Why Apple Trademarking “Thunderbolt” Screws With Sony

Last week, I was informed that I  had gotten the summer job for which I had applied for. Thinking ahead,  I decided to start looking for  reviews and rumors for a couple of laptops that had previously caught my eye. Sony’s “Ultimate Mobile PC” seemed to be the laptop innovator with many monumental implementations such as: an external dock with one USB 3.0 jack, HDMI, Ethernet, AMD Whistler discrete graphics, and a Blu-ray Disc reader and writer.

It’s widely speculated around the web that Sony’s “Ultimate Mobile PC” is set to integrate Thunderbolt into its USB 3.0 rather than going down the route Apple had taken using their Mini DisplayPort. So what is Thunderbolt?

• In simple terms Thunderbolt hopes to be the USB 2.0 of tomorrow, a port for devices that supports speeds of 10 gigabytes per second (simultaneously sending & receiving data). Being a completely new port Thunderbolt will support current HDMI, DVI and VGA outputs; however, other-than display devices there are no Thunderbolt devices on the market. Thunderbolt itself is strictly Intel developed, users will not find Thunderbolt ports on AMD chip-sets and any other CPU’s.

Intel had previously stated that they had been the sole holder of the trademark. However, seeing how Apple had collaborated with Intel to produce Thunderbolt, they were the company to file the initial trademark requests in Canada, China and the US.

The “Ultimate Mobile PC” has taken a liking to the name Sony VAIOs Thunderbolt; however, Dave Salvator told Engadget, “a Thunderbolt implementation needs to use the controller chip, and the Thunderbolt connector.” Meaning if Sony decides to continue down the route of using a USB 3.0 port with an adaptor for Thunderbolt rather than using a Mini DisplayPort, Sony will have to find a new name for its high-speed peripheral interface. This does not mean that Sony and other manufactures cannot use Thunderbolt, in fact, besides controller chip, the cable itself is based off of a PCI Express cable. The only difference is that they cannot call it Thunderbolt and if indeed they do call it something else, you can be assured that it will be compatible with other equipment labeled Thunderbolt.

Seeing how Apple has made the Mini DisplayPort royalty free (even though they own the patent, anybody can use it) and  Thunderbolt uses the same cable, I’d suggest to  Sony to use the MiniDisplay port, simply because of the fact it already supports most display devices (HDMI, VGA, DVI) as well as the fact is twice the speed of USB 3.0 with higher speeds to come in the future.

Will the PlayStation 3 Receive Google Chrome for its Future Web Browser?

PlayStation 3 users have been a lucky bunch from the beginning, being the only console on the market with a web browser. As it is, the browser is a functional one with full flash support , giving users access to sites like YouTube, Facebook,  IGN, and our very own (can’t help but plug ourselves in as well). From its inception, much like the PlayStation 3, Sony has done much to beef up the browser and make it a smoother and more powerful experience. Still, there is no denying that compared to your computer or even iPhone, the browsing experience is subpar. Especially if you have a laptop or iPad sitting around, there is no question that you will reach for that, over the PS3 web browser.

Now, it looks like things could change for the better for those of you need access to a better web browsing experience from their PS3. It’s really been a well document experience that the folks over at Sony and Google have become cosy over the last year. Sony has thrown its full support behind the Google TV initiative and offers an entire TV lineup based around the idea, and a separate Blu-ray Internet unit as well. Then, there is Sony Ericssons lineup of Android phone with Sony even hoping to reach the status as a top Android handset maker. It only makes sense for Google to give some love back to Sony and help beef up their product offerings and we’re sure that won’t mind the increased market share. Still, these are only hopes and wants and we don’t tend to report on those alone. Instead, the guys over at PS3 Life have discovered that within the recently updated webkit for the PlayStation 3 browser, lies the code from Google Chrome browser.

I’m going through ps3-webkit-support.diff because I’m bored. Looks like we’re getting Chrome Actually, since Geoff’s added a couple of files for ChromeClientPOSIX.

Naturally the full source of His changes are in that. Diff file also. From what I can tell, the only posix platform refers to the PS3 in webkit, It does not show up at all in the mainline source code (Unix versions are under Their Typically widget library like Qt or gtk). There’s a lot of Functions That Are not Implemented, but they’re Mainly Ones That involvement windowing That You Would not expect to be supported on the PS3.

Might this not mean much since I do not see the cool stuff from Chrome theses sources, like bookmark syncing, but it’s a freaking huge project., And only covers what the diff Needed to be changed so it works on the PS3. Might it not just get Chrome branding visible to the user, but I think if he’s calling it chrome client, we can expect good things for the future.

Those looking to see just what’s inside of this webkit can click here and dig a little deeper for themselves. Many times, companies place codes within their SDK that never come to fruition, due to cost or other initiatives taking precedent. However, the idea of a new web browser is too big of a feature for Sony to simply be testing the idea in just a closed environment and with previous rumors on this subject matter, we cant help but think that it’s only a matter time before the PlayStation 3 receives the Chrome web browser.

Do you currently use the PS3’s web browser and if not. how come? Also, what do you think about a beefed up web browsing experience on the PS3? Would you go back to using it if Chrome did indeed come to the PS3?

[Via PS3 Life]

NEX-7 Rumors Rise Again, Set to Look Like Old Konica Minolta A2?

The NEX-7 has been an interesting camera in Sony’s lineup. That is, it’s a camera that does not exist, yet there have been plenty of rumors regarding it and a strong demand for it. Sony currently has the NEX-3 (which is being refreshed shortly) and NEX-5 which is a beefed up NEX-3 with a better body and better sensor with gives the camera 1080 recording over the NEX-3’s 720p. It seems that consumers still want more, a beefier NEX which would be more for the professional. Whether I want this camera aside, this tends to baffle me a tad as the entire point of the NEX lineup has been to offer pro features, yet target the audience who is intimidated by DSLR. If people want something more professional then the NEX-5, why won’t they just consider the Alpha lineup?  Despite that, rumors now have it that the engineers at Sony are basing the NEX-7 on an old Konica Minolta. Those not familiar with the electronics world will note that Sony bought Konica Minolta over 5 years ago.

When you look in front of the new Sony NEX 7 with the 24mm Zeiss mounted, the new camera looks like a twin of the Minolta Dimage A2 – a really small nice pro body.

Although I firmly believe that there is a NEX-7 somewhere in the labs at Sony, I don’t believe we are close to a public release as Sony is famously horrible at containing leaks and we have yet to see anything, other then rumors on this device. As always, take these rumors with a hint of salt and I personally don’t believe that the form factor will change much from the current NEX lineup. Hit the jump for one more shot of the Konica Minolta A2.

[Via Electronista]

Sony NGP to Cost $250 for Wifi, $350 for 3G?

When Sony Electronics finally took the wraps off of the PSP successor, previously called by the public the PSP2 and currently codenamed NGP; both the press and consumers were blown away by what the system had to offer. We encourage to read our previous post where we dive into the NGP specs but for those who are playing at game, you will know that there is not one singular feature that stands out. Instead, Sony has created a cutting edge machine, much like the PS3 when it launched that offers power unparalleled by any currently and probably for some time to come. But the hardware is only part of the story, this time around, Sony has learned a good deal from both the PS3 and the PSP and has an extremely excited 3rd party presence that will sure help the NGP reach a success that the PSP was not to. Two questions were shortly discussed after the unveil; Is NGP really the products name and how much will this handheld cost.

The first question is the easier of the two. NGP stands for Next Generation Portable which is an internal codename that Sony used, during the products inception. The final product name has yet to be announced but think of it like when the original AppleTV was called iTV till an actual name (AppleTV) was given to the product. Although I would say that nearly two months after the product announcement and the word NGP sits quite nicely. After all, everybody thought Nintendo was crazy to call their next generation console the Wii and 80+ million units later, I don’t believe that the name hurt them one bit. Still, the product  name was the least of Sony’s worries or the perception that soon would follow the press release. Instead, question two began to set in. How much would the NGP cost?

Sony Discontinues A33? A35 Just Around the Corner for an April 4th Release?

Our friends over at SonyAlphaRumors always have the juicy rumors when it comes to Sony and their Alpha lineup, and today is no different. They report that Sony is discontinuing the Alpha A33 in addition to the A290, A390, and NEX-3. The latter three do not come as a surprise as they are aged units and we have had plenty of heads-up time, especially when it comes to the NEX-3. The fact that the A33 might be going away in favor of an April 4th release of a successor, the A35, does however come as a surprise, seeing how that camera is not that old. However, with the NAB show in Las Vegas right around the corner and plenty of refreshes coming from Sony, the timing does make sense if the company wants to grab some additional attention.

[Via SonyAlphaRumors]

Breaking: First Sony Android Tablet News Emerge, Codename S1

With only Apple’s iPad on the market, (Sorry Samsung but you Galaxy S is not real competition) the tablet sector is already feeling crowded, with every major electronic company in the last two months announcing some form of up coming tablet. The problem and reason for these delays include that Android is still not yet designed for Tablets. Of course, all of this will change, once Android 3.0 comes out but till then, you either have to create subpar experiences ling Samsung has and use a version of Android that Google itself admits was not meant for tablets. Or you can wait like the other companies till Google actually gives you the tools you need to create something compelling.

With every other major electronic company announcing some kind of tablet ambition and or future release, Sony has been curiously quite on the front. The company has on several occasions hinted at a Sony tablet but we have yet to get a sense of the companies plans till now. Sony is said to be using a wide range of its engineering teams, bringing in people from the VAIO, Reader, Sony Ericsson and PlayStation divisions to help built what’s been described as “cutting edge” tablet. With Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) running under the hood, this 9.4-inch tablet is believed to be released under a new title from Sony, instead of relying on current brand names like VAIO. On top of what Honeycomb  will provider to companies, Sony is said to be building a custom tailored UI, centered around media, with Sony’s own Qriocity service playing a dominant roll, much like Apple’s iPad and iTunes. This of course makes perfect sense with Qriocity providing Movies, Shows and Music, Sony also has its own ebook store and game offerings with PSN. With the recent announcement of the PlayStation Suit coming to Android devices, including tablets, we can’t but think with the inclusion of PlayStation engineers onboard the S1 (Sony’s current internal name) that Sony wants to create a compelling entertainment experience.

Sony Cybershot HX9V Leaked, Offers 16X Optical Zoom!

So here is a late friday leak for you. If you’ve been considering getting a compact camera but have always been turned off by their low optical zoom factor which usually sits around 5x with some higher end models giving you 10x, Sony’s upcoming Cybershot DSC-HX9V will have the cure for your blues. This tiny pocket sized camera is capable of offering 16 megapixel with 16X optical zoom which is quite different then digital zoom which takes away from your picture quality. This high level zoom, mixed with a Sony G Lens and Exmor R CMOS means that your pocket camera can not only deliver beautiful photos, but handle them in low light situations as well, making it great for vacations when you don’t care to take a DSRL with you. The camera is rumored to record in 1080p at 10fps but we have yet to verify that. Now hit the jump for additional details!

PSP2 to Have OLED Touchscreen and 3G Connectivity?

If Nikkei, the Japanese news giant, is to be believed, not only will the PSP2 be announced this week on the 27th, but that this hotly anticipated and better kept secret from Sony will come with an OLED Touchscreen and 3G cellular connectivity. First, let’s talk about the announcement date. Although nobody is expecting to unit to actually go on sale soon, the announcement time does make sense if Sony wants to take some steam out of the recently-announced and soon-to-launch Nintendo 3DS. If Sony can really offer consumers something different and comparable in price, many might deice to skip out on the 3DS and wait for the Sony handheld. Now, when it comes to a OLED touchscreen, I think this one is a no brainer. Sony recently launched a new Cybershot model during CES which also happens to come with an OLED screen. This is a clear indication though it doesn’t prove that Sony is now producing these  in smaller sizes, something that will be perfect for the PSP2. As for a touchscreen, after the iPhone and iPod Touch craze, that is as good as a requirement, especially if Sony wants to draw in more independent developers like those seen on the Apple App store. In respect to the 3G, this again seems like the obvious evolution of the handheld. So many of today’s devices have internet connectivity and the brilliance of an iPod Touch as an example wouldn’t be seen if it didn’t have access to the internet. Now of course, the iPod Touch only has Wifi and not 3G like the original PSP. The difference is with the original PSP and PSPgo, internet connectivity was never a convenient thing, unlike the iPod Touch. Also, Sony needs to offer users something different and the ability to have a 3G data plan in order to play online and download new content at any time will truly set aside the PSP2. If all this holds up though, I’m curious as to which carriers will have access to the PSP2.

[Via Nikkei]

First Official Pictures of the PSP2?

Though by now we all know what the inevitable PlayStation Phone will look like, the PSP2 has been guarded more closely by Sony. We’ve received bits and pieces of information here and there with a supposed spec sheet and rumors of the unit losing its UMD drive (a no brainer really) and being as powerful as the Xbox 360. Starting last week, new rumors started to go around that Sony is planning on announcing and showing off the PSP2 for the first time on the 27th of this month. That puts it at just 2 days away by the time you read this and it might lead some to believe that the above picture is indeed legitimate. I for one am not buying into the rumor. If it’s indeed a scan of the press photo that will be handed out on the 27th, and that is what those behind this leak claim, then why it it at such a low resolution? Better yet, why do some parts of the image appear more crisp then others? Also, a stylus? I just don’t see Sony releasing a gaming device that is meant to go toe to toe with the iPod Touch being released with a stylus. Still, we are only 2 days away and we will find out soon enough.

New Cybershots and Bloggie from Sony During CES?

As we get closer to CES 2011, the rumor mills tend to work in overdrive, sometimes delivering very credible insider information and other times, nothing more then a fanboys dream. The good news is with CES less then a week away, we won’t have to wait long to find out how much weight these rumors have. So without further wait, I give you Sony CES rumors.

First off, Sony is expected to renew its Cybershot fleet with all new models and 3D is rumored to play a part in the higher end versions. However, Sony is not expected to make any changes to the current NEX and Alpha lineup, though there might be some software update announcement. Outside of that, the current and well received Bloggies are to get a update and expect to see plenty of new 2D and 3D camcorders from Sony. The one hot rumor is that there might be some kind of showing, all be it prototype of the NEX-7 and Alpha77 but I personally won’t put too much though into that.

PSP2 Dev Kit Spotted?

Although we’ve seen plenty from the PayStation Phone, the PSP2 still continues to be a mystery which exact specs and designs. That is, until the guys over at VG247 published the following pictures of what they claim to be a PSP2 developers kit. I’m not going to stick my neck out and say these are real or fake but it’s almost an industry practice that leaked shots have to be taken with a 2003 cell phone camera with .2 megapixels. From what we can tell from the picture is that the unit sports a dual thumbsticks which should be a crowd pleaser, as well as a front facing camera and microphone, something that the current PSPgo actually also has. You also tell from the design that this indeed is a followup and evolution to the PSPgo and that is actually fine, given how great the PSPgo feels in the hand. Still, whether this is real or fake, we have to take into account that developer kits can look very different from the final product so take all of these pictures with a grain of salt. Hit the jump for a backside shot as well.

[Via VG247]

More PSP2 Rumors, No UMD, More Powerful than Xbox 360

Artist rendering

Rumors for the PSP2 and PlayStation Phone have been running wild as of late, though the PlayStation Phone is all but confirmed, considering we have seen it in plenty of pictures and videos. The PSP2, on the other hand, is still a mystery. We know of its existence from developer rumors and murmurs, but we have yet to see any official specs, pictures or video leaks from the device. One thing that is clear though is that this device is going to be powerful and beat all current handhelds and even home consoles.

How powerful? Try upping the Xbox 360 and having it fit in your pocket. The current PSP and PSPgo both feed from 64MB of RAM and a MIPS R4000 CPU clocked at up to 333 MHz. The Xbox 360 on the other hand is powered by 512MB of RAM. The PSP2? Try 1GB of RAM, which is also double what currently runs in the iPhone 4 which has been able to produce some amazing looking games. To help further push the power and battery efficiency of the unit, Sony is also not-so-shockingly ditching the UMD platform that the current PSP (not PSPgo) uses to offer games and media on. The device is set to appropriately feed instead from the PlayStation Network, much like the iPhone and iPod Touch feed from iTunes. By ditching the UMD, this not only means Sony can have more control over the look  and size of the device, but with no disc in the unit to spin around, this also means longer battery life for the user.

Sony Ericsson’s Anzu Xperia X12 Leak

 

The leaks continue on the Sony Ericsson front and we are happy to bring them to you. Following up on the Playstation Phone leaks, we now have some pictures and specs to share for you on the codenamed Anzu. Anzu, which we believe will eventually be called the Xperia X12, is the newest from Sony Ericsson to be sporting the Android OS. Unlike previous models that have been late to the Android OS updates, the Xperia X12 is believed to be currently using the Android 2.1 build but will actually ship with Gingerbread in Q1 next year. This would make the Xperia X12 one of the first phones to be shipping with Android 2.3 and could be a nice flagship model for both Sony and Google to show the Android platform.

Notice anything else from the picture? How about the fact that this thing is damn thin! Other things we know about the phone from its current build:

• 4.3-inch display
• HDMI Out
• 1080p recording

Hit the jump for some more pictures.

[Via Xperai X10 Blog]

Sony to Close Down Vaio Factory in San Diego?

Sonys last remaining factory in San Diego is designated to the Vaio CTO (configure to order). If rumors are correct, then in order to reduce costs and be more efficient, Sony will be shutting down this San Diego plant and moving operations to their Chinese and Japanese plants. If this does indeed pan out, there is no word on what the factory would be used for, if used at all, or if Sony would simply sell it. In the reality of it, as PC users want more and more cheap units, something that Sony does not indulge itself in like Apple, it’s not a surprise to see demand for custom-ordered laptops to dwindle down and for Sony to not need multiple factories. This is especially true with the surge in demand for tablet units as the industry starts to shift.

[Via SonyInsider]

Grand Turismo 5 on the Verge of Release

Although none of this is real proof; if we start putting the pieces together, we can see that Grand Turimso 5 is probably going to be released very soon and not the late December that many had feared. First, Grand Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi  has said on multiple occasions that  “I believe we won’t keep you waiting until then.” referring to the fact that the game was only delayed for 3-4 weeks. Furthermore, there is the recent story that Sony has sent 500,000 copies of the game to France a lone. But really, the icing is in the new email I received from Sony, promoting the Playstation 3 and their Bravia 3D TV. Of course, the backdrop of all of this is Grand Turismo 5 being played in 3D. If Sony didn’t think this game was coming in the near future, they would not be commercializing and promoting the product. So again, if we start to see all the little presence of GT5 around the world and put them together, I think it’s safe to say we will get a late November release date as Sony slowly raises the game presence.

Sony to Ramp Up Playstation Phone Process with more Android Engineers?

By now, you have probably read our story on the leaked Playstation Phone. Sony has always had Android 3.0 in mind in order to give them the flexibility that they want to provide a true phone and gaming device in one. Now, an available job posted in the Playstation division points to more confirmation that this project is indeed gearing up with “experience in mobile development, specifically Android” as one of the requirements for hire.

[Via Sony Jobs]

The PSP or Playstation Phone, Leaked. We Have Full Details and Specs

It seems like the Playstation Phone is indeed real. We’re still not sure if the Playstation Phone or PSP phone is the same as the PSP2 or if these are two different projects Sony is working on. If they are the same thing, I would very much hope that the only way to get your hands on it is not by having to activate a phone. This makes me believe that either they are different projects or that you may get the next PSP in a phone version or just a handheld gaming console.

The following images are courtesy of Engadget who through reliable sources has been able to snap of plenty of pictures from this internally dubbed “Zues” project from Sony. As you can tell, the device is a mix of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and the PSPgo. The device is currently said to be running some version of Android 2.0 but many believe will actually ship with Android 3.0 once it’s set to launch. If you look at the pictures, you can tell that the device slides open like the PSPgo to reveal the gaming controls. Instead of the cingular thumb stick found on the current PSPs, there is now a sleep touch track pad which will probably allow for dual thumb stick controls, as well as singular. You can also note that on the sides, the device also has the trigger finger, exactly like the PSPgo. If based on the Xperia X10 and some of the leaked information, we can put the following specs together:

• 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655
• 512MB of RAM
• 1GB of ROM
• 8.1 Megapixel Still Camera
• HD Video Recording
• 4.0 Touch Screen
• Image Stabilization
• MicroSD Card

We will bring you plenty more as it comes but for now, hit the jump for more pictures of this device. For the record, Sony is probably the worst company when it comes to keeping secrets. Way too many leaks. It should also be noted that the device we see here is still a prototype so the final design will probably very different, especially when it comes to aesthetics.

[Via Engadget]

PSP2 Specs Revealed?

Artist Rendering

There have been plenty of sites reporting on some of the leaked specs of the PSP2. Although nothing is solid, reports are coming from supposed developers who have seen early versions of the eventual PSP successor. So far, the new PSP is said to have:

• High definition screen
• Larger/wider (probably proper 16:9)
• Backside panel touchscreen

The screen resolution is not so much a rumor as it is a no brainer. I could have told you in 2004 when the PSP originally launched that the next version would have a higher resolution screen. As far as the back panel, the iPhone 4 was rumored to have that as well and that didn’t come to fruition. What the actual use might be of something like this might be limited by the cost. Other no brainers are: a more powerful processor, a graphic engine, and the probable use of touchscreen and a camera. But in all reality, anything you hear in the upcoming months will be nothing more than speculation, really.

Our Sony Internet TV Blu ray Player (NSZ-GT1) Quick Video Review

For those who are unfamiliar with the Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Player, I recommend you to do a quick read of our original coverage of this device in order for you to familiarize yourself with the subject. If you would also like to see whats inside of the box, we did a little unboxing video as well that gives you an idea of the design and boxed content. Here, you can expect a quic over view of the product. I’ve done a much more extensive, originally 2 hour video review that I’ve sense edited down to just 1 hour. Problem is, I’m not able to upload such a big video to YouTube, so I’m looking for work arounds and other methods and I don’t want to pay for a premium Vimeo account unless I have to. Then, Vimeo is flash based and I’m not a huge flash fan (and yes, I know it does now HTML5 encoding as well). But keep on eye out for that in the next day as I try to figure it out. Till this, this video should give you a pretty good idea on how the device works.

Spider-Man: Emma Stone offered the role of Mary Jane

Deadline’s Hollywood report confirmed that Emma Stone will be offered the role to play Mary Jane Watson in Marc Webb’s Spider-Man reboot.   I think Stone , age 21, has a very bright career future.  She is  known for her roles in Superbad, Zombieland and The House Bunny.  Her recently released comedy, Easy A, has been receiving very high reviews and great buzz.  I think she would be a great Mary Jane for the new films.  If Stone takes the role, she will play one of two love interest for Peter Parker.  Gwen Stacy (who is not casted) will be Peter’s lady, but we all how important Mary Jane plays in Parker’s love life.

I’m still a little skeptical about this reboot, and wish they just continued the franchise with the original cast and directors, but would be happy with this choice for MJ.  We’ll be keeping you posted with more Sony news on the new Spidey movies.

Sony Japan to Patent Backwards Compatibility Adapter

From launch date to now, it took a while for the PS3 to gain some heat in sales (but now they are higher than ever). I bought my 60GB Playstation 3 on launch date. It was fully backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 games. Slowly but surely, Sony made newer models partially PS2 compatible and now the feature is out of their systems completely. If this was due to a cost issue, Sony now has profits coming in from PS3 sales so bring back this feature! I’m sure the desire for it lessens as time goes by but I wouldn’t mind popping in Kingdom Hearts to play once in a while.

Well, reported today from Japanese message boards exploded overnight when Sony Computer Entertainment Japan filed a patent for a backwards compatible adapter. Nice! The device shows it has its own processor, a DVD decoder/emulator, sound processor, and graphic processor.
Although it would be nice to have it built in and not an external device, this is far better than nothing or having to buy a PS2 again. Do you miss playing your PS2 games? Would you buy this adapter?