3D TV Demonstration at Sony Netherlands HQ

This evening I visited Sony Netherlands Headquarters for one of their 3D TV Demonstration events. I have been a Sony fan for as long as I can remember, but this was my first time ever at Sony’s Dutch HQ. While the building doesn’t look very special from the outside, they have do have the perfect space to organize these events.

After entering the building I was led to a large reception area. This area was set up beautifully with sleek furniture in black, white and grey, and a couple of modern white chandeliers. In the center there was a huge bar with a variety of drinks and at a separate bar finger food was served. There were a couple of flatscreens on which Sony content was shown, like movie trailers and concerts of Sony stars like P!nk and George Michael. A couple of Large Sony Make.Believe logos decorated the walls.

The event started in a cinema hall in the basement of the building. A short movie was shown in which Sony´s integrated 3D world was shown: 3D camera’s, 3D content, 3D players and 3D TV’s. After the short movie we went back to the ground floor, where there was a huge showroom. In this room all kinds of Sony tech was present: audio equipment, cameras, VAIOs, Walkmans, and of course a lot of Bravia TVs.

We were seated in front of a 3D TV (the KDL-46HX800) and received the 3D glasses which were much lighter and more comfortable than I expected them to be. A 3D movie of an aquarium was shown to us and I was really amazed by the sharpness of the 3D images and the 3D depth. After that we saw impressive game movies of 3D versions of LittleBigPlanet, WipeOut HD, MotorStorm and Super Stardust HD. To show that the TV can also upscale 2D to 3D images, some upscaled 2D soccer footage was demonstrated which showed quite some depth in it.

After that we watched another 200 Hz 3D TV, received the price list for 7 3D TV models and that concluded the demonstration. I had a look at some other Sony tech in the showroom and headed outside. Before leaving, I received a goody bag with some nice Sony stuff in it, including the Blu-ray of Michael Jackson’s “This is It.”

Due to this demonstration my interest in 3D TV certainly has grown a lot. Although I slightly fear that it will take some time before many interesting 3D TV emissions will be available, but I think especially 3D games could relatively quickly become a driving force for 3D TV.

Furthermore, I really appreciate it that Sony organizes these kinds of events because it allows you to experience new technology in a very relaxed setting. I hope Sony will decide to organize these kind of events much more often.

Sony Vaios to Support Remote Play

Remote Play is expanding beyond the PlayStation Portable (PSP)  and coming to the desktop. While Open Remote Play has been available for quite some time, this is an official Sony solution headed to Vaio laptops.

As is the case with Remote Play via PSP, users will have access to all their local content on the PS3 whether it be movies, music or photos. With the ability to access Remote Play from within your home network, or while connected to a remote network, your media can literally be a few clicks away. It would be assumed at this point that the same content restrictions imposed upon Remote Play (i.e. no Blu-Ray movie playback, copy protected video files, etc..) would remain in effect.  Also, no mention of being able to play games of any kind, as is the case with the PSP has been mentioned yet.

Navigating through Remote Play is typically done with the PSP game pad, and that can be somewhat cumbersome at times. Using the up and down arrows to simulate it would suffice, but a better option would be a virtual keyboard. The inclusion of a virtual keyboard style onscreen navigation option not only makes sense, but would be a welcome change and would give Sony a chance to do something unique.

Unfortunately for those of us in the US, a variant of Play TV is not available here yet. However for those in the UK, the ability to watch live and recorded content is being included as well further making the PS3 become a home media aggregation point.

No word has given yet on which version of Vaio’s will be compatible, but we do know that they will be part of the summer line-up which will be announced soon. Presumably this could include the Orange Vaio P as well.

Incredible God of War: Ghost of Sparta Coming Soon For Sony PSP

Sony Computer Entertainment America plans to release God of War: Ghost of Sparta exclusively for the PSP (as a UMD and download) later this year. Developed by Ready At Dawn Studios, the acclaimed team that brought you the best-selling God of War: Chains of Olympus, in collaboration with Sony Computer Entertainment’s Worldwide Studios Santa Monica Studio, God of War: Ghost of Sparta will combine intense action, an elaborate new storyline, stunning graphics, and depths of scale never-before-seen on the portable platform.

“Excitement for the God of War franchise is at an all-time high and we’re thrilled to continue that momentum with God of War: Ghost of Sparta,” said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. “This new adventure will showcase Kratos on PSP like never before in an experience that fans and newcomers can enjoy on the go, anytime, anywhere.”

Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ghost of Sparta is a single-player game that allows players to take on the powerful role of Spartan warrior Kratos. This new adventure picks up after God of War concludes, telling the story of Kratos’ ascension to power as the God of War. In his quest to rid himself of the nightmares that haunt him, Kratos must embark on a journey that will reveal the origins of lost worlds, and finally answer long-awaited questions about his dark past. Armed with the deadly chained Blades of Chaos, he will have to overcome armies of mythological monsters, legions of undead soldiers, and amazingly dangerous and brutal landscapes throughout his merciless quest.

Utilizing state-of-the-art visual technologies, the development team has made significant strides to give players a realistic feel that has never been seen before on PSP or any other portable platform. The game showcases higher quality environments and characters, giving an unmistakable realism to Kratos’ newest quest. Providing over 25% more gameplay, God of War: Ghost of Sparta will feature fluid, life-like characters, a robust weapon system, new magical powers, weapons and navigational abilities, many more enemies on screen, and a greater number of boss encounters, truly bringing the experience to life, all while on the go.

Sony Offering Playstation Protection Plan To Keep Hardware Healthy

Sony Computer Entertainment America has detailed the PlayStation Protection Plan, an extended service offer for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PSP (PlayStation Portable). Under the new program, PS3 and PSP owners in the United States can purchase an extended service plan of one or two years that begins after the original one-year manufacturer’s limited warranty expires. PSP owners can also choose the Accidental Damage Plan, which adds coverage for cracked-screen damage in the event of an unexpected drop. The PlayStation Protection Plan offers peace of mind to consumers interested in enhanced coverage for a great value, along with the added security of knowing all services will be performed with the direct backing and support of SCEA as the original manufacturer.

The PlayStation Protection Plan is available to PS3 or PSP owners (both the PSP-3000 and PSPgo systems) who are still within their one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty, as well as new purchasers. The PSP Accidental Damage Plan must be purchased within the first 30 days of owning a PSP system, and the plan is effective beginning on the purchase date. Starting this month, consumers can purchase the PlayStation Protection Plan by calling 1-866-716-7669.

With the PlayStation Protection Plan, consumers can extend the same coverage from the original manufacturer’s one-year warranty for one or two additional years. The pricing includes all shipping charges and repairs, which are performed by PlayStation-trained service technicians using official parts at SCEA-authorized repair facilities. The PlayStation Protection Plan is available beginning in May 2010 and will be priced competitively.

– PS3 – 1-year extension ($44.99) or 2-year extension ($59.99)
– PSP – 1-year extension ($29.99) or 2-year extension ($39.99)
– PSP with Accidental Damage – 1-year extension ($39.99) or 2-year
extension ($49.99)

“The PlayStation brand has long been synonymous with the highest quality in engineering and design, and it’s because of the reliability of the PS3 and PSP systems that we can offer the PlayStation Protection Plan,” said Glenn Nash, vice president, operations, SCEA. “We have heard from consumers that they’re interested in an extended service plan that’s backed directly by SCEA and leverages our technical expertise. While both the PS3 and PSP systems are designed with future-proof technology and built for long lifecycles, we’re looking forward to offering this service to consumers looking for added peace of mind.”

And for those of you interested, here is a list of what is not covered under the Playstation Protection Plan:

WHAT IS NOT COVERED:

• Rust, corrosion, insect infestation, mysterious disappearance, transport, environmental conditions such as sand or dirt.
• Any Product failure related to theft or burglary, loss, abuse, negligence, vandalism, acts of war, fire, weather related damage, unusual atmospheric conditions, or acts of God.
• Repairs to Product, including parts, or Product replacement covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, manufacturer’s recall, or similar manufacturer’s incentive or repair program (regardless of whether or not the manufacturer is doing business as an ongoing enterprise).
• Operational or mechanical failure of Your Product which is not reported to Us prior to expiration of this Service Plan.
• Normal maintenance, such as cleaning and/or customer education/training.
• Problems that existed in Your Product prior to the effective date of coverage under this Service Plan, which are known to You.
• Screen imperfections (if applicable) in Your Product such as “dead” or bright pixels within the manufacturer’s original service specifications.
• Products used commercially such as retail displays, rentals, leasing, or in arcade systems or other custom application.
• Damage caused by improper home wiring or grounding including external connections such as antennas or cable televisions.
• Damage to other connected devices such as televisions, monitors, receivers or other AV equipment.
• Damage due to spilled liquids or immersion of Product in liquid.
• Damage caused by non-approved or non-licensed peripherals or accessories.
• Repairs due to failures caused by the use of non-compatible, non-original equipped hard disks.
• Shipping or transportation damage, improper installation or setup, user facilitated minor adjustments and settings as outlined in the Product manual.
• Accidental damage not covered under the PLAYSTATION PROTECTION PLAN – ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE coverage.
• Accidental screen damage (only applicable to the PLAYSTATION PROTECTION PLAN).
• Intentional or incidental damage or gross neglect.

Christina Aguilera Goes Bionic In “Not Myself Tonight”

“Not Myself Tonight” is a new song by the Sony Music (RCA) recording artist Christina Aguilera. The song serves as the lead single from her forthcoming fourth studio album, Bionic. The track was written and produced by hip hop writer and producer Ester Dean and Polow da Don. The song, along with its accompanying music video, was positively received by critics, praising Aguilera’s return to her style in 2002′s Stripped; however some were critical, calling the song and video “unoriginal”.

The video itself features a strong sexual theme with scenes of S&M and bondage, as well as scenes in a church and several prestigious-looking buildings. Aguilera sporting several hairstyles and outfits, including many which were dominatrix-style. Actress Jenna Dewan appears in the video as a woman that Aguilera straddles. The video was inspired by several artists. James Montgomery of MTV News compared her scenes in the church to a slimmed down version of Madonna’s scenes in her video for “Like a Prayer”. He also said that the S&M features in the video were reminiscent of her video for “Human Nature”, commenting, “The influence on “Tonight” is pretty evident, most notably in Christina’s leather get-ups, her dominatrix attitude and the sultry chair-related activities she engages in throughout.”

The video also pays direct homage to Madonna’s “Express Yourself” in the scene where Aguilera wears a monocle, where she crawls on the floor and reaches for a bowl, and in the “dancing in the rain” scenes. In the bowl scene, she later pours black milk on herself, similar to what Christina Milian did with black oil in her “Dip It Low” video. Aguilera goes back and forth between several hairstyles in the video, which have been compared to styles of Bettie Page, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Gwen Stefani.

Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly, commented that the video was very much like Lady Gaga, but said it was even more like Madonna. He also noted that, “When it comes to Madonna, nearly every pop star has taken pieces of her performances/styling/etc”, and “With the Gaga argument, can we really fault Christina for taking from Gaga, when Gaga herself has so ripped from a variety of other artists?” Stransky also noted that Aguilera did indeed seem desperate in the “unoriginal” clip, saying that she had been gone for along time and now “clawing for relevancy”, but “maybe she should have gone in a totally different direction to avoid comparisons”.

During its first week on the radio “Not Myself Tonight” became the most added song on Mainstream Top 40 (886 plays in its first six days) and Rhythmic Radio stations in the United States. It was released for digital download in the U.S. on April 13, 2010, and sold 77,000 copies in its first week resulting in a debut of number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. It fell to number 49 for its second week. It is Aguilera’s fourth highest chart debut behind 2008′s “Keeps Gettin’ Better” debuting at number seven, 2006′s “Ain’t No Other Man” which opened at number nineteen, and 1999′s “Genie In A Bottle” which debuted at number five.