Sony Adds PS3 Greatest Hits Titles

As I am not independently wealthy, I am always on the look out for a good deal. And if you can make said good deal apply to games sign me up. Neogaf is reporting that according to a leaked ad (which looks legimate) Sony is adding titles to it’s Greatest Hits Line. Typically A PlayStation 3 game must be on the market for 10 months and sell at least 500,000 copies to qualify (which means don’t expect to see anything like Hello Kitty 2: Return to Kitty Land included). The following titles are set to be added:

Killzone 2

Resistance 2

InFamous

Little Big Planet

Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction

Gran Turismo 5: Prologue

UFC 2009

Uncharted

If you don’t own of these titles yet there is certainly a good selection to chose from. With all the new PS3 users out there, this couldn’t come at a better time

Sony Japan Delays Release Date Of Several BRAVIA NX800 Series HDTV’s

Sony Japan has officially announced that it is delaying the release date of several BRAVIA NX800 series HDTV’s. The 40″ (KDL-40NX800) and 46″ (KDL-46NX800) models were due to be released in Sony’s home country on April 30th, but has now been pushed back. The 40″ will be released now on May 20th, and the 46″ will be released there on June 10th. We also noticed that the 46″ BRAVIA NX800 television will not ship in the USA until late May. According to Sony Japan, the reason for the delay is “the demand exceeded the original anticipated supply of key components.”

What’s truly odd is that the 52″ (KDL-52NX800) and 60″ (KDL-60NX800) NX800 models are shipping normally on SonyStyle USA. There have been several intense rumors that revolves around a faulty module on various 2010 Sony TV models but we have been assured by Sony that they are completely untrue. We sure hope so.

Sony Officially Starts Selling Playstation Products In The Philippines

Sony Computer Entertainment Asia (SCE Asia) announced that the company will officially initiate the PlayStation business in Republic of the Philippines making the world’s popular computer entertainment systems and services available to the PlayStation fans and consumers in the country. The Philippines will be the 9th country and region in the SCE Asia territories.

Along with the initiation of the PlayStation business in the Philippines, SCE Asia will introduce to the market the PlayStation 3 (PS3) (CECH-2012A / CECH-2012B) (body color: charcoal black) computer entertainment system featuring an extremely streamlined form factor with 120GB (CECH-2012A) or 250GB (CECH-2012B) variations. They will also sell the PSP (PlayStation Portable) (PSP-3006) handheld entertainment system. The PS3 and PSP system will become available in stores now, at suggested retail prices of PHP18,999 for PS3 120GB model, PHP 20,999 for PS3 250GB model and PHP 9,999 for PSP-3006 respectively (including tax). With the launch of the PlayStation platforms, users in the Philippines will be able to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment content including games, music and movies on the popular entertainment systems.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Sells Off Interests In HBO Latin America

Sony Pictures Entertainment sold a portion of its investment and certain ancillary rights in its HBO Latin America joint venture, which owns and operates certain premium pay television businesses in Latin America, to an affiliate of Time Warner. Prior to this transaction, SPE owned approximately 29% of this joint venture and, after this transaction, will own approximately 8%. The cash proceeds from the sale were U.S. $217 million, and the sale is anticipated to result in a pre-tax gain of approximately U.S. $200 million in Sony’s consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. After the closing of the sale, the parties submitted a filing with the Brazilian competition authority. In the event the Brazilian competition authority does not approve the sale, the sale of the Brazil portion of the investment could be subject to rescission, in which case approximately 40% of the purchase price (and the corresponding pre-tax gain) could be subject to rescission.

In January 2010, in a separate transaction, SPE sold its investment in its HBO Central Europe joint venture, which owns and operates a premium pay television business in Central Europe, to another affiliate of Time Warner. The sale resulted in pre-tax gain of approximately U.S. $45 million in Sony’s consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010.

The impact of these gains on sales was incorporated within the outlook for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, announced on February 4, 2010.

These sales are in keeping with SPE’s strategy of focusing on and investing in its majority and wholly owned network operations across Latin America and Europe. SPE will continue to provide its content to the HBO pay television businesses in Latin America and Central Europe.

Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10 Will Not Have Multi-Touch

Multi-touch is an enhancement to touchscreen technology, which provides the user with the ability to apply multiple finger gestures simultaneously onto the electronic visual display to send complex commands to the device. It was truly popularized by the iPhone, which allowed users to pinch, zoom and other commands by using two fingers. However, it has been unclear as to if the XPERIA X10 would ever have multi-touch. Sony Ericsson product manager Rikard Skogberg has stated on the official Sony Ericsson product blog, “there’s no multitouch in X10 – and I also can confirm that it’s not only related to SW but also to HW. Despite this, for future updates of X10 we are of course working on other solutions for e.g. zooming, which has been requested frequently on this blog, such has the solution demoed on X10 mini.”

Removing “Install Other OS” Will Hurt The Sony Playstation 3

There is a certain amount of Geek DNA that was required to run Linux on the PS3 from the start. Over time that changed and guides and easy installers were made to take advantage of “Install OtherOS” and it became much easier to do so. The problem now is that the geek community is like the NRA: number wise very small in comparison to who they lobby against, but extremely vocal. That segment of users were some of the ones touting the PS3 in forums, fan boy circles, and online. So that segment now feels betrayed, hence the reason why the lack of SACD support didn’t generate such shockwaves in the community.

The addition of Divx/Facebook at this point are enhancements, but they don’t really differentiate Sony from anyone else operating in the console space. They are simply things that have become common place. Linux access to the Cell, although very restricted and controlled was a powerful option. It gave that core group something that they were more than happy to generate free publicity about, and that group did buy hardware, and fell in love with the console.

Given the statement of what you lose if you don’t upgrade (i.e. PSN access) it gives the impression that by wishing to retain your Linux access, you are somehow doing something you should not. Akin to 360 users being banned from Live for playing pirated games. Not the same by any means, but again, it’s that perception amongst many that is being circulated, and while not entirely accurate, it casts Sony in a negative light.

It is true that as a whole Linux has not been a significant revenue driver for Sony’s Playstation brand. Modifying the GameOS required modifying the OtherOS to ensure compatibility between the two, and that when you have to segment resources to support something the majority aren’t using, it makes sense at some point to discontinue it. Couple that with George Hotz gaining some serious ground very quickly, one can see why Sony is taking a move like this. Right now, in the next generation Sony has the longest streak of being the console that is not compromised. But look at what this has caused. Previously, George Hotz was not going to do anything more than release his exploit according to his own blog, and then let everyone play in his sandbox. Now he is behind creating custom firmware to maintain the OtherOS feature, the very thing Sony doesn’t want. If everyone gets behind this, and views the OtherOS as a martyr (which is happening) it’s going to do nothing but force piracy as a backlash. Or at the very least find more exploits that previously might not have known.

The other problem is that not only does this feature removal come so suddenly, so swiftly and the most inopportune time given Sony’s amazing buzz. Sony is leading PS3 sales in Japan, analysts predict the PS3 is going to sell more than all other consoles, people were excited about the Playstation Move, and now Sony is being viewed as the evil company who takes away features. Along with that there is nothing to replace it. If Sony wanted do a little, give and take, the perfect idea would be one thing: Divx 7 certification. True it would support mkv, and there is a strong reason why Sony would not want to do that. However, many other vendors are starting to do it as well, and the PS3 would be the only console to support it. That would get many in the geek community, the vocal ones, behind Sony again.

The Playstation Blog is quite the interactive community, filled with many people who are frank and open. Sony engages their users more than I think anyone else does, via chat’s, message postings etc. PlayStation.Blog Share is a great initiative, which formally allows anyone to submit their best ideas on how Sony can improve all PlayStation products. It’s also a place where you can discover and vote on other people’s ideas, as well as communicate with us and other PlayStation fans about how to bring great ideas to life. Those 100′s of people who post comments, are your town herald. Why not engage them, why not mention what is going to go away and solicit responses on what should replace it, is it Divx 7, is it Boxee support, is it a better flash experience and the restoration of real Hulu support?

If that isn’t good enough, look at the top requested items on Share – Cross Game Voice Chat, Software Emulation for PS2 games, Auto-Syncing Trophies. Take things a step forward by creating a timetable for when these features will be added (if possible).

All eyes are on Sony now, and they have a real opportunity to do something here and spin this to their advantage, but will they?

Sony Playstation 3 Firmware v3.21 Removes OtherOS Support

PS3 Firmware (v3.21) is set to launch on April 1st . Within this is update, Sony is going to remove OtherOS  support from all existing PS3′s launched before the current slim model in September 2009.

Previously it was mentioned that this feature would not be removed, but it appears that due to “security concerns” that has changed. The ability to run various flavors of Linux, as well as apply any of the recently found exploits for the console will no longer be possible. The update isn’t truly mandatory, but without it you will lose the following as detailed from the PlayStation Blog:

• Ability to sign in to PlayStation Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat
• Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later
• Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings)
• Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later

For those utilizing the PS3 in a cluster array, or those simply learning about the Cell programming using the Linux SDK, this will be transparent as their primary focus is probably none of the above. Given that when changes were made to the GameOS, it directly affected, and sometimes broke certain elements in Linux that then required the GameOS to be changed, it definitely saves Sony time and resources by removing it. As I detailed here some time ago, many factors had been in play for quite sometime that may have culminated in this decision.

While it doesn’t mean it couldn’t surface in a release by Sony that’s non supported, it doesn’t appear likely.

Vodafone UK/Germany Customers Can Now Pre-Order Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10

Vodafone UK/Germany customers can now pre-order the Sony Ericsson X10. In addition to full access to the thousands of apps available through the Android Marketplace and the Android 1.6 operating system, the X10 will also be pre-loaded with Vodafone 360 apps for MyWeb and Vodafone Music. We’re still a little confused why Sony Ericsson is shipping the phone with Android 1.6 when the OS is officially at version 2.1..but its like that everywhere. Even the US version, at least reported at this time, will ship with 1.6 as well. There have been some theories that they might push an update soon though with additional fixes.

Check out our hands-on with the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 post from CES 2010.

The Sony Ericsson X10 launches on Vodafone UK April 2nd and will be available for free on monthly contracts from 35 pounds Sterling (24 month contract), with 900 minutes, unlimited texts and 500 MB of mobile internet.

Regardless, the Android-powered X10 can be easily integrated with Google services, such as Google Mail and Picasa as well as Facebook and Twitter, making it easy to keep up to date with your mates on the go. The Google Maps Android version is truly on par with an expensive navigation application. It even has voice and 3D view. Very brilliant.

The X10 packs a massive 4 inch touchscreen, great for video, playing games, surfing the web and viewing pictures. And with an 8 megapixel camera complete with face detection, it’s great for taking pictures too. It’s also loaded with a 1GB MicroSD card, which can be upgraded to 16GB, and offers both HSDPA/3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Sony Ericsson X10 is one of a range of great new Android handsets that Vodafone UK customers will soon be able to choose from, with the Google Nexus One, HTC Legend and HTC Desire also scheduled to launch soon.

Sony Europe Reveals Several New iPod/iPhone Headsets With Remote Control, Microphone

Sony Europe is showing off the new DR-EX300iP, DR‑V150iP and MDR-E10iP, which offer a serious step-up in sound quality compared with your average music player’s supplied earbuds. All models feature an in-line remote control that puts commonly-used iPod/iPhone functions within fingertip reach while you’re jogging, commuting or relaxing. The small, discreet remote makes it easy to adjust volume, play/pause, skip tracks and control iPod Shuffle’s unique VoiceOver function. As an extra bonus, there’s an integrated microphone that lets iPhone users chat hands-free.

The DR-EX300iP delivers refined quality sound in a compact, in-ear headphone. The innovative design features a 13.5mm Neodymium driver unit that’s oriented vertically in the ear. This combination teams excellent sensitivity with smooth, powerful bass and a wide dynamic range. A secure fit is assured by four sizes of supplied hybrid silicone earbuds, giving excellent sound isolation and extra-comfortable wear – even for extended listening periods. The DR-EX300iP comes supplied with a genuine leather carry case for storage and transportation.

Tailor-made for DJs, the dual-purpose DR-V150ip delivers crisp, commanding sound when you’re mixing pumping club beats. Away from dance floor, it delivers equally commanding sonic performance with your iPod or iPhone. Deep bass and generous power handling are assured by the 30mm ferrite driver. There’s a large adjustable headband for fatigue-free wear during the longest DJ set, while reversible earcups allow convenient ‘single-sided’ monitoring when you’re behind the decks.

Stylish, colourful and great value, the MDR-E10iP let younger listeners express their individualty while listening to their favourite sounds. There’s a choice of four fashion colours (Pink, Gold, Blue, Grey) to co-ordinate with your iPod or iPhone. Crisp sound from the 13.5mm Neodymium driver is partnered with high-comfort wear, thanks to the supplied soft ear-pads that make a great fit for smaller ears.

Sony Europe Presents An Alarm Clock Radio With Built-in Projector

The new ICF-C717PJ, available next month from Sony Europe, is packed with great features to help you wake up and drift off in even greater comfort. Compact and styled with an elegant brushed aluminium finish, the ICF‑C717PJ looks great in any bedroom. It’s also the first clock radio from Sony with a built-in projector. Just twist the lens module to any angle and beam a super-sized time display onto any wall or ceiling for comfortable viewing.

There’s a generous choice of ways to wake up with the dual alarm clock. Listen to your favorite radio show with the FM/AM digital tuner, or plug your Walkman, iPod, iPhone or any personal music player into the audio jack and welcome the day with your favourite tunes. Some of you may also appreciate a choice of five soothing sounds from nature that can aide those who are just waking up or drifting off to sleep. Choose from crisp, digital re-creations of the undersea world, waves, mountain brook, rainfall or birdsong to suit your mood.

The big, bright, easy-to-read LCD offers a cool, soothing blue backlight: there’s a 4-way brightness control for comfortable viewing at any time of day or night. There’s also a thermometer that displays ambient temperature in your bedroom. It’s a valuable way to check that you’ve got the heating set correctly and all set for a peaceful night’s sleep.

No power? No problem. Even if it’s unplugged or there’s a temporary power failure, a battery back-up ensures that you’ll still wake up at the right time.