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Archive for sony
Sony Tablet P to Get Android ICS on May 24
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The Sony Tablet P has been one of the most unique tablet devices, and it takes a lot to stand out in the world of tablets. Now Sony has announced the update to Android ICS starting May 24 for the twin display device. The domestic consumers in Japan will be getting the upgrade before anyone else, and its not known when users of the Tablet P elsewhere in the world can consider themselves as lucky.
Sony has also announced that users will get to enjoy the “small apps” feature as part of the update. “Small apps” allows users to use other apps, such as a calculator, in a miniature window on top of the app currently in use and without first requiring to close or minimize the app in use. Another nice feature of the update will be the way users will get to use the camera straight from the lock screen and start clicking images.
Sony had earlier announced the Android ICS update to be made available to both the Tablet P and Tablet S back in April, though for reasons best known to them, only the Tablet S received the ICS update while Tablet P continued with Android Honeycomb for another month. Also, with Sony, all domestic and international releases are rolled out on the same day. So it’s worth checking for the update manually all over the globe on May 24 just in case the the update is available for download.
via the verge
Samsung Might Launch Dual Screen Tablet
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Tablet devices we have come to see of in a lot of shapes and sizes. However, that does not mean creativity is waning and we will see a whole lot of court cases where everyone is suing everyone else for having copied their tablet’s look and feel. Of course there are limitations (since how can each new tablet be different from the other each time), and it’s good to see Samsung trying something new.
This is still very much in beginning stages, though a recent Samsung patent does point to a dual screened tablet device. Sony already has a product of the same type, though what the Samsung patent reveals is a tablet concept with a flat back. It resembles a closed book and is very much unlike the Sony Tablet P, which looks like a glass holder with its curved exterior. The tablet will carry two 7 inch screens so that both, when laid flat will resemble one big 14 inch display. The bezel will interrupt any continuous display in the middle and the thinner it is the better in this respect.
Another area of concern for Samsung is the performance of the battery, since two displays will consume twice as much power. The choice of operating system is also something that we are keen to know, though Google’s Android does seem to be the obvious choice. Obviously, we can’t rule out Windows 8 as a possibility. However, irrespective of the choice of OS, the challenge for Samsung will be to ensure the OS is well tuned for it to optimally use both the displays simultaneously. Cost is another factor for Samsung to keep in mind if it wishes to transform the concept into a market reality.
Microsoft is also teasing the tablet loving crowd with a dual screened device named Courier, which it brought to an abrupt halt when consumer expectations surrounding it were at an all time high. Acer has also introduced a tablet device with twin displays, though it is priced prohibitively high and has a pretty dismal battery life.
via alltouchtablet
Lambton Country Library Now Lending Sony eBook Readers
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It is becoming a trend for libraries to lend out ebook readers to its valid members. The latest to conform to this is the Lambton country Library that is offering the Sony ebook reader completely free. The library has 26 branches and all of them have Sony ebook readers for people to try. For those who have a mobile device, there is no need for a computer as the spots are all Wi-Fi enabled. The borrowing period of a book is 14 days.
The library has two sources for its ebooks, Overdrive and Ebscohost. The collection is varied and comprises of titles from romance, thrillers, books for teens, as well as children’s books. In the free offer, the individual is allowed to select five titles and the book is available to the client for 14 days. One can also get the entire collection of Harry Potter at the library in both ebook and audio format.
As per the manager of technical services at Lambton, Krystyna Stalmach, “Both e-books and e-audio books are gaining in popularity and now account for 5% of Lambton County Library’s circulation. Currently there are over 2,300 patrons using this technology.”
The library already offers its members the ability to download ebooks to their home computers via an online pin and a valid library card. Now with ebook readers also being issued, the readership base is sure to increase further. While library authorities are on the one hand trying every bit they can to boost member count, they are also on the lookout to increase the number of ebooks and audio books in their collection.
A great thing about the system in use at the Lambton County Library is that there aren’t any late fines applicable since the ebooks simply disappear from the device on the expiry of the term period.
Sony Tablet S gets Ice Cream Sandwich Upgrade
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The Sony Tablet S is finally getting a taste of Google Ice Cream Sandwich! It is officially rolling out via WIFI, so visit your settings menu and check Updates to get the entire build right now.
The latest Android 4.0 update does not break any new ground on one of Sony’s only tablets on the market right now. It is more or less a stock build but does allow you re-size Windows and gives you flexibility to customize things a little bit better. The calculator, browser, and remote control apps have been tweaked to allow small windows that you can drag around in and out of view. The lock screen allows you to jump right into camera mode and there is a sweet new panoramic mode.
Harry Potter e-Book Free With Purchase Of Every Sony e-Reader
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Things can’t get better than this, especially if you are an ardent fan of the Harry Potter series of books. All you have to do is pick up a Sony e-reader Wi-Fi from the Sony store and you can have the first Harry Potter e-book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone delivered to your e-reader completely free.
There are some rules to be followed though. Like the Sony e-reader has to be bought online and only from store.sony.com. The e-reader comes in attractive color options of black, red and white though of course the free offer is equally applicable to all the e-reader irrespective of the color choice made.
Harry Potter fans will also do good to sign up at Pottermore which happens to be the only place to source all the Harry Potter series of e-books. The interactive website has been set up by J.K. Rowling and registering there will keep you informed of all new writing from the author.
Lastly, the offer is only valid till stocks last. So better hurry!
Sony eBook Store Opens in the UK
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Sony has unveiled their United Kingdom ebook store today at the London Book Fair. This gives users the ability to purchase books directly if you have a Sony Reader WIFI or any of the Sony tablets.
Sony’s dedicated ebook store initially went live in the USA and Canada in 2006 to take advantage of its burgeoning e-Reader line. At first they used their own propriatary ebook format, and then switched to ePub a few years ago. Its next store hit Japan in 2010 when Sony had courted major newspaper and publishing partners to penetrate their home markets. The UK store was set to go live back in October but saw massive delays. A spokesperson from Sony said, “We are pleased that the store is now open to our UK customers. We apologize for the long wait and inconvenience, but we wanted to be absolutely satisfied that our store was finished to a high standard for a first class consumer journey online.”
Sony has made inroads with newspaper and book publishers in the UK to offer homegrown material. You can take out newspaper subscriptions to the Guardian and Daily Mail for only 99p. Many digital books are also available such as Jeremy Clarkson, Jodi Picoult, Michael Palin, Noam Chomsky, Nora Roberts, Patricia Cornwell, Roald Dahl, and Thomas Keneally.
In a recent press release, Sony hyped up their store saying “The store’s clear, uncluttered design enables book lovers to search effortlessly for their favorite titles. Stuck for ideas for your next holiday read? There’s further inspiration provided via the ‘Featured Titles’ and ‘New Arrivals’ categories.”
If you don’t have a Sony Wireless e-Reader or any of their Android tablets like the Tablet S or Tablet P you are in luck! You can download their official app for Android and buy books on your tablet.
Will Sony’s Layoffs Influence Their Future e-Readers?
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Japanese news agencies are reporting that Sony is going to begin a massive layoff campaign that will cut 6% of its total labor force. By March 2012, the company intends on cutting 10,000 jobs and nixing a few projects that are not profitable.
Sony is already restructuring their company by selling its chemical unit and merging their LCD television business with Toshiba. The company is bleeding money and recorded a large loss of 2.1 billion dollars from October to December 2011. The main question to be concerned about is how will these cuts influence their once mighty e-reader division?
Sony once dominated the e-reader market and had a large following with their 500 and 505 models. They were one of the first major companies to make a splash with e-readers and have them sold in a retail setting. It took their competition such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble YEARS to migrate into store shelves. In 2009, Sony followed up on their e-reader offerings by producing the PRS-300, 600, and 900. During this time, Amazon was starting to garner more market share and seriously began to devote company efforts into a vibrant ecosystem for digital content. By the time the Sony PRS-350, PRS-650, and PRS-950 were released in 2010, and the models still retained very loyal users. 2010 was a pivotal year for e-readers because new models such as the Nook and Kobo were released. The writing was on the wall for Sony because cheaper rivals allowed books to be purchased right on the device, while their e-readers required Adobe Digital Editions and shopping for books on your PC.
Sony began a serious change in its e-reader strategy in 2011 by only releasing one single model. This was the first year since the company started actively developing e-readers that it released only a single unit, instead of three. Soon after the PRS-T1 began hitting the stores, it immediately began to see price slashes. Six months after its release it ends up in the bargain bins, and stores like Best Buy have officially proclaimed the device discontinued.
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo are making it hard for anyone to compete in the North American e-reader space. Most of their models now retail for under $100.00 for a solid device and companies like Sony are struggling to adapt. The PRS-T1 struck a cord with customers because it allowed books to be borrowed from the library via the built in Overdrive app and millions of free books via Google Books. Really, the T1 was lost in the shuffle as wars raged between Amazon and Barnes and Noble in the USA.
Can Sony reclaim any of its former glory in the dedicated e-reader space, and is there really a market for them anymore? If 2011 and 2012 has been any indication, the real money is in tablet computers and most companies are pushing more volume sales with multimedia devices than a pure e-reader. Of course, there will always be a market for a pure e-ink device that is easy on the eyes, but the average customer has now gravitated towards the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire.
Sony has made no official announcements regarding a new e-reader and things are very quiet on the FCC front. It is disconcerting to see a new device become irrelevant in the marketplace as quickly as the T1.
Sony Rumored to Be Working on a Tegra 3 ICS Tablet
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Sony’s current tablet line-up comprises of two devices—the Tablet P and Tablet S. Both of these run on the dual core Tegra 2 chip, but there already are indications Sony may change over to the latest Tegra 3 quad-core chip for its future line of tablets. In fact, a Japanese site Ambelo is claiming a Sony device named Sony V150 is being tested with this processor.
This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The Tegra 2 chip once was the craze among tablet PC makers, though the preference has naturally shifted to the Tegra 3 chip after it has been launched. The Android 4.0 ICS operating system is quickly becoming popular as well, and the rumored Sony V150 device scores on both these aspects. The screen resolution is believed to be 1280x 752 pixels with a screen refresh rate of 60 frames per second as reported by the NenaMark test.
Further details of the tablet device are awaited.
Sony PRS-T1 e-Reader on Clearance at Best Buy for $99.99
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Is Sony getting out of the e-reader game and going exclusively with tablets? That seems to be whats happening with the company with their only e-reader to be marketed for the last six months now on clearance at Best Buy. You can now walk into most Best Buy retail stores in the USA and get the Sony PRS-T1 for as low as $99.99. A few store managers have told us that the stores have no intentions of ordering anymore.
This is the only time in Sony’s history since they have been making e-readers that they only had one they were actively marketing. During the last few years they were peddling three different models in varying screen sizes.
If CES was any indication on the companies plans going foward, it seems to be all about tablets. Sony was showing off their Sony Tablet S and Sony Tablet P and also their concept Vaio Tablet we saw. It really seems they might be getting out of the e-reader game if one of their largest big box retailers is no longer stocking their devices. If you think about it, it really makes sense. The North American Market is quickly becoming very unprofitable in the e-reader arena due to the low offerings by Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo. Tablets are often higher end devices and can be sold at premium prices which nets everyone up and down with the supply chain with solid profit margins.
Sony Tablet P from AT&T Coming March 4th
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The Sony Tablet P is one of the most innovative tablet concepts to come our way with its twin clamshell form that includes two 5.5 inch sized displays. AT&T will be offering the 4G capable tablet for $399.99 starting March 4. The offer is inclusive of a 2 year data plan wherein users will have to shell out $35 every month for 3 GB of data usage. Of course, one can also go for the device without a data plan involved, in which case damage inflicted on the wallet will turn out to be $549. If that is your choice, there are cheaper data plans on offer, like $15 for 250 MB of data usage per month.
If the playstation certified tablet appeals to you, March 4th will be your day.
Amazon Set to Launch Kindle Touch in Japan in April
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The e-book reader market in Japan may be poised for a major shakeup now that Amazon is all set to introduce its Kindle Touch 3G e-reader there in April. Price of the Kindle e-reader would be 20,000 yen, which converts into $258. That’s quite a bit on the higher side considering the same is available in the US market for just $150. However, the price is still lower when it comes to readers with 3G capability, which usually cost more in Japan. The 3G service in Japan would be provided by domestic player NTT DoCoMo and not AT&T.
The e-reader, if it indeed were to make it to the land of the rising sun, would be the first of its kind on foreign soil. Amazon has only recently started accepting orders for the Kindle Touch from countries outside of the US, though that has been restricted to the Wi-Fi only version so far. Right now it is Sony and the other local makers that are ruling the roost so far as e-readers go in Japan. A foreign element adding to the competitive spirit in the market would have far reaching effects, and the consumers are set to benefit more than anyone else. Sony, along with other domestic players, might be forced to re-think their pricing strategy once the Kindle Touch makes it big.
3G Variant of Sony Tablet S and Tablet P Now Available in India
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Stores in India now have the 3G enabled Sony Tablet S and Tablet P for sale. Both the 3G versions will join the Tablet S that Sony had launched last year though in its Wi-Fi avatar.
The Tablet S 3G is the same configuration as that of the Wi-Fi only version with just the 3G feature added to it. This one was supposed to be available in India in mid January, but has slipped some days.
The Tablet S 3G has been priced INR 33990 while the Tablet P 3G will cost INR 36,990.
Also, both the tablet devices run Android 3.2 Honeycomb though Sony has already announced the upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS would be launch this Spring itself.
Click here for the comprehensive review of the Sony Tablet S.
via androidos
Good e-Reader Week In Review: Tablet News
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Reflecting on the happenings in the tablet field this past week, what comes to the fore is that there has been no major tablet launches during the period though the usual doses of rumors and speculation had its share of limelight all along. The biggest news of the past week has of course been the way the Apple iPad almost steamrolled the competition by announcing total sales for the last quarter to a staggering 15.43 million units. That’s not only more than all the Android tablets put together but also eclipses the sales total PC sales of bigwigs such as Dell, HP or Lenovo.
In other iPad news from the past week, the tablet will soon be provided to the students of Wisconsin Schools which in turn are being bought with money that the state got out of a court settlement with Microsoft. However, while all that is good news for Apple and its all conquering tablet device, the company though is finding itself on an increasingly slippery track in its court battles with Samsung. In the latest blow to Apple, Dutch court has ruled the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 does not infringe upon Apple iPad’s design patents. This is in lieu to a similar court ruling in Australia where the Samsung tablet has already been allowed to hit markets there. Vodafone Australia will be the first to offer the Galaxy Tab 10.1 there post the ban. Also while still on Samsung tablets, the Korean giant is rumored to be readying a new tablet device at the upcoming MCW event which many believe is the next gen version of the current Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Further continuing with rumors, Nokia too is touted to be readying a tablet that would run Windows 8.
The other big story from last week is the good showing of Android tablets like Amamzon Kindle Fire, B&N Nook Tablet or the Kobo Vox. Unfortunately, there is no way to make out just how good (or how bad) their sales were in the absence of any official sales figures. Market analysts though point out the tablets may have made up 40 percent of the total 10.5 million units of all Android tablet that found takers in the last quarter. Impressive figures it should be for Amazon, B&N or Kobo even if that has been achieved by pricing the tablets low. Also, all of that is certainly a lot better than the 1 million tablet sales figure reported by Motorola which has been achieved all of last year. Motorola has also stated it is ready to offer the Xyboard tablets.
For RIM and its PlayBook, this past week has been of mixed results. Like while Sprint is being shown to be ready to give up on the PlayBook, RIM, on its part, has already stated they have started work on the new upgraded PlayBook sequel.
As for news pertaining to Android 4.0, both Sony and HTC has stated they would be releasing the update to the latest Android version for the Tablet S/Tablet P and Flyer respectively in the coming months. Asus too will launch the ICS update for its first gen Transformer during mid February. Asus will also release the Transformer Prime Bootloader Unlock Tool next month. So that’s plenty of action coming up in the next few weeks.
In other tablet news for the past week, the Pantech Element is now available for $300, the Acer Iconia Tab A510, A700 will be hitting markets towards April while the ZTE Light Tab 2 and Optik tablets will reach the UK and US in February respectively.
Keep watching for more tablet news. Also remember to check Good e-Reader Android App Store to take care of all your app needs.
