Sony new PRS700 goes online

Amazon Kindle is not longer the only eReader with the capability of buying books online and download them to the reader without needing a PC. According to this video, the new Sony PRS700 can do the same though is not clear what kind of wireless connectivity they are using to achieve that. My guess is that they use WiFi.

Think Pink, Sony Pink - Support Breast Cancer Research

I have to show my support whenever there is a good cause to support Breast Cancer. This time around, it’s Sony stepping up with 3 cool pink devices. Sony will donate a portion of the sale of the following to support Breast Cancer Research.

Product name: VAIO Pink SR Notebook; Camcorder HDR-TG1; Walkman NWZE436FPNK

Benefit to BCRF: $75 from the sale of each VAIO Pink SR Notebook; $50 from the sale of each Camcorder HDR-TG1; $10 from the sale of each Walkman NWZE436FPNK; up to a maximum of $50,000

Dates product is available: October 2008

If you remember last year, I purchased and gave away a Pink Zune to support the same cause, although a different organization. If you need a new laptop, camcorder, or Walkman and pink is not out of the question, consider these Sony offerings.

Note: This pink laptop is the one that Sony put out for Valentines Day earlier this year.

Source: Popgadget

Sony Reader Hits Target

The sudden surge in ebook readership continues, as the following information was released yesterday by Sony in a Press release.

This weekend, the Reader Digital Book by Sony will be available in Target stores nationwide. Beginning September 14, the PRS-505 model will be featured in the "Discovery Hub" endcap in the electronics section of all 1,634 Target stores. With the purchase of a Reader, consumers will also receive a coupon code to download a free copy of The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory from the eBook Store by Sony. The Other Queen is slated for release on September 16.

Alongside the device, the endcap will display Reader accessories including: eBook Store prepaid cards, Cover with Light Accessory, AC Charger and a Crocodile pattern cover with pouch for AC charger and USB cable.

I have been reading ebooks almost exclusively for quite awhile now, first on my Tungsten C and Clie TH-55, now on my Moto Q, Eee 701 and iPod Touch. The fact that the Kindle has pushed ebooks into the mainstream is a good thing for the entire industry and many different devices, such as the Sony line of Readers are reaping the benefits. For a device like this to be featured by a chain like Target is yet another step forward.

(Source – MobileRead)

GPS Navigation on your PSP

So do you always carry your PSP with you so you play that game your addicted to?  Well now it looks like after years of coming up with a reasonable excuse for always having to take it with you, you now will have a solid reason for carrying it everywhere you go … GPS Navigation!  PSP Fanboy posted a bit saying that  American PSP owners will be able to enjoy GPS navigation some time next year. They indicted that the platform support navigation and maps and possibly integrating gaming that ties location in with game play.  Very cool!

via

XPERIA X1 White Paper Released

And talk about “Dream” devices, Sony Ericssion just released the official XPERIA X1 White Paper with some pretty interesting details added to the fray.

1. Pre-loaded XPERIA panels:

• Sony Ericsson Panel - news weather, finance, world clock, weather, and app shortcuts
• Media Experience Panel - multimedia consumption and navigation
• Slideshow Panel - slideshow of recent videos and pictures
• Microsoft Today Panel - standard Windows Mobile Today screen
• 3D Fish Panel - Aquarium with 3D fishes
• Custom Panels - user customized

2. Media Sharing - allows media sharing (DLNA compatible) via ActiveSync or WiFi

3. Video recording options

• MPEG-4: 30fps @ VGA
• H.263: 30fps @ VGA (U.S. model only at 24fps)
• H.264: 15fps @ VGA (not supported on U.S model)

4. Browser bundled is only Internet Explorer

5. Location services - Google Maps is pre-installed by default which provides real0-time traffic, driving directions, POI and GPS positioning.

6. Email

• Exchange Direct Push is built-in
• Set-up Wizards for Gmail, Yahoo, Live Hotmail
• POP3 configured automatically

7. Java ME pre-installed

8. MicroSD support - SDHC compatible

9. 1700MHz support is notably missing

You can Download the XPERIA X1 White Paper here

inxperia via BGR

Sony’s new headphones range takes design and performance to the next level

Sony draws on more than 60 years of audio innovation to create its most technically advanced, audaciously styled headphones line-up yet. Appealing to audio purists who demand ultimate performance from a compact in-ear design, the MDR-EX700LP fuses advanced materials and innovative design for ultimate sound quality when you’re on the move.

For music lovers who rate looks as highly as audio quality, the new MDR-AS Active Series is designed to keep up with today’s urban lifestyles without breaking into a sweat. A radical departure from conventional headphone designs, the PFR-V1 is a wearable speaker system that recreates the ‘open’ soundstage of a concert hall.

MDR-EX700LP In-ear Headphones

• 16mm driver unit: largest of any in-ear headphone design
• Innovative vertical driver orientation
• Newly developed multi-layer diaphragm for greater stiffness and to eliminate distortion
• Comfort fit design supplied with seven sizes of hybrid silicone earbuds

MDR-EX700LP

 

[Read more]

Sony Debuts Hybrid Digital Voice Recorders

Sony today introduced the UX series of digital voice recorders designed to fit the needs of consumers, professionals and academics who want one device for voice, music and file storage.

The ICD-UX70 and ICD-UX80 models record in MP3 stereo for high-quality
sound and support MP3 music playback. With ID3 tagging, the recorders
display artist and album information.

“This new series is the Swiss Army knife of digital voice recorders,”
said Stephen Teplansky, product manager for digital voice recorders at Sony Electronics. “Though its primary functionality is for voice recording, it
does a great job as a music recorder and MP3 player as well.”

 

[Read more]

Sony unveils three new Walkman video MP3 models

Sony Unveils Noise Canceling and Bluetooth Wireless Technology Enabled Walkman Video MP3 Players

Sony today unveiled three new Walkman video MP3 models that for the first time in the United States support noise-canceling and Bluetooth technologies. All three NWZ-S710F, NWZ-A720 and NWZ-A820 Walkman players also support common audio formats, including MP3s.

“Achieving the highest audio quality is one of our top priorities when
designing our players,” said Steve Haber, senior vice president of the
Digital Imaging and Audio Division at Sony Electronics.

The new Walkman video players offer great video resolution and brightness, along with high-quality sound and an extended battery life.
They come with Sony’s EX series in-ear-buds with 13.5 mm drivers that
passively block out ambient noise and help create a better listener
experience.

 

[Read more]

Pocketables.net: Sony mylo 2 vs Nokia N810

Jenn at Pocketables has got a great comparison of  Sony mylo 2 (COM-2) vs. Nokia N810.

Although not intended to appeal to the same market, the Sony mylo 2 (COM-2) personal communicator and Nokia N810 Internet Tablet still share enough similarities to warrant head-to-head battles and other comparisons.

I’ve already finished my Nokia N810 review and a full mylo 2 review is in the works, so I’ve decided not to pit one device’s features and functions against the other’s to ultimately conclude which is better. Instead, what I’ve done is something that I hope will help you declare your own winner. All that matters when choosing a portable device is what’s best for you, after all. 

Head over to Pocketable.net and read Sony mylo 2 (COM-2) vs. Nokia N810 and then come back and tell us which one you like best and why!

Source: Pocketables

Photo credit: Pocketables

About Sony PRS-500 by a Kindle Owner

This weekend I had the chance to check the Sony PRS-500 eBook Reader. It’s not a secret that I have been reading my Amazon Kindle for around a month already so it’s impossible to have a new reader in my hands and do not compare it with what I already have. First of all, I have to say that the Sony design is impressive, like all Sony designs, if you compare it to Kindle this one looks like a well designed toy, nothing more. But… Looking good is not the most important thing in gadgets. The search functionality in the Kindle, the capability of writing short notes and the overall software usability is a lot better in the Kindle.

After checking the PRS-500 I do not have any doubt that the formula proposed by Amazon where the eBook Reader can be used without connecting it to a PC is the way to go. And another point is “Searching”, when you are reading and when you are in a library, one of the tasks that you more often perform is searching. You search for words or topics within your library, you search for words in the book you are reading, you write notes, you highlight sentences or paragraph and often you look for those notes during your research. You can’t do any of that in a Sony Reader but you can in a Amazon Kindle.

Recently I was reading an article of Steven King about his Kindle where he wrote that the Kindle Keyboard was not that good but for him was enough because the Kindle was for reading not for writing. And I fully agree, but the fact that the Kindle has that little keyboard makes it one of the best readers in the market.

But this comment is about the Sony PRS-500 so let me end it with few pictures of this wonderful eBook reader.

PSP 3.90 Firmware Update adds Skype

This is pretty neat, but I think I will stick with Firmware 1.5 that came on my PSP when I bought it the 1st day they came out. I haven’t made one Firmware upgrade to mine.

Anyhow, Engadget brings word that the PSP 3.90 Firmware is out now and adds Skype…

Oh yes, Skype for your PSP-2000 (aka, PSP Slim & Lite) series is now a reality. At least outside of Japan. It’s only available via network update at the moment and adds expanded support for PLAYSTATION Network titles. You do have your $20 PSP Headset right? Good, so what are you waiting for punk, get outta here and let us know how it goes.

Read more about it at PSP Fanboy

Sony Mylo 2 Now Available

The 1st Mylo got kinda laughed off the block. The second coming of this device looks much more promising. Gizmodo is reporting that they are now available for purchase!

Sony’s portable web surfing device, the Mylo 2, which has full flash support, a touchscreen and Wi-Fi connectivity is now officially available for sale. The first shipments will take place on Monday, but you can go ahead and orders yours now.

Source: Gizmodo

Slim, Trim and beautiful - The Sony Cybershot DSC-T300

Like PDAs, cameras are a personal preference item.  Both have an immense selection for you to choose from but one thing is for sure, Sony is always coming up with some great looking high-end devices that make your ability to Experience Mobility a lot easier.  Slim, trim and packed with some great features, the DSC-T300 is Sony’s newest high-end camera that features a 10.1Mpix censor and a 3.5” wide screen.

Akihabara News .com got one to look at and it was packing a 5x optical zoom, an image stabilizer and can boost up to ISO3200 … impressive!

When it arrives in the US, you can expect it to be around $400.

CES 2008: Storage devices unveiled

Here’s a review of the Storage devices unveiled at CES 2008:

• CES 2008: SanDisk Announces the 12-Gigabyte microSDHC Card
• CES 2008: SanDisk
• CES 2008:Kingston Technology DataTraveler 400 USB Flash Drive
• CES 2008: Kingston DataTraveler HyperX and DataTraveler 110
• CES 2008: Seagate D.A.V.E.
• CES 2008: Panasonic 32 GB SDHC Card
• CES 2008: Sony 16GB Memory Stick Duo
• CES 2008: Samsung Ships Compact Flash Card Sized Hard Drive With Record Breaking Capacity For Advanced Mobile Devices
• CES 2008: Samsung’s High-capacity 1.8” Hard Disk Drives for Mobile CE Devices Now Shipping
• CES 2008: Imation Expands Flash Drive Security With Rugged, Tamper-Resistant Designs

Source: Mobility Site

CES 2008: Sony 16GB Memory Stick Duo

Sony has introduced a 16GB version of its Memory Stick Duo. It will be available in March for $300.

Source: engadget