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Select Sony stores selling PS Vita 3G for $200
A majority of the Sony stores across the US have dropped the price of the 3G-compatible PlayStation Vita, down to $199.97. The base 3G bundle includes the handheld, an 8GB memory card and a voucher for a free PlayStation Network game – if you sign up for data coverage, that is.The image above comes from a Century City store in LA. Save for a couple of stores on the East Coast that had closed once we started hitting the phones, we called each and every Sony store location to confirm. An employee at the Denver location surmised this was a permanent price drop due to a discontinuation of the model and said there was no time frame on the sale in his system, which means Sony can end the sale whenever.The New Jersey and Las Vegas locations also told me the 3G model was being discontinued, while an employee in Seattle said the sale would only last until Sunday. Other locations still had old pricing in their systems and had no idea what I was asking about – and Sony has yet to bring the price down online.Last month, Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida told Joystiq a price drop for the PS Vita in North America wasn't happening, even though Sony had just announced it would lower the price in Japan.For the full list of eligible stores, head past the break.
Sony said to have stopped PSP Go production, curiously fails to deny it
Oh, what tangled webs of non-denials we all weave. A Japanese blogger working for an official Sony retail partner has reported intel from the PlayStation maker that production of its PSP Go handheld has been halted. Moreover, the Sony Style Japan online store no longer lists the portable and searching for it provides no results. You can only access its product page via a direct link (provided below), but even that shows it as out of stock. So, what has Sony got to say on the matter to allay fears that its troubled console lives on? Well, demand for "current generation PSPs" will continue to be met, apparently, and the NGP is going be really, really awesome when it launches at the end of the year. Hey, if there's zero demand for the PSP Go and you produce zero PSP Go units, then you are technically matching supply to demand. Well played, Sony, well played.
Sony offers sneak peek of new LA store - no fooling (video)
You might see a bunch of fake news on the internet tomorrow, but considering what we've seen of Sony's new LA storefront, we're fairly certain this isn't a prank. That's right, Sony's launching a newly branded retail store in the City of Angels Friday, and from the look of things, it spared no expense. The 4,200-square foot space is the first to ditch the Sony Style moniker for the simpler Sony Store, and while the aesthetics are decidedly minimal, the experience is anything but. As you might expect, the shop offers demos of a slew of devices; it's packed full of everything from VAIOs to ray modelers to 3D Handycams, and it's also rocking a fully loaded home theater setup called "The Cube." Considering the outfit's been looking to up its retail cred, we'd say the new spot has the stuff to do the job, even if that bright white modular look does seem strangely familiar. If you're in the LA area, you can check out the new digs starting tomorrow -- if not, hit up the guided video tour above.
Sony Style stores to air X Games 16 in 3D tonight, Saturday
Don't have a 3DTV setup yet, but still want to get a piece of ESPN 3D's X Games 16 production? Grab a map and find the nearest Sony Style -- and hope it's open past 8 tonight, past 7 Saturday -- since they will be displaying the broadcasts during store hours. Tonight's featured event is Moto X Freestyle, while Saturday the rally cars and their in-car 3D cameras take center stage. If you get a chance to check it out, let us know what you think, or if any other retailers are taking advantage of some new 3D content to try and get customers in the door.
Keepin' it real fake: Sony Style L80 mini laptop cuts the VAIO P's price down to size
The Sony VAIO P: it's a lovely little, pocket-friendly machine that suffers from one glaring flaw: high price. Leave it to the boffins at Sony Style to come up with a solution for that. No, not Sony's Sony Style retailer, but rather KIRF manufacturer Sony Style, which has crafted this 1.6GHz Atom-powered mini laptop with a 1024 x 600, 8.9-inch screen and a "16GB hard disk" that is either actually an SSD or was manufactured sometime in the late '90s. It offers 1GB of memory (double that for $35 more), WiFi and, according to the specs, "you can carry it to go outside." The price for that kind of convenience? Just $299 -- or $275 if you buy 16 of 'em. Who wants to set up the group buy?
Sony thinks E Color is the new black, gives you a whole site's worth to choose from
If your gear isn't pushing the performance envelope, you typically have to resort to alternative means for attracting those precious customers. Sony's newish VAIO E series is an exponent of just such a philosophy, with its lurid colorings and replaceable keyboard skins. The company's decided to take things up a notch, however, by now offering a Color Combo site where we can combine the gnarliest hue mismatches this side of Colorware. The chromatic choices include the laptop's case and keyboard as well as the additions of a wireless mouse and a reversible sleeve. Everything that isn't bolted down to the computer will of course cost you extra, but will you really let a little bit of cash stand between you and that magenta dream machine?
Sony 3DTVs go on pre-sale at Sony Style stores immediately, 'Cloudy' hits Blu-ray 3D June 22
After getting price and release date information in the UK, Japan and even Canada, Sony has finally seen fit to announce US details for the latest and greatest additions to the BRAVIA LCD lineup. Additionally, the software update to turn on Blu-ray 3D playback and DLNA streaming in its latest players (the out of the box 3D ready BDP-S770 ships next month) is going out today, provided you can find a disc to slip in them -- which you can't until Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs arrives at retail June 22. Just like the other launches, buyers of the new TVs can expect a copy of that movie, Deep Sea, and vouchers for 3D games on the PlayStation Network (once it comes back up.) Oh, and how much will you be spending on the new televisions? Check after the break for all the details, but MSRPs (expect much lower prices in reality, as revealed by JR.com) range from $2,100 for the KDL-40HX800 to $5,000 for a 60-inch BR-60LX900. No word yet on when you'll be able to pick up these displays at any other retailers, but if Sony is your preferred brand for 3D, you'll need to run by a Sony Style store to have a chance of sticking one on the wall in time for the 2010 World Cup.
MGS: Peace Walker Walkman, for the Big Boss who has everything
Sony and Konami have partnered on a new Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker MP3 player, no doubt modeled closely after the kind of MP3 players used by real mercenaries in 1974. The NWD-W253Z Walkman is a special edition of a new waterproof (!), wrap-around Walkman MP3 player, featuring an original camouflage design and preloaded with six songs from Peace Walker. The 4GB Walkman will be released in Japan in "mid-May" for ¥11,800 ($128). Each order will include a voucher for downloadable in-game characters (in Walkman apparel, of course!). One version of the device, limited to 2GB, will become available in the US at an unspecified date. [Via Siliconera]
Magnificent wormhole to 2009 spontaneously opens in Sony Style store, expels Satio, closes
Hey, if you want to pay $650 for a phone announced in February of last year, don't let us stop you -- just don't get too close to the blinding light. Alternatively, you can use the same wormhole to travel to circa-October 2009 London and buy a retail unit, then take another wormhole to December 2009 where you'll be offered some firmware to make it not suck. The choice is yours.
Sony opens idyllic new retail store in Nagoya, Japan
We heard back in January that Sony was looking to reface itself somewhat by introducing a minty fresh retail look that takes a note or two from the Apple and Microsoft shops already in existence, and for those lucky enough to find themselves in Nagoya this weekend, you can check it out in person. March 13th marked the opening of the all new Sony Store Nagoya, and with an ample of amount of glass, white demo stands and black overhead signs, it's certainly one of the more seductive retail shops that we've seen. We'd bother knocking Sony for following instead of leading, but considering just how far the brand has fallen over the past couple of years, we're just stoked to see it putting forth an effort to turn things around.
Take aim at big prizes in MAG tournament
Amidst all the debate about whether or not MAG qualifies as an MMO, not to mention the recent Playstation Network brouhaha, it might be easy to lose sight of the actual game underneath everything. And it'd be a shame if you did, because you'd be missing out on a tournament centering around MAG run by Major League Gaming's Gamebattles site. The prizes? Straight-up cash money. Well, straight-up Sony Style gift cards and Playstation Home items, which is just about as good. (Although you can't rifle through a $1500 gift card like a pack of twenties.) Here are the details: the tournament will have three phases, with each lasting one full month. Each phase is a contest to earn the highest score in a different area -- MAG XP for March, headshots for April, and total kills for May. There will be leaderboards available on the site, as well, to help track how well you're doing compared to all the entrants. If you think you've got what it takes to make the top of the charts, head on over and take a look at the official entry rules. And no matter what, it couldn't hurt to give it a shot.
Sony Ericsson's eco-loving Naite now available from Sony Style
Following availability on Rogers by just a handful of days, Sony Ericsson is now talking up availability of the simple Naite candybar down south of the border -- but it's not through a carrier this time. Instead, you'll need to stroll into your local Sony Style store (or order online) to get it unlocked and unsubsidized. Oftentimes that's a brutal situation financially, but seeing how the Naite is a rather low-end device, these guys are charging just $159 for the privilege of using a device touting a case made of 50 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and an ultra-eco charger. It's available right now -- a good backup phone, perhaps?
Sony Style stores proclaimed 3D ready, are you?
Last we'd heard, some of Sony's retail locations had 3D capable displays in to show off, but no software to run on them. Today the company has announced all 42 Sony Style stores are equipped with LX900, HX900 and HX800 series BRAVIA LCDs ready to show 3DTV to the world. If the new technology has any chance of success in the home, eyes-on demos will be key since it's not a difference easily explained without experience, something its competitor Panasonic is also familiar with, judging by its plans for a nationwide tour and VP Bob Perry's statement that "if a retailer cannot properly display it we will not allow them to sell it." We got our eyes on plenty of 3D during CES, but for most of you a trip to the store will be necessary to check out the latest and (hopefully) greatest, let us know in the comments if it impressed.
Sony releases TransferJet wireless Memory Stick in Japan, taking pre-orders in the US
Oh Sony, you just like to tease us, don't you? Two weeks after a brief mention at CES, Japan's been given the introductory taste of this tech giant's first ever TransferJet wireless Memory Stick. Meanwhile, Sony Style US has quietly added the same card for pre-order at $99.99 and cites February 8th as the possible launch date -- a slight delay from Sony's promised January launch. If the party's big enough, this TransferJet close-proximity radio technology could signal the death of cables and bulky card readers, but you'll still need compatible devices to work that magic on this memory stick. Sony will sure need more than just a few cameras to get us to make-dot-believe in this new ecosystem.
Black Friday deals roundup, starring SonyStyle, Sam's Club, and more
It's less than 24 hours before the US Consumer Conglomerate commences its attack on the brick-and-mortar retail battlefield. We've already seen a number of outlets show their Black Friday cards, but now some of the bigger guns are revealing their specials. SonyStyle is taking a couple hundred dollars off of VAIO laptops, and offering some even deeper discounts on BRAVIA TVs. Sam's Club? Sears? RadioShack? Yep, their fliers are now out in the open. Even Canada's getting in on the fun, at least as far as NCIX is concerned. Stuff yourself full of turkey tonight, there's a war coming -- we suggest you prepare properly. Bonus: Here's a list of our most recent other Black Friday round-ups. Black Friday deals roundup: Best Buy, Lenovo, Verizon and more Black Friday deals roundup: Walmart, Target and NewEgg Black Friday deals bonanza round up Black Friday ads leaking all over town, we've rounded them up Sears Black Friday ad revealed, we'll be sleeping off our tryptophan hangovers
SonyStyle price for DMX-WL1 Wireless HD streamer drops by $300
If price was the only thing separating your living room from a Sony DMX-WL1 wireless HD unit, maybe news that SonyStyle is unloading them for $499 (down from $799) is enough to initiate a purchase. Maybe having a pricing edge over the Gefen EXT-WHDMI setup is enough to separate the two, but Sony's pair is still limited to 1080i as opposed to 1080p streaming, so we'd take a careful look at the reviews before laying down green for either one, though we may just stick with our old school wired-HDMI lifestyle for now.
New Sony Walkman PMPs hit the internet, flash all kinds of colors
A whole new slew of Walkmans have hit Sony's New Zealand site, and we've got the goods on them. The new models, dubbed the NWZ-E435, NWZ-E436, and NWZ-E438 all sport a 2-inch QVGA LCD display, FM tuner, codec support for MP3, AAC, WMA, and Linear PCM files, and clock in at a very petite 8.5mm / 50g. The players will be available in 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB variations, with various color options for each model (except for the NWZ-E438, which only comes in black). Apparently, the PMPs play nice with both Windows Media Player and iTunes, offering drag and drop management for files. No word yet on price, regions, or release date, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for these sweet babies.[Via Sony Insider]
80GB PS3 goes missing from Sony Style site
Look, we're not trying to say anything, but that 40GB model looks real, real lonely sitting there on its own. Could it be possible that all those juicy rumors of a refreshed, resized PS3 package are actually coming to fruition? Maybe -- or maybe Sony is just downsizing big time... but we doubt it.[Thanks, Jason]Update: Reader Chris points out that the 80GB PS3 is still on the site, accessible and purchasable through the 40GB model's page. Still, seems a little suspicious to us.
20GB PS3 discontinued from Sony's official store
Well, if this isn't just a kick in the ol' keyboard! Seems that Sony's official store, SonyStyle, has taken down any listings of the 20GB PlayStation 3. That's correct, sir, all you see now is the 60GB model. Does this portend a worldwide shunning of the lower-end console, or is it simply being phased out in a different way? As in, available upon personal request, but no longer shipping en masse to stores alongside their 60GB brethren?Obviously, we don't have an answer, but we do have a little comment. That "lower end" model might become akin to those Beanie Babies way back in the 90's -- as in, the 20GB will become the "rare model" and be more respected. Sure, the chances of that are very slim, but who knows -- perhaps the lack of chrome trim and card readers and wireless internet will somehow turn into a good thing. Make absolutely no sense? Good, then our point is made.[Thanks, Jason!]
Last gasps of a dying format [Update 1]
Sony handled movie UMDs terribly, so it comes as no surprise that movie studios and retail stores are becoming reluctant in supporting the format. Recent exceptions, like Borat or Casino Royale, got me thinking: When will the last UMD movie be released? A trip to Sony Style lists "Stomp the Yard" as the last UMD available for pre-order, with a release date of May 15th. Amazon has a few other UMDs listed, but with release dates set in the year 2025, it's very likely that these UMDs have been canceled. In any case, it's painfully obvious this is the last year we'll see new UMD releases. Does anyone still buy new UMD movies, or do you simply buy them when they're on clearance? [Update 1: The ever-lovable Dave Karraker has sent us an e-mail, stating "There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that we are discontinuing the UMD format for PSP."]
