Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Sony Reader Daily Edition starts shipping, gets more newspapers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/22/sony-reader-daily-edition-starts-shipping-gets-more-newspapers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/22/sony-reader-daily-edition-starts-shipping-gets-more-newspapers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/22/sony-reader-daily-edition-starts-shipping-gets-more-newspapers/#commentsSony hedged its bets a bit in committing to ship date for its Reader Daily Edition when it first announced it, but it looks like it's managed to get the first ones out the door on the early end of its December 18th to January 8th estimate, with the initial batch of pre-orders shipping today. Unfortunately, anyone that didn't pre-order the e-reader is out of luck for the time being, as it's now back-ordered with a new estimated ship date of January 15th. In related news, Sony has also announced that it's signed up an additional 16 publications that will be offering wirelessly-delivered subscriptions on the Daily Edition, including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Baltimore Sun, and The Denver Post. None of those are exclusive to Sony, however, unlike the News Corp-owned publications that were announced last week.

Sony Reader Daily Edition starts shipping, gets more newspapers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily editionDailyEditione-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readernewspapernewspapersreader daily editionReaderDailyEditionsonysony readersony reader daily editoinSonyReaderSonyReaderDailyEditoinTue, 22 Dec 2009 02:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 hits the FCC again, this time with AT&T's 3G bands]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-hits-the-fcc-again-this-time-with-atandt/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-hits-the-fcc-again-this-time-with-atandt/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-hits-the-fcc-again-this-time-with-atandt/#comments Yes, you might recall a version of Sony Ericsson's mighty X10 getting FCC approval last week -- but this one isn't quite the same. This time around, we've got WCDMA 850 / 1900 accompanying the quadband EDGE, which is heartwarming news for anyone on AT&T, Rogers, Bell, or Telus, though the complete lack of branding on the FCC's test unit leaves us to speculate wildly over which of those carriers (if any) will brand the unit -- and more importantly, whether any will be on shelves before frickin' 2011. In the meantime, we're guessing SonyStyle sales are a lock -- so get your save on.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 hits the FCC again, this time with AT&T's 3G bands originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidericssonfccsonysony ericssonSonyEricssonx10xperiaxperia x10XperiaX10Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:32:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP-4000 accidentally leaked in print ad over the weekend?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/psp-4000-accidentally-leaked-in-print-ad-over-the-weekend/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/psp-4000-accidentally-leaked-in-print-ad-over-the-weekend/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/psp-4000-accidentally-leaked-in-print-ad-over-the-weekend/#comments
What's this, then? MCV, a British games industry publication, has run an ad for Little Big Planet game accessories that boasts among its many compelling features compatibility with the PSP-4000. Of course, there is no PSP-4000, but you have to admit -- this is more than a simple typo. When asked what the dilly was, a rep from Accessories 4 Gamers told Negative Gamer that it was merely a simple "mistake." Sure, but the questions still remain: was it a mistake because the PSP-4000 doesn't yet exist? You see, we've definitely heard otherwise. Or was this a mistake because you accidentally spilled the beans on some top secret new handheld game console? If that's the case, you might want to contact us with the details. We won't tell anyone -- promise.

Continue reading PSP-4000 accidentally leaked in print ad over the weekend?

PSP-4000 accidentally leaked in print ad over the weekend? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessories 4 gamersAccessories4Gamersgaminghandheldhandheld gamingHandheldGamingleakLittle Big PlanetLittleBigPlanetplaystation portablePlaystationPortablePSPpsp-4000rumorsonyMon, 21 Dec 2009 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony teams up with RealD for 3D, headaches in the home]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/sony-teams-up-with-reald-for-3d-headaches-in-the-home/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/sony-teams-up-with-reald-for-3d-headaches-in-the-home/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/sony-teams-up-with-reald-for-3d-headaches-in-the-home/#comments
While Sony is certainly no stranger to 3D, RealD has proven more than capable when it comes to active shutter technology (as we saw earlier when the company partnered up with 3ality to broadcast an NFL game). According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony will license RealD's technology and equipment (including 3D eyewear) for use on its TVs and other products -- with the fruits of this partnership due to hit store shelves sometime next year. Could this be the big push that home 3D has been waiting for? We don't know, but if it brings our dreams of Becker in 3D! one step closer to reality, we're all for it.

Sony teams up with RealD for 3D, headaches in the home originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d blu-ray3d hdtv3dBlu-ray3dHdtvactive shutterActiveShutterrealdsonyMon, 21 Dec 2009 10:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 catches FCC on a good day]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-catches-fcc-on-a-good-day/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-catches-fcc-on-a-good-day/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-catches-fcc-on-a-good-day/#comments Oh, to live the life of an FCC certification lab employee: setting up test benches, writing reports, playing with devices that won't be released for months or years. Instead, we're stuck enjoying their fun vicariously at an arm's length through a little portal we know as the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, where gems like the X10 occasionally pop up complete with pretty in-the-wild pictures, teardowns, and user manuals. What we're looking at here are test results for EDGE 850 / 1900 plus WCDMA Band IV (that'd be T-Mobile's and WIND's spectrum, by the bye), WiFi, and Bluetooth, so even if T-Mobile ultimately chooses not to offer it on contract, you should be able to score it one way or another N900-style. The user's manual is basically just 40 pages of good stuff plus a bunch of conformity statement mumbo jumbo, but it's still a good read -- so if you think this might be your phone of choice come 2010, have a look.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 catches FCC on a good day originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidericssonfccrachaelsonysony ericssonSonyEricssonx10xperiaxperia x10XperiaX10Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony working on 3D Alpha DSLR cameras?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-working-on-3d-alpha-dslr-cameras/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-working-on-3d-alpha-dslr-cameras/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-working-on-3d-alpha-dslr-cameras/#comments 3D is going mainstream big time, and while the first consumer-friendly 3D cameras are not exactly taking the world by storm, Sony wants to be there when they do. According to a slide deck uncovered by LetsGoDigital, the company is working on a 3D flavor of its Alpha line that will help to "grow market share" in this fledgling segment. Now if you're imagining a giant monstrosity of a machine with dual lenses hanging off the front, take solace in knowing that Sony's HFC Comfort-3D movie camera (similar to the HDC-F950 used to film action sequences in Avatar) does 3D through a single port, meaning you won't necessarily have to go out and double your glass collection to use one of these. Beyond that it's all speculation for now -- wonderful, exciting speculation.

Sony working on 3D Alpha DSLR cameras? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dalphadslrsonysony alpha 3dSonyAlpha3dFri, 18 Dec 2009 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony staying conservative with Reader device, aware of current tablet mania]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sony-staying-conservative-with-reader-device-aware-of-current-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sony-staying-conservative-with-reader-device-aware-of-current-t/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sony-staying-conservative-with-reader-device-aware-of-current-t/#comments Sony's Sir Howard Stringer played the tease at today's Reader content partnership presser, stating that while Sony could make the device into a multimedia tablet, it would rather wait and see if consumers warm up to current devices. Stringer's watching if people find the form factor "comfortable and helpful" before Sony starts "plowing on a thousand apps" or building a "Vaio Reader." We don't really know how much e-reader acceptance points to the demand for color multimedia tablets, but in regards to the (non-existant, ever-present) Apple Tablet, Stringer says "we're all working on variations of the same thing." Hopefully we'll figure out what exactly he means by that before we grow old and start reading books or something horrible like that.

Sony staying conservative with Reader device, aware of current tablet mania originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple tabletAppleTablete-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerhoward stringerHowardStringerreadersir howard stringerSirHowardStringersonysony readersony tabletSonyReaderSonyTablettabletvaio readerVaioReaderThu, 17 Dec 2009 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony e-readers get exclusive Dow Jones, New York Post content]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sony-e-readers-get-exclusive-dow-jones-new-york-post-content/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sony-e-readers-get-exclusive-dow-jones-new-york-post-content/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sony-e-readers-get-exclusive-dow-jones-new-york-post-content/#comments
Hoping to read the New York Post on an e-reader anytime soon? Then your choices just got quite a bit more limited, as the newspaper has signed a deal that will see Sony offer the only version of the paper for digital reading devices. Joining it are various exclusive offerings from Dow Jones & Company, including The Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch, which won't be completely exclusive to Sony readers, but will be available in special editions only available on Sony readers -- that includes The Wall Street Journal PLUS, a digital edition of the morning paper that also features an update of the day's events after the close of the markets. Owners of the Sony Reader Daily Edition will also naturally be able to get the day's papers wirelessly delivered to their readers, with subscriptions running between $9.99 and $19.99 a month.

Sony e-readers get exclusive Dow Jones, New York Post content originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily editionDailyEditiondow jonesdow jones companyDowJonesDowJonesCompanye-readerereadermarketwatchnew york postNewYorkPostreadersonysony readersony reader daily editionSonyReaderSonyReaderDailyEditionthe wall street journalTheWallStreetJournalwall street journalWallStreetJournalThu, 17 Dec 2009 11:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray 3D specifications finalized, your PS3 is ready]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/blu-ray-3d-specifications-finalized-your-ps3-is-ready/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/blu-ray-3d-specifications-finalized-your-ps3-is-ready/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/blu-ray-3d-specifications-finalized-your-ps3-is-ready/#comments In case plans by AMD and a slew of other tech vendors planning to showcase 3D Blu-ray compatible products at CES wasn't a tip-off, the updated specifications are done. The key details? First, that the Blu-ray Disc Association has chosen the Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec to store 3D, so that even though it is now providing a full 1080p frame for each eye, it will only require about 50% more storage space compared to the 2D version, and all discs will be fully backwards compatible, in 2D, on existing players. Better than backwards compatibility, the PlayStation 3 will be forwards compatible with the new discs -- a new HDTV setup (the spec promises to work with plasmas, LCDs or projectors equally well) with IR emitters and glasses will still be necessary. According to the PR (after the break) we can expect Blu-ray 3D-stickered products in 2010, our only advice is to keep those responsible for the Cowboys Stadium abomination far, far away from it.

Continue reading Blu-ray 3D specifications finalized, your PS3 is ready

Blu-ray 3D specifications finalized, your PS3 is ready originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p3dactive shutterActiveShutteravcBlu-Raycesces 2010ces2010full hd 3dFullHd3dH.264mvcnvidiapanasonicsonyspecificationstandardThu, 17 Dec 2009 05:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony hints at PSN-for-pay once again]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/sony-hints-at--psn-for-pay-once-again/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/sony-hints-at--psn-for-pay-once-again/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/sony-hints-at--psn-for-pay-once-again/#comments We're not sure what Sony is getting at, but it certainly seems to be planning on charging somebody for something at some point in the future. Kaz Hirai mentioned a new premium level subscription plan for PlayStation Network last month, though we were told that the current level of PSN service was to remain free. Now SCE's Masayuki Chatani has chimed in, saying that Sony would face difficulties if it just leans on the "sell-and-forget model." Unfortunately, we're still not sure what the sell-and-remember alternative might be. Masayuki adds: "We can also accept payment in a growing number of ways. In addition to single-payment packaged software there are also schemes like monthly fees or per-item charges." The thing is, if we're not going to pay for basic PSN online play, what will we be paying for? We've clearly entered the era of being nickeled-and-dimed by DLC, and Microsoft has been making a tidy sum off our Gold subscriptions for some time now, much to Sony's ridicule, but if it takes charging us some amount of cash a month to make match-making in Uncharted 2 a bit more bearable, maybe we'll hold our tongues when Sony has to go against everything PSN has stood for to do it.

Sony hints at PSN-for-pay once again originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Masayuki ChataniMasayukiChataniplaystationplaystation networkPlaystationNetworkpsnscesonysubscriptionWed, 16 Dec 2009 15:56:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Digital Comics set to launch in US today]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/psp-digital-comics-set-to-launch-in-us-today/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/psp-digital-comics-set-to-launch-in-us-today/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/psp-digital-comics-set-to-launch-in-us-today/#comments If you feel like geeking it up (or, as they say back east, "getting your geek on") there really is no better combination than gaming and comic books -- that's why we're stoked to hear that the PSP comic store is set to go live at 3:00 PM today. In addition, the European PlayStation blog states that the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa stores should become available at 5PM GMT, while the store in Ireland is being held up due to technical issues. The store boasts "hundreds of new and classic collections," including your favorites from Marvel, IDW, Titan, iVerse and 2000AD. Check out playstationcomics.com to give it a shot yourself -- but not before peeping the video after the break.

Continue reading PSP Digital Comics set to launch in US today

PSP Digital Comics set to launch in US today originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic booksComicBookscomicsdigital comicsDigitalComicsgaminglaunchplaystationplaystation comic storeplaystation portablePlaystationComicStorePlaystationPortablepsppsp comic storePspComicStoresonyWed, 16 Dec 2009 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Mystery Sony "Home Information Device" unveiled by FCC, purpose kept secret]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/mystery-sony-home-information-device-unveiled-by-fcc-purpose/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/mystery-sony-home-information-device-unveiled-by-fcc-purpose/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/mystery-sony-home-information-device-unveiled-by-fcc-purpose/#commentsMystery Sony Wondering what Sony has in store for the summer of 2010? We can't tell you, but we can give you a few clues. A device called the HID-C10 "Home Information Device" has been given the full FCC once-over and, while confidentiality clauses keep the juicy bits secret, we do know that it somehow connects to a TV and that it possesses 802.11b/g wireless. Our first guess is that this is a simple WiFi adapter for Sony's internet-streaming televisions, but with a name like "Home Information Device" it could be something a bit more, possibly letting you do a little home automation on your HDTV between Modern Warfare 2 matches. It's anybody's guess, but we're inclined to believe that fiddling with thermostat settings in your home would be more exciting than hanging out at Home.

Mystery Sony "Home Information Device" unveiled by FCC, purpose kept secret originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>802.11802.11bghid-c10home information deviceHomeInformationDevicesonysony hid-c10sony home information deviceSonyHid-c10SonyHomeInformationDevicewifiWed, 16 Dec 2009 07:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony NWZ-S745 on sale in Canada, US given cold shoulder]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/sony-nwz-s745-on-sale-in-canada-us-given-cold-shoulder/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/sony-nwz-s745-on-sale-in-canada-us-given-cold-shoulder/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/sony-nwz-s745-on-sale-in-canada-us-given-cold-shoulder/#commentsWe don't know about you, but every time we hear of a Walkman, we think of the old school cassette players, and are left strangely disappointed by the slinky modern variants and their tons of storage. The 16GB S745, which has absolutely nothing to do with Mickey Mouse we assure you, has entered North American retail channels, only it seems to have skipped the US for its more peace-loving neighbor up north. Eagle-eyed Canadian shoppers have spotted the more advanced version of the S740 on sale in Sony Style stores (for 200 CAD or 188 in real American currency), replete with a 2-inch screen, noise-canceling earphones, and an unhealthily thin case. Still, suspicions abound that Sony is merely waiting for CES to roll around to make its big US unveiling, but if you really can't wait it's not like driving up to Canadia would be that terrible anyway.

Sony NWZ-S745 on sale in Canada, US given cold shoulder originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadamedia playerMediaPlayermp3mp3 playerMp3Playernoise cancellationnoise cancellingNoiseCancellationNoiseCancellingnwz-s745pmpretails seriess-seriess745sonysony walkmanSonyWalkmanSSerieswalkmanTue, 15 Dec 2009 07:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 delayed until January 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/sony-ericsson-xperia-x2-delayed-until-january-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/sony-ericsson-xperia-x2-delayed-until-january-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/sony-ericsson-xperia-x2-delayed-until-january-2010/#commentsSony Ericsson giveth, and Sony Ericsson taketh away. Just as the Xperia Pureness -- that wildly mainstream device with absolutely universal appeal (and concierge service) -- makes its way to commercial availability, we're hearing that the Xperia X2 will not be finding store shelves for at least another month. Made official way back in September, the Windows Mobile 6.5 QWERTY slider had already used up most of its Q4 release window, and this latest setback will do its chances of success little good. In the time since its announcement, SE itself has shown off the X10, HTC has leaked an entire roadmap all over itself, the Google phone has emerged from secrecy and, of course, the Droid has come out to a deafening roar of approval. Sony Ericsson explains that it is still optimizing the software and battery life, but all that could be irrelevant to a January 2010 world looking forward to Maemo this and Android that.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 delayed until January 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ericssonqwertyqwerty sliderQwertySliderslidersonysony ericssonsony ericsson xperia x2SonyEricssonSonyEricssonXperiaX2windows mobilewindows mobile 6.5WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5winmowinmo 6.5Winmo6.5xperiaxperia x2XperiaX2Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony considered SSD, network storage for PS3 Slim]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/sony-considered-ssd-network-storage-for-ps3-slim/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/sony-considered-ssd-network-storage-for-ps3-slim/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/sony-considered-ssd-network-storage-for-ps3-slim/#commentsCould the PS3 Slim have been even slimmer? It could have, according to Sony's Masayuki Chatani, but it would've cost you. That word comes from a wide-ranging interview Chatani gave to Tech-On!, in which he revealed (seemingly for the first time) that Sony had considered using SSD drives or even network storage to further reduce the size of the console. SSD drives were ultimately rejected, as you might have guessed, due to cost reasons, and Chatani says that network storage ultimately proved to still be simply too impractical for a game console. He also said that the PS3 could have been made slimmer if Sony had just left the power supply on the outside, but that would have "imposed restrictions on transport and use, making it harder to use freely." Not a whole lot in the way of big revelations otherwise, but you can check out the complete interview at the link below.

Sony considered SSD, network storage for PS3 Slim originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChataniMasayuki ChataniMasayukiChataninetwork storageNetworkStorageplaystationplaystation 3Playstation3ps3ps3 slimPs3SlimsonyssdMon, 14 Dec 2009 17:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Digital Cameras]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-digital-cameras/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-digital-cameras/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-digital-cameras/#commentsWelcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.


Digital cameras are the bread-and-butter of holiday gadget giving -- everyone wants one, and everyone wants a better one. But you can't just dole out any shooter you can find -- you need to find the right balance of image quality, features, and usability for your intended recipient, and hold the line on your bank account as well. Sounds daunting, but we've pulled up a few of the more interesting models out there to help you out.

Gallery: Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Digital Cameras

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Digital Cameras

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Digital Cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canoncasiofeaturedfeatureshgg2009nikonolympuspanasonicsamsungsonyMon, 14 Dec 2009 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Xperia Pureness available now - includes concierge service, avarice]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/xperia-pureness-available-now-includes-concierge-service-avar/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/xperia-pureness-available-now-includes-concierge-service-avar/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/xperia-pureness-available-now-includes-concierge-service-avar/#comments
Great news for the disposable income crowd: The Sony Ericsson Xperia Pureness is finally available online through Saks Fifth Avenue -- and it can be yours for a mere $990. According to some seriously high-minded PR, the sleek and feature-poor handset "represents an alternative approach to life in the complex, digital age by refining the mobile phone to its most essentials functions." You see, this bad boy "is not simply about a phone; it is about opening a debate about people's relationship with technology in a complex world." Got that? In case you're still not sold, did we mention that the purchase price includes a concierge service? Although we don't know for sure, it's probably not a leap to assume that this "concierge" is a help desk employee somewhere who could feed his village for a month with the grand you dropped on a cell phone. PR after the break.

Continue reading Xperia Pureness available now - includes concierge service, avarice

Xperia Pureness available now - includes concierge service, avarice originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conciergeexpensiveexpensive giftsExpensiveGiftsluxurypurenesssaksSaks Fifth AvenueSaksFifthAvenueSONYsony ericssonSonyEricssonxperiaXperia PurenessXperiaPurenessMon, 14 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Video Cameras]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-video-cameras/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-video-cameras/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/11/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-video-cameras/#commentsWelcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

Whether you want them to or not, there's a good chance you've got a family member or two (or more) that feel compelled to capture every single moment on video, including those times when all you're doing is sitting around watching previously recorded memories. That's just an inevitably we face each and every family gathering, and if you must endure, might as well get them the best possible fidelity, right? Then again, maybe you are that memory-capturing individual -- in either case, we think we've got a few suggestions to maximize your holiday enjoyment.

Gallery: Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Video Cameras

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Video Cameras

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Video Cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7dcamcam corderCamCordercameracanoncanon eos 7dcanon vixia hf s11CanonEos7dCanonVixiaHfS11contour hdContourHdcx100eoseos 7dEos7deverioeverio gz-hm400EverioGz-hm400flipflip minohdFlipMinohdgz-hm400hdrhdr-cx100helmethelmet camhelmet cameraHelmetCamHelmetCamerahf s11HfS11hgghgg 2009Hgg2009holiday gift guideholiday gift guide 2009HolidayGiftGuideHolidayGiftGuide2009jvcjvc hd everio gz-hm400JvcHdEverioGz-hm400mino hdMinoHdsamsungsamsung smx-c10SamsungSmx-c10sanyosanyo xacti vpc-cg10sanyo xacti vpc-wh1SanyoXactiVpc-cg10SanyoXactiVpc-wh1smx-c10sonysony hdr-cx100SonyHdr-cx100vholdrvholdr contourhdVholdrContourhdvideo cameraVideoCameravixiavixia hf s11VixiaHfS11vpc-cg10vpc-wh1xactixacti vpc-cg10xacti vpc-wh1XactiVpc-cg10XactiVpc-wh1Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony says PS3 motion controller was codenamed 'Gem,' might or might not actually be called Gem]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/sony-says-ps3-motion-controller-was-codenamed-gem-might-or-mi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/sony-says-ps3-motion-controller-was-codenamed-gem-might-or-mi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/sony-says-ps3-motion-controller-was-codenamed-gem-might-or-mi/#comments
We never heard much more of the rumored Sphere codename for Sony's PlayStation 3 motion controller since it cropped up a few months ago, but it looks like we now finally have another name for it besides "PlayStation Motion Controller." That word initially came from EA's John Riccitiello, who let slip the name "Gem" during his talk at the UBS 37th Annual Global Media Conference when speaking about Sony's and Microsoft's new motion controllers. Just odd enough to work? Well, not so fast, as Sony would only go so far as to confirm to Kotaku that Gem was "an early code name for the product," adding that they "haven't announced final name at this point." Not exactly a full-on non-denial denial, to be sure, but it would seem that the door for Gem is at least open a tiny crack.

[Thanks, Aaron]

Sony says PS3 motion controller was codenamed 'Gem,' might or might not actually be called Gem originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eagemjohn riccitielloJohnRiccitiellomotion controlmotion controllerMotionControlMotionControllerps3ps3 motion controllerPs3MotionControllersonysony gemSonyGemThu, 10 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Alpha A550 DSLR reviewed: new tricks, new trade-offs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/sony-alpha-a550-dslr-reviewed-new-tricks-new-trade-offs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/sony-alpha-a550-dslr-reviewed-new-tricks-new-trade-offs/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/sony-alpha-a550-dslr-reviewed-new-tricks-new-trade-offs/#comments
It's been a long haul since it was officially announced way back in August, but we're guessing there's a good number of folks that have been waiting for Digital Photography Review's take on Sony's Alpha A550 DSLR before making their final decision on the camera. Thankfully, the site has now come through with a usually thorough review, which unsurprisingly finds that while there's a lot to like, there's also a few notable trade-offs with this challenger to the likes of the Nikon D90. On the upside, the camera packs quite a few features not seen on many of its competitors, including two different live view modes, built-in HDR options, 7 fps burst shooting, and reportedly great image stabilization, to name a few -- all of which add up to make this was DP Review calls "the best APS-C camera Sony has produced since the Alpha 700." On the downside, however, the site found that the A550 sits somewhat uncomfortably between the low and high-end, with its slightly stripped down controls turning off pros, and its rather weak performance in auto mode potentially being a problem for beginners. That doesn't prevent the camera from receiving fairly solid recommendation though, which hinges on the caveat that folks know what they're getting into.

Sony Alpha A550 DSLR reviewed: new tricks, new trade-offs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a550alpha a550AlphaA550dslrsonysony a550sony alpha a550SonyA550SonyAlphaA550Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's PlayStation motion controller patents venture into abstract realms]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/sonys-playstation-motion-controller-patents-venture-into-abstra/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/sonys-playstation-motion-controller-patents-venture-into-abstra/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/sonys-playstation-motion-controller-patents-venture-into-abstra/#comments We've seen plenty of PlayStation motion control patents from Sony, some of them surprisingly similar to what we've actually observed of the as-yet-unnamed controller. This new one, however, gets a little odd. The basic structure seems familiar, but Sony's recently-filed patent application deals with add-ons in wild ways that not even the peripheral-happy folks at Nintendo have envisioned. Our favorite is probably the double-ender (Fig. 6B for those of you following along at home), which is probably the most assured recipe for a little brother's bloody nose to be run by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office since the longstaff was invented. So, does this mean more cash to shell out for a "full" PS3 motion control experience? We can't imagine Sony being gung-ho about that strategy in the face of the (as yet) add-on free Project Natal, but we suppose we'll just have to wait and find out.

Sony's PlayStation motion controller patents venture into abstract realms originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>motion controlmotion controllerMotionControlMotionControllerpatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationplaystationplaystation motion controllerPlaystationMotionControllerps3 motion controllerPs3MotionControllersonyTue, 08 Dec 2009 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 firmware 3.15 to add PSP Mini support, simplified console migration]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/ps3-firmware-3-15-to-add-psp-mini-support-simplified-console-mi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/ps3-firmware-3-15-to-add-psp-mini-support-simplified-console-mi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/ps3-firmware-3-15-to-add-psp-mini-support-simplified-console-mi/#comments
Didn't the PS3 just get a firmware update? Something about posting all your hard-earned trophies onto your Facebook page? Yes, that sounds right. If you thought that was a big deal, wait 'til you get a load of this: According to the European PlayStation blog, yet another firmware update is imminent. And this one is pretty sweet -- seems that not only will console owners now be able to play PSP Minis, but if you've already bought a Mini for your portable and wish to play it on your PS3, you'll be able to download it to your console for free. Also included in the 3.15 update is a simplified utility for transferring data from one PS3 to another. Pretty great, right? Gamers, be sure to hit the source link for the deets.

PS3 firmware 3.15 to add PSP Mini support, simplified console migration originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firmwaregamesgamingminiminisplaystationplaystation 3playstation portableplaystation storePlaystation3PlaystationPortablePlaystationStoreps storeps3pspPsStoresonyupdateTue, 08 Dec 2009 16:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Reader Store goes 100% EPUB on Friday]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/sony-reader-store-goes-100-epub-on-friday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/sony-reader-store-goes-100-epub-on-friday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/sony-reader-store-goes-100-epub-on-friday/#comments Listen up Sony Reader owners: you've got three days to change your ways. On December 11th, the eBook Store from Sony will be renamed the Reader Store with a new URL to prove it. In addition to a new store layout, the change also extends the open EPUB format to Sony's entire inventory of eBooks. In fact, any new electronic books will only be available in EPUB which helps explain the motivation for Sony's PRS-500 trade-in program. As such, we can say goodbye to Sony's proprietary BBeB ("BroadBand eBook") format which goes the way of ATRAC (outside of Japan, anyway). Sony's also making its Reader Library 3.1 software for Mac and PC available on the same day with support for the imminent Reader Daily Edition launch and compatibility with Windows 7 and OS X Snow Leopard -- how timely.

[Thanks, Ben]

Sony Reader Store goes 100% EPUB on Friday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily editionDailyEditione-booke-readerebookelectronic bookElectronicBookepubereaderreaderreader storeReaderStoresonyTue, 08 Dec 2009 01:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Screen grabs: House, MD likes a little PSP Go between his high-risk medical procedures]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/screen-grabs-house-md-likes-a-little-psp-go-between-his-high-r/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/screen-grabs-house-md-likes-a-little-psp-go-between-his-high-r/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/screen-grabs-house-md-likes-a-little-psp-go-between-his-high-r/#commentsScreen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

There's one thing (and one thing only) that we know about House, MD. He seriously loves nearly killing people before saving them. Well, that, and he loves chilling out with a PSP Go. What, you hadn't heard? Yeah, seems old Dr. Greg is pretty into gaming in his downtime -- you know, when he's not downing Vicodin or collecting clues. There's one more piece of evidence after the break.


[Thanks, Donny]

Continue reading Screen grabs: House, MD likes a little PSP Go between his high-risk medical procedures

Screen grabs: House, MD likes a little PSP Go between his high-risk medical procedures originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gaminghandheldshousehouse mdHouseMdpsppsp gopspgoscreen grabsScreenGrabssonytelevisionFri, 04 Dec 2009 11:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's PlayStation marks 15th anniversary]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/sonys-playstation-marks-15th-anniversary/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/sonys-playstation-marks-15th-anniversary/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/sonys-playstation-marks-15th-anniversary/#comments
1994. A good year for many reasons, but for gamers it's best remembered as the year Sony shook things up in a big way with its original PlayStation game console (on this day in Japan, at least -- the rest of us had to wait 'til the fall of 1995). While Sega got a slight head start with its Saturn, the Sony PlayStation's lower price and strong launch line-up of games quickly vaulted it to the top of the pack, and helped bring in the slightly older audience that 3D0 and others tried and failed to capture. Of course, the original PlayStation was also just the beginning for Sony, and the company has taken this opportunity to reminisce a bit about the entire history of the PlayStation brand on a special 15th anniversary website (linked below). Feel free to share some thoughts of your own in the comments.

Sony's PlayStation marks 15th anniversary originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15th anniversary15thAnniversary1994anniversaryconsole warsConsoleWarsplaystationpsonesonysony playstationSonyPlaystationvideo gameVideoGameThu, 03 Dec 2009 16:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony and FIFA team up to make the World Cup 3D]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/sony-and-fifa-team-up-to-make-the-world-cup-3d/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/sony-and-fifa-team-up-to-make-the-world-cup-3d/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/sony-and-fifa-team-up-to-make-the-world-cup-3d/#commentsIt's no secret that plenty of companies are hoping that 2010 will be the year of 3D, and it looks like Sony has now gotten a big boost by lining up a partnership with one of the biggest events of the year: the FIFA World Cup. As the pair have announced today, the new arrangement will see at least 25 World Cup matches produced in 3D using Sony's 3D cameras, which will be viewable through a variety of means. That includes special public viewing events in seven cities around the world (none in North America, unfortunately), an "Official 3D Film" that will be previewed at Sony Stores and other retail outlets and, last but not least, a Blu-ray of said film that will be made available at some point following the World Cup. This won't be the first time a soccer match has been broadcast in 3D, however, and it looks like it won't be your only option for catching some games in 3D next year either.

[Thanks, Matt]

Sony and FIFA team up to make the World Cup 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 fifa world cup2010 world cup2010FifaWorldCup2010WorldCup3dfifafifa world cupFifaWorldCupsoccersonysony 3dSony3dworld cupWorldCupThu, 03 Dec 2009 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Snowflake DSC-TX1 comes with engraved holiday spirit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/sony-snowflake-dsc-tx1-comes-with-engraved-holiday-spirit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/sony-snowflake-dsc-tx1-comes-with-engraved-holiday-spirit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/02/sony-snowflake-dsc-tx1-comes-with-engraved-holiday-spirit/#comments
For a limited time only -- and you should be able to guess how long that is -- Japanese SonyStyle customers can order up the TX1 in the especially wintry attire you see above. Already available in a choice of five colors, the cam will also let you choose between black, silver and pink for the engraved models, and we also hear these snowflakes are part of a wider range of engraved designs. Options titled Safari, Race, and Heart are also available, and you can even add your own message to the front, or just tag it with your name if you're feeling narcissistic. Either way, you can see the other color options after the break, or try out all the different looks using the interactive skinning tool at the source link.

Continue reading Sony Snowflake DSC-TX1 comes with engraved holiday spirit

Sony Snowflake DSC-TX1 comes with engraved holiday spirit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameracompactdigital cameraDigitalCameradsc-tx1engravedengravingjapanpoint and shootPointAndShootslimsnowflakesnowflake tx1SnowflakeTx1sonysony dsc-tx1sony tx1SonyDsc-tx1sonystyleSonyTx1tx1ultrathinWed, 02 Dec 2009 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson's Satio gets new firmware but not yet back on sale, Aino never affected]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/sony-ericssons-satio-gets-new-firmware-but-not-yet-back-on-sale/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/sony-ericssons-satio-gets-new-firmware-but-not-yet-back-on-sale/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/sony-ericssons-satio-gets-new-firmware-but-not-yet-back-on-sale/#commentsWe've got an old-fashioned Sony Ericsson-gate developing this winter with some clarification and new information on two of the company's highest-end phones of the season, the Aino and Symbian-powered Satio. First up, as we've updated in our original post, the Aino was never pulled from shelves -- we've been able to confirm this with Sony Ericsson spokespeople directly, which also satisfactorily explains why it was never pulled from the US SonyStyle site. Secondly, good news for Satio owners affected by the phone's issues: there's a new firmware out there for unbranded units, which suggests that units that are already in the field might not need to be recalled despite Sony Ericsson's admission that the power-down problem can't be fixed over the air. For what it's worth, we've been in touch with Carphone Warehouse today and they haven't yet put it back on sale -- so it's hard to say just how closely related the new build is to the most damning problems facing the phone right now. Owners who've upgraded: what have you noticed so far?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sony Ericsson's Satio gets new firmware but not yet back on sale, Aino never affected originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ainoericssonfirmwarerecallsatiosonysony ericssonSonyEricssonupdateupgradeTue, 01 Dec 2009 12:34:00 EST<![CDATA[PSPgo dips to £149 in the UK, have cooler heads prevailed?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/pspgo-dips-to-149-in-the-uk-have-cooler-heads-prevailed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/pspgo-dips-to-149-in-the-uk-have-cooler-heads-prevailed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/pspgo-dips-to-149-in-the-uk-have-cooler-heads-prevailed/#commentsWhile we might think of the $250 PSPgo pricetag in the States as a criminal act on the part of an out-of-touch and-yet-malicious multinational corporation, we can only imagine how our unfortunate counterparts in the UK felt, staring down a £225 list price (about $371 US). Luckily, that quickly dropped to £200 after a week of sales, and now the console can be had for as low as £149 at UK entertainment retailer HMV. That converts rather tidily to $245 US, which is unfortunately about as far as the console has been discounted around these parts. There's no way to tell how many more months of dour faces and crossed arms pointed in the general direction of Sony Computer Entertainment America it'll take to get that price down to something more realistic Stateside, at which point we can start this whole UK / US price disparity drama all over again.

PSPgo dips to £149 in the UK, have cooler heads prevailed? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hmvpriceprice dropPriceDroppspgosceesonyukMon, 30 Nov 2009 12:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyber Monday deals roundup: Core i7, HDTVs, SSDs, free Droid Eris]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/cyber-monday-deals-roundup-core-i7-mw2-hdtvs-ssds-free-droi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/cyber-monday-deals-roundup-core-i7-mw2-hdtvs-ssds-free-droi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/cyber-monday-deals-roundup-core-i7-mw2-hdtvs-ssds-free-droi/#comments In Soviet Bulgaria, we don't have Cyber Mondays, but from what we've been told this is a pretty bargainous time of the year. HP starts us off with a pair of coupons on its dv8 Core i7 notebook, one of which drops the 18.4-inch laptop to just $899. There are also deep 50 percent discounts on its printers, but only the Photosmart Premium All-in-One remains after the two cheaper models sold out. Click the Logic Buy link below to get in on the action. Amazon has the older Modern Warfare at $29.95 and Uncharted 2 at $40 flat for the PS3, Garmin's nuvi 260W at a cent under $115 (or half price), and plenty of discounts on DVDs, gadgetry and even clothing. Best Buy keeps pace by offering the same price on the Garmin nav unit, as well as 10 percent discounts on Apple's iPod range. Walmart is kicking off a whole Cyber Week with a Sony Bravia 32-inch HDTV priced at $398 and a $249 Nintendo Wii Value Bundle, which includes Wii Sports, sporting peripherals, and a choice of free game. If you're more interested in computer components, Newegg's $30 mail-in rebate on the 120GB OCZ Agility SSD will net you the drive for $289, our favorite of a plethora of deals at the online store. And finally, Dell is offering the Droid Eris for free when taking out a new Verizon Wireless account, which is at least $30 cheaper than you can get it anywhere else. Time to get clicking!

Read - Amazon
Read - Best Buy
Read - Dell
Read - Logic Buy
Read - Newegg
Read - Walmart

Cyber Monday deals roundup: Core i7, HDTVs, SSDs, free Droid Eris originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbest buyBestBuybraviacore i7CoreI7cybercyber mondayCyberMondaydealsdelldroiddroid erisDroidErisdv8garmingarmin nuvi 260wGarminNuvi260whdtvhphp dv8HpDv8ipodneweggnintendonuvioczocz agilityOczAgilityoffice depotOfficeDepotroundupsonyssdwalmartwiiwii sportsWiiSportsMon, 30 Nov 2009 06:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony outs world's first TransferJet chips for short-range wireless transfer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/sony-outs-worlds-first-transferjet-chips-for-short-range-wirele/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/sony-outs-worlds-first-transferjet-chips-for-short-range-wirele/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/30/sony-outs-worlds-first-transferjet-chips-for-short-range-wirele/#commentsInduction chargers like Palm's Touchstone are great and all but they lack one significant feature long mastered by USB tethers: data transfer. That could soon change as Sony begins pushing out its first TransferJet LSI in hopes of obtaining broad industry adoption of this newest form of short-range wireless transmission technology. TransferJet, remember, allows for a theoretical 560Mbps (closer to 375Mbps in the real-world) wireless transfer at a distance of about 3 centimeters -- a standard backed by big-hitting camera companies like Canon, Nikon, Samsung, Casio, Kodak, and Olympus and Japanese cellphone interests like NTT DoCoMo, Softbank Mobile, Toshiba, and Sony Ericsson. Just imagine yourself waving a TransferJet-equipped Sony Ericsson phone in front of your new Bravia TV and having all your photos and videos appear on the big screen and you've just seen the future. Individual samples are available now for ¥1,500 (about $17) in either PCI or SDIO-connector versions. Now head on past the break to see the tech in action from our CEATEC hands-on.

Continue reading Sony outs world's first TransferJet chips for short-range wireless transfer

Sony outs world's first TransferJet chips for short-range wireless transfer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcsdioshort rangeShortRangesonytoshibatransferjetwirelessMon, 30 Nov 2009 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PSPs enlisted as study aids by the Royal Navy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/28/sony-psps-enlisted-as-study-aids-by-the-royal-navy/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/28/sony-psps-enlisted-as-study-aids-by-the-royal-navy/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/28/sony-psps-enlisted-as-study-aids-by-the-royal-navy/#comments Whoever it was at Sony HQ that decided to pursue "military contracts" as a revenue source, kudos! Mere days after the US Air Force expressed interest in expanding its PS3 supercomputer, we're hearing glorious Britannia's Royal Navy has conscripted 230 PSPs into duty as revision aids for its trainee sailors. Loaded with maths and physics materials, the PSPs can be used in a bunk, have familiar controls for the young and mostly male recruits, and are considered pretty tough to break. The underlying reason for this move though is cost cutting: by making the training course more intensive, the Navy is saving on teaching time. Given that the UMD drive won't come disabled -- which is hoped to encourage the sailors to take better care of the device -- the future this paints is of marines who've spent more time with a freebie handheld console than with a pro instructor. At least they'll have a great stable of captured monsters to show for it.

[Thanks, pankomputerek]

Sony PSPs enlisted as study aids by the Royal Navy originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainbritishconsoleconsoleseducationgaminghandheldmarinesplaystation portablePlaystationPortablepsprevisionroyal marinesroyal navyRoyalMarinesRoyalNavysoldierssonystudystudy aidstudy aidsStudyAidStudyAidsstudyingukumdumd driveUmdDrivewarfareSat, 28 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Walkman X-series gets much needed browser update]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/27/sony-walkman-x-series-gets-much-needed-browser-update/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/27/sony-walkman-x-series-gets-much-needed-browser-update/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/27/sony-walkman-x-series-gets-much-needed-browser-update/#comments At this point, it's hard to quantify the effect that Sony's v1.10 software update will have on Sony's X-series Walkman: the firmware's only now hitting the intertubes. But the simple fact that it's only feature-point says, "displaying and navigating Web sites will be improved," should be enough for X-series owners to give it a go. Japan's Impress AV Watch provides some insight into improvements that include faster page load times, improved scrolling speeds, and more faithful page renderings to the originals. The update also apparently adds a link to Microsoft's Bing search engine as well as the ability to search local music folders. Now get to it buster, that 3-inch OLED DAP's not going to update itself.

Sony Walkman X-series gets much needed browser update originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.10browserfirmwarenwz-x1000oledoled walkmanOledWalkmansoftwaresoftware updateSoftwareUpdatesonyupdatewalkmanx seriesx series walkmanx-seriesXSeriesXSeriesWalkmanFri, 27 Nov 2009 05:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Friday deals roundup, starring SonyStyle, Sam's Club, and more]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/26/black-friday-deals-roundup-starring-sonystyle/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/26/black-friday-deals-roundup-starring-sonystyle/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/26/black-friday-deals-roundup-starring-sonystyle/#comments 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

Black Friday deals roundup, starring SonyStyle, Sam's Club, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black fridayblack friday 2009BlackFridayBlackFriday2009braviacanadadealncixradio shackRadioShacksalessams clubsamsc clubSamscClubSamsClubsearssonysony styleSonyStyleunited statesUnitedStatesusvaioThu, 26 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson acknowledges touchscreen issues on Aino (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/26/sony-ericsson-acknowledges-touchscreen-issues-on-aino/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/26/sony-ericsson-acknowledges-touchscreen-issues-on-aino/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/26/sony-ericsson-acknowledges-touchscreen-issues-on-aino/#comments As if the Aino's odd name wasn't handicap enough, Sony Ericsson's taking another hit on its high-end Remote Play-capable full-touch (but Symbian-free) phone today with news that it's got a dodgy touchscreen. It's unclear exactly what's wrong or how it's ultimately going to get resolved, but several British retailers -- most notably behemoth Carphone Warehouse -- have elected to yank it from shelves until they've gotten confirmation that the mothership has fixed the problem. A company spokesman notes that "Aino has sold in limited numbers in the UK, so this issue affects only a very small number of customers," which is a backhanded way of saying "for once, we're incredibly lucky no one wants this thing" -- though considering that the Satio's on hold now, too, "lucky" might not be the right word for it. For what it's worth, Sony's US SonyStyle store is still hawking Ainos for $600, so part with that six-pack of Benjamins at your own risk.

Update: It appears that we somehow misread the source on this story. While the Satio has been pulled from stores, the Aino has not been taken off of shelves. The company clearly acknowledges problems, but SE isn't taking action to remove the device from retail outlets.

Sony Ericsson acknowledges touchscreen issues on Aino (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ainoericssonrecallsonysony ericssonSonyEricssontouchtouchscreenThu, 26 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[US Air Force orders up 2,200 more PS3s -- for thinking, not gaming]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/us-air-force-orders-up-2-200-more-ps3s-says-they-help-it-think/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/us-air-force-orders-up-2-200-more-ps3s-says-they-help-it-think/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/us-air-force-orders-up-2-200-more-ps3s-says-they-help-it-think/#commentsWe were as surprised as anyone when the USAF threw down the cash for 300-odd PlayStation 3s back in March of last year, but what's more shocking is that it's now back for more -- seven times more, in fact. Already employing its PS3 cluster for research into high-def video processing, the Air Force Research Lab wants to expand its capabilities significantly and it seems that Sony's Cell processor is still its weapon of choice. We would use this opportunity to make a few jibes about lazy engineers upgrading their setups in time for Modern Warfare 2, but we're better than that. We'll also totally avoid noting that the US government's skimping on costs now is leading it to commit to an instruction set tailored specifically to the Cell processor, which contrary to the latest Xeons -- pricier though they may be -- is not guaranteed to keep updating in pace with the USAF's needs. Those are things we'll leave for someone who isn't afraid of death lasers and autonomous attack drones to say.

US Air Force orders up 2,200 more PS3s -- for thinking, not gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air forceair force research laboratoryAirForceAirForceResearchLaboratorycellcell processorCellProcessorPlaystation 3Playstation3ps3researchsonysupercomputingus air forceusafUsAirForceWed, 25 Nov 2009 05:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/sony-vaio-x-ultraportable-gets-the-hackintosh-treatment/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/sony-vaio-x-ultraportable-gets-the-hackintosh-treatment/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/sony-vaio-x-ultraportable-gets-the-hackintosh-treatment/#commentsThe Vaio X, aside from being thin and light, is notoriously difficult to mod -- simply put, there's not much room in there to play around! Besides, when you've spent well over a grand for a machine, you're not necessarily going to be gung-ho about digging in with your soldering gun. Still, when InsanelyMac forum member Asama was struck by inspiration (in the form of a Vaio P OS X image) he followed his heart -- and, much to the world's amusement, it installed on the Vaio X with few complications. Sure, it wasn't a flawless operation: the WiFi card is unsupported (as you probably guessed) but, that said, this is definitely an item of note for all the Hackintosh freaks in attendance. Indeed we're looking forward to seeing Psystar get sued over a similar hack at some future junction. Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment

Sony VAIO X ultraportable gets the Hackintosh treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackhackintoshhacksmodmodsnetbooksonyvaiovaio xVaioXTue, 24 Nov 2009 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO UX handheld gets 3G wireless, quad OS, inflated sense of self]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-vaio-ux-handheld-gets-3g-wireless-quad-os-inflated-sense/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-vaio-ux-handheld-gets-3g-wireless-quad-os-inflated-sense/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-vaio-ux-handheld-gets-3g-wireless-quad-os-inflated-sense/#comments
As we're all undoubtedly aware, old gadgets don't really die -- they just get modded eternally (as the continued appearance of Atari on these pages will attest). Another case-in-point: the Sony VAIO UX490N. It's been a while since we laid eyes on one of these bad boys, but apparently there's been plenty of hacking goin' on ever since, including: upgrading the SSD to the RunCore Pro IV 128GB and swapping out the 1.2GHz CPU for a 1.33GHz Core 2 Duo (overclocked to 1.438GHz). And that's just the beginning -- the cats over at the Micro PC Talk forums have also installed a voice-capable HSPA modem, swapped out the old wireless card for one that supports a/b/g/n WiFi, and installed partitions for Windows XP Pro, Windows Vista Business, Windows 7 Ultimate and Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.7. Impressive stuff, all that: but what if we told you that one fearless individual has applied every one of those changes to a single device? And that battery life was pretty much unaffected? Well, you're probably going to want the details, right? Hit the source link to get started.

Sony VAIO UX handheld gets 3G wireless, quad OS, inflated sense of self originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackhandheldsmodsonyumpcUX490UX490NvaioVAIO UX490VAIO UX490NVaioUx490VaioUx490nMon, 23 Nov 2009 11:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-joins-1-000-hour-recording-club-with-idc-ux300/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-joins-1-000-hour-recording-club-with-idc-ux300/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-joins-1-000-hour-recording-club-with-idc-ux300/#comments You really don't know how many voice recorders there are out there until you actually look. Sony's UX line of dictation takers / mp3 players has just undergone a gentle revamp with a freshened up control scheme and a bump in integrated storage. The new base model, UX200, will come with 2GB of flash memory, while the 4GB UX300 and 300F (both capable of more than 1,000 hours of recording) are differentiated only by the FM radio availalble in the latter. All models record in stereo mp3 format with added noise cancellation built in, while playback can be done at 21 different speed steps, allowing you to keep track of all the Scatman John wannabes out there. Battery life is rated at up to 15 hours for continuous recording, or north of 80 for continuous playback. Expect to see these showing up, in all their classy color options, in Europe early next month, and check past the break for the full PR.

Gallery: Sony ICD-UX200, ICD-UX300, and ICD-UX300F

Continue reading Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300

Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dapEuropeFMfm radiofm tunerFmRadioFmTunericd-uxicd-ux200icd-ux300icd-ux300flaunchmp3mp3 playerMp3PlayerprrecordersonySony Europesony icd-uxSonyEuropeSonyIcd-uxux seriesUxSeriesvoice recorderVoiceRecorderMon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Kurara previewed way ahead of release]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-ericsson-kurara-previewed-way-ahead-of-release/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-ericsson-kurara-previewed-way-ahead-of-release/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/sony-ericsson-kurara-previewed-way-ahead-of-release/#comments We were promised a preview of Sony Ericsson's Symbian-sporting Satio sibling, and indeed here we are, looking at the machine-translated Kurara analysis courtesy of Eldar from Mobile Review. He pulls no punches in his introduction by noting that the new handset will offer little in terms of specs to trump the Samsung i8910 HD, and sketching out the tough market it'll have to compete in once the Nokia X6 comes out and starts grabbing market and mindshare alike. As to the phone itself, he describes the 8.1 megapixel camera as an "inexpensive" unit and lets the sample photos and 720p sample video shot with it speak for themselves. Battery life was found to be "lacking," though we congratulate SE on electing to use a 3.5mm headphone jack and MicroSD memory expansion over its own proprietary formats. Overall, the Kurara was "pleasant to use," but lacked the necessary wow factor and its fate, says Eldar, will depend on just how keenly Sony Ericsson wants to price it.

Sony Ericsson Kurara previewed way ahead of release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armcellphonecortexcortex a8CortexA8eldarericssonkurarapowervrpreviews60smartphonesonysony ericssonsony ericsson kuraraSonyEricssonSonyEricssonKurarasymbiansymbian s60SymbianS60touchscreenMon, 23 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST