Tag Archives: Sony

Sony smartphone with a smartwatch dock doubles as secondary display to flash important notifications

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Sony is ready to take on the big guns of the smartphone arena with Xperia 1 V flagship slated for September 2023 launch. The device will come with flagship hardware to please nerds and ultimately the buck will stop at how software-hardware integration works in real-life scenarios.

Till the time we get our hands on Sony’s latest and greatest smartphone, how about letting the imagination loose for a unique gadget that’s two separate devices but functions as one when required?

Designer: Shantanu Maheshwari

This concept is all about utilizing the back panel of a flagship Xperia device into a dock for a smartwatch dial. Dubbed Sony Smart Switch Ecosystem, the proposed Xperia WX710 phone here makes judicious use of reverse charging, while getting a cool secondary display. When the smartwatch dial is secured to the back of the phone, the visual interface changes to show only important phone notifications. This prevents you from religiously checking the main display for any missed notifications, and eventually getting stuck down the rabbit hole wasting time scrolling down content.

The mode is activated as soon as you put the smartphone face down during meetings or online work regimes. It’s like a trimmed-down secondary foldable device interface, without the nuances of the flashy gadget. When the smartwatch dial is docked in, the wearable starts drawing current from the phone and once it’s fully juiced up, the wireless charge stops. So, practically speaking you’ll not have to carry a separate charger for your Xperia smartwatch as long as you keep the WX710 phone topped up.

Still in the concept stage, the proposed ecosystem of a phone and watch is an interesting combo that not only Sony but other smartphone makers can derive inspiration. After all, the smartphone design has maxed out in evolution and a niche functionality like this one can freshen up things again. Only if the smartphone makers can ensure the phone’s back panel has secure MagSafe-like snap-and-hold properties!

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Sony’s new gaming handheld device streams PS5 games on the go

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At the PlayStation Showcase 2023 event, Sony unveiled a handheld device that’ll make gamers both excited and longing for more. That’s because the Japanese electronics giant did unveil the Project Q gaming device but with a spoiler.

Rather than being a follow-up of the PlayStation Vita, the handheld will be more of a streaming gadget for mirroring PlayStation 5 games when you want to shift to the smaller screen for a while. That’s something akin to the Logitech G Cloud and the Razer Edge. This further reiterates Sony’s belief in mobile gaming since they announced the Backbone One game controller a few days back.

Designer: Sony

By no stretch of imagination is this gaming handheld a competitor for Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. It’s basically a device to be used with PS Remote Play, and looks like a stretched DualSense controller. Much like a third-party mobile gaming controller that fits your smartphone.

Even though it won’t play any games standalone or without internet connectivity, the option to stream your favorite titles on the 8-inch HD LCD screen sandwiched between the controls is simply awesome. The device will be capable of streaming games at upto 1080p and 60fps over a Wi-Fi connection. Not to forget, you’ll get all the buttons and features of DualSense controller like the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

According to PlayStation boss Jim Ryan, “Innovation is our passion, and that applies to not just what games you play, but how you play them.” He further emphasized the cloud gaming aspect moving forward, making the streaming handheld a potent tool in the quest for leveraging the “trend of mobility.”

For now, Sony has just uncovered these details and there’s no word on the pricing or the release date of the Project Q handheld. That said, we are still rooting for Sony to release a dedicated gaming device that’s more than just a cloud gaming gadget and can play offline as well.

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Sony reveals PlayStation earbuds with lossless, low-latency audio for PC and PS5

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At the PlayStation Showcase event, Sony announced a lot of new gaming titles, a streaming-only handheld, and towards the end of the event, a pair of TWS earbuds. These first-ever gaming wireless earbuds from the Japanese electronics giant are all set to increase the in-game immersion three-folds, be it on PC or PS5. Strangely, they somehow look inspired by the EVOLUTION 3D conceptual TWS Gaming Earbuds by Adam Shen that were mustered up a couple of years ago.

Already Sony dominates the premium wireless earbuds market with the WF-1000XM4, and the value-for-money LinkBuds S. Now with the PS5 earbuds Sony wants to create a niche offering for passionate gamers who desire immersive audio to hear every little detail for in-game tactical advantage.

Designer: Sony

The PlayStation earbuds will come with innovative wireless technology developed by SIE for superior lossless audio and low latency. The earbuds codenamed Project Nomad has been in development for some time now with industry leaks and renders giving the tech community a sneak peek of the design and hardware details. Although Sony has officially revealed the earbuds, they’ll only be up for grabs sometime during the holiday season.

They are understandably themed on the PS5 gaming console with the contoured white outer shell and bulb-like design to suit the ergonomics of the human ear better. Charging case for these audio accessories are also distinctly crafted with a cylindrical shape. Something like the Nothing Ear Stick, sans the twisting mechanism, as they open like a pouch.

From what is apparent, the buds have physical volume rocker buttons and a subdued light bar on the charging case indicating the remaining charge levels. Sony has also confirmed that they’ll “simultaneously connect to smartphones via Bluetooth” for audible strategic advantage in action games. Other than these visual details, everything is still under wraps — things like the details of ANC mode, audio drivers, or multipoint connectivity option.

If Sony can make them compatible with the PlayStation VR 2 headset, both will make for another compelling reason to own one. While they might not be positioned as premium as the upcoming WF-1000XM5’s, we expect them to be stashed between the Linkbuds S and the recently launched WF-C700N for budget buyers.

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Sony launches PlayStation 5 Access Controller with highly customizable design for gamers with disabilities

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Briefly teased at CES 2023 this year, Sony finally lifted the cloth on the PS5’s Access Controller, designed for gamers with limited mobility. Previously known as Project Leonardo, this highly customizable controller was formally launched today, on World Disability Day, marking Sony’s commitment to making gaming more inclusive.  The Access Controller is more than a conventional controller – it’s a sophisticated, customizable accessibility controller kit, created in collaboration with accessibility experts. Sony’s intention is to enhance the gaming experience, particularly for players with disabilities.

The Access Controller’s announcement precedes what is believed to be Sony’s major summer event (given that E3 was canceled this year). We’re expecting to hear of new game titles and hardware announcements during this event, including the highly anticipated handheld version of the PS5 and possibly a PS5 Pro with liquid cooling.

Designer: Sony

With a highly customizable accessibility-focused design, the Access Controller can be used independently, or alongside Sony’s DualSense controller, giving people a wide range of possible use-cases. The controller comes with a disc-shaped design, surrounded by large, interchangeable, easy-to-press keys (as well as a central key) that can be custom-mapped, with easy-to-change disc-shaped tags on all of them for reference. A modular, adjustable joystick on one side acts as the user’s navigation input, like the joystick seen on most controllers.

The Access Controller design comes in collaboration with various accessibility experts, who helped create a controller that isn’t just easy to use, it also encourages longer gaming without feeling any fatigue. The controller offers button caps that come in a variety of shapes and designs, including pillow, flat, wide flat (covering two sockets), overhang (ideal for small-handed players, placed near the center), and curved (pushed from the top or pulled from the bottom) form factors.

To help players keep track of button assignments, the Access controller includes swappable button cap tags. It also offers versatility in positioning, as it can be laid flat, rotated, or attached to an AMPS mount or tripod. Additionally, the distance of the analog stick from the controller can be adjusted as per the player’s preference.

The controller works wirelessly, and sports a USB-C port for charging it or even using it in wired formats. Additionally, four 3.5mm inputs located around its sides let players integrate their own specialty switches, buttons, or analog sticks.

The launch of this controller brings new possibilities to the PS5 console, making the world of gaming more accessible. This represents a step towards gaming that caters to every player’s unique needs, further leveling the playing field. We’ve also seen similar efforts on the accessibility front from Microsoft, who unveiled their Xbox Adaptive Controller a few years ago, and even from startup Augmental, who launched their tongue-powered MouthPad wearable controller last month.

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Redesigned Sony TC-510-2 Tape Recorder sports a new funky design that audiophiles will love

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Built to embody the new Walkman aesthetic, this redesign of the vintage TC-510-2 slaps you with its sexiness. Although the analog tape recorder’s design still fundamentally remains the same, the entire device gets a new aesthetic treatment, with a stormtrooper colorway with a hint of orange accents, and a more premium Walkman-inspired black and gold colorway that absolutely elicits heavy breathing.

Designer: M MAO

Created as a CMF exploration of the original TC-510-2 reel-to-reel tape recorder from 1978, this modern rendition makes retro uber-cool by cleaning up its design and polishing it around the edges. The original had an undeniably futuristic look even by today’s standards, but took a few design directions that kept it in the past. For starters, all the knobs and dials were a brushed metal finish, while the device itself was bronze-ish on the top, black on the front, with that one hint of orange on the pause button. Designer M MAO cleans up the appliance by giving it two distinct colorways – one with a funky aesthetic and the other with a more serious audiophile energy.

Side by side, the white and black variants have completely different appeals. They’re both absolutely delicious to look at, but the white and orange variant captures a youthful, Teenage Engineering-inspired vibe. The black and cold variant feels much more high-end and refined. The gold creates just the right classy contrast against the black, while the orange screams loudly against the white in a way that’s much more rock and roll.

The Sony TC-510-2 was a portable reel-to-reel stereo tape recorder in the late 70s, also seen in Netflix’s psych-thriller series Mindhunter. Designed to work on a 12V battery pack or an AC-26 adaptor, the tape recorder could record both left and right channels (you can see the L and R mic inputs in the bottom left corner of the image above). The recorder was a viable alternative for professionals or semi-professionals who needed a high-quality portable stereo deck.

The black body and golden/brass accents are made even more eye-catching thanks to the transparent casing and frosted reel holders

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Sony x Honda E-Volve concept evolves with the riders skill level and preferred driving modes

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Honda has struck a deal with Sony to create new mobility services to optimize the way consumers interact with future vehicles for a balance between manufacturing and functionality.

Now that the two Japanese heavyweights have already revealed a prototype electric sedan under the brand name Afeela, as a result of this long-running partnership, should the two-wheelers not also get the rubbing-off treatment?

Designer: Jennifer Ellison

Rendered on KeyShot: Click Here to Download Your Free Trial Now!

A motorbike with the same exploits as the four-wheeled counterparts for a unified approach towards sensible mobility. This electric concept bike is exactly what a Honda-Sony partnership would result in, and it’s aptly dubbed SonyxHonda E-Volve. The core idea of the design is freedom in style, to grow and have the flexibility that Gen-Z craves. This electric motorcycle built on a light, compact frame has a wide range of modules that can be interchanged whenever desired for real-time needs.

What’s more intriguing is the ability of the bike frame that’s initially purchased to be displayed in their homes during seasons when biking is not such a good idea. Extreme winters and monsoons for instance. The barebone frame can be fitted with the required modules focused on either style, performance, agility or both. Users can either choose the E-Volve to be a café racer or a sports racer depending on what the driving conditions are or the skill level of the rider.

The wheels on the electric bike can be customized to have a hydraulically controlled independent suspension system controlled by a dedicated motor on the inside. This gives superior ride comfort and the ability to tweak the resultant pressure level on the wheels. According to the designer, the companion app helps the rider in setting the skill level of riding so that precise recommendations can be made on upgrading the hardware. This way you only drive a bike that’s tailored for your permissible limits and nothing more for road safety.

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Sony is resurrecting the PlayStation Portable for the PS5, but what if they built an XPERIA Play instead?

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The rumor mill is delivering on the news of an upcoming PSP-style handheld gaming console from Sony. Pretty credible leaks say that Sony is looking to bolster their PlayStation Plus service by allowing people to play their PS5 games anywhere, and is working on a handheld gaming device that’s internally referred to as Q-Lite. “It looks like a PS5 controller but with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the middle,” says Tom Henderson from Insider Gaming, as Sony is looking to take on the handheld gaming behemoths Nintendo and Valve, along with recent-entry, ASUS. The new handheld PlayStation is poised to launch before Sony debuts the PS5 Pro, and that had me wondering… why launch a handheld console when you could revive the XPERIA line almost single-handedly? This conceptual PlayStation XPERIA device by Santosh Palaniappan shows what could have been if Sony made a gaming smartphone instead. With a sliding display that reveals the controls underneath, and a triple-camera setup, the PlayStation XPERIA could have been an absolute banger. As a smartphone, it would be able to do a lot of things that a gaming controller wouldn’t, including things like messaging, browsing the internet, sharing selfies, watching movies, and streaming gameplay directly to your friends and fans on social media.

Designer: Santosh Palaniappan

The PlayStation XPERIA is the perfect hybrid between a smartphone and a gaming device. It comes with a massive touch-sensitive display, but slide the display to the right and you’ve suddenly got two thumb-sticks, a D-Pad, and four action buttons, along with what I presume is another backlit, touch-sensitive trapezoid that’s also seen on the DualSense controller. Other controls include L1 and R1 buttons on the corners of the phone when held in landscape mode.

The PlayStation XPERIA comes with a wonderful balance between the two product categories’ design languages. You’ve got something that has the exact template of a smartphone, with the aesthetic of a PS5. The white and black interplay feels rather wonderful to the eye, and the device also comes with two textured grips on the rear, complete with the PlayStation symbol microtexture seen on the PS5. The 3-lens camera array follows the curvature of the grip too, giving it visual similarity.

A close look at the L1 button

The PlayStation XPERIA may be a gaming device, but it’s first and foremost a smartphone. You’ve got a triple-lens camera on the back for phenomenal pictures, and a dual-lens front-facing camera for regular and wide-angle selfies. Front-facing speakers make watching media on the phone absolutely exhilarating, and that experience extends to gameplay too. Slide the screen outwards and the phone turns into a handheld console. The PlayStation XPERIA doesn’t cut corners when it comes to controls, offering almost every control you could ask for.

Close-up of the microtexture on the gripping pads

Although conceptual, it would be wonderful to see Sony revive the XPERIA as an extension of its highly popular gaming line – after all, they’ve made weirder products in the past. Given the cancellation of E3, Sony will probably announce its own summer event soon, where one can expect either a formal unveiling of the Q-Lite device or a hint at it. Reports indicate that it’ll support adaptive streaming up to 1080p and 60 FPS, requiring constant internet access for Remote Play. Unfortunately, it won’t stream games from the cloud, but rather from your existing PS5.

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Sony Announces ZV-E1: A Compact and Advanced Camera for Video Creators

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Sony Electronics has recently announced the launch of its new full-frame interchangeable lens camera called the ZV-E1, designed specifically for video creators. This camera comes equipped with advanced features that cater to the needs of content creators and is set to revolutionize the world of video-making. The Sony ZV-E1 is a compact and lightweight camera that has been designed to deliver high-quality video content with ease. The camera boasts a 12MP Full-Frame Exmor R CMOS Sensor, which provides excellent image quality, even in low-light environments. Additionally, the camera features Sony’s advanced autofocus system, which ensures that your subjects are always…

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Sony’s new camera has retinal projection for the visually impaired

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Visual impairments should not stop people from pursuing hobbies that they may have previously enjoyed or have continuously done. Unfortunately, not all products that they use have features that may be helpful to them. Photography is a very visual medium of course but is not always that friendly to those who may be suffering from some form of visual impairment. So for a company to go out of their usual way and create something that people can use regardless of their visual status is always welcome.

Designer: Sony and Retissa

Sony has teamed up with Retissa, a company that has designed technology to aid people with low vision, to come up with a camera kit specifically for those who have visual impairments. The Sony DSC-HX99 RNV is made up of the HX99 compact camera and something called a QD Laser Retissa Neoviewer. The latter is a viewfinder that is able to project a digital image directly onto the retina of the user through laser retinal projection. A “crystal-clear image” is projected through a low-power, full-color laser beam.

In other words, the user’s retina becomes the screen so even if you have low vision, you’ll be able to see things clearly through the lens even if you don’t have any corrective lens or eyewear. You also don’t have to look at it through an LCD display or a virtual screen to be able to see the image you’re taking a picture of since this technology is able to deliver light directly to the eyes. The camera itself is Sony’s Cyber-shot travel zoom camera with a 24-720mm equivalent 30x zoom lens paired with an 18.2-megapixel 1/2.3-inch image sensor. It is able to record videos in 4K/30p, and also has Eye AF with fast autofocus feature.

This technology that they are using for cameras for the first time will be pretty useful for those with low vision who would still like to pursue photography. Sony is planning to collaborate with schools for the blind in the U.S and Japan and they are even offering the kit for just $600, taking on some of the costs.

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Save 19% on the Sony 32 Inch HD LED HDR TV W830K Series

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If you’re looking for a new TV that offers excellent picture quality and a range of features, then the Sony 32 Inch 720p HD LED HDR TV W830K Series may be just what you need. This TV is available on Amazon at a great price and offers a lot of value for the money. The Sony 32 Inch 720p HD LED HDR TV W830K Series boasts a 32-inch display with 720p HD resolution. While this isn’t the highest resolution available, it’s still excellent for the price and provides clear and crisp visuals that will enhance your viewing experience. Additionally, the…

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