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Sony reveals choice of free game downloads as part of PSN 'Welcome Back' program
PlayStation Network and Qriocity haven't even been back for 48 hours, but Sony is already explaining its "Welcome Back" program. The company detailed its "Customer Appreciation Program" this afternoon for North America and Europe on its regional PlayStation blogs, laying out a long list of free stuff that PSN users are eligible to receive as a thank you for weathering the outage. Aside from offering the previously announced free 30 days of PlayStation Plus for all PSN users, the company is giving away two free PlayStation 3 games and two free PlayStation Portable games, all from two lists of (mostly) wonderful releases. The European Union is being offered similar titles, with a few notable swaps (Super Stardust HD is an option in the US, replaced by Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty in the EU). Additionally, an unnamed selection of "On Us" movies will be available for free rental on an unspecified weekend in the coming weeks. Oh, and those of you who were already paying for PlayStation Plus? You'll get an additional 60 days of free subscription time tacked on to your existing plan. And, for the Home loyal among us, "100 free virtual items" will be made available at some point soon. Sony hopes to offer all of this stuff as soon as possible, noting that it is waiting for all services to be fully restored before it does. Head past the break for a full list of options in both North America and Europe.
PlayStation Network restoration begins, first phase includes online play
Following the release of firmware 3.61, Sony has announced that PlayStation Network and Qriocity restoration will be rolled out in phases, country by country, starting with the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. The first phase, leading up to a "full" return by the end of May, includes the following services: Sign-in for PlayStation®Network and Qriocity services, including the resetting of passwords Restoration of online game-play across PS3 and PSP Playback rental video content, if within rental period, of PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service on PS3, PSP and MediaGo Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, for current subscribers, on PS3 and PC Access to 3rd party services such as Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and MLB.tv 'Friends' category on PS3, including Friends List, Chat Functionality, Trophy Comparison, etc PlayStation Home When is restoration coming to you? If you're in America, you'll want to keep an eye on Sony's roll-out map -- if your state is highlighted, it means PSN is back on. This is a great way to communicate the PSN's progress, provided it's updated regularly. While you wait -- Sony adds that some services will take some time to become active in your area -- watch Kaz Hirai announcing the PSN's long-awaited return. (And be sure to change your password once you are able to sign in!)
Report: Sony plans to restart PSN services 'fully' by May 31
While Sony works to restore components of PlayStation Network and its Qriocity music service, a Tokyo-based representative of the company projects that both will be fully restored by the end of May. Speaking to Bloomberg, Shigenori Yushida stated that a complete reboot of Sony's online suite would be initiated by May 31. What exactly comes on before then remains to be seen. Sony aimed to re-launch some services (including Home, chat functionality and friends lists) during last week, but delayed its plans in order to finalize testing of what it claims is a reconstructed and more secure network. For the time being, Sony will likely focus on getting new PS3 firmware out to allow users to update their usernames and passwords, and restoring online gaming, which has been deactivated since April 20. Since then, PS3 versions of big releases like Portal 2 and Mortal Kombat have been locked out of online play. To make the timing especially awkward, Splash Damage's multiplayer-focused shooter, Brink, is making its debut this week.
Engadget Podcast 238 - 05.06.2011
We'll tell you what: if you even blink these days, you're gonna miss a special guest on the Engadget Podcast. This week we've got Joystiq's Chris Grant in the house to shoot the shizzle on Sony's network hurt and the Wii 3D IMAX rumors bubbling up all around us. And we lure Richard Lawler to step out on his old lady, the Engadget HD Podcast, for a romp on the possibly slightly wilder side of the tracks. Let's do it: let's talk tech.Host: Tim StevensGuests: Chris Grant, Brian Heater, Richard LawlerProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: You Shook Me All Night Long02:15 - Apple iMac hands-on, with dual 30-inch displays! (video)03:00 - Apple iMac refresh official: Thunderbolt and next gen quad-core processors03:45 - AT&T officially announces HP Veer 4G, available May 15th for $100 (update)04:55 - Star Wars Blu-ray set ships Sept. 12th/16th (world/NA), has 40 hours of special features06:35 - Dish Network, EchoStar will pay TiVo $500 million to settle DVR lawsuit07:55 - Latest Windows 8 leaks reveal cloud-based settings, more app store evidence09:35 - Droid Charge review11:16 - Verizon document suggests LG Revolution will have Netflix pre-installed13:47 - Sony promises 'phased restoration' of PlayStation Network and Qriocity starting this week20:22 - Sony woes continue as SOE confirms data breach (update: 24.6 million accounts affected)31:03 - Sony responds to Congress: all 77 million PSN accounts compromised, finger pointed at Anonymous33:52 - BlackBerry Bold 9900 hands-on (update: video)34:30 - BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 (Bold Touch) official34:45 - BlackBerry Bold Touch makes brief appearance on RIM's website35:05 - Android apps on PlayBook eyes-on (video)35:48 - RIM announces BlackBerry 7 OS with better browser and BlackBerry Balance, but no legacy support38:10 - Nintendo drops Wii price to $150 from May 15th, throws in a free Wii Wheel and copy of Mario Kart48:05 - Nielsen estimates show first drop in TV ownership in 20 years, Mayans nod approvingly50:40 - We won some Webby Awards, and now you can win a BlackBerry PlayBook!51:44 - Listener questionsHear the podcastSubscribe to the podcast[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune MarketplaceDownload the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC)LISTEN (OGG)Contact the podcastSend your questions to @tim_stevens.Twitter: @tim_stevens @bheater @chrisgrant @rjcc
Sony offers free Debix identify theft protection for PSN and Qriocity hack victims in US
Sony's "Welcome Back" package of free software and PlayStation Plus subscriptions was a nice gesture, but it won't help you if your credit card gets fraudulently charged in the aftermath of the PlayStation Network debacle. That, however, is exactly what Debix is for. Sony's announced that it will provide a complimentary one-year subscription to Debix's "AllClear ID Plus" identity theft protection service to all PlayStation Network and Qriocity account holders in the United States, which will attempt to protect your personal data from harm, by both monitoring known criminal activity for your private digits and providing up to $1 million in ID theft insurance coverage. We've never used Debix, so we can't vouch for its reliability, and this particular plan admittedly doesn't look quite as comprehensive as the one Debix offers regular customers for $10 a month. Still, some peace of mind is a heck of a lot better than none, so we think we might take Sony up on its offer and sign up by the June 18th deadline. If you'd like to join us, you should find an activation code in your inbox before long.
Canadian firm proposes class action against Sony to the tune of $1B in damages
A proposed class action lawsuit filed in Ontario, Canada against Sony over the PlayStation Network breach is shooting for the jackpot. The suit claims damages "in excess of $1 billion" for the breach of consumer privacy, in part to cover the costs of credit monitoring and fraud insurance over two years for the estimated 1 million PSN and Qriocity users living in Canada. Toronto law firm McPhadden Samac Tuovi has proposed the class action against Sony Japan, Sony USA, Sony Canada and other Sony "entities," and added in its press release, "While Sony has advised American users about the availability of free credit reports, it has yet to advice Canadian users about credit reports." Filed on behalf of representative plaintiff Natasha Maksimovic, the claim alleges Sony exposed its customers to identity and financial theft, in addition to "fear, anxiety (and) emotional distress," according to The Canadian Press. Maksimovic, 21, of Mississauga, Ont., has been described by the law firm as "an avid PlayStation user for years," who signed up for PSN and Qriocity for use on her PSP and Sony e-book. "If you can't trust a huge multinational corporation like Sony to protect your private information, who can you trust?" she asked in the firm's release. "It appears to me that Sony focuses more on protecting its games than its PlayStation users." Sony has 20 days to file a statement of defense in Canada and additional time to do so in the US and elsewhere.
Sony: response to PSN outage was dependent on 'forensic analysis'
What happened after Sony pulled the plug on PlayStation Network, and before it finally alerted customers that their information had been compromised during an unlawful intrusion? According to SCEE head of communications Nick Caplin, writing in a post on the European PlayStation blog this morning, Sony's lackluster communication efforts were impeded because the company didn't immediately assume the worst. "There's a difference in timing between when we identified there was an intrusion and when we learned of consumers' data being compromised," Caplin says. He goes on to explain that Sony learned of the "illegal intrusion" on April 19 and "subsequently shut the services down," though the official FAQ he links to in his post claims that Sony found the breach "between April 17 and 19." Furthermore, Caplin says that after shutting down PSN and Qriocity, "It was necessary to conduct several days of forensic analysis, and it took our experts until yesterday to understand the scope of the breach." There's your disparity. The FAQ further notes that services will remain down until Sony can "verify smooth operation" of its network, though the company is "working hard to resume the services as soon as we can be reasonably assured security concerns are addressed." It also notes that folks looking for refunds may be out of luck for the moment, as Sony "will assess the correct course of action" regarding such requests when "full services are restored." Beyond one US Senator politicizing Sony's info breach, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office also announced today that it would be questioning the company on the issue. "We are contacting Sony and will be making further enquiries to establish the precise nature of the incident before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken by this office," the ICO said of its plans in a statement to Eurogamer.
Sony provides PSN update, confirms a 'compromise of personal information' (updated)
It's looking like things are just as bad as we feared and that "external intrusion" got a little deeper than we might have liked. In an update on its PlayStation.Blog, Sony just confirmed that the ongoing PSN outage was caused by "malicious actions," which we already knew, but continues by indicating that there has also been "a compromise of personal information." Exactly what that means Sony isn't saying, and it stops short of saying that credit card data for PSN and Qriocity users has been exposed, but the company does say "your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained." Yes, it may have been obtained -- even Sony isn't sure. There's no further ETA for when PSN may be back up online or when you might be able to finally sample Portal 2's delicious online co-op mode, but at least you can still watch Netflix. Update: Our friends at Joystiq are reporting that Connecticut Senator Blumenthal is rip roarin' mad about the situation, "demanding answers" from SCEA president Jack Tretton. Right now, we're more curious what Kevin Butler has to say about things. Update 2: Sony UK is shedding more light on just what data has been exposed, and frankly we were happier when it was dark. By the sound of things, everything Sony had about you has been accessed. There's a full list after the break, so only click on through if you dare. Update 3: Sony's just posted a clarification regarding the delay of their response: in a nutshell, PSN was shut down after the intrusion on April 19th, and the company needed to work with outside experts to "understand the scope of the breach" before posting the full lowdown earlier today. For those interested, Sony has a lengthy FAQ page regarding this incident. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Watch Netflix on your PS3 while PlayStation Network is down
As the PlayStation Network outage continues on with no word on a resolution, we can't get your PS3 online for Call of Duty: Black Ops but if all you want is a quick Netflix fix and haven't already figured it out, here's some help. A post on HackingNetflix points out that merely skipping through the login error screens (hitting the button to try to login and waiting worked best for us) is allowing many to access their queues and stream movies. We were able to get through to our Netflix queue a few days ago using this message, but we were stopped cold when we tried to actually stream a movie by an unskippable failure to connect to PSN screen that is probably due to our console's status as a rarely used streaming option. Unfortunately this method won't help with Hulu Plus and when it comes to Qriocity...was anyone ever using Qriocity?
Sony S1 and S2 dual-screen Honeycomb tablets get official (video)
Sony's hosting a press event in Tokyo today where it just made the first announcement: a pair of Android 3.0 tablets -- yes, the very two Honeycomb slabs we told you about exclusively back in February. The first is the Qriocity-focused 9.4-inch S1 media tablet with both front- and rear-facing cameras and a curved wrap design that resembles a folded magazine. The S1 features a Tegra 2 SoC and customized "Quick and Smooth" touch panel UI with "Swift" web browser. It can also be used as a remote control for Sony gear thanks to integrated infrared. The second tablet is the dual-screen S2 clamshell with its pair of 5.5-inch 1,024 x 480 pixel displays, Tegra 2 SoC, and camera. While it sounds bulky, Kunimasa Suzuki just pulled the hinged tablet from his jacket pocket on stage. Sony takes advantage of the two screens with a custom book-style UI layout for its e-reader app, split keyboard and messaging displays for email, and split display and game controllers for PS One gaming. Both the S1 and S2 are PlayStation Certified, support DLNA, and are WiFi and 3G/4G "compatible" according to Sony. See the Sony tablets codenamed "S1" and "S2" in action after the break on their way to a global release in the fall -- possibly sooner in the US. P.S. While the company isn't ready to talk prices yet, our sources told us back in February that Sony was considering a $599 MSRP on the S1 while the S2 would likely come in at $699. Still no word on the Windows 7 slider but with the other two leaks official, it's now only a matter of time. %Gallery-122248% %Gallery-122251% %Gallery-122257%
Sony still investigating scope of PSN attack as maintenance outage enters Day 6
As Sony's forced PlayStation Network and Qriocity outages continue, stretching into what is officially Day 6, the company issued a very un-update to would-be users this morning: "Unfortunately, I don't have an update or timeframe to share at this point in time," said corp. comm. director Patrick Seybold on the PlayStation Blog. "As we previously noted, this is a time intensive process and we're working to get them back online quickly." Speaking to PCWorld, SCEJ spokesperson Satoshi Fukuoka clarified that a "thorough investigation" was ongoing into what the company has characterized as an "external intrusion" into its system, which prompted the service suspensions. More troubling than any frustration caused by downtime over this past weekend, however, is the continued uncertainty about the extent of the attack. According to Fukuoka, Sony had yet to determine if users' personal information or credit card numbers had been accessed by the apparent hackers. If that's found to be the case, he assured, Sony would promptly inform those potentially affected. On Saturday, Seybold noted that "additional security" would be put in place before the services relaunch, calling this "re-building" effort both "time-consuming" and "necessary."
PlayStation Network outage caused by 'external intrusion,' continues for third day
It started on a quiet Wednesday night, with PlayStation gamers finding their Network unresponsive to their login attempts, and now continues well into its third day. Sony has now finally shed some light on the problems it's been having with PSN and, to nobody's surprise, the culprit for its troubles has been identified as "an external intrusion." The current downtime for PSN is the second of its kind this month, with the Anonymous group of online crusaders claiming responsibility for the first. Sony now intends to keep both PSN and its Qriocity music streaming service offline until it can pinpoint the vulnerability that has been exploited and put a stop to it. Skip past the break for the company's full statement. Update: The PlayStation Blog has added an update to its US portal this evening that suggests the service disruption may continue for a good while longer -- according to Sony's Patrick Seybold, the company is "rebuilding our system to further strengthen our network infrastructure," and working non-stop to do so. [Thanks, Christian and Joe]
Qriocity music streaming app on PSP today
It's now possible to access Music Unlimited Powered by Qriocity anywhere you can get a Wi-Fi signal. The PSP can now use the streaming music service, which offers "more than seven million songs" to paying users, with two tiers of playlist customization. Sony announced this morning that the PSP app is now available in "UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand." Today is also the planned release date for the US. If you'd like to try Qriocity, Sony is offering 30-day trials to PSN members here.
PSP starts streaming Music Unlimited on April 14th
What started as loose-lipped tattle is now official: the PSP will get a taste of Sony's Music Unlimited streaming music service starting on April 14th. The service, tortuously entitled "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" by Sony, requires a PlayStation Network ID to access all that digital audio. Once setup, Sony promises a "synchronized music experience" across your PSP, PS3, PC, and other network-enabled Sony devices like Bravia TVs and Blu-ray players -- a claim backed by a cloud-based catalog of some seven million tracks supported by a "music sync" functionality that will automatically organize your Music Unlimited library after perusing the local files and playlists found in your existing media player (yes, iTunes is supported). Click through the break for the full press release and a good video overview of the service while you ponder the $3.99 basic and $9.99 premium monthly service fees.
Music Unlimited platform coming to PSP, NGP and Xperia Play
In a recent interview with Eurogamer, COO of Sony Network Entertainment Shawn Layden confirmed that the company's Music Unlimited platform would soon make its way to PSP owners living in the UK in "a matter of weeks," and would appear on the NGP and Xperia Play later this year. The cloud-based music streaming service (which kicked off in the U.S. this year as part of the PS3's Qriocity application) will let listeners access their music and genre channels set up on a PC or PS3 on-the-go -- for a monthly fee, of course. We've contacted Sony to see if this info applies to the States as well. Layden explained the inspiration came from the PSP and PS3's ability to share games between one another, adding that Sony hopes to, "bring all those different content domains into a more comprehensive space for the user." Hey, we're all about synergy, here. We just hope Sony finds a way to add Qriocity support to our most anticipated NGP launch title, Now That's How I Touch Music: Vol. 6.
Sony's Music Unlimited streaming service coming to NGP, will hit Xperia Play this year and PSP 'in a matter of weeks'
It may sound patently obvious at this point, but there's still cause to celebrate -- Sony's streaming subscription music service, Music Unlimited, is headed to both the PlayStation Portable and its pair of divergent spiritual successors the Next Generation Portable and Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play. Eurogamer sat down with Sony Network Entertainment VP Shawn Layden, who spread the news readily, confirming that the service would be activated (at least in the UK) on PlayStation Portable "in a matter of weeks." Meanwhile, Android phones including the infamous PlayStation handset will get Music Unlimited "this year," and SNE "will make it happen" on the NGP as well, presumably sometime after the company reveals when its beast of a portable game station will actually come out. All in the name of taking your tunes with you wherever you happen to travel -- a concept that's getting rather popular right now.
Amazon negotiating for Cloud Player music licensing deals after all?
Publically, Amazon wants you to think it doesn't care about licensing the music that it will let you store in the cloud, but privately we're hearing the company is scrambling like mad to work things out with angry music labels as we speak. Specifically, the Wall Street Journal cites a pair of anonymous sources who say Amazon's actually negotiating deals with the four major labels right now -- though Amazon won't confirm such a thing -- which the e-tailer hopes to close in a matter of weeks. What's more, they say Amazon may move to a system that compares users' uploaded songs with a database of those tunes it's managed to licence should the deal go through -- a system much like Sony's Music Unlimited, by the sound of it. It shouldn't come as any surprise, then, that the Journal quotes Sony Music chairman Martin Bandier in its final paragraph, who makes his pointed indignation at Amazon's announcement heard: "This is just another land grab. I can't make it any plainer than that. It's really disrespectful, and of course we are considering all of our options." Nothing like a little bit of mainstream media coverage to help pressure a business deal.
Amazon Cloud Player upsets Sony Music over streaming license, Amazon shrugs
In case you missed the news, last night Amazon gave us a little surprise by launching its free Cloud Player service, which lets you stream your music collection from the cloud to your computer or Android device. While this has no doubt put a smile on many faces (American ones only, for now), Sony Music isn't too happy about Amazon jumping the gun over licensing for streaming rights. The record label told Reuters that it's hoping Amazon "will reach a new license deal, but we're keeping all of our legal options open." Yikes. In retaliation, Amazon responded with the following statement to Ars Tehcnica: "Cloud Player is an application that lets customers manage and play their own music. It's like any number of existing media management applications. We do not need a license to make Cloud Player available. The functionality of saving MP3s to Cloud Drive is the same as if a customer were to save their music to an external hard drive or even iTunes." Of course, the bigger story here is that Amazon's free Cloud Player is going head-to-head with Sony's Music Unlimited streaming subscription service, which was pushed out last month after plenty of money talk with various record labels. Understandably, Sony isn't willing to let Amazon cut through the red tape here without a fight, and this may also affect similar music locker services like mSpot and MP3Tunes, albeit at a much smaller scale. In fact, Sony's already expressed its discomfort with those particular companies' mode of operation, so you can probably expect to see this tension boiling over to some form of legal action before long. Now that a big shot like Amazon's involved, it's almost inevitable. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony takes Qriocity on tour, hosting concerts with Big Boi, DeVotchKa
Sony's enlisting some heavy hitters to help promote its PSN-integrated music platform, Qriocity -- the company recently announced a list of events across Europe and North America, including two stops that will feature live performances by DeVotchKa and Big Boi. You'll recognize that first name as the artist behind the accompaniment to Gears of War 2's memorable "Last Day" ad. You'll recognize that second name because it's Big Boi. C'mon, everyone on Earth knows who Big Boi is. Check out the list of events scheduled for the global Qriocity tour after the jump.
Sony Google TV devices get a modest upgrade with Music Unlimited, WMA playback -- but no Android Market
It's been a few months since all Google TV devices got their first major update and while Logitech's Revue is standing pat, Sony started pushing the 2011030201ON update to its Blu-ray player and Internet TVs this weekend. As seen above it adds access to the new Music Unlimited part of the Qriocity service, the ability to play back WMA files and tweaks WiFi connection stability. That's all well and good, but we're probably not the only ones already looking forward to the next major update with its potential of a performance boost and access to the Android Market (without the need for any soldering irons) however that appears unlikely to arrive this far ahead of Google's I/O conference in May. [Thanks, Andrew, Kyle, Dan and Felipe]
