Sony

Sony customers like different, but not too different.

Though Sony now offers midrange notebooks, the higher-end Vaios are selling much faster, according to Mike Abary, senior vice president of Sony's IT products division.

The options for colors and limited-edition designs from artists helped push a lot of Vaios out the door in the last quarter. Those artsy laptops also come with higher price tags, and for that reason, don't expect Sony to get into the low-end laptop race any time soon, Abary added.

The personalization trend in PCs that Sony has latched onto has overall been successful, but … Read more

Despite intense competition, price cuts and a shaky economy, it's going to be another good year for the electronics industry, predicts Sony's Stan Glasgow.

Glasgow, president of Sony Electronics, said that orders from retailers are strong once again this year. Consumers are snapping up high-definition TVs, but also digital cameras and video cameras. Sony's gaining ground in notebooks too: shipments are up by double digits, he said. Sony lost seven days of production out of its San Diego area factory because of the fires in the region (some right near the factory); the company, however, has already … Read more

Years ago, back when Nintendo dominated gaming and Sega still owned a slice of the hardware market, the video game industry was a much different place. Instead of discussions on Cell processors and HDMI, we were talking about the latest 16-bit consoles or how to get through the third level on Super Mario Bros. And when we went to the store to buy a console, we didn't waste time because we knew exactly what we wanted. And we knew exactly what we wanted because our choices were clearcut -- do you want the Nintendo console or Sega hardware?

And yet, today we're neck-deep in an environment where it's becoming too confusing to buy a video game console. There are: four Xbox 360 options (five if you count the Halo 3 console), four Playstation 3 consoles, and (luckily) just one Wii.

Now, for those of us who are tech-savvy and know how the world of gaming works, we obviously know what we want before we head to the stores to buy a console. But what about those people that don't read CNET and don't spend their time rummaging through tech news and columns? To them, it's confusing. And if you ask me, it only hurts business.… Read more

How about a free 60GB PlayStation 3 for every purchase of a Sony Bravia? That's exactly what the Japanese electronics giant is offering in France from now till January 15, according to Akihabara News, as part of a bundled purchase including a TV and standalone Blu-ray player or PS3. Depending on the model of the panel, you will be entitled to a cash refund of the latter capped at 250 and 500 euros, respectively. The players up for grab range from an entry-level BDP-S300 to S500 and its flagship S1E. Now how about to a promo like this for … Read more

Customers aren't exactly flocking to Blu-ray players and that might be accelerating cost cuts.

Stan Glasgow, Sony Electronics president, told reporters in a press briefing in the East Coast on Friday that Blu-ray players should drop to $399 at holiday time, according to Twice Magazine. Right now, the players go for $499 and up. Meanwhile, Stan Glasgow, president of Sony Electronics told reporters in a briefing on the East Coast that Blu-ray players should drop to $399 at holiday time, down from the current $499.

That seems to be a little lower than earlier predictions In September 2006, … Read more

There's nothing more annoying than the phantom mobile phone call. There you are, minding your own business, when suddenly you feel your leg vibrate and you're sure your phone is ringing, but when you take it out of your pocket, it's not.

One solution is Sony Ericsson's latest Bluetooth watch--it vibrates unmistakeably when you receive a call and displays the caller's number. It even alerts you when you get a text message.

We had a go a while back with another Bluetooth watch, but the advantage the MBW-150 has is that you can use it … Read more

Sony's biotech battery has a sweet tooth. It sups on glucose for energy (much like some of us) converting the sugar within beverages such as fruit juice and even Pocari Sweat into electricity.

A four-cell array is reportedly capable of generating up to 50mW of power, enough for small devices at the moment. For a glimpse into the future of alternative power cells, check out the video of the battery seen powering a desk fan and speakers attached to a Walkman, after being juiced up on a sugar solution.

The Bio Battery imitates real life by using enzymes to … Read more