Top Ten Sony Insider Stories Of 2010

2010 was an incredible year in many ways for Sony as a brand, its social media team and Sony Insider’s role in that circle.

Every year we like to share the top ten stories that received the most hits on the site. This year’s list is rather interesting because it signals to me Sony Insider, while it has great coverage of news, has also become an informative tool for consumers when they want to learn more (and purchase) Sony products. We also noticed that many stories from 2009 are still receiving healthy traffic.

I hope we can do an even better job of being a source of news, reviews and everything else Sony in 2011. We will be following up this post with another list of our favorite memories of 2010, and our thoughts on what Sony needs to do in 2011. Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading!

#10 – Sony Shows Off Prototype Flexible Electronic Paper Display

September 14th – Every year in Japan, Sony holds a special Dealer Convention that shows off the latest products and a glimpse of what is coming. The event, held this year in Shinagawa, Tokyo, has always been interesting as sometimes reveals products and prototypes that Sony hasn’t even announced yet. While the big focus at this year’s Dealer Convention was 3D products, there was also a small exhibit showing a very exciting development that could one day be used in future Sony Reader devices.

#9 – Sony Wearable Walkman NWZ-W250

April 12th – Sony Europe announced a new and improved Sony Wearable and Water Resistant Walkman in their W series. The Sony NWZ-W250 is actually water resistant, something that its cousin W202 has had issues with. You also get a new look, a new stand and of course Sony acclaimed superb sound. NWZ-W252 is offered in a 2GB of storage in the USA and 4 Gb to store your techno or whatever music you like to work out to.

#8 – Our leak of the new Sony Reader eBook devices

August 12th – The fall season in the USA always brings an update to Sony Reader devices, and we were the first to deliver concrete information about the new models – PRS-350 and PRS-650. Sony has been under pressure in the E-Book Reader product category as they face increased competition from rivals Apple (iPad), Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), and a hodgepodge of other companies.

#7 – Inside Job Movie Exposes The Truth Behind American Financial Crisis

August 24th – Inside Job is a documentary from Academy Award nominated filmmaker, Charles Ferguson (“No End In Sight”), and is the first film to expose the shocking truth behind the economic crisis of 2008. The global financial meltdown, at a cost of over $20 trillion, resulted in millions of people losing their homes and jobs. Through extensive research and interviews with major financial insiders, politicians and journalists, Inside Job traces the rise of a rogue industry and unveils the corrosive relationships which have corrupted politics, regulation and academia.

Narrated by Academy Award winner Matt Damon, the Inside Job “cost over $20,000,000,000,000 to produce.” Be sure to also check out the Inside Job official website and Facebook page.

#6 – Sony Officially Starts Selling Playstation Products In Vietnam

January 19th – Sony Computer Entertainment Asia announced that the company has formally started PlayStation business in Socialist Republic of Vietnam, making the one of the world’s popular computer entertainment systems and services available to the PlayStation fans and consumers in the country.

#5 – New Sony VAIO F Series Encountering Buzzing Or High Pitched Whine Issue?

January 21st – According to dozens of forum users at Notebookreview.com, apparently owners of the powerful Sony VAIO F Series VPCF112FX/B, VPCF11JFX/B, VPCF11MFX/B and VPCF1190X CTO were experiencing an odd high pitched whine or buzzing sound (aka whining) while using the laptop. The issue caused several consumers to call Sony for support, but they were unable to provide a fix over the phone – this led to several of the laptops being returned, exchanged, and so forth. However, after observing the forum topic it seems that the problem resides within the microphone built into the laptop itself, and with a few simple clicks this issue can be temporarily resolved. Sony eventually provided a full fix for this issue.

#4 – Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Battery Life Revealed

January 22nd – The XPERIA X10, also known in Japan simply as Xperia, came to the massive wireless carrier DoCoMo yesterday amid great reception. However, what’s truly odd about this 1Ghz, 4 inch screen Android phone is that the battery life figures have been relatively unknown up to this point. Even Sony Ericsson’s global site has never listed the battery life figures in its specifications. This left many curious as to how long it could actually last.

#3 – Hands-on With BD Remote – The Sony iPhone/iPod Touch Remote App

January 10th – One of the most overlooked announcements by Sony at CES 2010 was the new iPhone/iPod Touch application called “BD Remote” that is compatible with all 2010 Sony Networked Blu-ray Players. Well I guess it wasn’t that overlooked after we published a nice hands-on with the interface.

#2 – How To Fix The Battery Life On The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10

April 13th – The XPERIA X10 is truly outstanding as SE’s first Android device, and has some features that really shine in comparison to the competition. The design is also just so stunning, and reminds me of the Monolithic Design concept we’ve seen with Sony’s other products. However, after using the phone daily, it became obvious that there was a big problem – the battery life. The battery was draining way too quickly, even in standby mode. I tried some application management programs, and so forth, but it still seemed less than what I’d hoped for. This post originated before a firmware fix that corrected some problems, and visitors left comments with other tips.

#1 – Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 vs. Apple iPhone 4 Specs Comparison

Sony Ericsson’s major device for AT&T in 2010 was the XPERIA X10. With specifications straight out of Star Trek, is one of the most advanced devices ever released by Sony Ericsson. However, the new iPhone 4, despite its shortcomings, has set the bar in smartphone functionality that is nearly unmatched by other devices. We put the XPERIA X10 (specs courtesy Sony Ericsson) head to head with the iPhone 4 (specs courtesy of Apple) in a detailed specifications comparison.

Screenshots From Music Unlimited Powered By Qriocity

Music Unlimited, powered by Qriocity, is a cloud-based music service by Sony that allows consumers to access millions of songs for a small subscription fee. Major labels such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music as well as leading independent labels and major publishers worldwide are on board for a combined initial offering of over six million songs (with promise to expand over time).

Content can be played on a variety of devices, including “Sony’s 2010 (and surely 2011) models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player, Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system as well as VAIO and other personal computers. It will also become available on a wide range of Sony’s portable devices, as well as on Android-based mobile devices and other portable devices.”

Music Unlimited sure seems like an interesting alternative to Pandora and other streaming solutions, but then again it isn’t free. Hard to tell if it can beat my trusty Wunderradio, though.

Prices are reasonable, coming in with Basic (￡3.99 in the U.K. and 3.99 Euros in Ireland) and Premium (￡9.99 in the U.K. and 9.99 Euros in Ireland) options. There’s a load of features in the premium service, such as Top 100 channels for many genres, personal playlists, ability to listen to songs on-demand, and more. It also adapts to your listening habits and offers better music through analyzing your collection, ratings, and so forth.

The service is currently only available in the UK and Ireland, but will come to the USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and New Zealand “during 2011.” I would image it will be all over CES 2011.

We have some high resolution screenshots of Qriocity Music Unlimited courtesy of Sony global press. I think the images are worth looking at (in addition to our initial coverage of the Music Unlimited launch) and show how the service looks on the PS3, BRAVIA devices, and even the player built on their website, music.qriocity.com.

The Music Unlimited interface for web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, IE, etc) look pretty polished for its first version. You can see here in the channel view a rather coherant interface. Controls are at the top, including repeat or random options, and the ability to like/dislike. I would like to see larger, easier to use like/dislike buttons. Other controls include volume, search, previous track, next track and pause. Below that is the album art, and recommendations as well as Music Sync, which allows you to add your music collection and listen across all supported devices. Nice.

Then we have the channel listing itself, where you see a varity of genres, including tabs for premium, genre, SensMe, and Era. I love the option of Era, that means you will see channels such as 1940, 1950, 1960, etc..

Then there is the interface for BRAVIA products such as TV’s, Blu-ray players, home theater systems, etc which is not as glamorous as the PS3 version, but is functional across the board. The interface is consistent with the Qriocity Video service. I like the “How It Works” touch..

The channel listing in Music Unlimited for BRAVIA Devices.

Here is a stunning (and resized) 1080P grab of Music Unlimited’s album view for PS3, which is also displaying high resolution album covers and an excellent looking, easy to use interface. This would be nice to have on for a party.

The following image is a taste of the menus in Music Unlimited full of gloss and reflection in the PS3 version.

The Music Unlimited channel selection screen on the PS3, showing many genres. We can see already thatt they will have Jazz, Rock, Dance & House, Pop, Latin, Blues, Punk, Electronic, Alternative, Rap, R&B, Reggae, Classical, and New Age just like the website.

Top Sony Gifts For The Holidays Under $300

There are literally hundreds of gift recommendations I could give for Sony products, but instead I will simply choose a few that are guaranteed to impress and are below $300. There are many great ideas here for digital imaging, audio, and some tips for the PlayStation 3 as well.

In this article, we provide links to SonyStyle and have pricing listed merely as reference. If the prices listed here still seem high, we recommend checking out other e-tailers selling these products. A great way to compare prices is to always check Amazon, Google Product Search, or SlickDeals (just put the product name in the search field). Great savings can be found for many of the items listed here in those websites, but SonyStyle is still able to guarantee Christmas shipping if you order as soon as possible.

Gadgets

While Sony sells many point and shoot cameras I really have to put all of my energy towards the DSC-TX5 ($279). It is one of the greatest portable compact cameras Sony has ever made. The TX5 is waterproof (up to ten feet), dustproof, shockproof (can be dropped five feet), and freeze-proof. I bought one for my girlfriend and we had so much fun over the summer shooting pictures underwater at the pool, shooting HD video underwater while making funny faces, and more. She took the camera on a girls beach trip and the pictures she came back with were stunning.

For many people, these type of features are a dream come true. Imagine dropping your camera and not worrying about it breaking, or being able to jump in the water with it and take great shots. The TX5 also has a 3.0″ wide touch screen, 4x optical zoom, “Exmor R” sensor, iSweep Panorama Mode, and 10fps (pictures per second) at the camera’s full 10.2 megapixels. The TX5 is easy to use – almost anyone can use its easy to understand touchscreen interface. There’s also five great colors to choose from, including red, pink, silver, green and black.

If you have not tried a 2010 Sony point and shoot camera, the pictures are seem so much higher in quality thanks to the Exmor R sensor. Sony also has some dynamite looking camera cases that are worth looking into.

A cheaper digital imaging gift is the versatile Bloggie Touch, which is a stylish 12.8 megapixel camera and 1080P video recorder. The Touch comes in a 8GB ($179, 4 hour video) or 4GB ($159, 2 hour video) models, and both will be more than sufficient for the Facebook or YouTube enthusiast in your life. The videos are recorded in an easy to upload format that can be transferred easily with the built-in USB stick. Did we mention it also has Auto Macro (for easy, close up shots and videos) as well as 4x digital zoom? Not too shabby.

There are a couple simple gift recommendations I can give for Sony audio products.

The first that comes to mind is the W Series Walkman ($59), which is a wearable one-piece audio player. The W Series is water-resistant, quick-charging, and comfortably wraps around your head and fits in your ear. There is 2GB of storage built-in to the device and is perfect for someone who runs or does other activities. We did a hands-on with this music player and it withstood some really tough workouts. It’s far superior than using your iPhone or iPod because it eliminates pesky headphone wires and is more durable.

If that didn’t really win you over, then at least give the gift of better sound. I cannot stand seeing people wear those tacky white iPhone/iPod earbuds knowing they are experiencing inferior audio quality. You wouldn’t believe the difference when you put on a nice quality pair of Sony earphones. Plus they just look amazing. Scout around in the SonyStyle earbuds section, or look further at Sony’s unique PIIQ line of headphones and earbuds, which has some really funky designs and poppy colors. You really can’t go wrong with this option and it’s a gift that will definitely be used over and over.

The Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer ($149) is a cool gift for the geek that has everything, or someone who could use a little spice of tech in their life. The Dash has a 7″ screen that shows off everything from weather, e-mail, traffic, sports, social networking, movies, music, games and more. There are more than a thousand apps for it, including Netflix watch instantly and Hulu Plus. Can your alarm clock do that? The only downside is that it doesn’t have a dock for the iPhone/iPod.

If you’re looking for a great iPhone/iPod dock, Sony has several options. Some have a clock radio, and others are merely speaker systems. The ICF-CS10iP is a perfect example of having a speaker dock and clock radio combined. The audio quality of some Sony docks is actually surprising, and some can also get very loud. While we’re in our room, my girlfriend and I often listen to Jazz internet streams or other audio from my iPhone on the ICF-CS10iP and it sounds great. There is pretty much something for everyone in numerous price ranges all the way up to $250.

PlayStation 3

There are more gift options for the PlayStation 3 than ever before. If you know someone who has the console and are thinking of giving them a gift, this really may be your best bet.

If he or she doesn’t have a PS3, this is definitely the right time. It really is one of the greatest gaming systems ever released. And I’m not just saying that because I run Sony Insider. Most people who have really given the console some time would agree. Even though I play FPS games on the PC, there are several titles I have put many hours into on the PS3. The crazy thing is that the hits just keep coming for the console. Gran Turismo 5 is a perfect example of the true power of the PS3 with its access to over 1,000 vehicles and dozens of racetracks.

There are three official PS3 options, including the PS3/PlayStation Move bundle (320GB/$299), and regular PS3 (320GB/$349), and PS3 (160GB/$299) systems. You can find the 160GB model for less than $299 with some easy sleuthing. All the versions of the console come with huge hard drives, the incredible quality of movies and music on Blu-ray, 3D movie and gaming compatibility, free PlayStation network access, built-in Wi-Fi and so much more. It can be used as a device that can stream or playback numerous types of audio and has a lot of use as a networked device. The PS3 has access to a wealth of games, and also some really interesting content on the PlayStation store. They sell a variety of videos at the Store as well and it also has access to Hulu, Netflix, etc. Some people overlook the fact the PS3 also has a fully functional web browser with flash.

In a nutshell, the PS3 is a really great start towards building a media center for that LCD in the living room. It doesn’t necessarily trump the XBOX360 in every regard, but it still has several untouchable advantages.

Game gift recommendations are really easy – the biggest titles I can easily think of include Call of Duty: Black Ops, Gran Turismo 5, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Red Dead Redemption, NBA JAM, Uncharted 2, Super Street Fighter IV, LittleBigPlanet, and essentially anything else in this list. Any of those aforementioned games will provide dozens, if not hundreds of hours of enjoyable gameplay and have incredible replay value. Also, if they already have Gran Turismo 5, then just get them this PS3-compatible Logitech Driving Force GT Racing Wheel, which will seriously accelerate their experience from zero to awesome.

One of the easiest recommendations for a PS3 owner I can give is the PlayStation Move, which is an incredibly accurate Motion Controller for the PS3. The experience is like the Nintendo Wii, but more accurate and in HD. Sony has a $99 bundle that includes a PlayStation Eye camera, PlayStation Move controller and the game Sports Champions. That’s all you need to start. We’ve covered the Move extensively in a video hands-on earlier this year and it did not disappoint. I also own a PlayStation Move myself, and I can tell you it really put some interest back in the system for me. THe great part is that they also sell some interesting PlayStation Move games and demos on the PlayStation store, along with many great games that support the technology. The PlayStation Move, only in its infancy, has already transformed the potential for the PS3.

I fully expect second generation Move titles to be even more amazing than the first. Sorcery, one of many Move-compatible titles coming in 2011, is a great example of what I’m talking about here.

The Move has many accessories that goes with it, which is also a nice thing for someone giving a gift to a person that has it already. The official list of PlayStation Move add-ons includes several options. A second Motion Controller is an easy buy, and is useful in singleplayer and encourages more local mutliplayer action – reasonable at $49. The Navigation Controller ($29) is a smart purchase for someone who has games that require precise movement and will be essential for Move-based FPS games (like MAG, Killzone 3, etc).

A heavily recommended purchase is the PlayStation Move charging station ($29), which keeps the controllers fully charged and upright in a nice looking base. I bought this immediately when I got the Move because of the convenience. It’s much better than just leaving the wands laying around. If placed appropriately, they are always a conversation piece as well, which will lead to playing.

There’s also the PlayStation Move shooting attachment ($19), which seems a little childish looking in comparison to the third party options out there. If your getting them a FPS game for the PS3 that has Move compatibility, then the gun is the way to go.

I hope some of these recommendations help you on your way to giving the perfect Sony gift these holidays.

Sony’s TRIQ/SK8 BASSBIKE Bicycle

The Sony SK8 in the UK/TRIQ in USA is iPod/iPhone bass-heavy speaker dock, and also truly a unique audio solution which you can style in so many ways.

A young media star in the UK who goes by the name Smokey Barz (Jamal Edwards) took the SK8/TRIQ and created the BASSBIKE. If you’ve never heard of Smokey, he’s kind of a big thing with 27 million views on his YouTube video channel and his popular website.

Sony worked with Nick Gale Custom Cycles and created a deep dark red bicycle with a built-in SK8/TRIQ, complete with gold accents on the spokes, battery, remote, red LCD lights and more. The ride is pretty freaking awesome looking, but also a complete menace in some regards. I imagine you’d cause a few meltdowns if you rode this thing around with music on full blast around your neighborhood. And it’s most certainly a far cry from my Trek 1.5 road bicycle.

Smokey also “asks quickfire questions” with rappers Flo Rida, Tinchy Stryder, Labrinth, B.O.B, and listens in on a Griminal freestyle in the featured video. It’s funny to see the bike inside a building while he does interviews. I guess if you were using one of those you would have to take it everywhere with you.

Conversation With The Designers Of Sony’s Futuristic NAS-V7M Mini Hi-Fi System

In this brilliant Sony Design feature design article about the NAS-V7M/V5, Sony explores the progression of the mini hi-fi market and how Sony has changed their perspective on its future. The elusive and feature rich NAS-V7M/V5 is an exotic Walkman dock/mini hi-fi system released in Japan several months ago.

Sony Corporation’s Creative Center Senior Manager Akio Suzuki, Producer and Senior Designer Yasufumi Yamaji, and Designer Yusuke Otani all tell the story of how this unique Sony product came to be.

Suzuki: A trend has emerged in audio product categories in recent years. The mini hi-fi market is shrinking, but dock speaker systems without CD players have become more popular. It’s a sign that people’s listening habits are changing. Instead of shopping for CDs, people are buying music online. And people just play the music stored on their Walkman player or computer through their stereo. This is more common than ever.

Still, some surveys reveal that eight out of ten people listen to CDs, too. People value their CD collection, and many are looking for a compatible system that captures their interest. This category holds a lot of potential, so we wanted to breathe some new life into it.

Some features of the new systems in this project had been decided at the beginning-Walkman compatibility and Wi-Fi streaming. You won’t be tethered by an Ethernet cable if you want to enjoy the music on your Walkman or computer, or tune in to Internet radio stations. After all, discovering great music not already in your collection is a new and compelling feature of these units.

It was our task as designers to restyle these new listening habits. Starting from the assumption that we’d be thinking outside the box in audio styling, we discussed as many ideas as possible as we narrowed down the themes we wanted to explore. This was a fresh start, unconstrained by preconceptions or old habits. But choosing a worthwhile approach from unlimited possibilities proved quite a daunting task.

Yamaji: Yusuke and I brainstormed about design. Mini hi-fi systems call to mind a main unit and two speakers-essentially three separate components. On front, there’s usually a volume knob and a screen, and below this, a CD tray. It’s an appearance that defines these systems for most people. In this project, though, the system wasn’t tethered by an Ethernet cable, so we were free to adopt a portable style. Something as transportable as a CD radio boombox. We found ourselves drawing sketches from many angles.

Just how important it was to complement interior aesthetics became clear as we explored these ideas. Conventional three-piece sets don’t complement modern interiors. You can only install them in some places, facing a particular direction, and they’re cluttered with distracting lines and buttons. It’s time that people stop compromising. These systems should go well with interiors, and we should be able to put them where we want to relax, in the best position for listening.

Otani: Ideally, it should be sculpturesque. Sculptures are quietly assertive in any room, and they accent the interior design. For this effect, we sought a powerful, unadorned shape to let the unit “speak for itself” in design.

The first thing you’ll notice about the shape is that the front surface is tilted back 15°. This is the perfect angle for viewing any Walkman players in the unit, as you look down at it, and at this angle, the front mesh shimmers with light shining down from above. You’ll also notice the gently curved front surface, which recalls the full soundstage it reproduces. The back is curved, too. Both curves converge on either side, creating an organic shape that looks like a leaf, from above. It’s a perfectly logical shape to wrap around the space for the CD player and speakers inside. It also helped us reconcile contradictory needs-a body large enough to remind you it’s powerful but sleek enough to seem slim and not overpowering.

Surfaces are distinguished by different functions and finishes. The speakers on front are covered by mesh, for example. The control panel that users touch has a matte finish, while the tilted display screen is glossy. On the screen, we chose this finish for the effects it creates. It’s pleasantly surprising how the information displayed appears to hover in a totally black space, and the upright reflection of Walkman players in the unit looks beautiful.

Otani: We also paid attention to how the back looks. On most mini hi-fi systems, the back panel is like backstage at a theater. With vents and ports exposed, it’s usually the part of the system you want to hide. In contrast, the back of the NAS-V7M/V5 is neatly organized, and you don’t need to put it against a wall. It looks stylish even from behind, or in the middle of a wide living room partitioned by low furniture. This arrangement is popular now, because living rooms look more open and have separate zones for relaxing in various ways, but only a few high-end audio systems look this nice on a partition.

Unlike how awkward it looks when traditional, boxy systems are installed at an angle, the gracefully tapered sides and neat back panel of these models eliminate any distractions if you place them at an angle. In this regard, you won’t find other systems that can be freely positioned for the best listening experience wherever you relax.

Otani: The final shape that emerged after we narrowed down the desired appearance is remarkably simple, but to make it happen, we had to clear many engineering hurdles.

After product design, practical engineering requirements often give rise to details outside the scope of the designers’ vision. In this case, screw holes in unexpected places, grooves to facilitate assembly, and other details threatened to ruin the simple contours we had in mind.

Similarly (focusing only on what’s easier to manufacture), rounding off the front edges would make the mesh more resistant to tearing, and a wider gap between the display screen and control panel also seemed practical. That’s because the control panel is made of ABS plastic but the display screen is an acrylic panel, and these materials expand and contract differently based on temperature and humidity. If they push against each other, they might warp or even come off.

Fortunately, our engineers solved one problem after another to keep the final product faithful to our original design sketches. In both design and engineering, we were prepared to take on the challenges of breaking the mold in styling. For me, the project proved that at Sony just as in general, good design can motivate people.

Yamaji: Once the product had taken shape, we focused on the materials to use. Because the unit has such clean lines and contours, the feeling of the materials has a tremendous impact on the impression it gives. In particular, I insisted on just the right front mesh. For a good match with interiors, I sought a finely woven texture, as is used for sofas or curtains; something organic, but with an elegant sheen.

My options were limited, though, because Sony maintains strict quality standards even for mesh, in criteria such as flame retardance. Normally I would have to choose from a range of approved textiles. This time, I began by finding samples with ideal textures, focusing on fabric for clothing and interior furnishings. Using the samples as my guide, I created fabric that would meet our quality standards. Although I was lucky to find existing patterns that essentially matched what I had in mind, finding thread with the perfect metallic sheen was a matter of trial and error up to the launch date.

One attempt after another, probably a dozen design models in all. But this work paid off in the high-end NAS-V7M in particular, which is covered in lustrous fabric reminiscent of metallic surfaces. I doubt that mesh this luminous has ever been used in a mini stereo system.

Yamaji: With a product so carefully designed to complement interiors, we feared that people would have a hard time appreciating this design statement in regular retail environments. Ideally, we wanted to introduce the system under the right conditions to people with discerning taste in interior design, so we took the initiative. Project members in design and product planning collaborated to seek display opportunities in interior shops, cafés, and similar settings.

Store managers proved very receptive, and we were grateful for the chance to show the system this way. And the fact that professional interior designers liked them-that was quite encouraging to us. In coming months we’ll also show the system in condominium model rooms, hotel lobbies, Internet cafés, and other sites.

Suzuki: Conventional high-end audio systems call to mind luxurious styling in aluminum or other fine materials. But citing expense, manufacturers have compromised by applying a metallic finish over a plastic body, or by using other fabrication methods. For some time, people have accepted these approaches.

Especially now that people have more refined taste in both product design and interior design, we reject this approach of copying upscale equipment but with cheaper materials and special fabrication. Instead, we’re tempting consumers to bring units with unprecedented style into their living room. This is the change of attitude we sought. As we redefine audio systems to offer people a more enjoyable listening experience, we must continue to focus not only on features and audio performance, but also on people and their listening environment.

Sony Japan And Disney Reveal S750 Mickey And Minnie Christmas Walkman

Earlier this month, Sony Japan revealed a special Disney-themed NW-S750 S-Series Walkman that will ship in early December. This 8GB music player is a limited release, and has all of the specifications found in the regular version. The styling on the unit is very cutesy, with a pink lilac exterior and shiny rhinestones forming an arc over the player controls. The rear of the device has an engraved Mickey and Minnie smiling and facing each other while holding presents behind their back. The Walkman also has a special Mickey and Minnie themed wallpaper as well.

A special silicone case is also included in the package, which features Mickey and Minnie bound together with a heart and stars above them that form the word “M&M”. If your senses aren’t overloaded at this point, Sony finishes you off with an exclusive Minnie doll, which can attach to the player itself, or your purse, book bag, key chain, etc. The entire package is housed in a special commemorative blue box.

Sony Japan and Disney have collaborated before on several products, mostly in portable audio. None of these products have ever been sold in the USA, Europe, etc. Real life photo courtesy of AV Watch.

A Detailed Look At The Exotic Sony Walkman S750 Series

Several months ago Sony announced its yearly refresh for the Walkman S-Series (JP portal), and we wanted to take an in-depth look at the player and see what’s new in this generation (S750). First things first, there are several model used for this product, with Europe having the NWZ-S755 (16GB) and NWZ-S754 (8GB) options. Japan will actually have access to three models: NW-S756 (32GB), NW-S755 (16GB), NW-S754 (8GB) plus a variant series with matching color speaker.

Here is the full array of colors for the Japanese S750 series, in Blue, Green, light pink, White, Vivid Pink, Violet, Gold, Black. Europe will have access to five of those colors, including Black, White, Blue, Light Pink, and Gold. We assume that the USA will have something similar to Europe, perhaps with an exotic color or not. I’m not sure when Sony USA will start selling this model, but it shouldn’t be too much longer from now.

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So what about the features? Let’s talk about them real quick and we’ll get back to the pictures. This is your advanced Walkman. Not flagship, but all the bells and whistles have really trickled down this generation.

The S750 Series Walkman has Digital Noise Cancelling (and an included 13.5mm driver EX series earphone), which is a truly phoenominal way to listen to music. Or completely shut out the world around you. I checked out this technology in a crowded Sony booth at CES and could barely hear anyone around me. It was jaw dropping. In this model you have three modes to choose from (Train/Bus, Aircraft, and Interior), a silent mode that simply blocks out ambient sound without music, and

The S Series has a 2 inch LCD screen and actually has TruBlack technology built-in, a feature popularized in their digital photo frames. Audio on the S750 series can be colored with the Clear Bass, Clear Stereo, DSEE, dynamic noramlizer, VPT (surround), and a 6-band Equalizer. Battery life, usually a strength of Sony, is robust at 50 hours music playback and 10 hours of video playback. Of course, that is built on the industry standard 128kbps mp3 audio test, which is a far cry from my usual 320kbps collection. Thankfully the S750 can achieve a 80% recharge in 1.5 hours and a full recharge in 3 hours.

It can play the usual fare of audio codecs, including MP3/WMA (include DRM)/AAC-LC/ Linear PCM/AAC, and AVC(H.264/AVC) Baseline Profile/MPEG-4/WMV (including DRM) video codec support. There’s also a FM radio, voice recorder and alarm/timer to keep it fresh.

The S750 series can also connect to a TV and display video content on the big screen, all from the Walkman.

Sony Europe boasts the S750 series is also quite good at handling media and making it easy to transfer it to the Walkman, including AVCHD and Divx content.

Supplied Content Transfer software simplifies drag-and-drop transfers to WALKMAN® from Windows Explorer or your iTunes library (not including DRM files).

Windows 7 even takes care of converting DivX and AVCHD video files stored on your hard drive to playable format for viewing on WALKMAN.

Other features include exotic playback modes such as SensMe channel (creates custom playlists based on mood), Lyrics Sync, Karaoke Mode, and Language Learning Mode. The Karaoke mode is interesting, and is further described by Sony Europe:

Karaoke Mode reduces the original performer’s vocal level so your voice can be heard clearly over the backing track. If you’re struggling to hit those high or low notes, playback key can be adjusted up or down to match anyone’s vocal reach without changing playback speed. You can even connect WALKMAN to any TV with an optional A/V output cable and invite friends to your own karaoke party. Lyrics Sync displays lyrics of your favourite song on screen.

Previously I mentioned a version of this player that included a matching color speaker, and that’s called the S750K series. Two models are offered in this line (in Japan), the NW-S755K (16GB) and NW-S754K (8GB) and here is a gallery of each model:

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Did I mention accessories? There are several. This is the CKS-NWS750 soft case, available in several colors.

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Then there is the CWM-NWS750 silicone case, which is really sharp and also has several colors:

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It doesn’t stop there, though, with the CKH-NWS750 clear plastic case, PRF-NWH20 glass protector, and the amusing PRF-NWP20 privacy filter.

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Accessory availability will vary worldwide. Here are some other photos of the S-Series Walkman I found interesting, including the SonyStyle exclusive Lilac Princess model that has embedded rhinestones. Real life photos courtesy of AV Watch:

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Hulu Plus Is Live, Coming To Sony PS3, HDTV’s, Networked Devices

Hulu Plus (which just exited private beta and went public today) is progressively becoming available for many Sony devices that have the BRAVIA Internet Video platform. The popular video website is making a rapid expansion onto hardware to follow suit with Netflix, who has profited greatly from device integration. Sony is bringing the $9.99 a month streaming Hulu Plus TV subscription service to all of its 2010 networked Blu-ray Disc players, Blu-ray Home Theater Systems, SNP-N100 Network Media Player and the Dash.

Next week, Hulu Plus will also be available for all PlayStation 3′s, giving more than forty million gamers the opportunity to try out legalized streaming TV on their PS3. The combination of Netflix and Hulu Plus, at 9.99 each, could be the $20 bill that can could one day kill cable/satellite. Sony is also touting the fact that the PS3 will have Hulu Plus before the XBOX360, which is not slated to have the service until early next year.

Will Hulu Plus take off? It’s hard to tell – the content is great, relevant, and high quality, but even the paid $9.99 service still has advertisements.

Regardless, Sony is pulling out all the stops by piling on dozens of content providers into their machines. I feel that Sony has stepped up their game in the last year with IPTV, recognizing the value proposition, and taking a lead in some instances. It’s pretty amazing that Hulu Plus, Qriocity (Video/Music), and Bravia Internet Video are coming to PS3′s very soon, which gives the PS3 access to all of that great content, but also Netflix, the PlayStation Video store, etc.

We’ve pinged one of our contacts with specifics as to when and what Sony devices are getting Hulu Plus. Here’s what he said is compatible so far:

Any TV compatible with the old BIVL (BRAVIA Internet Video Link) box and all of our 2010 connected BRAVIA models including –

LX900, HX909, HX800, NX800, NX810, NX700, NX710, EX700, EX710…

Sony’s Cool PC Gaming Headsets Now Available In The USA

At long last Sony has brought the DR-GA500 ($199) and DR-GA200 ($79) PC Gaming headsets to the USA. Check out more pictures in our previous post.

These headsets are perfect for those who play long online gaming sessions or frequently use Teamspeak/Ventrilo because of its open ear design. Many of the high-end PC gaming headsets currently out there have a closed-ear design that becomes quite uncomfortable after extended use.

Sony fixes this through a “newly developed triple-enfolding design distributes the headphone’s weight over a wider area, reducing pressure and improving air flow around ears.”

Many expensive PC gaming headsets have advanced sound, and the DR-GA500 meets that challenge with incredible audio quality. How?

The GA500 headset connects to a seperate unit, which has a Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder with unique Sony Virtual Phones Technology (VPT) fpr 7.1ch 3D surround effects. The signal processing hardware is contained in a compact external unit.

The DR-GA200, which costs considerably less than the GA500, does not have 7.1ch audio but still has great sound.

With such sound capabilities, gamers have the ability to hear things in games they may have not heard before with lesser headsets. This enables the listener to precisely hear where the action is coming from. In my experiences, it is a real advantage in FPS, RTS, MMO, and other strategy games if you have a great audio system.

Sometimes when I snipe in games such as Battlefield: Bad Company 2, having a nice headset can allow me to know if someone is about to sneak up and kill me with a knife.

There’s also other handy features such as compression and FPS mode.

I currently own a Logitech G35 headset but I find it uncomfortable after a long period of time, and it always left rings around my ears from the headset pushing down my hair. These will be hard to resist.

Sony Retires Walkman Cassette Tape Player In Japan

Sony has ceased production of the cassette tape Walkman in Japan. According to Sony spokeswoman Hiroko Nakamura, “sales will end (in Japan) once the last batch disappears from stores.”

News of the demise of the cassette Walkman is exploding on the Internet, and is even a trending topic on Twitter at the time of this posting.

Fear not, lovers of analog – Sony will still make the cassette Walkman in China, and continue to sell them in the USA, Europe, and even some Asian countries.

The end of cassette Walkman production in Japan is still a defining moment in Sony history, as the device was one of the key products that lead to Sony’s success in the 80′s and beyond. The Walkman helped build a name for Sony outside of Japan and was one of the many products that influenced consumers to trust the brand.

The original Walkman was a tremendous success for Sony, as it was one of the first commonly available products that allowed people to carry their music with them, a revolutionary concept for its time. The device was built in 1978 by audio division engineer Nobutoshi Kihara for Sony co-chairman Akio Morita, who wanted to be able to listen to operas during his frequent transpacific plane trips.

The original Walkman was marketed in 1979 as the Walkman in Japan, the Soundabout in many other countries including the US, Freestyle in Sweden and the Stowaway in the UK. Morita hated the name “Walkman” and asked it to be changed, but relented after being told by junior executives that a promotion campaign had already begun using the ‘Walkman’ name and would be too expensive to change.

Sony has sold 220 million cassette Walkman players globally since the product’s launch in July 1979.