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.

Sony Shows Off Prototype Flexible Electronic Paper Display

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.

Sony had a never before seen prototype of flexible electronic paper display technology at the 2010 Dealer Convention. Usually, E-paper has used glass substrate in the past but this new technology uses plastic substrate. Glass substrate is heavier and more prone to damage than plastic substrate, which is much lighter and can also be bent. Electronic paper with plastic substrate is also very difficult to break even when you drop it, and can even be rolled up like real paper.

Sony has not mentioned when it will bring this technology to Reader devices, but judging by these highly advanced concepts we imagine it can’t be any longer than a year or two. Can you imagine the compelling new product designs that will result from this technology?

IFA 2010: Sony’s Qriocity “Cloud Based” Music Service Will Have Wide Compatibility

Qriocity is a network service platform that connects many of Sony’s network-enabled devices and allows consumers to enjoy high quality entertainment across multiple devices. Through Qriocity, Sony will deliver a variety of digital entertainment content and services that are “powered by Qriocity”, including video, music, game applications, and e-books over time, and through these services, and in combination with its networked devices, Sony aims to bring new and exciting entertainment experiences to customers.

Today at the IFA 2010 show in Berlin, Sony announced plans to introduce “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity”, a new, cloud-based, digital music service. Available by year’s end, “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” will give music lovers access to millions of songs stored and synchronized through the cloud. “Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” will initially be available across Sony’s 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, Blu-ray Home Theater systems, as well as PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems and VAIOs and other personal computers, and will become increasingly available on a range of Sony’s portable devices.

“Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity” brings together the features cited as most important by music enthusiasts. With access to a huge library of songs through the cloud, users can discover new music through channels personalized to their tastes on multiple devices and without the requirement to manage digital music files. The convenience resulting from this new consumer music experience will further enhance the value of music, thus creating new opportunities for the industry. Details of the service plan will be announced in the future.

“We are excited to offer our customers high quality, cloud-based entertainment experiences across many of Sony’s network-enabled devices,” said Kazuo Hirai, President of Networked Products & Services Group, Sony Corporation. “Services ‘powered by Qriocity’ will revolutionize the way that users play, listen, watch, share, communicate, learn, discover and create their digital entertainment content.”

Sony Reader Desktop Edition And Mobile App (iPhone, Android) Announced

Sony has detailed an incoming update to its existing Reader Library software, which will soon be known as Reader Desktop Edition (for OS X and Windows). There is also word that a Reader Mobile Edition app is coming soon for Apple iPhone and Google Android-based smartphones, enabling users to synchronize their reading among multiple devices. This is most certainly a response to Apple’s iBook and Amazon’s Kindle app which has proven to be a popular strategy for those companies. These free Sony applications, available later this year, will offer an intuitive digital reading experience with an elegant interface and access to Sony’s Reader Store for browsing and purchasing content. Reader Desktop Edition also includes the ability to easily manage content for the non-wireless Reader models.

Picture of the new Sony Reader devices announced today, courtesy of engadget.

Sony Reader Store Now Has 1.2 Million Titles, More Content And Goodread Coming Soon

Aside from the recent introduction of three new Sony Reader devices, the Japanese company has strengthened its digital reading strategy with several changes and improvements to Reader Store. Aside from some upcoming changes, Sony is now stating they offer a vast catalog of over 1.2 million titles available for download in the USA.

Sony remains committed to providing an extensive offering of newspaper and magazine content for single issue purchase or subscription within the newsstand area of the store.Soon to be available titles include The Guardian, The Harvard Business Review, Newsday, Publishers Weekly, San Diego Union-Tribune and more. The store’s Library Finder application continues to provide easy access to local public libraries to borrow eBooks for free. To make choosing a book easier, the New York Times Bestsellers list will be featured alongside the Reader Store’s bestsellers. By next month, integration with Goodreads will permit the inclusion of reader reviews from that site and a new web-based architecture for the store will allow standard browser access to accounts.”

Sony Speeds Up Reader Line, Adds Touchscreen To All Models

A new season brings new gadgets and one of them is a refreshed line up of Sony Readers (the ones we have uncovered earlier this summer). If  you tend to go through your electronic toys like you exchange your cars or gloves (old saying I know), Sony wants you to pick up a lighter, E-Ink Pearl improved Reader that will have a very nice refresh rate and you won’t need to wait a whole second to turn your page. Oh yea, touch functionality is now adopted on all three models from Pocket Reader to the Daily version (PRS-350, 650 and 950). According to Rachel Meltz of the AP, “The new e-reader uses an infrared sensor to read finger swipes or taps from an included stylus. Before, the device’s screen needed a special overlay, which reduces clarity.”

Please make sure you check out those links or at least read the press release below as there has been many improvements to this latest generation of Readers.

Another item of interest in this launch is where Forbes notes that Steve Haber, “who spearheaded digital reading at Sony, proudly referring to Amazon chief exec Jeff Bezos’ comments to USA Today that the Kindle doesn’t use a touchscreen because capacitive technology increases glare on the device’s display–a problem that Sony has apparently solved. “Amazon said it was impossible. Clearly that’s not the case,” says Haber. “It can be done.”

[sthumbs=1220|1219|1218|1216|1217|1214|1215,160,4,n,center,]
Pictures courtesy of engadget.

The only 3G model is your Daily Reader which now has a WiFi connectivity and even a browser for light internet inquiries of yours. A basic web browser is finally a response Each Reader features new E Ink Pearl with 2 Gigs of on board memory. Pricing is still not too competitively logical (starting from $179 to $299), however remember you are paying a premium for a piece of nice hardware. Anyways, check out the press release below and Sony we expect you to wow us maybe later for CES with a new Reader that has amazing OLED display (black n white E Ink is so 90s don’t you think?) with super awesome and dynamic touch GUI (nothing boring, remember we like flashy stuff). We will love you forever more after we have one like that in our hands…we will keep dreaming for now.

[sthumbs=1233|1232|1231|1230,160,4,n,center,]

The new Reader Pocket Edition and the new Reader Touch Edition are available immediately, and the new Reader Daily Edition will be available this November in time for the holidays. The Reader Pocket and Touch Editions, as well as available accessories such as AC adapters, cases and covers with reading lights, are available now at SonyStyle.com and SonyStyle stores. Check out this gallery of new Sony Reader photos courtesy of Sony Electronics.

We found excellent hands-on perspectives, galleries, and musings about the latest Sony Reader strategy at engadget, PC Magazine, Forbes, Financial Times, TWICE, and the NY Times. Please leave comments with any other reviews of interest.

Edit: Further additions by Christopher MacManus.

Press Release

SONY BRINGS DIGITAL READING EXPERIENCE TO LIFE WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW LINE OF READERS

New Readers Feature Sony’s Unique Touch Screens with Anti-Glare Technology for the Optimal Digital Book Reading Experience

SAN DIEGO, September 1, 2010 ⎯ Continuing to provide book lovers with the most natural, immersive digital reading experience, Sony today announced the launch of its beautifully-designed new line of Reader digital books, including the new Reader Pocket Edition™, Reader Touch Edition™ and, in the US, the wireless Reader Daily Edition. The new line of Readers features a host of new design and technology enhancements that make them the perfect device for any reader’s lifestyle.

With Reader™ Desktop Edition (formerly Reader Library) for Apple’s Mac OS X and Microsoft® Windows® and Reader™ Mobile Edition for Apple iPhone and Google Android-based smartphones, users can now synchronize their reading among multiple devices. These free applications, available later this year, will offer an intuitive digital reading experience with an elegant interface and access to Sony’s Reader Store for browsing and purchasing content. Reader Desktop Edition also includes the ability to easily manage content for the non-wireless Reader models.

New Sony Reader eBook Devices Coming Soon

According to one of our most trusted sources, there is word that two new touchscreen Sony Reader devices (PRS-350 and PRS-650) with E-Ink technology are coming to the market soon. Many of you who observe product life cycles know this is the usual time of the year for a Reader product refresh, and we have secured further details about the upcoming devices. 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), Ectaco, and other companies.

The two new Sony Reader devices will be very attractively priced, and are definitely much more compact and lighter than previous models with a possible width under 10mm (extremely thin). From what we’re hearing the new models will also have improved contrast and faster page turns. The PRS-650 will have a six inch screen while the PRS-350 will have a five inch screen. There will also be a bump in capacity from the usual 512MB or less found in currently Sony Reader models to 2GB of internal storage. We are not sure if that capacity bump extends to both devices, but will most certainly be true for the PRS-650. We also know that the PRS-650 will have Wi-Fi (and possibly free 3G), while the PRS-350 will not have any wireless connectivity (like the PRS-300).

As for the software side of things, the Sony Reader UI in both devices has been revised with a new home interface, and the note-taking software (found in the PRS-600) will trickle down and now be available in the PRS-350 as well. Battery life will probably be the same as previous models at nearly two weeks (or perhaps a bit higher), and other features such as USB 2.0 and Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, BBeB Book, ePub/ACS4 and Adobe Digital Edition format compatibility will return. As for aesthetics, we see that the same colors as before should be available for both series.

This information is a Sony Insider exclusive, brought to you here first.

“Eat, Pray, Love” Themed Sony Reader Pocket Edition Bundle

We’ve been tipped on a pre-order page at SonyStyle for a limited-edition bundle that celebrates the upcoming Eat, Pray, Love movie premiere. The $169 bundle includes a silver-colored Reader Pocket Edition (PRS-300), an exclusive Eat, Pray, Love-themed cover, and a code for eBook downloads of Eat, Pray, Love and Committed by bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert. As mentioned previously the bundle includes a Sony Reader Pocket Edition, which has a 5″ display and a sophisticated lightweight design that’s easy to slip into a purse or jacket pocket for convenient, on-the-go reading with 512MB of onboard memory available. Here is a image of the front of the cover, which is quite cute looking:

The Reader Pocket Edition utilizes E-Ink screen technology to deliver an amazing, paper-like display that’s more like ink on paper and fully readable in direct sunlight. Intuitive eBook Library software and Reader Store makes it easy to download eBooks, manage your collection, and transfer titles to your Reader Pocket Edition. eBook Library software works with both PC and Mac.

Enjoy up to two full weeks of reading (7,500 continuous page turns) on a single Battery charge. The Reader Pocket Edition offers you the ability to resize text, and has three adjustable Font sizes to improve readability. The PRS-300 has USB 2.0, support for ePub, PDF, TXT, RTF, Word files and touts quick page turns and high contrast ratio in a 800×600 resolution display.

Thanks, Michaela.

Sony And Others Plan To Build “Largest eBook Distribution Platform In Japan”

Sony, Toppan Printing, KDDI, and The Asahi Shimbun Company have reached an agreement on basic terms to establish a business planning joint venture (‘joint venture’), focusing on the eBook distribution business. The four companies aim to establish the joint venture on or around July 1, 2010.

Through discussions among its four members, this joint venture is intended to develop into an eBook distribution company that will build and manage a common distribution platform for books, comics, magazines and newspapers for the Japanese market. This company intends to start a content distribution service within this calendar year.

The introduction of digital devices that enhance the reading experience has heightened global interest in digital publishing. By utilizing their technologies and knowhow, the four participating companies aim to create an environment where publishers and newspapers can assuredly provide digital content, and plan to build one of the largest eBook distribution platforms in Japan.

The four participating companies and the joint venture will be open to other companies joining them in their initiatives to establish a market for eBook content in Japan. The eBook distribution company plans to construct an open platform which can deliver content to consumers through a range of devices.

Following discussions among the joint venture and participating companies, the eBook distribution company plans to handle content aggregation from publishers and newspapers, digital content authoring, platform management, sales, distribution and promotions. It will also provide the system planning, development, and construction which is necessary to support these functions.

The four participating companies as well as the joint venture will aim to develop the Japanese eBook market to offering a seamless experience to a wide range of consumers with for them to enjoy eBooks, “at anytime, anywhere.”

Yoshinobu Noma, Executive Vice President, Kondansha Ltd., who is also Representative Director, The Electronic Book Publishers Association of Japan, endorsed the intended establishment of the joint venture.

“With the establishment of this joint venture concerning eBook distribution, we are hopeful about the accelerated process for creating a system whereby eBooks, which we publishers have promoted, can be delivered to consumers, ”said Mr. Noma.

Shogakukan Inc., and Shueisha Inc. as well as other major publishing groups have endorsed these initiatives to establish the Japanese eBook market.

Sony Reader Goes International

Sony is preparing to make its Reader digital book available in several new markets. Plans include availability in new Asia/Pacific markets this year, including Japan, China and Australia, as well as further European expansion to encompass countries such as Italy and Spain. In each country Sony intends to leverage its relationships with local retailers, publishers and distributors to introduce the Reader along with a host of local content to help ensure the best possible reading experience.

Sony anticipates strong global demand for eReaders and eBooks in 2010, specifically within Asian markets. According to analyst firm Nomura Holdings Inc., Asia represents one of the fastest growing eBook and eReader markets, with Japanese eBook sales topping $500 million in 2009. Additionally, analyst firm DisplaySearch is predicting that China will become the world’s largest eReader market by 2015.

“Sony continues to be a pioneer in this market, and in the years since we unveiled the first eReader, we’ve hit a global tipping point in digital reading with demand for and sales of the Reader dramatically increasing in 2009,” said Steve Haber, president of Sony Electronics’ Digital Reading Business Division. “Sony’s strategy has always been to make the Reader a global product and we’ll take a thoughtful approach to country expansion that will consider not just the hardware experience within these new countries but the content experience as well.”

The Reader’s seamless integration with Sony’s Reader Store recently enabled Sony to reach the 10 million eBook download milestone, and it will be working towards having relevant, local-language content available either through its own or local affiliated book stores, upon entering new countries. Since launching the Reader in the United States in 2006, Sony has expanded its global footprint into North America and Europe. Today, the Reader is available in eight countries across the world, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. Sony’s Reader Store is currently available for users in the United States and Canada.

Sony will announce general availability, local pricing and pre-order dates for the Reader in Japan, China, Australia, Spain and Italy at a later date.