitasonytablettornetv tunerTvTunervaiovitaxperiaTue, 17 Apr 2012 04:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony unveils E Series 14P laptops with gesture-based controls]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/sony-vaio-e-series-14p/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/sony-vaio-e-series-14p/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/sony-vaio-e-series-14p/#comments Image
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 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>14Pe seriese series 14pESeriesESeries14pGesture Controlgesture controlsGestureControlGestureControlslaptoplaptopsnotebooknotebookssonysony vaioSony Vaio ESonyVaioSonyVaioEvaiovaio e seriesVaioESeriesTue, 10 Apr 2012 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO VCC111 Chromebook passes through FCC, Chrome OS flies its flag]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/sony-vaio-vcc111-chromebook-laptop-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/sony-vaio-vcc111-chromebook-laptop-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/sony-vaio-vcc111-chromebook-laptop-fcc/#comments ImageWondering if Chrome OS has a future? Wonder no more. After Samsung and Acer ushered out Chromebooks of their own following Google I/O 2011, it looks as if Sony's planning to usher in one of its own prior to this year's gala. The VAIO VCC111 has just found its way into the FCC's database, signaling that there's only a minimal amount of time before this here machine is cleared for sale on US shelves. So far as we can tell, this is the first significant proof that Sony was (or is) dreaming of involving itself with Google's cloud-centric operating system, with the user guide clearly explaining the boot-up procedure for a "Chrome OS," and the keyboard clearly resembling that seen on the Series 5 from Samsung -- in other words, the Chrome-ified row of hot keys and an omitted Windows key. Judging by the photos, there's also a headphone port, microphone jack, HDMI socket, SD card reader, a pair of USB 2.0 connectors and an 11.6-inch display. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled for more; given where it's at, it shouldn't be long before Best Buy's database picks it up.

Sony VAIO VCC111 Chromebook passes through FCC, Chrome OS flies its flag originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome oschromebookChromeOsgooglelaptopsonyvaiovaio chromebookvaio laptopVAIO VCC111VaioChromebookVaioLaptopVaioVcc111Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO Hybrid lands U moniker in leaked ad, not much else]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/sony-vaio-hybrid-lands-u-moniker-in-leaked-ad-not-much-else/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/sony-vaio-hybrid-lands-u-moniker-in-leaked-ad-not-much-else/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/sony-vaio-hybrid-lands-u-moniker-in-leaked-ad-not-much-else/#comments
Remember that Sony laptop / tablet hybrid that we spotted on the CES show floor? Well it appears that it will be sporting the VAIO U label when it hits retailers, along the same lines as the outfit's previous UX ultraportable tag. The folks over at Pocketnow ran across an ad with the transforming device being listed as such -- unfortunately, that's about all the info the graphics offered. If you recall, we discovered back in Vegas that the kit would feature both capacitive touch input and an included stylus alongside a keypad that indicated Windows for the OS. You can rest assured, we're keeping an eye out for further details to slide out from cover.

Sony VAIO Hybrid lands U moniker in leaked ad, not much else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>leakleaked adLeakedAdSonySony HybridSony VAIOSony VAIO HybridSony VAIO USonyHybridSonyVaioSonyVaioHybridSonyVaioUstylustabletVAIOVAIO UVaioUTue, 06 Mar 2012 15:53:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change Sony's Vaio F?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/how-would-you-change-sonys-vaio-f/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/how-would-you-change-sonys-vaio-f/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/how-would-you-change-sonys-vaio-f/#comments How would you change Sony's Vaio F?
Let's say you bought Sony's VAIO F Series laptop at the end of last year. Would it be a stretch to say you liked how cheap it was and that games played well as long as you dialed down those display settings? Were you not too impressed by the battery life or that touch button on the trackpad? Well, at least you agree with our review of the "desktop replacement" device. But we'd like to know more, dear friends: what gremlins have you uncovered in the numerous hours logged using this unit? What are the nice surprises? If Kaz Hirai was reading this intently waiting for your opinion, what would you tell him you'd like to change?

How would you change Sony's Vaio F? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Desktop ReplacementDesktopReplacementHow Would you ChangeHowWouldYouChangeHWYCKaz HiraiKazHiraiLaptopSonySony Vaio FSonyVaioFVAIOVaio FVaioFSun, 19 Feb 2012 22:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO series get minor processor refresh, Z series grabs LTE option on the way]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/sony-vaio-processor-spring-refresh-z-series-lte/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/sony-vaio-processor-spring-refresh-z-series-lte/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/23/sony-vaio-processor-spring-refresh-z-series-lte/#comments

Ahead of any possible Ultrabook announcements, Sony's looking to give its existing VAIO catalogue a (relatively underwhelming) shot in the arm with a bundle of hardware retweaks. The Z series looks to gain the most out of the Spring refresh, with a new off-white Carbon Fiber Silver color option set to be offered up alongside an optional LTE modem. The series also gets a processor step-up, with new Intel Core i5 and i7 options rounded off with the choice of SSD storage. Including the connectable drive, prices for the series refresh will start from $1,950. Meanwhile, both the S (13-inch, $800, 15-inch, $980)and E series will get a similar bump to Core i7 processors, with both the S and aforementioned Z series able to lock into an extended sheet battery accessory. If minor processor improvements, more battery options and LTE connectivity warrant forking over your cash, you can expect the revitalized units to arrive early next month.

Sony VAIO series get minor processor refresh, Z series grabs LTE option on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core iCoreIcpuintellaptopnotebooksonyvaioz seriesZSeriesMon, 23 Jan 2012 02:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Vaio Hybrid and Slate tablet concepts showcase new form factors, flexible materials (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/sony-vaio-hybrid-and-slate-tablet-concepts-showcase-new-form-fac/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/sony-vaio-hybrid-and-slate-tablet-concepts-showcase-new-form-fac/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/sony-vaio-hybrid-and-slate-tablet-concepts-showcase-new-form-fac/#comments Black, bezeled and rectangular? That's pretty much the go-to design for tablets nowadays. But lately Sony's been straying from the pack and taking a different aesthetic tack, which it recently showcased with the Tablet S and P. On the showroom floor at CES, however, the company had two newer models secured behind glass to give consumers a sense of future form factors. These prototypes -- known prospectively as the Hybrid and Slate -- fall under the Vaio brand and clearly highlight an exciting direction for the Japanese electronics giant's impending offerings.

The Hybrid's most distinctive feature is its marriage of laptop functionality with tablet portability. Sliding the unit up and locking it into place reveals a keyboard in front (shown with a dedicated Windows button) and an expansive speaker grill behind. The company wouldn't elaborate on the materials used in the enclosure, but that sparkly, copper color manages to toe the line between cheap and space age -- a definite contradiction, for sure. At the base of the 11-inch unit is a dock that fits an included stylus, as this tablet is being designed to support touch pen input, in addition to the typical capacitive touch. None of the ports on the device are final, but when and if it ever ships, you can expect the usual array.

For a true glimpse into the next generation of tablet manufacturing, you need only look to Sony's tablet Slate -- the real stunner of this conceptual duo. With its use of a smart, soft touch flexible material -- the company refused to elaborate on just what -- that extends from the unit's back for easy table top mounting, it's easy to see a product like this setting consumers' interest on fire and nabbing that lust-worthy tech crown. Unfortunately, this particular scifi casing is more than likely a few years off, but it's good to see the company innovating and attempting to break free from the shackles of ordinary builds. The Slate is also designed to work with a wireless keyboard that shares the same intelligent material and appears to incorporate a touch interface. Click on through the galleries below for a tour of these two proof of concepts and make sure to click on past the break for a brief video tour.

Gallery: Sony concept tablet Hybrid


Gallery: Sony concept tablet Slate

Continue reading Sony Vaio Hybrid and Slate tablet concepts showcase new form factors, flexible materials (video)

Sony Vaio Hybrid and Slate tablet concepts showcase new form factors, flexible materials (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESCES 2012Ces2012ces2012bestofconceptconceptseyes-onflexible materialFlexibleMaterialfuturehands-onHybridSlatesmart materialSmartMaterialSonySony VaioSonyVaiostylustabletsVaiovideoWed, 11 Jan 2012 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO F Series review (late 2011)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/sony-vaio-f-series-review-late-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/sony-vaio-f-series-review-late-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/sony-vaio-f-series-review-late-2011/#comments Sony barreled into CES earlier this year flaunting a 3D monster laptop boasting a 16-inch 1080p display, a built-in 3D transmitter and a fancy button that promised to instantly add an extra dimension to your boring "regular" 2D movies. It was the latest in the outfit's VAIO F Series, and it was ready to snatch $2,000 straight out of your wallet -- but not all of us can throw down that kind of scratch. Still looking for a suitably powerful desktop-replacement that won't decimate your bank account? That same 2011 VAIO F Series rig just might be your ticket, sans 3D trickery -- and knocked down to a base price of $980. Does this somewhat more budget-friendly variant still pack enough punch to knockout your hefty desktop PC? Let's find out.

Gallery: Sony VAIO F Series review (late 2011)

Continue reading Sony VAIO F Series review (late 2011)

Sony VAIO F Series review (late 2011) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p16 inch16-inch16Inchdesktop replacementdesktop replacementsDesktopReplacementDesktopReplacementsdisqusgaminggaming laptopgaming laptopsGamingLaptopGamingLaptopsmultimedia laptopMultimediaLaptopreviewSonysony vaiosony vaio fSonyVaioSonyVaioFvaiovaio FVAIO F seriesVaioFVaioFSeriesTue, 08 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Kazuo Hirai: liveblog from AsiaD!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/sonys-kazuo-hirai-liveblog-from-asiad/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/sonys-kazuo-hirai-liveblog-from-asiad/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/sonys-kazuo-hirai-liveblog-from-asiad/#comments We're back! AsiaD's concluding today, but we've got a couple of big hitters left on the schedule. Kicking things off this morning -- yeah, it's morning, we're in the future -- is Sony's Executive Deputy President, Kazuo Hirai, and we're guessing he'll be shooting it straight regarding the PS Vita, those nasty "outages" and whatever else he feels like keeping us abreast on. Join us after the break for the blow-by-blow!

Continue reading Sony's Kazuo Hirai: liveblog from AsiaD!

Sony's Kazuo Hirai: liveblog from AsiaD! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgaminggooglegoogle androidGoogleAndroidkazKaz HiraiKazHiraiKazuo HiraiKazuoHirailiveblogplaystationplaystation 3playstation portableplaystation suitePlaystation3PlaystationPortablePlaystationSuiteps vitapspPsVitasonytablettablet ptablet sTabletPTabletSvaiovitaxperia playXperiaPlayThu, 20 Oct 2011 20:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony cuts the VAIO SA's starting price to $1,000, starts shipping the 15-inch VAIO SE]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/sony-cuts-the-vaio-sas-starting-price-to-999-starts-shipping/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/sony-cuts-the-vaio-sas-starting-price-to-999-starts-shipping/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/sony-cuts-the-vaio-sas-starting-price-to-999-starts-shipping/#comments
Lots of PC news flowing out of Sony Electronics' US headquarters this fine Sunday morning. First, the company slashed the starting price of the 13-inch VAIO SA laptop from $1,250 to $1,000, while the lower-end SB series now starts at $780 (it had been going for $800 after instant savings). We asked Sony's PR team what that means for folks who recently purchased either of these through Sony's online store, and still haven't gotten a response, but the company was quick to remind us that it's up to retailers such as Best Buy to set their own price protection policies. (Thanks, Sony!)

Moving along, that 15.5-inch VAIO SE series we reviewed a month ago is at last up for sale, beautiful 1080p display and all. You can find her on Sony's site starting at a thousand bucks with a Core i5-2430M processor, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB 5,400RPM hard drive, DVD burner and, of course, that 1920 x 1080 panel. So, is all that worth a flaky trackpad and poor battery life (sans $150 slice)? That, friends, is a decision you'll have to make for yourself. Finally, in more granular news, the 14-inch C and E series are getting expanded Sandy Bridge processor options, while the 16-inch F series and L series all-in-ones will come with Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum, Sound Forge Audio Studio and ACID Music Studio pre-installed. In addition, the SA, L, F and E series are all getting speed bumps, as are pre-configured SB and Z series laptops. Oh, and the SB is now available in red. Got it? Good. Lots of up to date specs at the source link.

Sony cuts the VAIO SA's starting price to $1,000, starts shipping the 15-inch VAIO SE originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ACID Music StudioAcidMusicStudioall-in-oneall-in-onesHD PlatinumHdPlatinumlaptoplaptopsnew colornew colorsNewColorNewColorsprice dropprice dropsPriceDropPriceDropsrefreshrefreshesSonySony VAIOsony vegasSonyVaioSonyVegassound forge audio studioSoundForgeAudioStudiospec bumpspec bumpsSpecBumpSpecBumpsspeed bumpspeed bumpsSpeedBumpSpeedBumpsVAIOvaio CVaio c seriesvaio eVaio E seriesvaio FVAIO F seriesvaio LVAIO L SeriesVAIO S Seriesvaio saVAIO SBVAIO SEVaioCVaioCSeriesVaioEVaioESeriesVaioFVaioFSeriesVaioLVaioLSeriesVaioSaVaioSbVaioSeVaioSSeriesvegas movie studioVegasMovieStudioSun, 02 Oct 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony adds lenticular sheet to laptop for webcam-enhanced glasses-free 3D]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/sony-adds-lenticular-sheet-to-laptop-for-webcam-enhanced-glasses/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/sony-adds-lenticular-sheet-to-laptop-for-webcam-enhanced-glasses/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/06/sony-adds-lenticular-sheet-to-laptop-for-webcam-enhanced-glasses/#comments
It looks like those not fond of 3D glasses will soon have another means to add an extra dimension to their laptop. Sony's now showing off a simple lenticular sheet that can be placed on top of a standard laptop screen for a 3D effect. That will initially be available for Sony's VAIO S series laptops and, most interestingly, it comes complete with some head-tracking software that takes advantage of the laptop's webcam to adjust the 3D image based on your position. Unfortunately, as simple as it may seem, it's still not exactly the cheapest solution -- you can expect to shell out €129 (or about $180) when this option becomes available next month.

[Thanks, Ron]

Sony adds lenticular sheet to laptop for webcam-enhanced glasses-free 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's sad to say, but most of you who are going back to school have probably already returned by now -- though if you're in class right this moment you should probably be paying attention. If you managed to get back to campus without bringing a new laptop along, you might just want to keep reading -- Sony's just released a 15.5-inch addition to its VAIO S Series that not only adds a crucial bit of extra display acreage, but also bumps things up to a full 1080p.

Yes, this is a laptop that can not only be configured with a Blu-ray drive but has enough pixels to do the resulting footage justice, meaning it could make a passable player for movie night. But, does it have the chops to do your workload justice? Is it worth the $1,000 minimum asking price, at least a $100 premium over Sony's 13-inch models? Join us as we find out.

Gallery: Sony VAIO S-Series (15-inch)

Continue reading Sony VAIO SE Series review

Sony VAIO SE Series review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p15-inch15.5-inchcore i5core i7CoreI5CoreI7full hdFullHdlaptopnumber padNumberPadreviewss-seriessonyvaiovaio sVaioSvideoWed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony announces VAIO L Series all-in-one PC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/sony-announces-vaio-l-series-all-in-one-pc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/sony-announces-vaio-l-series-all-in-one-pc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/sony-announces-vaio-l-series-all-in-one-pc/#comments
Sony didn't exactly dwell on it during its IFA keynote, but the company also expanded its desktop PC offerings today with its latest VAIO L Series all-in-one. This one packs a 24-inch multitouch display complete with a touch-sensitive bezel, along with your choice of second-gen Intel Core processors (yet to be specified), NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and a Blu-ray / DVD burner combo drive. And, judging from the number of times its mentioned in the press release after the break, it also appears to be 3D-capable. Still no word on pricing, but it looks like this one will at least be available in Europe starting in October.

Continue reading Sony announces VAIO L Series all-in-one PC

Sony announces VAIO L Series all-in-one PC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dAIOall-in-oneall-in-one desktopall-in-one pcAll-in-oneDesktopAll-in-onePcifaifa 2011Ifa2011sonysony vaio l seriesSonyVaioLSeriesvaiovaio lvaio l seriesVaioLVaioLSeriesWed, 31 Aug 2011 11:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Live from Sony IFA 2011 press event]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/live-from-sony-ifa-2011-press-event/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/live-from-sony-ifa-2011-press-event/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/live-from-sony-ifa-2011-press-event/#comments What better way to kick this year's IFA conference in beautiful Berlin, Germany than a good old fashioned Sony press conference? We're getting ready to get things started here, so sit down, grab a beverage and reach for those 3D glasses to read along at home [note: this liveblog is not in 3D].

Photos by Zach Honig.

Continue reading Live from Sony IFA 2011 press event

Live from Sony IFA 2011 press event originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A77Alpha A77AlphaA77Arc SArcSBraviaeventFujio NishidaFujioNishidaHoward StringerHowardStringerIFAIFA 2011Ifa2011Kaz HiraiKazHiraiKazuo HiraiKazuoHirailiveblogNEX-7QriocityReader StoreReader Wi-FiReaderStoreReaderWi-fiSonySony Entertainment NetworkSony EricssonSonyEntertainmentNetworkSonyEricssonTablet PTablet STabletPTabletSVAIOX-realityXperia Arc SXperiaArcSWed, 31 Aug 2011 09:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's back to school guide 2011: laptops]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops/#commentsWelcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today we're getting down to the very important business of helping you sift through laptops, and you can always head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!


Ah, laptops. Some of us received our first notebooks the summer before college if not later. But times have changed and we're sure for many of the kids reading this freshman year is just an excuse to upgrade from the clunkers that carried them through high school. Either way, this one's pretty much mandatory -- unless you're a serious gamer who insists on a desktop GPU for marathon sessions of CoD: Black Ops, you're going to need a laptop for pounding out last-minute term papers in the library, taking notes in class and posting incriminating photos on Facebook. The problem is, the market's overrun with laptops that purport to be just perfect for the back to school set. They can't all be worth your money, though, so we whittled the list down to a handful of choices for each budget -- and if you're lucky you'll get your very own HP Pavilion dm1z for the pretty price of, well, nothing. Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details. So wipe off the glasses, grab your clicker, and get ready to jump past the break for a top-level overview of this year's picks for back to school.

Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide 2011: laptops

Engadget's back to school guide 2011: laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5830T5830TG-6402Acer Aspire TimelineXAcer Aspire TimelineX 5830TAcer TimelineXAcer TimelineX AS5830TG-6402AcerAspireTimelinexAcerAspireTimelinex5830tAcerTimelinexAcerTimelinexAs5830tg-6402AirAppleApple MacBook AirAppleMacbookAirAS5830TG-6402back to schoolback to school shoppingBackToSchoolbacktoschool2011BackToSchoolShoppingDellDell InspironDell Inspiron 14zDellInspironDellInspiron14zdm1dm1zEnvyenvy 14Envy14GatewayGateway ID47Gateway ID47502UGatewayId47GatewayId47502uHPHP EnvyHP Envy 14HP PavilionHP Pavilion dm1HP Pavilion dm1zHpEnvyHpEnvy14HpPavilionHpPavilionDm1HpPavilionDm1zID47ID47502UInspironInspiron 14zInspiron14zL750D-ST4N01laptoplaptopsMacBookMacBook Airmacbook air 2011MacbookAirMacbookAir2011Pavilion dm1Pavilion dm1zPavilionDm1PavilionDm1zSamsung Series 3Samsung Series 3 350U2B-A01SamsungSeries3SamsungSeries3350u2b-a01Satellite L750D-ST4N01SatelliteL750d-st4n01Series 3Series 3 350U2B-A01Series3Series3350u2b-a01shoppingSony VAIO S seriesSony VAIO SA seriesSonyVaioSaSeriesSonyVaioSSeriesstudentstudentsToshiba SatelliteToshiba Satellite L750D-ST4N01ToshibaSatelliteToshibaSatelliteL750d-st4n01VAIOVAIO SAVaioSaFri, 26 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Vaio Z gets the in-house teardown treatment (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/25/sony-vaio-z-gets-the-in-house-teardown-treatment-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/25/sony-vaio-z-gets-the-in-house-teardown-treatment-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/25/sony-vaio-z-gets-the-in-house-teardown-treatment-video/#comments Another official teardown, another predictable revelation: the new Sony Vaio Z's viscera are thinner, flatter and, er, more compressed than those of its predecessor. But at least this dissection is performed by an actual Vaio engineer who ought to know his stuff. In the video after the break, Shinji Oguchi explains how cooling was improved using a range of tricks, like aerating the laptop's guts via holes in the keyboard. He also splits open the innovative external media dock, which connects via Intel's Light Peak technology and uses a discrete GPU to give the Vaio Z some gaming oomph. Finally, there's a separate, speeded-up video of Shinji putting the whole thing back together again from memory. The poor guy must be sick of it by now.

Continue reading Sony Vaio Z gets the in-house teardown treatment (video)

Sony Vaio Z gets the in-house teardown treatment (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dockexternal gpuExternalGpuintel light peakIntelLightPeaklight peakLightPeakPower Media DockPowerMediaDockShinji OguchiShinjiOguchiSonySony VaioSony Vaio ZSonyVaioSonyVaioZtear downTearDownVaioVaio ZVaioZvideoThu, 25 Aug 2011 07:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO SB Series review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/sony-vaio-sb-series-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/sony-vaio-sb-series-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/sony-vaio-sb-series-review/#comments We hate to break it to you, dear readers, but we're in the throes of back to school season. In a few short weeks, lots of wide-eyed freshmen will be setting up their dorm rooms and begging off name games during orientation, which means they (and their generous parents) are stocking up on gear now. We've been testing a bunch of budget and mid-range laptops aimed at young folk and pretty much any other mainstream consumer who'd happily forgo some bells and whistles in exchange for a lower price. So why not start with a review of one of the best? Sony's VAIO SB series is the 13-inch laptop for the kindele who can't afford the VAIO Z, or even the slimmed-down SA series. It offers good specs for the money, a bright, matte display, a solid keyboard, long battery life and a (mostly) well-built design. And while we try not to spoil our reviews, we'll say this: it's one of our favorite mid-range Windows laptops, period. How much do we like the SB? Join us as we count the ways.

Gallery: Sony VAIO SB Series review

Continue reading Sony VAIO SB Series review

Sony VAIO SB Series review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13.3-inchCore i5Core i5-2410MCoreI5CoreI5-2410mreviewSonysony vaioSonyVaiothin and lightthin-and-lightThinAndLightVaioVaio SBVaioSaVaioSbVPCSB11FXWed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO Z review (2011)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/sony-vaio-z-review-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/sony-vaio-z-review-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/sony-vaio-z-review-2011/#comments We see countless laptops come and go through the seasons, but a rare few have built up something of a following. Make no mistake: the Sony VAIO Z, a skinny ultraportable brimming with cutting-edge technology and powerful innards, is that kind of gem. So when it disappeared from Sony's online store earlier this year, more than a few techies took note. After all, the Z is part of a small fraternity of notebooks that combine an impossibly lightweight design with performance worthy of a larger system. People who missed out on the last-gen Z wondered when they'd next get the chance to buy, while some lucky folks out there with thousands to burn started itching for something thinner, something lighter, something... better.

Well, it's here. The 2011 VAIO Z is, indeed, thinner, lighter, and more powerful. It also might not be the Z you were expecting. Whereas the last generation combined it all, cramming in an optical drive and switchable graphics, this year's model leaves much of that at the door -- or, at least, in an external dock that ships with the laptop. This time around, the Z has no optical drive, and packs just an integrated Intel graphics card on board. (Don't worry, it does squeeze in lots of other goodies, including standard-voltage Sandy Bridge processors and expanded solid-state storage.) If you want that Blu-ray burner or the stock AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics card, you'll have to plug into the Power Media Dock, an external peripheral that uses Intel's Light Peak technology.

That's quite the gamble Sony is taking -- after all, the company is essentially betting that you won't need to do anything too intensive while you're on the go. On the one hand, this inventive design is sure to intrigue the Z's usual early adopter fanbase. But will it satisfy those who always liked the Z because of its no-compromise design? And then there's the issue of that $1,969 starting price, a likely stumbling block for people trying to decide between this and an equally thin, less expensive ultraportable. What's a well-heeled geek to do? Let's find out.

Gallery: Sony VAIO Z review (2011)

Continue reading Sony VAIO Z review (2011)

Sony VAIO Z review (2011) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13.1-inchAMDAMD Radeon HD 6650MAmdRadeonHd6650mCore 2011Core i7Core2011CoreI7expensivelaptoplaptopsluxuryPower Media DockPowerMediaDockpremiumRadeon HD 6650MRadeonHd6650mreviewSonySony VaioSony Vaio ZSony Vaio Z seriesSonyVaioSonyVaioZSonyVaioZSeriesultraportableVaioVaio ZVaio Z seriesVaioZVaioZSeriesvideoFri, 29 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modder attaches PS3 controller to VAIO UX UMPC, forgoes PlayStation Certification]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/modder-attaches-ps3-controller-to-vaio-ux-umpc-forgoes-playstat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/modder-attaches-ps3-controller-to-vaio-ux-umpc-forgoes-playstat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/modder-attaches-ps3-controller-to-vaio-ux-umpc-forgoes-playstat/#comments Sony's VAIO UX UMPC may have been a bit of a tough sell at $2,500 back in its heyday, but those still hanging onto one (or able to find one cheap) do now at least now have plenty of mods to consider if they're looking to breath a bit of new life into the device. One of the latest is this makeshift contraption from YouTube user pochowandpoch, who cut a PS3 controller down to size and attached it directly to the UMPC -- perhaps to tide him over until the PlayStation Vita. Great for typing or web browsing? Not so much. But it's certainly far better than a touchscreen or pint-sized keyboard for a game of Metal Slug. Head on past the break for a trio of videos.

Continue reading Modder attaches PS3 controller to VAIO UX UMPC, forgoes PlayStation Certification

Modder attaches PS3 controller to VAIO UX UMPC, forgoes PlayStation Certification originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllerhomemodplaystation 3 controllerPlaystation3Controllerplaystatoinps3SIXAXISsonysony vaio uxSonyVaioUxumpcvaiovideoTue, 19 Jul 2011 18:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's VAIO Z finally arrives in the US, goes up for pre-order starting at $2,000]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/sonys-vaio-z-finally-arrives-in-the-us-goes-on-sale-starting-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/sonys-vaio-z-finally-arrives-in-the-us-goes-on-sale-starting-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/sonys-vaio-z-finally-arrives-in-the-us-goes-on-sale-starting-a/#comments
Well, it's about time! It's been months since Sony pulled the 13-inch VAIO Z from its website, and since then we've had to sift through vague leaks and watch mournfully as other parts of the world scored the next-gen version of this premium ultraportable. Finally, Sony has announced that it's available for pre-order in the US, starting at a princely $2,000. As you'll recall when we got hands-on at an event in Taiwan last month, this year's model weighs in at 2.5 pounds (down from three last year), giving the 2.8-pound Samsung Series 9 a run for its money. As the cream of Sony's crop, it's fashioned out of better-than-average materials -- namely, aluminum and carbon fiber -- and you'll find it in two colors besides basic black.

The big story, of course, is that rather than build a laptop with switchable graphics as it has in the past, Sony is instead relying on the Power Media Dock, an external, Lightpeak-enabled peripheral that houses an AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics card and 1GB of video memory (not to mention, HDMI- and VGA-out, three USB ports, and a slot-loading optical drive). The laptop itself only packs Intel integrated graphics, which means Sony is assuming you'll wait until you're plugged in to start gaming, editing photos, and whatever else you power users fancy. On its own, the battery promises to last eight hours, but, as with Sony's S series, you can pair it with an external sheet battery, which claims to extend the battery life to a max of 16 hours. Rounding out the spec list are standard-voltage Core i5 and i7 processor options, up to 256GB 512GB in solid-state storage, up to 8GB of RAM, and a 13.1-inch panel with either 1080p or 1600 x 900 resolution. In case this thin beauty slipped under your radar the first time around, we've re-posted our hands-on photos below, along with a walk-through video past the break.

Gallery: Sony VAIO Z Series

Gallery: Sony Vaio Z detailed hands-on

Gallery: Sony VAIO Z hands-on

Gallery: Sony VAIO Z components

Continue reading Sony's VAIO Z finally arrives in the US, goes up for pre-order starting at $2,000

Sony's VAIO Z finally arrives in the US, goes up for pre-order starting at $2,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13-inchAMD Radeon HD 6650MAmdRadeonHd6650mCore i5Core i7CoreI5CoreI7expensivelaptoplaptopsPower Media DockPowerMediaDockpre-orderpre-orderspremiumpreorderpreordersSonySony VAIOSony VAIO ZSony VAIO Z seriesSonyVaioSonyVaioZSonyVaioZSeriesultraportableUS launchUsLaunchVAIOVaio ZVAIO Z seriesVaioZVaioZSeriesvideoWed, 13 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's new VAIO Z ultraportable laptop with Power Media Dock hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/sonys-new-vaio-z-ultraportable-laptop-with-power-media-dock-han/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/sonys-new-vaio-z-ultraportable-laptop-with-power-media-dock-han/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/sonys-new-vaio-z-ultraportable-laptop-with-power-media-dock-han/#comments
Now that we've seen Sony's new VAIO Z in its luscious press shots, it's time to face reality and lay our itchy hands on this 13-inch ultraportable laptop, along with its eccentric expansion dock that packs both a Blu-ray drive and an AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics chip (with 1GB of video RAM). Just as we were told by our little birdie, said dock is connected to the notebook via Light Peak -- a first for Sony -- but there's a catch: Sony's only implementing the architecture and not the connector, so for the time being, this sweet high speed connection is only compatible with the docking unit and nothing else.

Anyhow, here's a quick recap: what we have here is a 1.18kg feather-light machine packing an Intel Sandy Bridge i5 (also available with an i7), 256GB SSD and 1.3 megapixel webcam, plus a matte LCD display with resolution at 1600 x 900 or an optional 1920 x 1080. Oh yes, for an extra cost, you get some sweet full HD action at just 13 inches. This upgraded display performed well in the relatively dark confines of the press event, but how it fares under direct sunlight remains to be seen. Read on for more hands-on impression.

Gallery: Sony Vaio Z detailed hands-on


Gallery: Sony VAIO Z hands-on


Gallery: Sony VAIO Z components

Continue reading Sony's new VAIO Z ultraportable laptop with Power Media Dock hands-on (video)

Sony's new VAIO Z ultraportable laptop with Power Media Dock hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080pAMD Radeon HD 6650MAmdRadeonHd6650mdocking stationDockingStationexternal graphics cardExternalGraphicsCardfeaturedfeaturesfull hdFullHdhands-onHD 6650MHd6650mIntel HD Graphics 3000IntelHdGraphics3000laptoplight peakLightPeakpower media dockPowerMediaDockRadeonsolid state disksolid state driveSolidStateDiskSolidStateDrivesonyssdusb 3.0Usb3.0vaiovaio zVaioZvideoTue, 28 Jun 2011 07:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's ultraslim 13-inch VAIO Z laptop revealed in Europe, packs external GPU for power on demand]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/sony-ultra-slim-13-inch-vaio-z-laptop-revealed-in-europe-packs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/sony-ultra-slim-13-inch-vaio-z-laptop-revealed-in-europe-packs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/sony-ultra-slim-13-inch-vaio-z-laptop-revealed-in-europe-packs/#comments Turns out those leaked shots we saw of Sony's new VAIO Z laptop were right on the money as the company showed it off officially today for the European press. The specs reveal a 13.1-inch "ultramobile" notebook that comes in at under 1.2kg with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, 1600x900 screen and sheet battery borrowed from the earlier VAIO S for up to 7 hours of computing. Onboard it features only Intel's HD Graphics 3000 solution but the VAIO Z beats other ultralights with its Power Media Dock, which contributes the power of an AMD Radeon 6650M GPU with 1GB of dedicated memory connected via "the architecture codenamed Light Peak" -- Sony can't call it Thunderbolt -- when more polygons have to be pushed. The dock sports one USB 3.0 hookup plus additional USB, VGA and HDMI ports, and a slot for either a DVD or Blu-ray drive. There's no word on a price yet, but it is promised to ship by the end of July in Europe so if the full specs (included after the break) are appealing then you don't have much time to save up.

Update: Head over to the Sony UK site to configure one yourself -- pricing starts at £1,434 ($2,294) with a Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM and no PMD. The dock is a £400 ($640) option with no optical drive included, while upgrading to a 1080p 13.1-inch LCD is a mere £40 extra.

Gallery: Sony VAIO Z

Continue reading Sony's ultraslim 13-inch VAIO Z laptop revealed in Europe, packs external GPU for power on demand

Sony's ultraslim 13-inch VAIO Z laptop revealed in Europe, packs external GPU for power on demand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6650Maamdbreaking newscore i7CoreI7ddockeuropeextrenal gpuExtrenalGpugpui7intellaptoplight peakLightPeakpciepower media dockPowerMediaDockradeonsonysony europeSonyEuropethinthunderboltultraportableulvvaiovaio zvaio z seriesVaioZVaioZSeriesviaoMon, 27 Jun 2011 23:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Is this the next Sony VAIO Z?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/25/is-this-the-next-sony-vaio-z/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/25/is-this-the-next-sony-vaio-z/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/25/is-this-the-next-sony-vaio-z/#comments We haven't heard much about Sony's ultra slim VAIO Z in months, but when we have, we've always been left with more questions than answers. We've seen its specs (but not handsome face) splashed on various European websites, while Sony, for its part, has only made the coy promise that its newly redesigned S series thin-and-lights are not meant to replace the more premium Z line. Lo and behold, we're now seeing photos of what purports to be the next-gen Z series and, as always, we're left wanting more. In these pics, you've supposedly got the Z -- sometimes with a black lid, sometimes gold -- sitting next to an external dock housing what appears to be an optical drive. If you drop in on the gossip circles in NotebookReview's forum, you'll read some speculation that there's an external GPU baked in there, too -- a compelling idea, though even "Eddie," the guy who leaked these photos, doesn't seem completely confident as to what that peripheral actually does. Given that the Z series has been MIA from Sony's site for months now, we hope the company gets a move on and outs this thing -- if this is, indeed, what it is. Until then, amuse yourselves with photos and crowd-sourced specs at the source links.

Continue reading Is this the next Sony VAIO Z?

Is this the next Sony VAIO Z? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13-inchlaptopleakleaksSonySony VaioSony Vaio ZSonyVaioSonyVaioZspeculationVaioVaio ZVAio z seriesVaioZVaioZSeriesZ seriesZSeriesSat, 25 Jun 2011 18:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's new VAIO L all-in-one thinks it's a 3D TV]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/sonys-new-vaio-l-all-in-one-thinks-its-a-3d-tv/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/sonys-new-vaio-l-all-in-one-thinks-its-a-3d-tv/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/sonys-new-vaio-l-all-in-one-thinks-its-a-3d-tv/#comments The folks at Sony clearly couldn't decide whether they wanted to give the world a new 3D HDTV or desktop PC -- and thus the latest addition to the VAIO L all-in-one line was born. The newly announced system plays television and features a 24-inch 3D multitouch display, a Blu-ray player, a bezel with built-in touch controls, 1080p HD playback, USB 3.0, and an HDMI port, so you can plug your PS3 into the thing. The system will start hitting stores on July 13th, for around $1,420, a price that includes a wireless keyboard and mouse, plus one pair of active shutter 3D glasses. Thankfully, you won't need those to view the press release after the break.

Continue reading Sony's new VAIO L all-in-one thinks it's a 3D TV

Sony's new VAIO L all-in-one thinks it's a 3D TV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aioall-in-oneblu-raydesktopdesktop pcDesktopPchdmipcPlayStationps3sonysony vaioSonyVaiovaiovaio l seriesVaioLSeriesWed, 08 Jun 2011 09:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO Z21 Series mentioned on various European sites, isn't actually for sale yet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/sony-vaio-z21-series-mentioned-on-various-european-sites-isnt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/sony-vaio-z21-series-mentioned-on-various-european-sites-isnt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/sony-vaio-z21-series-mentioned-on-various-european-sites-isnt/#comments Here in the states, Sony's 13-inch VAIO Z series has been missing from the company's online store for months, but in Europe, at least, it lives on -- a quartet of Z21 series laptops have surfaced on various e-tailers as the possible successor to last year's Z11. So far, we're seeing a pair of configurations with a Core i5-2410M processor and 128GB of solid-state storage and two more with a Core i7-2620M CPU and 256GB in storage. Judging by this sample, at least, 1600 x 900 resolution is standard, as is a backlit keyboard, 3G SIM card slot, fingerprint reader, 3D output, and an HD webcam with Sony's Exmor imaging technology. Alas, the available specs suggest Thunderbolt's a no-show, though rumor has it Sony's implementation of Intel's Light Peak technology will use USB connectors, of which this has three. Here's to wishful thinking, right?

The peculiar thing is, you can't actually buy it yet. F2F lists staggering prices ranging from €1,809 ($2,642) to €2,839 ($4,146), though it's not, in fact, available. Meanwhile, search results turn up mentions on staticICE UK and Belgium's Execute, but they've been scrubbed from the actual pages. So, it looks like it's up to Sony to announce this already -- and dish up some pictures while it's at it.

[Thanks, Ihor]

Sony VAIO Z21 Series mentioned on various European sites, isn't actually for sale yet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13-inchCore 2011Core2011ExmorleakleaksnotebooknotebooksrefreshSandy BridgeSandyBridgeSonySony VAIOSony VAIO Z seriesSonyVaioSonyVaioZSeriesunannouncedVAIOVaio ZVaio Z11Vaio Z21VaioZVaioZ11VaioZ21VPC-Z21L9EVPC-Z21M9EVPC-Z21V9EVPC-Z21X9EZ11Z21Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony announces VAIO SA series ultraportable, puts VAIO F series up for pre-order]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/sony-announces-vaio-sa-series-ultraportable-puts-vaio-f-series/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/sony-announces-vaio-sa-series-ultraportable-puts-vaio-f-series/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/sony-announces-vaio-sa-series-ultraportable-puts-vaio-f-series/#comments Having trouble keeping Sony's slim VAIO S series laptops straight? It's okay, we are, too, especially now that the company's officially unveiled the SA series, a 13.3-inch ultraportable that's poised to go toe to toe with the skinny Lenovo ThinkPad X1. Although it's got almost the same magnesium-and-alloy chassis as the VAIO SB series we saw at CES, the SA is a hair thinner, at 0.95 inches, and comes standard with AMD Radeon HD 6630 graphics and 1GB of video memory, 1600 x 900 resolution, a 500GB hard drive, fingerprint reader, and a Blu-ray drive. You can also trick it out with a dual channel solid-state drive, which promises to help let you work up to 16 hours unplugged if you combine it with a $100 sheet battery. If you fork out a minimum of $1,650, you can snag one with an SSD.

If the SA's $1,350 starting price is more than you're willing to spend, there's still the SB series, though the $969 base model naturally has less impressive specs, including 512MB of video memory, 1366 x 768 resolution, a DVD player, and a Core i5 -- not Core i7 -- processor. For what its worth, its color options now include pink and navy, if that floats your boat more than the high-end SA's black, silver, and brown palette.

In other news, Sony's also taking orders for the VAIO F Series, which comes in two flavors: one with a 16-inch 3D display with a 2D-to-3D conversion button, starting at $1,659, and a 16.4-inch 2D model with a more modest $1,100 base price. But if you want a 2D display with 1080p resolution and a Blu-ray drive, you can expect to pay at least $1,169. Both these and the SA series are up for pre-order today, with gussied-up photos below and full PR and past the break.

Gallery: Sony VAIO SA series

Gallery: Sony VAIO F series

Continue reading Sony announces VAIO SA series ultraportable, puts VAIO F series up for pre-order

Sony announces VAIO SA series ultraportable, puts VAIO F series up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 May 2011 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d display3dDisplayamdamd radeonAmdRadeoncore i5CoreI5f seriesFSeriesintelsa seriesSaSeriessonyvaiovaio fvaio saVaioFVaioSaWed, 25 May 2011 17:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Thunderbolt implementation hiding in plain (web)site, uses USB connector not Mini DisplayPort?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/sonys-thunderbolt-implementation-hiding-in-plain-site-uses-usb/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/sonys-thunderbolt-implementation-hiding-in-plain-site-uses-usb/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/sonys-thunderbolt-implementation-hiding-in-plain-site-uses-usb/#comments Look closely at that picture. See that Type-A USB jack? The one with the blue stripe sandwiched between the round AC jack (with its green light) and VGA USB 2.0 and HDMI ports? Yeah, that's Sony's Thunderbolt implementation according to a trusted source. A bit of digging reveals that the "Ultimate Mobile PC" teased by Sony above is actually the same VAIO Hybrid PC leaked by Sony Insider back in March said to feature an external dock with one USB 3.0 jack, HDMI, Ethernet, AMD Whistler discrete graphics, and a Blu-ray Disc writer. Naturally, the dock attaches to the VAIO's Thunderbolt jack.

What we're trying to get our heads around, however, is Sony's choice for a USB connector instead of the Mini DisplayPort used by Apple's dual-channel 10Gbps Thunderbolt implementation. The decision to go USB was first brought to our attention by site Gula Digital. We've long known that Sony would be a Light Peak partner in some capacity. And the decision to go USB certainly echoes those first prototype interconnects demonstrated by Intel that combined a hybrid USB 3.0 connector with an optical interface and electrical connection to carry power. We also like the idea of being able to connect a USB 3.0 hard disk without first attaching an adapter. What troubles us, though, is a statement made by the USB Implementers Forum last summer expressing reservations with Intel's proposed interconnect:

"USB connectors are not general purpose connectors and are not designed to be used in support of other technology applications or standards or as combo connectors."

Perhaps Sony has worked out a licensing arrangement with the USB-IF? We don't know. But we're told that Sony's Thunderbolt implementation is definitely using a USB connector and definitely not using Mini DisplayPort. But we'll wait until this thing ships before complaining about Thunderbolt fragmentation too loudly.

Sony's Thunderbolt implementation hiding in plain (web)site, uses USB connector not Mini DisplayPort? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>light peakLightPeakmini displayportMiniDisplayportrumorSonythunderboltultimate mobile pcUltimateMobilePcusbusb 3.0USB Implementers Forumusb-ifUsb3.0UsbImplementersForumvaiovaio zVaioZTue, 17 May 2011 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony teases 'Freestyle Hybrid PC' tablet slider and next-gen ultra-portable laptop]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/27/sony-teases-freestyle-hybird-pc-tablet-slider-and-next-gen-ult/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/27/sony-teases-freestyle-hybird-pc-tablet-slider-and-next-gen-ult/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/27/sony-teases-freestyle-hybird-pc-tablet-slider-and-next-gen-ult/#comments We're not sure how this slipped past us at the Sony Android tablet event, but turns out the electronics giant also teased a couple of interesting VAIO laptops. First up is a "Freestyle Hybrid PC" that slides between tablet mode and laptop mode -- very much like the Samsung Sliding PC, but with a seemingly slimmer bottom-half sans trackpad (though we can just about spot a pointing stick on the keyboard). No word on specs, prices, or availability here, but you may recall our proven tipster mentioning a 9.4-inch screen and a $799 launch in the fall. Could this be it? We shall see.

Also shown alongside is a swanky "Ultimate Mobile PC" -- pictured after the break -- with a hint of USB 3.0 and HDMI on a slim body, but again, there's not much else to go with this slide. Hey, at least we now know it's time to start saving up for these bad boys.

Continue reading Sony teases 'Freestyle Hybrid PC' tablet slider and next-gen ultra-portable laptop

Sony teases 'Freestyle Hybrid PC' tablet slider and next-gen ultra-portable laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computerconvertibleconvertiblelaptopfreestyle hybrid pcFreestyleHybridPchybrid laptophybrid pcHybridLaptopHybridPclaptopnetvertiblenotebookpcportableslidesliderSonyteaseteaserultraportableVAIOWindowsWed, 27 Apr 2011 01:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony crafting VAIOs with Chrome OS, external GPUs and Thunderbolt tech?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/19/sony-crafting-vaios-with-chrome-os-external-gpus-and-thunderbol/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/19/sony-crafting-vaios-with-chrome-os-external-gpus-and-thunderbol/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/19/sony-crafting-vaios-with-chrome-os-external-gpus-and-thunderbol/#comments Sony's top-secret prototype labs must be clocking hours like mad, as Sony Insider reports that the company has two more surprises in store -- in addition to a PlayStation tablet, dual-screen clamshell and sliding PC, the skunk works has cooked up a Chrome OS notebook, as well as a "VAIO Hybrid PC" that defies any sort of meaningful explanation in just three words. The Chrome OS device is reportedly modeled after Google's own Cr-48 reference design with roughly the same dimensions and keyboard but an oh-so-slightly smaller 11.6-inch screen, and NVIDIA's Tegra 2 running the show alongside 1GB of RAM and 16GB of flash storage. Sony's also shooting for eight hours of battery life, and a weight of just 2.2 pounds.

All of that pales in comparison to what Sony's plotting for this "Hybrid PC," though. The publication says we're looking at a thin-and-light Core i7 notebook with an incredible 8 to 16.5 hours of battery life, Intel Thunderbolt and an internal SSD, all of which plugs into a dock of some sort that adds a Blu-ray burner and external graphics (by AMD) for gaming and multimedia. We don't have any pictures or proof at this point, but it sounds like a whopper of a tale, and just the sort of thing that Intel was talking about making possible with the 10Gbps of bandwidth that Thunderbolt brings.

Sony crafting VAIOs with Chrome OS, external GPUs and Thunderbolt tech? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AMDBlu-rayChromeChrome OSChromeOsCore 2011Core-i7Core2011external gpuexternal graphicsExternalGpuExternalGraphicsGooglegpuHybrid PCHybridPcIntel Core 2011IntelCore2011laptoplaptopsnetbooknotebooknotebooksrumorrumorsSonyTegra 2Tegra2VAIOVAIO Hybrid PCVaioHybridPcWhistler XTWhistlerXtSat, 19 Mar 2011 19:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO S arrives stateside, brings along an advanced extended battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/sony-vaio-s-heads-stateside-this-month-brings-along-a-new-sort/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/sony-vaio-s-heads-stateside-this-month-brings-along-a-new-sort/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/sony-vaio-s-heads-stateside-this-month-brings-along-a-new-sort/#comments Oh, you were worried Sony wasn't going to release its new VAIO S ultraportable in the US? Okay, so it has taken the company a bit longer to prep the 13.3-inch laptop for its American debut, but it's here and it looks like it was well worth the wait. While Sony is holding that it will not replace the VAIO Z Series, which has just recently gone out of stock on Sony's website, there's no denying that it fills a similar high-end ultraportable spot. Don't be fooled by its inch-thick profile, it packs a serious amount of horsepower -- like the UK version, it will be configurable with Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors, AMD Radeon HD 6630 graphics with 1GB of VRAM (sadly, there's still a physical toggle for switching), Blu-ray, and a range of SSDs. As you can tell from the image above, the design drops the circular hinge of previous VAIOs, but the 3.8-pound machine is still made of magnesium and aluminum, has a backlit keyboard, while also sporting the option of a unique slice battery that meshes with the overall aesthetic.

However, that $150 extended cell isn't just any old battery -- it's said to provide a total of 15 hours of battery life when latched onto the bottom of the system and additionally it comes with its own adapter so it can be charged separately from the entire rig. Yep, this one is filled to the brim with the latest and greatest, and even better it doesn't seem terribly overpriced -- the $979 starting model packs a Core i5-2410 processor, those aforementioned AMD graphics, and a 320GB hard drive. It should be available for pre-order later today and we're hoping to bring you a full review of it soon, but until then we have a few hands-on shots of the laptop back at CES below.

Gallery: Sony VAIO S Series press shots


Gallery: Sony VAIO S mockups at CES

Continue reading Sony VAIO S arrives stateside, brings along an advanced extended battery

Sony VAIO S arrives stateside, brings along an advanced extended battery originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdAMD Radeon HD 6630AmdRadeonHd6630batteryCore 2011Core i5core i7Core2011CoreI5CoreI7extended batteryExtendedBatteryhands-onHD 6630Hd6630radeon hd 6630RadeonHd6630Sandy BridgeSandyBridgeSONYsony vaioSonyVaioSSeriesthin and lightThinAndLightvaiovaio SVAIO S SeriesVaioSVaioSSeriesMon, 07 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO CA and CB pack the latest Core i5 power for those who can look past the neon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/sony-vaio-ca-and-cb-pack-the-latest-core-i5-power-for-those-that/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/sony-vaio-ca-and-cb-pack-the-latest-core-i5-power-for-those-that/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/sony-vaio-ca-and-cb-pack-the-latest-core-i5-power-for-those-that/#comments We're aware, the "exclusive" green and orange neon color of Sony's VAIO CB and CA laptops can make your eyes bleed, but Sony's pretty excited about the aesthetic and the way it radiates light around the edges of the laptop. Oh, and don't forget how the touchpad "emits a beautiful glow." It's true, the rigs do have an interesting glow stick-like look to them -- at least, we thought so when we saw them last month -- however, we found their innards and features to be more enlightening. Starting at $800, the 14-inch CA10 and 15.5-inch CB10 will both be available with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 processors, AMD Radeon HD 6630 graphics, and Blu-ray drives. Select models will also pack Intel's WiDi 2.0, which lets you stream 1080p video to your TV. And remember Sony's Remote Keyboard, which lets you navigate your PS3 or Bravia TV with the laptop? Yep, the CA and CB both have that functionality baked in as well. What's that? You'd be interested if they didn't blind you? What if we also told you they will come in black and white? We thought that might change your mind, and according to the official press release below there will indeed be alternative color versions. You'll be able to pre-order them both on March 13th, but until then you can always see if the neon grows on you with the photos below.

Gallery: Sony VAIO CA and CB Series

Continue reading Sony VAIO CA and CB pack the latest Core i5 power for those who can look past the neon

Sony VAIO CA and CB pack the latest Core i5 power for those who can look past the neon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AMD RadeonAmdRadeonCA10CB10Core 2011Core i5Core2011CoreI5laptopRadeon 6630Radeon HDRadeon6630RadeonHdSandy BridgeSandyBridgeSONYsony vaioSonyVaiovaioVAIO CAVAIO CBVaioCaVaioCbWiDiWidi 2.0Widi2.0Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO S Series get an updated design, Core i5-2410M CPU and Radeon HD 6470M graphics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/sony-vaio-s-series-get-an-updated-design-core-i5-2410m-cpu-and/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/sony-vaio-s-series-get-an-updated-design-core-i5-2410m-cpu-and/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/sony-vaio-s-series-get-an-updated-design-core-i5-2410m-cpu-and/#comments Excuse us for a moment while we ponder Sony's product naming scheme. The company's VAIO S thin-and-light laptop range got upgraded specs at CES this January, which also happened to be the place and time that we first laid eyes on a set of "prototype" machines that seemed to target the same market segment. Lo and behold, after making some cameos at European online listings, the newly redesigned Sony 13-inchers are here, only they're still called... the VAIO S Series. For the trouble of figuring out which is which, you'll be rewarded with a 3.9-pound mobile computer with a 1366 x 768 screen, a 500GB hard drive, 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM, 802.11n WiFi, optional VAIO "everywair" 3G, a Radeon HD 6470M GPU with up to 1GB of dedicated memory, and what will presumably be a selection of Core i5 CPUs from Intel (at present we're only seeing the i5-2410M listed). Windows 7 is the inevitable OS on board, though Sony's enhanced it with a Fast Boot sequence that's said to halve the usual bootup time. Launch is scheduled for the end of March and you'll find a full spec sheet and release after the break.

Gallery: Sony VAIO S February 2011 press shots

Continue reading Sony VAIO S Series get an updated design, Core i5-2410M CPU and Radeon HD 6470M graphics

Sony VAIO S Series get an updated design, Core i5-2410M CPU and Radeon HD 6470M graphics originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13-inchamdcore 2011core i5core i5-2410mCore2011CoreI5CoreI5-2410meverywairhd 6470mHd6470mlaptoplaptopslaunchradeonreleases seriessonysony vaiosony vaio sSonyVaioSonyVaioSSSeriesthin and lightThinAndLightvaiovaio sVaioSwindows 7Windows7Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Sony 'S2' dual-screen Android clamshell and 9.4-inch Windows 7 VAIO slider due this year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/exclusive-sony-s2-dual-screen-android-clamshell-and-9-4-inch/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/exclusive-sony-s2-dual-screen-android-clamshell-and-9-4-inch/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/exclusive-sony-s2-dual-screen-android-clamshell-and-9-4-inch/#comments So, by now you've seen the PlayStation Certified Qriocity tablet known within Sony as the "S1." But that's not the only tablet the venerable Japanese company is preparing to launch in 2011. We've been told by a pair of highly trusted and proven sources that Sony is also working on two rather unconventional tablet form factors including a dual-screen Honeycomb clamshell and newfangled Windows 7 tablet slider.

First, let's look at the clamshell model sporting a pair of 5.5-inch displays -- a device first hinted at in a 2010 Sony patent application titled "Electronic Book with Enhanced Features." However, unlike the patent's blocky illustration, we're told that Sony's clamshell -- known as the "S2" internally -- more closely resembles an oval cylinder when closed as depicted in the illustration above. Spec-wise, we're told that it will be very similar in performance to the S1 with a Tegra 2 SoC and WiFi + 3G radio on the inside and front- and rear-facing cameras on the outside. And like the S1 tablet, the S2 will be focused on delivering Qriocity media to the consumer. Sorry, no word on whether the S2 is PlayStation Certified. Obviously, the S2 won't be running stock Honeycomb -- instead, Sony is currently optimizing the Android OS to make the most of those two displays. One source reports having seen Gmail running on a demonstration prototype where the list of messages is displayed on one screen with the body of the selected message displayed on the other. Maps, we're told, will display the map graphic on one display with the detailed turn-by-turn instructions or Streetview displayed on the other. Likewise, the S2 will display a video and picture navigation menu on one half of the clamshell with the selected content blown-up to fill the screen of the other. We're also told that these apps will work in a variety of orientations. Sounds interesting, to say the least. Regrettably, our sources are less than enthusiastic. Click through to find out why.

Continue reading Exclusive: Sony 'S2' dual-screen Android clamshell and 9.4-inch Windows 7 VAIO slider due this year

Exclusive: Sony 'S2' dual-screen Android clamshell and 9.4-inch Windows 7 VAIO slider due this year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gandroidandroid 3.0Android3.0clamshellexclusivegooglemicrosoftnvidiaplaystationplaystation certifiedPlaystationCertifiedqriocitys1s2slidersonytablettegra 2Tegra2vaiowifiwindowswindows 7Windows7Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Sony 'S1' PlayStation tablet (updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/exclusive-sony-s1-brings-qriocity-to-9-4-inch-honeycomb-table/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/exclusive-sony-s1-brings-qriocity-to-9-4-inch-honeycomb-table/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/exclusive-sony-s1-brings-qriocity-to-9-4-inch-honeycomb-table/#comments Think for a second, what major consumer electronics company doesn't have a tablet to show? Right, Sony. In fact, the rumor womb has been conspicuously barren of salacious Sony tablet tattle ever since Apple's iPad was announced back in 2010. Oh sure, Sony's owned-up to the development of prototypes that fill a "very important position" somewhere in between its own Vaio PC lineup and the Xperia Play byproduct of its Ericsson commingling. But beyond that: zilch, nada... until today.

We have a couple of tablets we'd like to tell you about, starting with a 9.4-inch honeypot of an Android 3.0 tablet. Details of which have been confirmed by two highly trusted and independent sources. Known by its "S1" codename internally, Sony is busy customizing Matias Duarte's Honeycomb interface to its own specification. Although, we're skeptical of Sony's software capabilities, we've been assured that Sony's work is cutting edge stuff created by a talented engineering team spanning Sony's VAIO, Reader, PlayStation, and Sony Ericsson product groups. The team is lead by the VAIO organization but will probably launch as a Sony product without VAIO branding, according to one source. Sony's custom-built transitions and UI elements have created a user experience that rivals and at times improves upon the iPad's renowned experience. The tablet itself, we're told, is 100 percent focused on Qriocity, Sony's music, games, ebooks, and videos on demand service that's just been launched in Europe. It comes preloaded with Sony PS One games, a Bravia Media Remote, and yes, PlayStation integration -- though it's unclear if that'll be limited to Remote Play or if the Android tablet will be PlayStation Suite certified. One source speculates that it could very well get the PlayStation gaming seal of approval by the time it ships -- but that's just an educated guess.

Update: We now have confirmation that the S1 is indeed PlayStation Certified making this a full-blown media and gaming tablet. We've also revised the illustration above to make the top less pronounced.

So what about that curvaceous mockup above? A design described to us as "beautiful, the best thing" one source has ever seen from Sony. Click through the break and we'll explain.

Continue reading Exclusive: Sony 'S1' PlayStation tablet (updated)

Exclusive: Sony 'S1' PlayStation tablet (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9.4 inch9.4Inchbravia media remoteBraviaMediaRemotedesignexclusivehoneycombinfraredIrmedia remoteMediaRemoteplaystationplaystation suiteplaystation tabletPlaystationSuitePlaystationTabletps oneps tabletPsOnePsTabletqriocityremote playRemotePlays1slatesonysony ericssonSonyEricssontabletvaioWed, 16 Feb 2011 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO YB now shipping AMD Fusion to your door for $600]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/sony-vaio-yb-now-shipping-amd-fusion-to-your-door-for-600/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/sony-vaio-yb-now-shipping-amd-fusion-to-your-door-for-600/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/sony-vaio-yb-now-shipping-amd-fusion-to-your-door-for-600/#comments The wait on AMD's Fusion has been so long that we feel like we should pop open the bubbly every time another laptop ships with it. Latest off the assembly line is Sony's VAIO YB series, which gives you a 1.6GHz processor to make similarly-clocked Atoms AMD-green with envy, 4GB of RAM and 500GB of hard drive space, an 11.6-inch glossy screen with 1366 x 768 resolution, and up to six hours of battery life for $599.99. It's available in silver and pink varieties today, or you can wait a little while longer for Amazon to get stock of its lower-specced variant, with 2GB of RAM and 320GB of storage, which will cost you $50 less. See more of the VAIO YB in our CES hands-on gallery below.

Gallery: Sony shows off VAIO laptop with AMD Zacate goodness inside (hands-on)

Sony VAIO YB now shipping AMD Fusion to your door for $600 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.6ghz11.6-inchamazonamdand fusionAndFusiondatedirectx 11Directx11e-350fusionlaptoplaunchnotbookpricepricedpricingradeonreleaseshipmentsshippingsonysony vaiosony vaio ybSonyVaioSonyVaioYbvaiovaio ybVaioYbwindowswindows 7Windows7ybzacateMon, 07 Feb 2011 07:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO SA and SB show up at European e-tailers with 13-inch screens, Core i5 / i7 CPUs, SSD options]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/sony-vaio-sa-and-sb-show-up-at-european-e-tailers-with-13-inch-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/sony-vaio-sa-and-sb-show-up-at-european-e-tailers-with-13-inch-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/sony-vaio-sa-and-sb-show-up-at-european-e-tailers-with-13-inch-s/#comments Looks like Sony is preparing to freshen up the top end of its laptop range with a pair of new VAIO series, the SA and SB. An Intel Core i7-2620M is found populating a listing for an SA1X9E/XI model, alongside 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 128GB of SSD storage, AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics, and a 1600 x 900 resolution squeezed into a 13.3-inch screen. All that for a measly £1,571 (nearly $2,500). What's intriguing about that 2.7GHz dual-core CPU is that Intel lists a February 20th launch date for it, potentially giving us a hint as to when Sony will put the trigger with its refresh. The VAIO SB laptops are set to be the tamer offering, being built around the latest Core i5 chips, though we've yet to know for certain what any of these new machines will actually look like. So, for your speculative pleasure, we've embedded a video after the break with some prototypes spotted at CES that could end up slapped with the SA / SB labels.

Continue reading Sony VAIO SA and SB show up at European e-tailers with 13-inch screens, Core i5 / i7 CPUs, SSD options

Sony VAIO SA and SB show up at European e-tailers with 13-inch screens, Core i5 / i7 CPUs, SSD options originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core 2011core i5core i5-2410mcore i7core i7-2620mCore2011CoreI5CoreI5-2410mCoreI7CoreI7-2620mintellaptoplaptopsSandy BridgeSandyBridgesonyvaiovaio savaio sbVaioSaVaioSbvideoWed, 26 Jan 2011 01:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony intros new VAIO L Series Touch HD PC/TV all-in-one and VAIO F 3D laptop]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/sony-intros-new-vaio-l-series-touch-hd-pc-tv-all-in-one-and-vaio/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/sony-intros-new-vaio-l-series-touch-hd-pc-tv-all-in-one-and-vaio/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/sony-intros-new-vaio-l-series-touch-hd-pc-tv-all-in-one-and-vaio/#comments It's about time Sony brought some of its Bravia learnings over to the VAIO side of things, and both the new L Series all-in-one and VAIO F 3D laptop clearly show Sony's home theater roots. The L Series may appear to be just another multitouch 24-inch AIO, but the display is surrounded by a new infared border that contains shortcuts for closing windows, opening programs or shutting down the machine. What's the point of that? Sony tells us it was built to take advantage of the extra screen real estate and add some easy shortcuts on top of Windows 7. Besides that, the Core i7-powered system has HDMI in and out ports in case you want to just use the system as a display and can be configured with a Blu-ray drive/burner for writing all those recorded Jersey Shore episodes. We told you it was more like a TV than previous versions. Starting at $1,200, the L can be configured to your liking, but all models will come with NVIDIA's latest GeForce GT500M graphics, Dolby Home Theater speakers as well as a wireless keyboard and mouse.

On the more mobile side, Sony's brought its 3D talents down to the 16-inch VAIO F Series. Packing Intel's second generation quad-core Core i7 processors and NVIDIA's latest GeForce GT540M GPU, the F isn't just a mother of a gaming rig, but its built-in 3D transmitter, Full HD 3D LED backlight, and its 1920 x 1080-resolution display provides one heck of a viewing experience. Sony is using NVIDIA's 3D technology at the core, but it's also done some significant tweaking on top to enhance refresh rates and viewing angles. Oh, and did we mention that it has a 3D button to convert 2D video and Blu-ray and DVD to 3D in real time? It's pretty much the multimedia laptop of the year, but be prepared to set aside $1,700. Both the F Series 3D and L Series will be available next month from Sony, but it shouldn't be too long before we can bring you some more impressions from the show floor. Until then enjoy dreaming up what you'd do with either one of these with the shots below and the press releases after the break.

Gallery: Sony VAIO F and L Series

Continue reading Sony intros new VAIO L Series Touch HD PC/TV all-in-one and VAIO F 3D laptop

Sony intros new VAIO L Series Touch HD PC/TV all-in-one and VAIO F 3D laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dces 2011ces2011Core 2011Core2011geforce gt 500mGeforceGt500mnvidiaNVIDIA GeForce GT 500MNVIDIA GeForce GT540MNvidiaGeforceGt500mNvidiaGeforceGt540mvaiovaio Fvaio LVAIO L SeriesVaio LT HD PCTVVaioFVaioLVaioLSeriesVaioLtHdPctvWed, 05 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST