Gadget and Techno Updates
Posts tagged Sony
Sony announces global sales of 50 million Playstation 3s
Apr 15th
Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that the cumulative sales of its PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system has reached a milestone of 50 million units sold worldwide, as of March 29. SCE also announced that sales of the PlayStation Move have surpassed 8 million units worldwide as of April 3. First introduced back in November 2006, the platform now boasts 75 million registered users and tens of thousands of game, music video and movie downloads available through the Playstation Store.
When the Playstation 3 was first launched, it led Sonys effort to push its Blu-ray high-definition video format in Sonys More >
Nintendo rules out getting into phones to chase Apple, Sony
Apr 4th
Nintendo’s US president Reggie Fils-Aime in an interview on Friday ruled out the prospect of a phone. The console maker had “no desire” to get into the business and expected it could compete with Apple, Microsoft, and Sony through a dedicated gaming device. He didn’t see Nintendo as having expertise it could bring to bear in the area and told CNN that phones were almost antithetical to a game system like the 3DS.
“Phones are utilities,” he explained. “Phones are not by definition entertainment devices.”
A Japanese producer for the firm, Hideki Konno, added that there were “so many additional costs” to More >
Sony chief Stringer slips plans for 8MP iPhone 5 camera
Apr 2nd
Sony chief Sir Howard Stringer may have unintentionally given away plans for an eight-megapixel camera in the iPhone 5. During an interview with the WSJ‘s Walt Mossberg, he claimed that the company’s camera sensor plant in Sendai had seen hit by the Japanese earthquake and that shipments of sensors to Apple would be delayed. Apple has so far only sourced cameras from OmniVision, suggesting that Sony was shipping for a future model.
The same February rumor attaching an eight-megapixel sensor to the iPhone 5 had Sony taking over from OmniVision after possible chip yield issues prevented the sensor from arriving More >
Sony Ericsson to allow unlocking bootloaders
Mar 29th
Sony Ericsson announced it will allow whom it calls advanced developers to load bootloaders and unlock its smartphones in a secure and legal way. Certain phones shipping later in the spring will get the functionality, including some versions of the Xperia arc, Xperia neo, Xperia pro, and Xperia Play. Some requirements will need to be met, including having a SIM-unlocked phone.
Sony Ericsson said the move was now possible as the company had found a secure technical solution. Sharing the bootloader would violate agreements with Sony Ericsson’s partners, opening up their apps and games. Users can tell if their phone More >
Wild Sony Ericsson Android dancer pitches Xperia Arc [video]
Mar 23rd
Sony Ericsson used an unusual trick to drive sales of the Xperia Arc in China that was caught on video this weekend (below). A dance routine using a real dancer in an Android mascot costume showed off what’s considered an impressive (and hilarious) routine in spite of, or potentially because of, the limited movement he had. The costume itself used a running fan to keep it inflated without affecting the sense of movement.
Android has occasionally had elaborate ad campaigns, including Super Bowl ads, but it’s rare to see the mascot feature so promimently. Companies like Motorola often just use More >