Sony Slashing Suppliers Of Parts And Materials

Sony plans to sever ties with more than half of its parts and materials suppliers by the end of 2010, to save at least 500 billion yen ($5.27 billion) in procurement costs in the current fiscal year, the Nikkei business daily reported without citing any sources. The Japanese company’s procurement, which had previously been handled separately by its various divisions and subsidiaries, will be unified under a new department created last month, the paper said.

Sony’s list of suppliers will shrink to about 1,200 from about 2,500, while the volume of parts and materials purchased from each company will increase, driving down unit prices, Nikkei said.

According to the story, the consolidation will include video game subsidiary Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, which had enjoyed considerable freedom in purchasing supplies. Story and picture courtesy of Reuters.

The Sony Touchscreen Walkman X-Series Dissected

When the Walkman X-Series (NW-X1050, NW-X1060) debuted on the FCC on Feburary 5th, Sony filed a short term confidentiality letter to block the public from seeing the internal photos for a month and a half. I went back and looked at the PDF and the pictures are now available. I wasn’t able to find much information on the components, except the 250mhz ARM processor that is the brains of the music player, which is a far cry from the 533mhz processor in the iPod Touch. It’s called the MP201, made by NEC and debuted back in July 2006 – and probably has some tweaks for this generation especially since there is an OLED screen involved. It’s not immediately clear how much memory is in the device, as it can vary from 64 – 512mb but we could imagine that with all the functions within it is most certainly 256mb or more. Here’s a general block diagram of the processor:

The MP201 chip represented a significant advance for digital audio players, video recorder/players, and other portable devices that enables consumers to download the latest audio content or receive mobile terrestrial digital broadcasts. Here are some of the specs:

• CPU: ARM926EJ-STM (MAX. 250MHz, I-cache: 16KB, D-cache: 16KB)
• DSP: SPXK611 (250MHz MAX., I-cache: 32KB, D-cache: 32KB)
• H.264 decoder: QVGA 30fps
• MPEG4 encoder/decoder: QVGA 30fps
• Internal RAM: 256KB SRAM
• SDRAM interface: SDR-SDRAM (125MHz MAX., 64Mb to 512Mb × 2, 32bits)
• Asynchronous memory interface: x16bit, 62.5MHz (at FLASH burst mode)
• NAND FLASH interface: Multiple values NAND error correcting circuit enabled

If anyone out there knows what kind of wireless chips are in here maybe we can find out if this thing has bluetooth or not.

Rear

PWB Top

PWB Bottom

WLAN (with cover)

WLAN (without cover)

More Pictures Of Sony’s Copper Brown A330 DSLR

The copper brown version of the A330 has a metallic dark copper shade on the top, brown shaded plastic on the textured front, and a black back. Its grip surfaces are brown, and the metallic surfaces — including those of the kit lens body — are a copper/brown color. According to Imaging Resource (in their brilliant hands-on A330 review), “Sony spoke with many focus groups, and this color combination was chosen overwhelmingly among the colors offered. One of the reasons given was that black lenses looked pretty good with the copper brown body, so people were most pleased with the color.” The copper brown version, model number DSLR-A330L/T, carries the same $849 price tag, is sold in the one-lens kit only, and will be available in Fall 2009. These pictures are the highest resolution available (click for larger version) from Sony Japan, while the real life shots were cherrypicked from Sony Fan.

We think Sony has made a very smart decision with the release of a brown DSLR. Far too often, it seems that DSLR’s are black – consumers obviously want something different. Most of the comments towards the copper brown A330 have been very positive. If the reception continues to be warm, perhaps multi-colored DSLR’s are the future.

Sony Alienating Australians With Walkman X-Series Pricing

Well, whatever the reason may be, one fact remains above and beyond all: the X-Series Walkman simply costs more to own in Australia than most markets. According to several Australian websites, it appears that Sony is suggesting “the recommended retail price of the new NWZ-X1060F (32GB) Walkman is $799AU. The equivalent US model is currently on sale at Sony’s official online store for US$399. Based on current exchange rates, the American SonyStyle price equals AU$515.” This is a considerable upcharge for reasons that Sony Insider thinks is downright insulting to the Australian consumer. How can the touchscreen Walkman gain traction in the land down under with such pricing? However, this seems to be nothing new – historically, electronics have been more expensive in Australia compared to just about every other country in the world. It’s truly pathetic.

Sony Australia’s official response:

There are various factors that impact on the ultimate recommended retail price of Sony products sold in Australia. These include, but are not limited to:

• The Australian versions of products need to be adapted to comply with Australian standards and local regulations
• Other countries, including the US, do not include government taxes in their recommended retail prices.
• Australian marketing expenditure is amortised across a smaller number of products
• Sony does not produce and freight the same product to all markets
• Retail environments differ from country to country
• Exchange rate considerations

Information courtesy of current.com.au and Smarthouse.

Marlin – The Open DRM Scheme Sony Uses For Content Distribution

In today’s world, the fact that digitized music, images or video can be copied without any loss of quality, derived from the popularization of the internet and improvements of its speed with greater performance and the capacity of PCs, has increasingly resulted in the illegal copy and reuse by third parties without the permission from copyright holders. In a recent interview, Sir Howard Stringer, CEO/President of Sony stated “A lot of people thought Sony’s content download service was doomed, but it’s in a pretty good place right now in the form of the PlayStation Network, available to PS3 users for network gaming, video, etc. The DRM is based on Marlin, an open scheme developed by consumer electronics companies and other companies. What does all this mean? Very simply, it means that Sony has begun the transition from a closed system to an open one.”

Digital rights management (DRM) technology has widely been used to protect copyrighted digital content by controlling or restricting copying. In 2005, Sony, Intertrust Technologies, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Philips and Samsung Electronics established the Marlin Joint Development Association (Marlin JDA) to develop technical specifications of DRM for use in consumer electronic products. Manufacturers can implement Marlin DRM, which supports content distribution over the internet, broadcast or mobile segments, in their products. Marlin compliant content and devices will enable users to enjoy content no matter what device they use and no matter how they acquire content.

There are some Marlin DRM specifications for various purposes. The two most promising types are Marlin BB (Broadband) and Marlin IPTV-ES.

Marlin BB-provides multiple copies among user’s devices

As the name suggests, Marlin BB is designed for use in distribution via broadband internet. A communication protocol based on the web service technology called NEMO is used for the content distribution. Messages are exchanged using XML format (*) and RSA (a public key cryptography) is used to exchange decryption keys. The usage rules of content are written in byte-code called Plankton and the content itself is encrypted by the Advanced Encryption Standard, an encryption system endorsed by the U.S. government.

One of the most characteristic parts of Marlin BB is its support for the domain model. Other proposed DRM systems have failed to offer a simple way to share downloaded AV content among devices. The domain model concept was introduced as a way of overcoming this drawback while still protecting copyrights. A domain is a group of devices among which the user wishes to share files. A domain model can be created using the following method.

1. The user and the user’s devices are registered on the Marlin service server.
2. The server creates a domain key for that user.
3. The server issues a domain key to each device and the device securely stores
   the domain key.

Registering Devices on a Domain

In order to download content, the distribution server sends the encrypted content and the license to the device. The content is decrypted with the content key using the AES algorithm. The license includes the content key (which has been encrypted using the domain key) and the content usage rules. To play back content, the domain key is used to decrypt the encrypted content key contained in the license. The device then uses the content key to decrypt the encrypted content, which can then be played back in accordance with the usage rules stipulated in the license. Because the user is entitled to copy the content among devices that belongs to a domain under the same domain key, it is possible to offer the same kind of experience users get with MP3 files.

Downloading Content

Content Playback

IPTV-ES-for Digital Television Platforms

IPTV-ES was introduced in 2007 as the first DRM system designed for the IPTV business in Japan. In addition to streaming applications such as video on demand (VOD) and IP multicast, this technology also supports download service, whereby content is played back after being stored on a hard drive or other devices, and exporting functions, which allow content to be written into media protected by different DRM systems such as Memory Stick or Blu-ray discs. It is suitable for the latest digital television platforms, which support DLNA (DTCP-IP) (*). The content is securely protected using the AES algorithm.

Support for IPTV-ES

Sony has extensive experience with DRM technologies including OpenMG. Marlin BB and Marlin IPTV-ES were created based on familiarity with these technologies. Sony introduced Marlin enabled products in 2007 starting with BRAVIA models in Japan and PlayStation Network service with PS3 and PSP. More Marlin enabled products are planned for the future. If the usage rules are too restrictive or complicated, DRM technology can become a nuisance for users. If the usage rules are too lax, illegal copies may thrive wich, in turn, prevents it will content providers from investing in future productions. Electronics divisions within Sony have led the industry as a bridge with content holders and service providers and remains committed to support user-friendly DRM technology that consumers feel secure about using.

While DRM technologies have been developed by IT industry players such as FairPlay made by Apple, or Windows Media DRM (WMDRM) made by Microsoft, there were significant demands from the consumer electronics (CE) industry for a DRM technology that would be more suitable for CE products. Panasonic, Philips, Samsung Electronics and Sony together with Intertrust Technologies, which owns basic DRM technologies, developed a CE friendly DRM called Marlin.

Marlin Organizations

The five founding companies take the initiative to run two organizations. The Marlin Developer Community (MDC) is a forum to develop Marlin specifications together with hosting Community Source Program and promote those activities, while the Marlin Trust Management Organization (MTMO) provides the license of the Marlin specifications together with the certification and compliance program and conducts key management operations for interoperability.

Marlin Developer Community (MDC)
More than 15 companies are currently members of MDC and cooperate in developing specifications as well as participate in the Community Source Program. Even non-members are able to download all the completed specifications simply by signing an End User License Agreement (EULA). For further information, please visit: http://www.marlin-community.com

Marlin Trust Management Organization (MTMO)
Those wishing to use Marlin technology for commercial purposes must first enter into a licensing agreement with the MTMO. The MTMO has prepared licensing agreements for manufacturers of end-user products, component manufacturers who supply to end-user product manufacturers, service providers and service element vendors who supply to service providers. There are currently more than 25 licensees (as of June 2008). For further information, please visit: http://www.marlin-trust.com/

In addition to these two organizations, a Marlin users forum has been established to support the smooth introduction of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) in Japan. The purpose of this forum is to study, formulate and provide specific compliance rules and implementation guidelines needed to support commercial use in Japan. It currently has 47 corporate members (as of July 2008). For further information, please visit: http://www.marlinusers-japan.org/index-e.html

Sony Ericsson Releases Powerful Update (v4) To Theme Creator Software

The Sony Ericsson Themes Creator tool, now updated to version 4.01, is a “composer” that allows you to personalize the look and feel of any Sony Ericsson mobile phone by quickly creating great-looking themes based on existing components such as color palettes, sound files, image files or animations. Version 4.0 is a major new release with a new UI, simplified workflow and wizards, meaning that professional themes can be created in minutes in just three steps.

Themes Creator v4.01 – Windows (9.5MB) – English

Themes Creator v4.01 – Windows (9.5MB) – Chinese

Themes Creator v4.0 offers:

Quick three-step workflow Select color scheme using automatic color combinations, color wheel tool or import saved color palettes Import background images for standby wallpaper, desktop and navigation screens Select style using pre-defined shapes and screen areas	Three editing modes Wizard – create themes using a four-step workflow Advanced – options to edit or create specific components XML Editor – direct XML code editing
Adobe® Kuler color palette import Import Adobe Kuler color palettes, Adobe’s web-hosted application for exploring, creating and sharing color combinations Visit Adobe Kuler’s website>>	Flash Lite animations import Use Adobe® Flash Lite™ SWF files as wallpaper elements (Standby screen)
Supports all Sony Ericsson phones	All features from previous tool versions supported

Supportive technical documents:

april 20, 2009 Developers’ Guidelines – Themes (1.4MB)

Release Notes (READ THIS FIRST)

Sony’s E3 Booth Specs And Rumor Roundup

Techradar has recently noticed the layout for E3 2009, which is the 15th Electronic Entertainment Expo. E3 is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry. It is used by many video game developers to show off their upcoming games and game-related hardware. E3 2009 is scheduled for June 2-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. E3 2009 will be greatly expanded in terms of size from previous years, it has been reopened to all qualified computer and gaming audience. Sony will have the largest booth at E3, which will be located in the West Hall. What Sony is planning to announce at E3 has been the topic of many news and blog postings lately. Let’s take a look at what people are saying.

One of the most popular Playstation stories recently is the slim PS3, which has been a pretty active rumor stemming all the way back to early spring of 2008. Engadget reported the story again more than a year later, stating that a slimmer, less expensive PS3 would debut at this year’s E3. Things heated up even more when the next day Engadget posted pictures of a Chinese production sample of a new, slimmer 120GB PS3. However, when I look at the pictures I just see something that looks like a cheap Chinese knockoff. It doesn’t even look like a Sony product, even in its pre-fab state. The main Playstation 3 font is different, and it doesn’t seem like a logical evolution that Sony Design would bring to the table. However, the cease and desist letter Engadget received afterwards makes me wonder..

Does Sony really have the money to completely re-engineer the console and make a slimmer version? I doubt it, and the slim PS2 didn’t come out till four years after the original console debuted anyways. We’re going to side with IGN this time and simply believe that the most logical thing Sony would do is offer a price-cut, probably in the vicinity of $50 – $100. IGN doesn’t think $50 is alot, but we do, especially if they were to offer a new bundle or larger hard drive.

Another major hardware rumor is the PSP Go!, which we find to be very likely. Here is what IGN has to say about it:

Rumors are abound that it’ll feature a touch-screen interface and no UMD drive. Instead, all games will be downloadable. Given this, we’re going to say that Sony revamps the PlayStation Store a bit and includes all existing PSP titles available on Day 1 for download. And, there will be some way to convert your existing UMD titles to digital versions, though hopefully the process will be painless.

The only thing that I think would be a stretch here is the complete offering of all PSP titles at the Playstation Store, which would probably be a gradual process, but everything else sure makes sense. We just wish that the next version of the PSP had multi-touch and an OLED screen, but then again that would probably punt the price into the stratosphere.

IGN offered some other thoughts about what might be happening with Sony at E3, and we found them very interesting. This includes talk about White Knight Chronicles, Gran Turismo 5, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and God of War 3, Twisted Metal, Grand Turismo 5, and more. Check it out!

Regal And Sony Bring 4K To A Theater Near You

Regal and Sony Electronics announced an agreement for the installation of Sony 4K digital projection systems across its entire circuit over the next 3 to 5 years, which will create the most extensive 4K deployment to date. Approximately 1,500 of the Regal screens will also be outfitted for 3D digital projection, using Sony’s newly introduced dual-lens adapter technology. This is nice because I usually prefer going to a Regal movie theater in the metro Atlanta area instead of AMC. The experience just feels better for some reason, most likely due to the more comfortable seats and bigger blockbuster movies.

“The rollout of these Sony 4K systems gives Regal the opportunity to utilize the latest technology to provide our patrons the best available presentation,” said Amy Miles, Regal Entertainment Group’s incoming chief executive officer. “Sony’s state-of-the-art 4K systems produce the highest levels of resolution, contrast and overall image quality.”

Sony 4K projectors offer the highest image resolution of all projection technologies, producing 8.8 million pixels. 4K technology provides image resolution four times greater than 2K projection systems and slightly more than four times greater than high-definition.

“Regal has always been at the forefront of merging technology with entertainment to create a dynamic movie-going experience,” said Gary Johns, vice president and head of of Sony Electronics’ digital cinema business. “The innovative design and capabilities of the 4K projectors’ are a perfect fit for supporting their commitment to deliver not only the highest-quality 2D and 3D digital projection, but also alternative content, live theatrical events and more.”

Sony Posts Huge Loss For ’08, And ’09 Doesn’t Look Much Better

Sony Corp. reported its first annual net loss in 14 years and forecast a bigger loss this year, saying the pressure from sliding sales, competition in gadget prices and a strong yen was expected to continue. The Japanese electronics and entertainment company said Thursday it lost $1.72 billion in the January-March quarter, compared with a year-ago profit of $302 million. That brought its full fiscal year loss to $1 billion. Sony said no quick recovery was in sight, projecting a $1.2 billion loss for the fiscal year through March 2010. Like other Japanese exporters, Sony is reeling from a decline in sales overseas as well as in Japan, which is mired in its worst recession in decades. A stronger yen, which erodes overseas revenue and inflates production costs at home, has also weighed heavily on its bottom line.

Sales for the 2009 financial year fell 12.9 percent from a year earlier, to 7.73 trillion yen ($80.5 billion). The slump deepened in the most recent quarter, falling 22 percent, to 1.52 trillion yen ($15.9 billion). But those factors mask more fundamental problems at the manufacturer.

Once an electronics powerhouse and stylish innovator, Sony’s dominance has been usurped in almost everything it makes by rivals with sharper marketing and less expensive products that are easier to use. Meanwhile, Sony has lost money for five straight years in televisions, trailing Samsung Electronics of South Korea, which dominates major markets with a lean production and aggressive pricing. And now Vizio is number #1 in North America this quarter for LCD TV’s. The New York Times says a problem plaguing Sony is that it has focused on Japanese consumers willing to pay high prices for cutting-edge technology. Sony also makes many of its products in Japan, where production costs are high and vulnerable to currency swings.

Sony’s chief executive, Howard Stringer, has tried to shift emphasis away from hardware to networked products and services, but change has been slow. In an effort to speed up the process, Mr. Stringer announced a management reshuffling in March that replaced older executives with younger ones. He also redrew Sony’s corporate structure to encourage engineers from all projects to work together.

At the same time, Mr. Stringer has pushed ahead with aggressive cost-cutting, eliminating 16,000 jobs and reducing its network of 57 factories.

Interview With The Designers Of The Touchscreen Walkman X Series

The new flagship WALKMAN is finally here. Portable media players are all about listening, watching, and the supporting controls—essential elements that the X series designers approached with great care. Discerning WALKMAN fans will find this gem worth the wait. However, Sony Insider questions if the device in the long term will be a winner. The public has been spoiled by an App Store, constant firmware updates, and other software features that keep people coming back for more. While this is solely a music player, a $299 – $399 investment needs to be nurtured or people will get upset. Nonetheless, enjoy this interview with the designers of the  X-Series touchscreen Walkman courtesy of Sony Design.

Daisuke Shiono

Creative Center, Senior Producer

Naoto Shimizu

Creative Center, Designer

Makoto Niijima

Creative Center, Producer and Designer

Satoshi Asai

Creative Center, Designer

Striding past yesterday’s WALKMAN

Shiono: Many people say “WALKMAN” when they mean portable audio players in general. It’s a Sony brand with the status of a generic noun. To raise the bar, we’re always eager to leverage all of Sony’s strengths as an audio-visual electronics manufacturer, for the best in sound and image quality.

With advances in digital technology and the spread of networks, people are looking for something new in these devices. We want products that tap into these wireless networks, for example. Watching music video streams, or downloading video podcasts of all kinds of programs. We want to enjoy this wealth of content easily, wherever we go, without being shackled to a computer.

The possibilities are exciting, and this inspired X series development. Wi-Fi web features, a touch-screen panel, an OLED display, and an “S-Master” digital amp. These new technologies and the latest electronic components form the backbone of this player, the flagship WALKMAN with uncompromising enhancements to the basics of portable media players: listening, watching, and the supporting controls.

A new take on the identity of an old favorite

Shimizu: I managed product design for the X series, and that’s what we kept in mind during development. We were determined to refine the basics, but we exercised restraint and good judgment. Just putting an LCD screen on a player the size of a business card would have made it quite forgettable. With minimal elements in our creative palette, it was not easy to make the WALKMAN identity clear. This led me to focus on how the buttons are arranged and how the edges are shaped.

Look closely, and you’ll notice that all buttons on the X series are round. We decided to maintain consistency with the three-circle layout introduced in the S series. In that player, there’s a rhythm in the arrangement of the trio of round buttons, which look enjoyable and convenient. In the X series as well, the Home button and Hold switch, the audio controls on top—all of these remind us of the three-circle layout. You might think that because there’s a touch-screen panel, we could eliminate these buttons. Having physical buttons offers some advantages, though. Controlling audio playback while browsing the web or viewing photos. Controlling the player by touch in your pocket while standing during a crowded commute. In this way, the three buttons not only represent WALKMAN style, they improve usability. You might find the Hold switch especially easy and enjoyable to use, because we were careful about the position, size, and clicking response of this part.

There’s another common thread in recent WALKMAN series design. What makes the previous S series look slim and light is how the edge around the body is shaped. We build on this thinking in the X series, but instead of simply recreating the S series edge shape, we made the corners squarer and the edge bolder by offsetting the seam. The prominent edge contributes to an image unlike the friendly S series. It looks more serious, which seems fitting for the flagship WALKMAN.

One-of-a-kind finishes

Shimizu: Even after our direction in product design had become clear, we were still looking for the best body finishes. Typical black or silver styling can’t really express the qualities people value in a top-of-the-line WALKMAN, or their appreciation for what’s genuine. Fortunately, there’s a team at Sony dedicated to color and material development. One of their proposals caught our eye as unique.

That’s the granite-like finish available in the X series, called “wrinkle coat.” The crackled pattern comes from heating this special coating. No two patterns are the same. And no portable audio players have offered this sense of premium quality, the distinctive appearance and texture of a cut mineral. Repeated attempts to perfect the coating paid off, and the finish looks and feels unique.

The protective case also reflects our dedication to superior quality. No two grains are alike, as you would expect from genuine leather. Owners will also appreciate how the case develops character over years of use, something synthetic leather can’t seem to match. With operations on the new touch-screen panel in mind, we wanted to present the player as an elegant notebook. For this, we had to develop a suitable holder, but because natural rubber would obviously stretch and become loose over time, the player is held by special elastic fabric also found in apparel.

Taking on better usability

Niijima: Because it’s the first WALKMAN with a touch-screen panel, we developed an entirely new graphical user interface. In design, we were guided by the themes of three circles and transparency.

The trio of round buttons has become closely associated with WALKMAN style, and this was our attempt to recreate it in graphics. Play a video or view photos, and you’ll notice the round control buttons.

Transparent GUI elements let visual content shine through, so to speak. You’d imagine that a three-inch OLED display gives us an ample canvas for controls. In fact, we face strict limitations in the size of icons and on-screen buttons, considering the width of people’s fingers, the precision of detection, and other factors. That’s why we balanced button size with transparency, which reveals the background or wallpaper. As a result, buttons are easier to press and content is easier to see.

One problem with touch-screen interfaces to date has been that buttons tend to be hidden by your finger when you hold your finger over them. You don’t know what button you’re pressing. On the X series, when you bring your finger over a button, the button edges glow orange, as feedback for the action. Move your finger away, and this sign of your action gradually fades, as a trace of your selection that is understood intuitively.

The excitement of discovering new content

Asai: One new feature exclusively in the X series is Related Links. This is an original feature developed by Sony, supporting searches on a video-sharing site and search engine.

Suppose you’re listening to a particular track. Press the button on the user interface, and the artist name, album name, or track name will be automatically applied to the search screen. Without entering anything, you can instantly find out more about it online. It’s an easy way to explore content.

Until now, you’d have to go to your computer and manually search whenever you wanted to learn more about content. Search from your mobile phone, and you’d still need to enter keywords. But because this is inconvenient, I’m sure it has discouraged many of us from finding more information. And that’s unfortunate, because we miss the chance to discover new content. The link button on X series players eliminates this problem. It introduces you to new content and encourages discovery.

In fact, this feature emerged from a designer-initiated study some time ago. We looked into touch-panel usability, network features, and other possibilities. We had always wanted to implement it. It’s a perfect match for the latest technology in the X series.

No stopping WALKMAN innovation

Shimizu: To me, WALKMAN players are simply tools for enjoying music. They meet a familiar need, yet it’s difficult to design the perfect player. If there’s anything even slightly distracting, anything that affects audio quality, a player just doesn’t meet our expectations of the WALKMAN name. From my own experience with the X series, I’m convinced that we cleared this hurdle easily.

Shiono: The WALKMAN line will keep evolving, over time. We will continue to introduce players designed especially for listening, and players that reinterpret the listening experience. There are many possibilities in store. Still, I hope the Walkman design DNA never changes. It should always be amazing and exciting to enjoy listening to what you want to hear, whenever and wherever you want to hear it—and that’s something Sony pioneered in outdoor listening. The exceptional sound and image quality only available from an audio-visual electronics manufacturer. The X series introduces wireless networking features, but it remains a reassuring example of these traditional WALKMAN ideals.