Posts Tagged ‘Sony’

PSP Go is, erm… Go!

Monday, June 1st, 2009

With the annual video games conference E3 underway, and with Sony due to make their big address tomorrow, Sony appear to have accidentally stolen a march on their competitors, Nintendo and Microsoft, with the slipped release of information regarding the new PSP Go. As reported here, at Engadget, a video (embedded below) showing the rumoured PSP Go in action have hit the internet just hours before their official 2009 E3 press event.

Genuinely a slip, or clever marketing? Whichever it may be the timely release has ensured Sony a head start in press coverage at this years event. I’m pretty sure that this won’t be the last surprise to come out of this years conference either.

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Sony TV’s Go Green

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009


Sony have just debuted their latest range of Bravia Televisions, and amongst them is the WE5 ‘Eco TV’. The WE5 is a full 1080p LCD TV available in 40 and 46 inch screen sizes, and although it will help you cut your energy costs Sony have not cut back on quality. The main features that distinguish this particular model from its competitors are:

  • Worlds first micro-tubular HCFL (Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) backlight cuts power consumption by more than 50% when compared with a similar 2008 model.
  • Smart Presence Sensor which switches off the picture when the TV is not being watched.
  • Energy Saving Switch reduces Power Consumption to zero. Some televisions draw power when on standby, or even when turned off but still plugged in. The WE5 Features a handy switch on the side of the television which turns the unit off completely. When turned back on it will immediately return to its’ previous state. A much smarter and more convenient alternative to manually unplugging the TV when it isn’t in use.

With energy consumption of electrical appliances being highlighted ever more, especially when left on standby, it’s good to see manufacturers such as Sony looking at solutions to this problem. No doubt a lot of people find it inconvenient to get in behind the display unit where all the plugs and sockets are hidden away to switch them off and unplug them at the mains, and thus by having an easily accessible switch that does the same job you can encourage people to use it more to cut power consumption when not in use.

Another feather in the cap of the new range of Sony Bravia televisions is their ability to produce superior colour whilst also saving energy. They do this using energy efficient LED’s which are grouped in clusters across the screen. This grouping means that not all the LED’s need to light up at once, thereby saving the amount of energy the television uses.

Find out more about the new Sony WE5, and the rest of the new Bravia Televisions here.

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Sony PSP To Provide Live Match Footage And Stats at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

It was reported earlier this week that after a period of testing, an English Premiership Football club(Arsenal) will be rolling out live match services utilising the wireless capabilities of the Sony PSP. After solving some rights issues, this is currently expected to be made available within the next 18 months or so.

These will basically consist of offering real-time statistics, real-time streaming of game footage, access to replays of goals or possibly contentious refereeing decisions, as well as Stadium information with even the possibility of some sort of social networking capability as well.
The question I can’t help but ask straight off is why provide a live stream, when you are already in the Stadium having paid to watch the match live? Replays are already provided on the huge HD Televisions they have installed at the stadium, but I suppose the chance to play them back repeatedly at half or full time seeing how well their players have done to con the ref could be entertaining. Finally although you can question the intelligence of football fans in general, I would like to think most of them can find their way to a toilet, or food stand on their own, and I have to say a hand held map might actually confuse them more than following signs.

The main benefit of this would be the social networking aspect which I’m certain has massive possibilities, as well as providing some better half time entertainment than what is usually put on.

Now I realise I’m being quite negative here, and it is mainly because I think this is a somewhat cynical marketing ploy. I don’t doubt that you will not be able to take in and use your own PSP to utilise these features as part of the ticket price, but would need to hire out a specially branded, and software installed Stadium owned PSP, no doubt including a lot of advertising for yet further increased revenue. The features that are stated in the article will hopefully be widened and vastly improved upon at the time of launch, or I can see the novelty wearing off quite quickly otherwise.

A similar trial was carried out in Disneyland at the beginning of last year when Nintendo and Disney trialled a scheme with the DS Lite providing portable interactive maps and park information.

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