Gadzooki

Sony S1 and S2 Tablets Specs Leaked to CNET

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Sony S1

I may be in love with the iPad, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate other real headturners, and Sony S1 and S2 tablets are just that.

So far, what we know about the Sony S1 and S2 tablets are still quite sketchy, but just a look at the prototypes makes me want to try it out. The S1’s wedge design gives it extra oomph, while the S2’s “closable” dual screen design is just like no other tablet in the market. It isn’t their pretty hardware that’s the talk of the town these days though, but the fact that CNET was able to get inside information on the actual specs of the tablets. ((Source))

Prior to the leak, information about their OS have already been reported, with both models said to be built using the latest Android version. Though the Honeycomb wasn’t explicitly mentioned, it’s just logical for Sony to use the Honeycomb, it being the tablet version of Android. Aside from the OS though, we now know more about the S1’s and S2’s hardware.

According to CNET’s sources the S1 tablet will be available in the following four versions: 2 Wi-Fi only versions at 16GB and 32GB, and 2 Wi-Fi and 3G versions also with 16GB and 32GB memory space. All S1 models will also come with a built-in SD memory card reader, so that you won’t have to worry much about running out of memory. Other specs and features that were mentioned include a 9.4-inch display that will be using TruBlack and Bravia technologies, a vague estimation of the S1’s battery life (“comparable to the iPad 2”), and two important tablet accessories – a dock and a Bluetooth keyboard.

Less information was gleaned about the S2 model, but what is known is that there won’t be any Wi-Fi only versions released for this model. However, the Wi-Fi and 3G versions will also be available in 16GB and 32GB. There was no mention of the battery life or accessories that will come with the S2 tablet.

Both tablets are said to be due for launching either late August or early September, just in time for the IFA 2011 in Berlin. Sony will be releasing the real names of both tablets then, and will probably be announcing price points as well.

Sony Walkman NWZ-W260 Goes Wherever You Go

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Sony Walkman NWZ-W260

The youngsters of today might not be impressed when they hear talk about the Sony Walkman, but those who grew up in the 80s and 90s will definitely have special feelings for this music player. It has died, or so some people have said in the past months. With the plethora of more advanced mp3 players in the market, this could be quite understandable. Then again, Sony has just proved the naysayers wrong by releasing the Sony Walkman NWZ-W260.

That does not look anything like the Walkmans that I grew up with, which may be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. What I do like about the Sony Walkman NWZ-W260’s looks is that it is very sleek – definitely in step with the idea that you can take this music player wherever you go.

But that’s not what’s awesome about the Sony Walkman NWZ-W260 – other mp3 players are at least just as portable. What gives this music player the edge is the fact that it’s waterproof. Think about the possibilities! You can work up a good sweat on the treadmill and not worry about ruining your earphones. You can even go run outdoors in the rain and still not have to worry about getting your music player wet – the Sony Walkman NWZ-W260 can handle that! Heck, if you are that hardcore about music, you can probably even wear the player while you take a shower. Or maybe even when you swim.

The Sony Walkman NWZ-W260 is definitely geared at sports minded individuals who need music to get them in the zone. It has a playback time of 8 hours (fully charged, of course). A nice feature is the quick charge that gives the player a boost of power within 3 minutes. This gives you 60 minutes’ worth of juice, which should be enough for a good workout. As for getting music on the Sony Walkman NWZ-W260, it is as simple as dragging and dropping the files. You may opt to use Sony’s own software, iTunes, Windows Media Player, or even Windows Explorer.

The Sony Walkman NWZ-W260 comes in black and white, with the option of 2GB or 4GB for storage. The former will go for $59.99, while the latter will go for $79.99. The units hit the shelves in August.

Via

Sony to Get into Virtual Reality Gaming

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3D is the next big frontier in home entertainment if we are to believe Sony and what it has been saying in various tech conferences and expos. The company is investing heavily on 3D that it is coming out aggressively with 3D related products like 3D-ready LCD TVs, 3D glasses (the company recently announced more affordable 3D glasses at the last E3 Expo), and has already made available a firmware update on the Playstation 3 to enable 3D gaming and content. [Read more…]

PS3 Slim models to get lighter, use less power

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With the last two generations of gaming consoles, it’s become a common practice to release periodice updates to the hardware. Sony did this with the Playstation 2 and their incremental updates to the Phat line and then the announcement of the PS2 Slim. Microsoft has done this as well with their processor upgrades for the Xbox 360, which was one way of trying to solve the Red Ring of Death problem that plagued the first iterations of the console. The 360 then changed the chassis altogether with its “slim” lineup. [Read more…]

Sony announces PS3 motion controller coming Spring 2010

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ps3Not wanting to be overshadowed by Microsoft’s announcement that Project Natal is gaining support from a number of major games manufacturers, Sony has declared that its motion controller for the PS3 console will be available early next year.

Linking up to a PlayStation Eye camera, the system allows face, voice and body movement recognition in order to control games in a completely different way.

This motion controller (which doesn’t have an official name yet) is equipped with two motion sensors, three axes gyroscope and three axes accelerometer that can detect the controller’s angle and movement held in the user’s hand.

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Sony commits to 3DTV products by 2010

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sony-logoWe already know that the Sony-created Blu-ray format is to go 3D sometime soon, and now Sony has committed to 3DTV development in the coming year.

Speaking at this year’s IFA conference, Sony announced that it would launch a 3D-compatible BRAVIA LCD HDTV next year, based on a frame sequential display and active-shutter glass system (a method of 3D display where the TV set alternates the image for the left and right eye, and glasses open and shut in sync with the image on the screen).

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Sony intros new trio of Alpha DSLR cameras

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sony-alpha-850-dslr

Though traditionally Sony was not a name I associated with DSLR cameras, the company has been pushing out some quality products of late.

The latest α (Alpha) trio of DSLRs is no exception, with the top-end α850 and α550 / α500 just announced.

OK, first up we know that camera quality goes far beyond its megapixel count, but having said that, when you’re faced with a camera boasting 24.6 MP, you have to sit up and take notice.

The α850 features an Exmor CMOS sensor and dual BIONZ processors which together promise high sensitivity (up to ISO 6400) quality images.

[Read more…]