Apple Inc. seeking Sony camera sensors for new iPhone 6

iPhone manufacturing company—Apple Inc is apparently eyeing to incorporate Sony camera sensors for a new iPhone 6 which is expected to roll out as early as next year. 

According to the Japanese business daily Nikkei, the company has been in talks with Sony for development of sensors for the secondary camera on the front. Apple Inc currently uses parts from suppliers in the United States and elsewhere. 


Presently, Sony supplies nearly all of the CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensors for the current iPhone 5S's rear-mounted main cameras.


Describing the reason for Apple’s switch, the business daily said: “With more customers expected to use smartphones for video calls, Apple sounded out Sony about supplying more sensors.”

The daily has also asserted that Sony has laid the foundation by “buying new plant” in order to complete the order from Apple.

“A request from Apple Inc was the reason for its January decision to purchase a plant from Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics, according to a source involved in the negotiations,” the newspaper said.

According to Techno Systems Research, at present Sony holds the largest share of the global CMOS sensor market in 2012 with 32.1 percent. It supplies to the world's No. 1 smartphone seller— Samsung Electronics, and Huawei Technologies.

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New Sony Bravia 4K TV models launched in India

After releasing its 84-inch Sony Bravia 4K TV model in October last year, the company has gone ahead and introduced two more television sets in the said range. Equipped with four times the resolution of a full HD screen, these models have been unveiled in 65-inch and 55-inch sizes by Sony, and will be going on sale later this month at Rs. 4,04,900 and Rs. 3,04,900, respectively.

Both of them fall under the X9004 series, and are said to deliver their ‘stunning picture quality’ owing to a number of technological advancements that have been infused into them. These include the Triluminos Display LED backlighting which is aimed at procuring a wider color gamut, and in the process, delivering a more natural and vivid.

Moreover, the X-Reality PRO processing engine of these television sets is capable of up-scaling any standard definition content to 4K resolution. That means even TV broadcasts, web videos, blu-ray discs and low resolution smartphone clips will be viewable in the ultra high resolution that’s provided by these screens. And that’s not all; even original 4K content will be delivered by the Japanese giant via Blu-ray discs.

For an enhanced listening experience, the new Sony Bravia 4K TV models come equipped with a Magnetic Fluid Speaker design. The adoption of this technology allows for a thinner, more efficient loudspeaker which offers faithful reproduction of high-fidelity sound.


Moreover, these television sets even adopt connectivity features like NFC, Wi-Fi and 3G (via dongle). A total of 20 new models from the range will be launched by the company in India this year, including these 4K TVs. Features like the X-Reality PRO engine and the Triluminos Display technology will be present on most of them.


As mentioned above, the new 65-inch and 55-inch Bravia 4K TV sets are slated to hit retail during the end of June.

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Sony Xperia ZR up for pre-orders at Rs. 29,990

Sony had officially announced its ZR smartphone a month earlier and it now seems the company is all set to launch it in India. The smartphone can now be pre -ordered through online retailers Flipkart.com and Infibeam.com. Both sites mention the price of Sony Xperia ZR to be Rs. 29,990.

Infibeam.com also mentions that the smartphone will be available from June 15, while Flipkart.com has mentioned the expected launch date of Xperia ZR as third week of June.

The Sony Xperia ZR is capable of capturing photos and full-HD videos underwater, with IP55/ IP58 rating. One can keep it submerged in 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. The smartphone has a 4.6-inches HD reality display that sports a resolution of 720x1280 pixels.

Powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor, the Xperia ZR has 2GB RAM and internal storage of 8GB expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. It sports a 13-megapixel fast-capture camera with Exmor RS featuring 16x digital zoom with auto-focus and a VGA front facing camera. It has a dedicated hardware button for the camera, and allows using it even when the screen is locked. The phone also offers NFC functionality and is LTE 4G capable.

Earlier in the year, Sony had also launched its flagship smartphone Xperia Z, which too is IP55 and IP57 certified. The smartphone is priced at Rs. 38,990. Sony Xperia Z features a 5-inch full-HD display. The smartphone runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Internally, it packs in a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The company is also said to be working on Xperia Z with stock Android and is expected to launch the same in July.

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Sony Unveils Xperia M and Xperia M Dual

After the success of their latest Sony Xperia range of smartphones, the company is leaving no stone unturned in quickly expanding their range with everything from budget offerings to premium devices.

The phone-maker unveiled the latest Xperia M phone along with its dual-SIM variant, the Sony Xperia M Dual.  Both phones pack same features and specifications except for the additional SIM card slot that comes with Sony Xperia M Dual.

Sony Xperia M comes with 4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 854x480 pixels. The capacitive touch-screen comes with a regular scratch-resistant display and gives a skip to the now standard Gorilla Glass display. The phone registers multi-touch up to just four fingers.


Sony Xperia M is expected to launch with the slightly older version of Android Jelly Bean, ver 4.1. However, we’re hopeful that the phone will be upgraded to the  4.2 version, if not 4.3 post launch. Under the hood, runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core 1 GHz Krait processor. Sony Xperia M comes with 4 GB internal memory. The phone supports MicroSD card slot up to 32 GB. Sony Xperia M comes with 1 GB RAM.


The phone comes with a 5 MP rear-end camera with single LED flash. The front-end camera is a basic VGA camera. The phone supports features like geo-tagging, touch focus, image stabilization, HDR, panorama, in the camera mode.

Sony Xperia M will come in multiple colours like Black, White, Purple and Yellow (only for the single-SIM variant). While the phone is expected to launch in the third quarter this year, there’s still no word on the pricing. However, looking at the specifications, we can safely say the phone will be a budget-level or entry-level smartphone.

Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZR created much interest and met with success post launch. However, while both the phone came at a hefty price, Sony is now focusing on the budget-conscious market. While the phone lacks most features of the Xperia Z like the Bravia display and water-resistant and dust-proof qualities, it is still a phone with decent specs.

Post the break-up of Sony-Ericsson JV, Sony has been focusing strongly on expanding their budget as well as premium segment. The division seems to have done Sony good as the struggling phone-maker has once again gained a foot-hold in the tough smartphone war. Also, the phone-maker is now looking at even developing markets and investing heavily in India as part of its market-capturing plans.

Despite a good run, Sony had to cut their sales targets for the Xperia Z phone in 2013. Hopefully with budget phones lined up in the coming months, Sony’s success run will continue.

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Sony 4K TVs ready, but nothing’s on

The TV industry has a message: your television is obsolete and you need a better one with even more eye-popping power.

The first serious move to bring the next generation of "4K" ultra-high resolution flat-panel displays to a wider audience began last week as Sony introduced two models not aimed solely at one percenters. The 4K Ultra HD televisions are said to display roughly four times the resolution of current high-definition models, which are 1920x1080, commonly called 1080p.

The new 4K standard expands that to a screen resolution of 3840 x 2160, which is also said to offer richer, more saturated colours than current sets.

As with most bleeding-edge consumer tech, these new displays started out with cringe-inducing price tags. Sony's first model, an 84-inch Ultra HD set, was introduced in November and cost $25,000. An 85-inch 4K model from Samsung was more than $45,000 when it was introduced.

Three years ago — to test the limits of what's possible —Panasonic built a 4K, 152-inch plasma display. You could buy it for only $500,000. Those stratospheric prices are falling. Sony will begin selling 55-inch and 65-inch models, priced at $4,999 and $6,999, respectively.

Rival Samsung plans to release two new 4K models next month in Korea before a wider rollout, with prices expected to be in line with Sony's.



The big hitch: No native content is currently available on DVD at the new resolution. Most of Hollywood's newer films are shot at resolutions that would support future 4K releases , however, and some new Blu-ray DVD players will upscale current resolutions to 4K.

The trouble for consumer-gadget peddlers will be to make the commercial case for 4K releases as the displays make their debut with what's expected to be very slow sales. It's far from clear that hordes of consumers are itching for higher resolutions. Unless you're packing a 60-inch or larger screen in the den, you won't

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Sony stops making PlayStation 2 in Japan

Japanese electronics giant Sony said it has stopped producing its PlayStation 2 consoles in Japan, fuelling online rumours a PlayStation 4 is in the pipeline.

Since launching in 2000 the PlayStation 2 (PS2), which has a Blu-ray player, has sold more than 150 million units worldwide, making it the best selling console of all time and was so popular it outsold the its replacement for the first three years.


Shipments have been "completed" for the hardware of PS2, the Japanese website of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said with no further comment. The firm did not say what its plans were for production in other parts of the world.


Software for the console is expected to continue being produced. The announcement sent gamers posting messages online, with some surprised the PS2 was still being made.


The news has sparked rumours that embattled Sony, which has been hit by falling sales owing to the popularity of games on smartphones, is planning a PlayStation 4, more than six years since launching the PS3.  

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Sony's waterproof tablet up for pre-order @ Rs 44,990

 

Sony Xperia Tablet Z, unveiled at Consumer Electronics Show 2013 in US, is now available for pre-order in India. Major online retailers are taking advance bookings for the device, which is scheduled to be launched early next month. Flipkart, Snapdeal and Infibeam are offering the device with 16GB storage and Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity for Rs 44,990 approximately.


 Xperia Tablet Z runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) out-of-the-box and has waistline of just 6.9mm, thinner than that of rivals like Apple iPad and Google Nexus 10. Another key feature is its shockproof, dust resistant and waterproof body, which makes it largely impervious to damage.


The all-new Xperia Tablet Z by Sony features a 10.1-inch TFT touchscreen with Mobile Bravia Engine 2 display technology and image resolution of 1920x1200p. It is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, coupled with 2GB RAM, and 32GB onboard storage, with microSD support of up to 32GB. The tablet has an 8.1MP camera with Exmor R imaging technology and LED flash on the back, a feature no other rival can match as of now.

Connectivity suite of Xperia Tablet Z includes top notch features like 4G LTE as well as NFC, along with standard options like 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB. Powered by a 6,000mAh battery, the device will be available in black and white colours. Sony has also included its proprietary S-Force virtual surround sound technology in the tablet for enhanced audio quality.

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Sony Xperia Tablet Z Debuts in India

Sony met much success with their new flagship smartphone device, Sony Xperia Z. Announced along with the Xperia Z phone was the Sony Xperia Tablet Z. While the phone was launched a couple of months back and managed to hold interest with its new look, ruggedness, impressive specifications and water-proof tag till the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4 eclipsed all other devices.

While Sony Xperia Z was available almost immediately after the launch, there was no sign of the Sony Xperia Tablet Z, till now that is. Though Sony is yet to confirm the official availability, the tablet is up for pre-orders on most e-commerce sites. The device is expected to ship by the first week of June.

While websites list different versions, there will be 2 basic versions of the website depending on the internal memory and 3G. The 16 GB variant is expected to be 3G compatible while the 32 GB internal memory tablet will most probably be a Wi-Fi only version.


Strangely, both the tablets come with the same price tag of Rs. 44,990. Though both price seems a bit steep, the tablet does come with some amazing features and specifications to justify the price.

Just like the Xperia Z phone, Sony Xperia Tablet Z comes with the same water-resistant and dust-resistant qualities. The tablet which is a 10.1 inch device comes with a full HD display with 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution. Like most of Sony’s phones and devices of the Xperia range, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z too come with Sony Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2. 


The tablet runs on Android Jelly Bean 4.1. While the tablet was announced way back, we were hopeful of the tablet coming with the latest Android version out of the box. We hope upgrades to the latest version start rolling out soon!

On the processor front, Sony Xperia Tablet Z comes with a quad-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm processor. The RAM is a 2 GB and as mentioned above, in India, the tablet will come in 2 different internal memory options. There is also an expandable card slot which supports up to 64 GB expansion.


Xperia Tablet Z comes with a 8.1 MP rear end camera with 16X digital zoom. There’s no flash though. Xperia Tablet Z supports HD video recording (1080p) and comes with Exmor R sensor . The front camera is a 2.2 MP for video-calling. The tablet comes with a generous 6000 mAh battery.

While the specifications sound good and Sony also claims the tablet to be the slimmest and lightest in the world, the Xperia Tablet Z sounds to be a tad over-priced. With a price-tag of over Rs 40,000 the tablet clearly falls in the premium segment where it’ll compete with Apple. Apple iPad being priced lower than Sony Xperia Tablet Z, the winner is clear.

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Sony Xperia L now available in India at Rs 18,990

Sony Xperia L, which was unveiled in India last month alongside Xperia SP, is now up for pre-orders in the country. Online retailer Snapdeal is offering the smartphone at Rs 18,990 in black and white colours, but says that deliveries will start in the next seven business days. On the other hand, e-commerce website Infibeam is taking pre-orders for the device and claims that the phone will be released on May 08, 2012. Sony has not listed the new Xperia L on its website till now.

The all-new Sony Xperia L touts a 4.3-inch TFT touchscreen with 854x480p resolution and 228ppi pixel density. The smartphone runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system and packs a 1GHz dual-core Krait CPU under the hood. The phone comes with 8GB onboard storage, 1GB RAM and microSD support up to 32GB.

For imaging, Sony Xperia L straps an 8MP camera with LED flash on the back and a VGA secondary unit in front. Connectivity suite of the phone includes 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0 and NFC. Its 1,750mAh battery offers continuous talk time of nine hours on 3G network.

This smartphone will compete with the likes of Nokia 720, HTC 8S and Samsung Galaxy S Advance in the Indian market.

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Sony launches Xperia SP and mid range Xperia L

These beautiful Android smartphones are expected to hit the market starting April this year.

Japanese electronics and smartphone giant Sony has announced the launch of two of its new Xperia Android smartphone devices Xperia SP and Xperia L for global markets. Both Xperia SP and Xperia L offer the best of Sony with innovative design and the latest technologies, including high quality displays.

The Xperia SP utilizes Sony's Bravia 2 Engine on its 4.6 inch 720p resolution Reality Display for sharper visuals. The Xperia SP flaunts an aluminium frame and runs on a 1.7 GHz dual core Snapdragon S4 processor. At the back there is an 8 megapixel Exmor sensor based camera with HDR and HD video recording. The device also features NFC and allows one touch function to share content with other Sony devices.

Xperia L comes with a 4.3 inch FWVGA display powered using a 1 GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor. The 1,700 mAh battery is supported by Sony's Stamina feature that allows better battery life, and there is 8 GB of internal storage, which is further expandable via micro SD cards. The Sony Xperia L also features NFC connectivity and an 8 megapixel rear shooter with Exmor RS sensor.


The prices of these phones have not been released as of now but looking at the mid range specifications of the Xperia L the device is expected to be priced around Rs 20,000; while the Xperia SP is expected to be priced around Rs 30,000.

Both devices will be made available in April this year with country-wise availability announced in the days to come.

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Sony released an alpha Jelly Bean ROM for the Xperia T

Similar to what we saw Sony do with Ice Cream Sandwich, the company has recently released an alpha phase Jelly Bean ROM. At the moment the ROM is only available for one device, the Xperia T. We should also point out that this ROM comes with some serious limitations in terms of use and is truly aimed at the more advanced user.

 That being said, as mentioned the ROM is available for the Xperia T. The limitations include some that are minor and some that are major. For example, on the minor side, this ROM does not have the final UI look and feel. Then again, for some that may be a perk. On the major side, this ROM will now allow you to make any calls. Sony is describing this release as having a limited set of working features and not being ready for ordinary everyday usage.

According to Sony, the limited set of features is due to them not having passed all the necessary approvals. Aside from not being able to make calls, some of the other “turned off or not yet working” features include the FM Radio, NFC, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This ROM is also missing the Google apps which means you are not going to have any of the Google goodies such as Gmail or the Play Store.

Bottom line here, if you are a developer with an Xperia T this may be an option to consider. If nothing else, you will likely be able to provide Sony some feedback and help speed things up in terms of a final release. Otherwise, while Sony has yet to say when a beta or final ROM release is expected, we can look at the timeline from last year. Looking back, Sony released an alpha ICS ROM in December 2011 and followed that up with a beta ICS ROM in February 2012.

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Sony's new Xperia Tablet Z is just 6.9mm thin

Sony has just announced a new, ultraslim 10.1-inch Android 4.1 tablet, the Xperia Tablet Z. 


With a full-HD screen, Qualcomm's 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro chip, and an 8.1-megapixel Exmor R camera, the Xperia Tablet Z is a significant upgrade over the company's current Xperia Tablet S. 


Other specifications include 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, which is standard for a flagship tablet or mobile device nowadays. Unlike Google's flagship 10-inch tablet, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z will have a microSD expansion slot. It will also come with both NFC and LTE support.

From the official images, the Xperia Tablet Z looks like a larger version of Sony's Xperia Z line of handsets. Like its smartphone brethren, the tablet is also said to be both waterproof and dustproof. We are pretty impressed by its thin profile--at just 6.9mm, the Xperia Tablet Z is marginally slimmer than the iPad mini (7.2mm) and it's very handy for a 10.1-inch slate at 495g.

We aren't sure why Sony kept this tablet under wraps instead of showing it at CES, but perhaps the company was prompted to make the official announcement sooner than planned after the specifications were leaked online last week. 

There is currently no information on the price and availability for the Xperia Tablet Z, though we're hoping that it launches around the same time as the Xperia Z handsets (Q1 2013). However, given its high-end specifications, the Xperia Tablet Z probably won't come cheap.

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Sony Xperia Z: Quad-core water-resistant phone with 13-MP camera

To say Xperia Z is "waterproof" may be pushing it: You can't take it scuba diving. But you can dump an entire bottle of water on it, and I'd lay odds it would do better than any iPhone when falling into a toilet for a second or two.

And that's not the most impressive thing about the new flagship Android phone from Sony. With a 13-megapixel camera, and a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, and a 5-inch full-1080p "reality" display, yeah, it's got a lot to brag about. Not to mention the fact that it's only 7.9 millimeters thick, and made of two slabs of sturdy, tempered glass. It's quite the machine.

I played around with one tonight, and it really moves fast. Its photo album can fly through month after month, year after year, at a blinding pace, and when you shoot, it uses intelligent-auto settings, along with facial-recognition, for nice sharp pictures on the fly. I especially liked how using the flash would create an image that doesn't look like your subject is being strobe tortured. I also liked that the high dynamic range was always on for more balanced shots in weird lighting conditions — unless you turn it off.

In addition to that water resistance, it also resists dust. It will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (but not Android 4.2 Jelly Bean). I'm a little nervous about the unreported battery life, though the press release does mention a "stamina" mode that "can improve standby time by four times or more by automatically shutting down battery-draining apps whenever the screen is off and starting them up again when the screen is back on." Good news there, maybe. 


Perhaps its crowning charm is its use of near-field communication — of late, a technology generally associated with mobile payments — to send music to speakers, photos to hard drives, and video to TVs, with a simple, wireless, magical little tap. It's a neat touch.


So what's wrong with it? No carrier. No price. No specific U.S. release date announced — just a global launch promised in the first quarter of 2013. Something tells me it may be a while before this phone turns up on Verizon's doorstep, let alone yours.

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Sony stops making PlayStation 2 in Japan

Japanese electronics giant Sony said it has stopped producing its PlayStation 2 consoles in Japan, fuelling online rumours a PlayStation 4 is in the pipeline.

Since launching in 2000 the PlayStation 2 (PS2), which has a Blu-ray player, has sold more than 150 million units worldwide, making it the best selling console of all time and was so popular it outsold the its replacement for the first three years.


Shipments have been "completed" for the hardware of PS2, the Japanese website of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said with no further comment. The firm did not say what its plans were for production in other parts of the world.


Software for the console is expected to continue being produced. The announcement sent gamers posting messages online, with some surprised the PS2 was still being made.


The news has sparked rumours that embattled Sony, which has been hit by falling sales owing to the popularity of games on smartphones, is planning a PlayStation 4, more than six years since launching the PS3. 

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Sony Odin May Be Known Instead as Xperia X

Months ago, sightings of a mysterious Sony handset with the codename Odin/ODIN were first reported. Based on the rumored specs mentioned at that time, the Odin was hyped as Sony’s flagship for 2013, although reliable rumors about such were few and far in-between since the initial sightings.

With the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show just weeks away and the next Mobile World Congress set to take place in late February, anticipation for the Odin has once again kicked into overdrive.


Only, it may not be known as the Odin – Sony’s naming conventions suggest that it will inevitably be known as an Xperia handset. That’s what could happen to another potential Sony flagship, the Yuga, which may be known as the Xperia Z once released.


The Odin, on the other hand, may be dubbed Xperia X. And its specs, if the rumors are accurate, are hands-down impressive. It will be one of several 5-inch, 1080p handsets due for a first-half 2013 release, and come with the Sony Mobile BRAVIA user interface baked in; it is assumed that this device will ship with Android 4.1 out of the box. Other rumored specs include a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2 GB RAM and a 13-megapixel rear camera. Except for the camera, this is pretty standard stuff that may soon be status quo, but compared to the devices released in 2012, the Xperia X/Odin is as mighty as its codename suggests.

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Sony Xperia Miro available for Rs 14,499

Sony's latest entry level Android smartphone comes with a 3.5 inch display, 800 MHz processor and Android ICS goodness.

Japanese consumer electronics and mobile phone brand Sony had announced the launch of its new range of Android smartphones including Sony Tipo and Sony Miro in the month of June. While Tipo was launched in India a couple of days ago, the slightly more expensive Sony Xperia Miro has also been made available for purchase in India. The Sony Xperia Miro comes with a price tag of Rs 14,499 and is available on online shopping websites such as Snapdeal.com.

Sony Xperia Miro comes with a 3.5 inch display as compared to the 3.2 inch one found on the Tipo. While the processor remains the same on both devices, an 800 MHz Qualcomm MSM7225A processor with 512 MB RAM, and 3 GB internal memory that is expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card.

The phone will have Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system pre-installed. Along with that there will be a 5 megapixel rear camera that can record VGA resolution videos at 30 frames per second. Along with that the Miro will also feature a VGA front camera for video calling, which was missing in the Tipo.


Although the device will gradually be made available in four different color combinations that include black, black/pink, white/silver and white/gold, the only color that is currently available is a combination of white and silver.

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Sony launches 20 megapixel DSC-RX100 camera at Rs 34,990

New Delhi: Sony has announced the launch of its 20.2 megapixel DSC-RX100 point-and-shoot camera with a first-of-its-kind 1.0-type Exmor CMOS sensor.


The DSC-RX100's sensor is about four times larger than the 1/2.3-type imager in regular point-and-shoot cameras.


The camera comes with Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 3.6x optical zoom. The DSC-RX100 has a 7.5cm (3-inch) LCD display.  

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