sony

Console sales set for rebound, courtesy of next-gen

Console sales are set to make a rebound in the next couple of years, thanks to the next generation of hardware.

According to research firm IDC, worldwide console sales hit 34 million units last year, representing a 24.4 percent declined compared with 2011. However, IDC believes that the Wii U and the launch of a next-generation Xbox at the end of this year will push console sales up 10.1 percent to 37.4 million this year. In 2014, console sales could rise 19.1 percent to 44.6 million units.

"2011 and 2012 were tough for many … Read more

Nvidia's CEO talks Shield with CNET: Yes, there will be future models

LAS VEGAS--Nvidia Chief Executive Jen-Hsun Huang seems almost like a kid in a candy shop when showing off his new gaming device, codenamed Project Shield.

He couldn't contain his excitement during an interview with CNET today over the product's future -- including subsequent versions of the device -- and he was downright giddy when describing the features.

"I've been dreaming about this toy for a long time, and it's a toy that only a gamer could love," Huang said in the interview with CNET here at the Consumer Electronics Show. "It's not … Read more

Sony CES press conference: Heavy on 4K TVs, OLED, plus an actual phone!

LAS VEGAS--Today Sony announced one of the broadest and most compelling product and service lineups at CES 2013, including 4K and OLED TVs, the first way to get 4K content into the home, and yes, an actual smartphone.

Leading the charge was the company's new flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z. With quad-core processing, a massive 5-inch screen, and a 13-megapixel camera, it has the specs to compete with the best phones on the market. And one of the only ones that's water-resistant.

Next the company talked up NFC, or near-field communication, saying it had integrated "One Touch" communication among devices to ease media transfer and streaming among phones, tablets, TVs, and audio devices. The idea is that the link can be established just by touching the devices to one another.… Read more

How Sony can regain its cool factor in smartphones

LAS VEGAS -- Sony hopes its Xperia smartphone brand will ultimately reach the same heights as its vaunted Trinitron and Walkman lines.

It'll be lucky if it can get a consumer to even remember the Xperia name.

"Sony needs people to know that we make phones," said Calum MacDougal, director of Xperia marketing for the company.

That's the uphill climb that Sony faces in the ultra-competitive smartphone business. The truth is the company is so far behind -- particularly in the U.S. -- that it will take a monumental leap this year just to get … Read more

Sony's bullish on camcorders

LAS VEGAS--If the company's CES announcements are anything to go by, Sony doesn't seem to have gotten the message that camcorders are dying. While Canon has cut back its consumer and midrange line to about four products, Sony has introduced 10 models at the show ranging from its $250 entry-level model to a $1,500 everything-but-the-kitchen-sink model. Sony's also expanded its projector-camcorder lineup to six models from five last year, and the 3D model has gotten cheaper, but with only one (and a half) feature exception I don't see anything here that merits waiting for a … Read more

Sony's bullish on camcorders

LAS VEGAS--If the company's CES announcements are anything to go by, Sony doesn't seem to have gotten the message that camcorders are dying. While Canon has cut back its consumer and midrange line to about four products, Sony has introduced 10 models at the show ranging from its $250 entry-level model to a $1,500 everything-but-the-kitchen-sink model. Sony's also expanded its projector-camcorder lineup to six models from five last year, and the 3D model has gotten cheaper, but with only one (and a half) feature exception I don't see anything here that merits waiting for a … Read more

Sony's 2013 Blu-ray players stream media from iOS and Android devices

LAS VEGAS--Sony is holding most of its home theater announcements for its line show in the spring, but the company did announce its new lineup of Blu-ray players at CES 2013.

Sony's 2013 line of Blu-ray players comprises three new models, the BDP-S1100, BDP-S3100, and BDP-S5100. All three models have a fully encased optical drive, which Sony claims reduces internal dust. The two higher-end models include built-in Wi-Fi and all three can access Sony's full suite of streaming-media services, which includes Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, Crackle, and YouTube. That's a step up from most manufacturers, … Read more

Sony to launch 4K video distribution system this summer

LAS VEGAS--One of the big problems with 4K TVs right now, aside from the fact that it's tough to discern any benefit from their extra resolution, is lack of content. Sony, alone among TV or content providers so far, actually aims to tackle that issue around the same time it launches its full line of 4K TVs later this year.

This summer the company will set up a dedicated video distribution service to deliver 4K content to the home, complete with a hardware 4K Video Player that can feed the TVs directly.

Currently buyers who pony up $25K for … Read more

Sony's KDL-W802A LED TV: More of the same

LAS VEGAS--Last year we reviewed nearly every Sony TV, so I feel confident in guessing that the 2013 KDL-W802A series will perform about the same as the 2012 KDL-HX750 series. In other words, not so great. But judging from the picture above, it does look cooler.

The HX750's real Achilles' heel was value, however, so until Sony announces pricing on the KDL-W802A (and until we, you know, test the dang thing), there's no telling how its final rating will shake out.

In terms of picture specifications, the HX750 and W802A are very similar, both sporting edge-lit LED backlights … Read more