Sony’s mainstream E and C series of laptops are getting a bit of an update with some new color options and updated processors in the case of E series. The 14-, 15.5-, and 17.3-inch Vaio E models are finally joining the Sandy Bridge brigade with second-gen Core i3 and i5s, while also adding an AMD Fusion option on the 15.5-inch version for all you Sunnyvale fans out there. The smaller members of the E family will be available in four colors (blue, pink, white, and black) while their big brother is limited to white and black. The C series is staying the same, but adding Neon Red and Thunder Blue to your selection of hues. The updated PCs will be available for pre-order on June 19th but, if you really have your heart set on that red Vaio C, you’ll have to head to select retailers like Fry’s, ABT, B&H, J&R, MicroCenter, or (wait for it…) Nebraska Furniture Mart — while you’re there, pick up a bright red sofa to match your new laptop.

Sony didn’t make a big to do about the arrival of its Music Unlimited service on Android — perhaps it’s the fact that the market for streaming music on mobile devices is getting a bit crowded these days, with recent arrivals from Apple, Google, and Amazon. Or maybe it’s that the mention of Qriocity, the service that powers the offering, is still likely to leave a bad taste in the mouths of lots of folks, after the whole, well, you know. Whatever the case may be, the app is now available as a free download for those with Google’s dessert-based operating system on their handsets, plus either the $4 a month basic or $10 a month premium plan.

SOURCE via Android Market

Last time we heard talk of a Sony tablet, the company was confirming our suspicions about the existence of the S1 and S2, giving the distinctive Android devices a broad global release time frame of this fall.

And now Engadget had been shown a private note sent from Sony’s marketing group, highlighting an August pre-order and an end of September release date for an unnamed tablet from the company, a timeline that’s right in line with our initial report on the S1.

The device, according to the note, will be available through Sony Direct, UK department store John Lewis, and a third still-unconfirmed retailer at launch. Availability will apparently open up after the Christmas holiday.

The note doesn’t offer up much info on the tablet, though it does promise that it stacks up well against the iPad and offers up some “unique design features,” which may well refer to the S2′s clamshell — or, for that matter, the S1′s curved back.

SOURCE via Engadget

Sony’s seen fit to tell us many of the PlayStation Vita’s specs, how much it’ll cost ($249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G), and who gets it (everyone). Good thing an eagle-eyed member of the public snapped a pic of the 4, 8, 16, and 32GB cards on the show floor. They look awfully similar to garden variety SD cards, only there’s a little notch in the side confirming they hew to Sony’s unfortunate habit of using proprietary storage formats. The cost of the cards remains shrouded in secrecy, but life’s more fun when a little mystery’s involved, right?

SOURCE via Beyond3D

What a busy month for hackers this is! Epic and Bethesda are the latest victims of wave of cyber-crime that has so far seen data stolen from a number of games company sites, including Sony Online Entertainment, Nintendo, Eidos and Codemasters.

A post on the Bethblog yesterday revealed that the game publisher’s site and forums had suffered “an unlawful intrusion” that resulted in the theft of an undisclosed number of forum and website passwords and email addresses.

On Friday, Epic sites also experienced downtime in the aftermath of a similar attack that compromised a number of forum accounts. Thankfully, both companies report that no credit card information was stolen. Other companies have been less fortunate.

Epic founder Tim Sweeney released a statement in the wake of Friday’s attack confirming that the “Epic Games web sites and forums were recently hacked. Read more…

Sony already has a 3D projector, the VPL-VW90ES, but this thing cost a whopping $10k, and that’s not going to fly off the shelves. Now the company is launching the “affordable” VPL-HW30ES for the rest of us this year, featuring some of the same 240Hz SXRD tech in a cheaper package.

There’s no word yet, but it’s confirmed shipping in Europe and Japan next month with a pricetag of 370,000 yen ($4,626 US) in the latter. That lower price nabs specs like a claimed 70,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,300 lumens of brightness and all the picture adjustment settings befitting a product rocking the Elevated Standard tag, along with an upgraded 3D system to reduce crosstalk.

3D compatibility is achieved with Sony’s new lighter active shutter 3D glasses and an add-on IR sync device that are both sold separately — no complex lens switching necessary.

SOURCE via Akihabaranews

Sony announced the PS Vita for handheld console lovers, and also gave PS3 users an affordable 3D monitor. Now, the company is announcing a new keyboard for PS3 owners that love FPS and can’t shoot properly with that annoying analog controller.

If you’ve ever seen a Bluetooth keyboard there isn’t much surprising here, though it does feature a PS button for powering the console on and off. Instead of a touchpad Sony went with a Thinkpad-style nub which will be loved by some, but loathed by others.

And don’t worry; pairing this thin one-pounder with other devices should be quite simple. Folks in the Land of the Rising Sun can pick one up on June 30th for ¥5,000 (about $62), but there’s no word on a stateside release. Now all you need is another Bluetooth mouse for your FPS jam!

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Ever since Sony discontinued their NEX-3, we heard lots of rumours regarding the successor, the NEX-C3, and now it’s officially official. Announced today, the NEX-C3 appears identical to the model leaked in April, and uses the same format APS-C image sensor as its predecessor, bumping resolution to 16.2 megapixels in a camera body smaller than the NEX-5.

Sony says the new entry-level cam is designed to fill the gap between point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras, and is the smallest body to pack an APS-C sensor, offering DSLR-level image quality — the same 16.2 MP chip is also included in its new full-size Alpha A35, which replaces the A33. Both cameras can shoot at up to 5.5 fps (the A35 adds a 7 fps mode at 8.4 megapixels), and include 3-inch LCDs, with the NEX keeping its hallmark tilt display, and the A35 adding Sony’s Translucent Mirror live-view mode, and an electronic viewfinder. Read more…

Sony PS3 has always been able to support 3D, but it was never fully utilized because many gamers don’t see the relevant of getting a 3D monitor just to play games with 3D when the usual HDTV can work nicely. What’s more there’s the need for a 3D glass. But now there’s good news. Sony’s Jack Tretton has just announced that PS3 gamers can get into the 3D game for much less this fall when the company launches a 24-inch monitor and active shutter LCD glasses under the PlayStation brand.

$499 gets the monitor, a pair of glasses, an HDMI cable and a copy of Resistance, while additional pairs of glasses — which are compatible with TVs from other manufacturers and can be used to give two split-screen gamers their own full screen view — are $69. That’s a competitive package to be sure, but many will likely still need to be convinced slipping on the specs is worthwhile, and competitors like Vizio are slipping passive 3D glasses TVs in with similar price points and similar features.

The 3D monitor is a 1080p edge LED lit LCD with two HDMI inputs, stereo speakers, an integrated subwoofer and claims to be the first display at this size with “quad speed frame sequential display technology”. The glasses charge via USB and will be available at the same time as the screen this fall.

Finally Sony’s NGP goes official with a proper name, and it’s called PS Vita! Sony’s Kaz Hirai has unveiled the next generation handheld console from Sony at their E3 conference, with specific price.

The Sony PS Vita will cost $249 for the WiFi version, or $299 for the 3G model, which Sony’s Kaz Hirai confirmed will be available exclusively through AT&T, with both models shipping worldwide toward the end of 2011. Prices are (Prices are 24,980 and 29,980 yen in Japan, euro 249 and euro 299 in Europe.)

The device, also offers six-axis motion sensors, dual analog controls (proper ones, with thumbsticks), front- and rear-facing cameras, an OLED touchscreen, and a touchpad on the back too.

The company showed off a number of top-tier titles, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a hack-and-slash RPG called Ruin, a new ModNation Racers, LittleBigPlanet, and Street Fighter x Tekken, each showing off plenty of motion and touch interactivity to make it really feel like the next generation in gaming. They’re all looking quite good, and honestly a bit more advanced than what the 3DS has delivered so far — for the same money.

SOURCE via Engadget