CES: Sony makes push for 3D at CES

Sony has one major focus for the near future and that's 3D.

The entertainment and electronics giant previewed a slew of new 3D-compatible products this evening during thecompany's keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The 3D theme transcends the company's line of products, from TVs and Blu-ray players to laptops and game titles.

Sony kicked off the event with a dramatic 3D demonstration, featuring a long clip from Sony's forthcoming 3D movie "The Green Hornet." Sony Chairman Howard Stringer was then delivered on stage in the Green Hornet's car by the stars of the action movie, Seth Rogan and Jay Chou.

Stringer--while still wearing his 3D glasses--predicted that 50 million TVs in U.S. homes would be Internet-connected via Sony products, including TV, Blu-ray players, and PlayStationconsoles, by March. Calling 3D "more than a scientific gimmick," Stringer predicted that 2011 would be "a year in which 3D becomes personal."

One of the ways Stringer intends to get into U.S. homes is via a new 3D channel called 3Net, which will launch in the coming months and feature 24/7 3D content.

Stringer then introduced Sony VP Hiroshi Yoshioka, who took the stage to talk about some of the products Sony has in the works. He promised a 3D-compatible Vaio and handicams. He also showed off a prototype head-mounted display for watching movies and a prototype glasses-less 3D Blu-ray player that resembled a portable DVD player.

"[There is no] timetable set for commercialization of any of these products," he said. "We just want you to know these are on our radar."

Moving on to Sony's plans for TV, Stringer returned to the stage to talk about "TV redefined."

"Our aim is to redefine the way consumers interact with television," Stringer said. "Marriage of the television and Internet" is upon us, adding that it's "clear consumers are ready for it."

Phil Molyneux, the new head of Sony electronics in the U.S., said we can expect 27 new Bravias with Internet connectivity and 3D capability. The TVs will be capable of receiving all live and on-demand Time Warner Cable content without the need for a set-top box. The EX620 Bravia TV series will feature an LED backlit display, Internet connection, slim form factor, and access to Qriocity, Sony's media platform (more on that below).

What he called Sony's flagship TV, the DKL-55HX929 is a 55-inch TV that is 3D- and 2D-capable with full HD and should be on retail shelves in March. It will also come in a 46-inch model.

Other products he announced:

• A new 3D Blu-ray player, the BDP-S780, has built-in WiFi, DLNA, and Skype for video calls through your TV.
• The Vaio F Series laptop is 3D-capable, though you have to wear plastic active shutter glasses to get the effect.
• A 3D camcorder called the Handycam HDR-TD10 featuring two lenses (naturally), two Exmor R sensors, and two image processors.
• The Bloggie, the Flip-like camera, returns with 3D video capabilities and 5.1MP photos. The 3D display on this camera is also glasses-free.
• A new Cybershot point-and-shoot that takes full HD video as well as 3D video. You can actually take photos while you're shooting video, he said. They also include Sony's sweep panorama feature for taking panoramic photos, something they introduced here last year.

Steve Walker from Sony Ericsson took the stage to talk about smartphones, unveiling the Experia Arc, a thin phone that features Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

And Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment's CEO and president, continued the 3D theme by promising native 3D gaming for TVs and offered a preview of Uncharted 3, which is expected to hit retail shelves in November.

In the mobile sector, Hirai said we could expect some "significant" products in the very near future. He said there would be video, music, book, and game content on a "wide range" of Sony devices in the coming year.

A new cloud-streaming service, Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, which has access to 6 million songs from all the major labels, will be added to some Sony TVs, Blu-ray players, PS3s, and Vaio PCs this year, he said. "It's an extension of the music you already own," he added.

Hide Nishino from Sony Entertainment demonstrated how the service would work using a PS3 controller.

Notably missing from the games portion of the keynote was any word on when we could expect a new PlayStation Portable.

[Source: CNET.com]

Read More...

Wall Street Predicted Top 10 Trends in Mobile Technology

Wall Street predicted the top ten technology trends for next year's forecast that Apple iPad tablet PC market trend for this year's independence leader, but the competition will be increase next year, a number of industry heavyweights will join the battle for the market; The rise of fourth generation mobile networks (4G), science and technology industry to seize the market and increasing cases of litigation, and electronic purse will be the next popular trend in the electronics industry.


iPad: Apple iPad tablet computer created a new type of mobile device on the market today. Samsung Galaxy Tab is only the competive with iPad now, but competition will be increase next year, Motorola, RIM and other technology giants known companies will join in this action war.

 Android: Google Android mobile operating system, beautiful performance of this year, is currently working with carriers Verizon Wireless, handset makers HTC and Motorola, the system next year, the focus will shift to less expensive smart phone to increase coverage, so that Android phone without a carrier subsidized prices fell to $ 100 less is expected, if the bundled program is expected to lower the price.
 

Application: a lot of parity this year, the fun applications dominate, but next year will move toward commercialization. AT & T, enterprise software provider SAP (SAP) and other large enterprises have been developed to assist customers in tracking sales, monitoring systems and other applications.
 

4G: Fourth generation mobile networks (4G) great progress this year in the United States, however, want to use this ultra-fast Internet service to consumers next year, according to data traffic may have to pay to use, such as AT & T is no longer allowing new users enjoy the unlimited tariff plan, Verizon also intends to adopt a consumer price measures.
 

Parts shortage: part though modest, this year the mobile phone industry after another led to delayed shipments, lost sales and other equipment manufacturers a significant impact. However, ultra-thin smart phones this year, supply was tight-screen Samsung Electronics, in July to add a new device, the next screen from the current capacity of 300 million units per month increased to 3,000 million units.

Patent litigation: the highlight of next year, industry, patent litigation action. Apple, Motorola, Microsoft, Nokia, Eastman Kodak and other companies have been rivals in court to prevent the infringement of the patent products into the United States, legal disputes will be more next year.




Mobile Security: Smart phones are expected to upgrade the security and privacy protection. Chip manufacturers, carriers and handset manufacturers will be available next year, new security features, so that consumers feel comfortable buying products and services for mobile devices.
 
China Update: Chinese mobile phone industry is not willing to produce only low-cost unlicensed mobile phones, Huawei Technologies and ZTE will launch mobile phone with Google operating system, each carrier may sell 50 dollars.
 
Electronic wallet: the use of electronic purse will be more popular, wireless carriers have begun to try to put phone into a wallet, AT & T, Verizon and T-Mobile and other carriers in November with Discover Financial Services joint venture, the goal is for consumers mobile payment through induction. Next year will be the take-off of mobile wallet.
 
Location services: Next year is also the location services (location-based service) in the crucial year. This service allows to offer coupons or other promotions to consumers, the stores can be defined areas and specified period of time, as long as the smart phone users in the specified time into the region, you will immediately receive the store's marketing message. Community site Quartet Square (Foursquare) has been hit heavily promote the service, to make use of such stores "to report gifts" in honor of their own service users.

Read More...

"Email is Dead"? Maybe This is True...

Facebook, founder Zuke Bo declared "e-mail is dead" last month, many people don't believe it. However, now the new data shows that he may be right.

British Daily Mail newspaper reported, as cassettes, video and fax, as e-mail usage decline seems irreversible. According to market research firm comScore statistics, young people that under the age of 25, millions of British people have already changed to social networking sites.

3 Great Britain's most popular e-mail provider: Yahoo! Mail, Gmail and Hotmail, with the number of people continues to decline. According to Times obtained the personal user data of the Email, from October 2009 reached a peak number of users, and the e-mail supply side has lost 120 million. Rapid pace of young users prefer instant messaging, online chat more flexible, easier to upload the photos.

Sites such as Facebook allow users to know that friends are online, and came to know each other if messages have been received. This could explain why Facebook has been in the UK in January and attracted 1.3 million people to join.

What do you think of it? Will e-mail dead and Facebook holds the whole market?

Read More...