Showing posts with label SONY Android. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SONY Android. Show all posts
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
SONY's Action-Cam with a Lens.... gets an Update
Sony QX10 And QX100 Receive Version 3.0 Firmware Upgrade With Quicker NFC Connect Times And "Half-Press" To Focus
It doesn't matter which phone a Sony QX10 or QX100 owner uses, these cameras are better. The drawback is that the user experience is nothing short of awkward. One particular issue is slow NFC connection times, making it challenging to capture spontaneous shots (and aren't those the best kind?). Fortunately, this is the type of problem an update can address. Firmware version 3.0 is now available for both models, doing precisely that.
Done With This Post? You Might Also Like These:
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- ASUS PadFone 2 Updated To v10.4.12.24, Includes Bug Fixes And Lots Of Software Improvements
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Wednesday, February 19, 2014
SONY and Garmin Who is going to buy the other first...
Exclusive: Garmin to Show Pedestrian Nav on Sony SmartWatch at MWC
Little details about the solution have filtered so far.
Sony SmartWatch 2, launched at the end of last year, works in conjunction with an Android smartphone. In the case of a navigation software it would leverage the GPS of the smartphone.
Pedestrian navigation is an interesting use case for a smart watch that has not been showcased that much yet.
More information on the Garmin solution will be revealed at the show.
Monday, October 21, 2013
SONY Lens G
Sony Lens G Accessory Manual Leaks, Shows Off Hardware and Functionality
This week, leaked images hit the web of an upcoming accessory for smartphones from Sony, nicknamed Lens G. According to a newly leaked user manual for the lenses, there are two models, the QX10 and QX100. The QX100 will be the more expensive of the two, featuring the same sensor that is currently found in Sony’s RX100MII, which can be found on Amazon for about $750. As for the QX10, it will feature a 18 megapixel CMOS sensor that is found in Sony’s WX150.
Each lens will feature its very own power button, microphone, display panel, a belt hook, tripod, a zoom lever, shutter button, reset button and a multifunctional jack. For being such a little accessory, it looks like Sony is sparing no expense in making sure users will be able to take great shots with these while attached to your phone.
As of right now, we have our money on Sony announcing these lenses at IFA next month in Berlin. Until then, we have no details on a release date or pricing, but we are definitely excited to check them out.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Sony DROIDcams
Sony's Camera Remote API allows WiFi-equipped devices to control its cameras, act as a second screen
This year's IFA has been rather eventful for Sony: the company unveiled a new handset, some interesting cameras and even a recorder that can turn you into the next Justin Bieber. But lost in the shuffle was an announcement that the Japanese outfit's also releasing its Camera Remote API, albeit in beta. Sony says the idea here is to provide developers with the ability to turn WiFi-ready devices, such as smartphones and tablets, into a companion for many of its shooters -- i.e. act as a second display or be able to shoot images / video remotely.
The Camera Remote API will be friendly with novel products including theAction Cam HDR-AS30, HDR-MV1 Music Video Recorder and both DSC-QX lens cameras, as well as older models like the NEX-6, NEX-5R and NEX-5T. This is definitely good news for current and future owners of any of the aforementioned, since the new API can certainly add much more value to Sony's cameras via the third-party app creations that are born from it.
Filed under: Cameras, Software, Sony
This year's IFA has been rather eventful for Sony: the company unveiled a new handset, some interesting cameras and even a recorder that can turn you into the next Justin Bieber. But lost in the shuffle was an announcement that the Japanese outfit's also releasing its Camera Remote API, albeit in beta. Sony says the idea here is to provide developers with the ability to turn WiFi-ready devices, such as smartphones and tablets, into a companion for many of its shooters -- i.e. act as a second display or be able to shoot images / video remotely.
The Camera Remote API will be friendly with novel products including theAction Cam HDR-AS30, HDR-MV1 Music Video Recorder and both DSC-QX lens cameras, as well as older models like the NEX-6, NEX-5R and NEX-5T. This is definitely good news for current and future owners of any of the aforementioned, since the new API can certainly add much more value to Sony's cameras via the third-party app creations that are born from it.
Filed under: Cameras, Software, Sony
Sony Hopes You'll Carry A Lens In Your Pocket
Remember that time when your smartphone camera just wasn’t good enough? That time when you wanted a picture that was just slightly better? You know, the time you lugged a pocket camera to your kid’s karate lesson or significant other’s colonoscopy. Well. Sony will soon have a product for you, friend!
The Sony QX10 and QX100 are leaking from all corners of the Internet following their surprise appearance last month. The products are essentially two-thirds of a camera designed to connect to a smartphone wirelessly or through a dock. Sony has created a whole new system that replaces a phone’s camera with a new sensor and glass. For better or worse, of course.
According to Sony Alpha Rumors, the QX10 will feature a 1/2.3-inch 18-megapixel sensor paired with an f/3.3-5.9 lens. The QX100 will have a high-quality 1-inch 20.2-megapixel Exmor R sensor and a f/1.8-4.9 Carl Zeiss lens. Reportedly, the QX10 will be $250 and the QX100 will be $450. The QX line is based on fantastic Sony point-and-shoot cameras with the QX10 looking most like the WX150 and the QX100 grabbing most of the RX100m2′s magic.
The concept is solid, but the market might be tepid. With the right software, a smartphone packs all the goods necessary to process a photo. These products essentially allow smartphones to capture higher-quality images and more importantly, share these images a whole lot quicker.
It’s just too bad these first-generation models are so expensive.
Let’s not forget this has been done before. Will.i.am and Fusion Garage (and CrunchPad engineer) Chandra Rathakrishnan beat Sony to this idea with the fashion-focused i.am+ foto.sosho V.5. But it doesn’t appear to have ever hit the market. Thankfully. It was ludicrous and smelled of vapor from the start.
Sony’s take is much more legitimate and original. As Chris explained when the products first started leaking online, Sony has created a product that moves the camera hardware outside of the smartphone, creating a platform that’s device-agnostic and gives consumers the option of using this device on future hardware.
Don’t expect these little lenses to be a huge hit right out of the gate. Sony probably doesn’t. This is clearly a low-volume product designed to test the market. But Sony as of late is back to its slow and steady product cycle. This product line is a clever cross between two of the company’s main product categories with mobile and digital imaging. Sony is going to do its damnedest to get consumers to carry a lens in their pocket instead of a pocket shooter.
Sony QX10 and QX100 Press Release Leaked, Pricing and Full Details Now Known
Why wait for IFA and Sony’s official announcement when we live in this amazing digital age? Today, a press release and product video for the SonyQx10 and QX100 hit the web, so now there are no more secrets about these two accessories. If you wanted to know pricing, availability and full specs, then read on.
The QX100 will be the more expensive of the two, coming in at around $500. It features the same sensor that is found in the RX100 II, capable of taking very low-noise and “exceptionally detailed” photographs. The QX10 will come priced in at around $250, featuring an 18.2 megapixel Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and 10x optical zoom.
Both lens-style cameras work over WiFi to connect to any Android device that is running Honeycomb or over. Connecting to devices is easy, with NFC capabilities that allow users to easily bump the two devices to begin the connection. From there, you can either use a special attachment to connect the lens to your phone or even utilize a special tripod for taking still shots.
The devices will be available later this month through Sony’s online store. Interested?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Via: Sony Alpha RumorsNew Sony QX100 and QX10 “Lens-Style Cameras” Redefine the Mobile Photography ExperienceNew Concept Cameras Link Flawlessly to Smartphone, Offering High-Zoom, Stunning Quality Images and Full HD Videos for Instant SharingMerging the creative power of a premium compact camera with the convenience and connectivity of today’s smartphones, Sony today introduced two “lens-style” QX series cameras that bring new levels of fun and creativity to the mobile photography experience.
The innovative Cyber-shot™ QX100 and QX10 models utilize Wi-Fi® connectivity to instantly transform a connected smartphone into a versatile, powerful photographic tool, allowing it to shoot high-quality images and full HD videos to rival a premium compact camera. It’s an entirely new and different way for consumers to capture and share memories with friends and family.
With a distinct lens-style shape, the new cameras utilize the latest version of Sony’s PlayMemories™ Mobile application (availablefor iOS™ and Android™ devices, version 3.1 or higher required) to connect wirelessly to a smartphone, converting the bright, large LCD screen of the phone into a real-time viewfinder with the ability to release the shutter, start/stop movie recordings, and adjust common photographic settings like shooting mode, zoom, Auto Focus area and more.
For added convenience, the app can be activated using NFC one-touch with compatible devices. Once pictures are taken, they are saved directly on both the phone and the camera*, and can be shared instantly via social media or other common mobile applications.
“With the new QX100 and QX10 cameras, we are making it easier for the ever-growing population of ‘mobile photographers’ to capture far superior, higher-quality content without sacrificing the convenience and accessibility of their existing mobile network or the familiar ‘phone-style’ shooting experience that they’ve grown accustomed to,” said Patrick Huang, director of the Cyber-shot business at Sony. “We feel that these new products represent not only an evolution for the digital camera business, but arevolution in terms of redefining how cameras and smartphones can cooperatively flourish in today’s market.”
The new compact, ultra-portable cameras can be attached to a connected phone with a supplied mechanically adjustable adapter, or can be held separately in hand or even mounted to a tripod while still maintaining all functionality and connectivity with the smartphone. They can also be operated as completely independent cameras if desired, as both the QX100 and QX10 cameras have a shutter release, memory card slot and come with a rechargeable battery.
Premium, Large-Sensor QX100 CameraThe Cyber-shot QX100 camera features a premium, high-quality 1.0 inch, 20.2 MP Exmor R™ CMOS sensor. Identical to the sensor found in the acclaimed Cyber-shot RX100 II camera, it allows for exceptionally detailed, ultra-low noise images in all types of lighting conditions, including dimly lit indoor and night scenes.
The sensor is paired with a fast, wide-aperture Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 3.6x optical zoom and a powerful BIONZ image processor, ensuring beautifully natural, detail-packed still images and Full HD videos. As an extra refinement, the QX100 sports a dedicated control ring for camera-like adjustment of manual focus and zoom.
Several different shooting modes can be selected while using the QX100 including Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto, which automatically recognizes 44 different shooting conditions and adjusts camera settings to suit.
High-Zoom Cyber-shot QX10 modelBoasting a powerful 18.2 effective megapixel Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and versatile 10x optical zoom Sony G Lens, the Cyber-shot QX10 camera allows mobile photographers to bring distant subjects closer without sacrificing image quality or resolution, a common problem in smartphones. It’s also extremely portable and lightweight – weighing less than 4 oz and measuring about 2.5”X2.5”x1.3”, it’s a great tool for travel photography.
Additionally, the camera has built-in Optical SteadyShot to combat camera shake, keeping handheld pictures and videos steady and blur-free. It has Program Auto, Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto modes to choose from, and will be available in two different colors – black and white.
Pricing and AvailabilityThe new Cyber-shot QX100 and QX10 lens-style cameras will available later this month for about $500 and $250, respectively.
The cameras and a range of compatible accessories including a soft carry case and dedicated camera attachment for Sony Mobile phones like the Xperia™ Z can be purchased at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.
Please visit www.blog.sony.com for a full video preview of the new Sony Cyber-shot QX Series cameras and follow #SonyCamera on twitter for the latest camera news.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
SONY and Android
Sony Mobile Sponsoring XDA:DevCon 2013
If there’s one thing that Sony Mobile has done over the past year to change its image, that’s been to support the independent Android developer community. From open-sourcing DASH to releasing an ALPHA build of Jelly Bean with the kernel source tocontributing to AOSP projects, Sony has signaled that they are a company that embraces open source and (by extension) the community as a whole. If you haven’t already, you should really check out their Developer World site where you’ll find tutorials, source code, and all sorts of interesting announcements.
Due to their contributions, it comes as no shock that Sony Mobile is sponsoringXDA:DevCon 2013 at the “Elite Recognized Sponsor” level. What this means is they are committed to helping bring the highest level of content and participation possible. They’ll be sponsoring their own “supersession,” as well as hosting a booth for you to meet and greet some Sony engineers.
We can’t say enough how happy we are to have Sony Mobile join us on this adventure, and we look forward to bigger and better things to come. And to provide further incentive, register to attend using this link for exclusive savings.
Monday, October 15, 2012
SONY and Nexus X?
Did Sony’s Nexus Leak Last Night as the “Nexus X”? (Updated)
We had heard earlier in the year that Sony, LG and Samsung would all be making new Nexus devices, so if that rumor remains true, this may be your second Nexus from the three. Again, assuming these are real and not from some internet troll.
I have to admit that I have been critical of Sony’s phone designs over the years, but this phone, with stock Android and on-screen nav keys, doesn’t look half bad. What do you think?
Update: These pictures are more than likely fake. As users in the comments pointed out almost immediately, there are too many flaws in the photos to be believable. The Nexus trolls strike the internets again.
Friday, August 31, 2012
SONY Opens Up - Developers Rejoice?
DASH-ing Move by Sony–D.A.S.H. Goes Open Source
If you’ve followed XDA for a while, you will likely know that we have somewhat mixed feelings towards Sony and the attitude they used to (notice the use of past tense) take towards the developer community. If anyone remembers back to the legal battle against George Hotz, where a multi-million dollar corporation essentially went full force against an underground developer/hacker for letting people know how to run CFW (custom firmware) on their Playstation consoles, it was something that earned (and rightfully so) the rage and anger of the entire modder community. However, it seems that the Japanese conglomerate is turning around and trying a different approach towards this group of customers (us).
According to a recent post on Google+ by XDA Recognized Developer cyanogen, Sony has literally opened the flood gates by adding the Dynamic Android Sensor Hardware Abstraction Layer (DASH for short) to the world of open source. What this means essentially is that now developers have access to and can contribute towards the development and betterment of the code behind the sensor hardware’s inner workings. This is rather interesting, and quite a big step for manufacturers, since this kind of information is usually obtained via reverse engineering, espionage, or (normally) not at all.
Most developers out there who work on porting operating systems (like in this case, cyanogen) spend monumental amounts of time digging through bits and pieces of information that is scarcely available to try and fix bugs caused by incompatibilities between the custom code and the closed source code. So, this addition will have a benefit for both parties: on one side, developers will not have to spend countless hours trying to figure out how to make things work because they will have access to the actual code from the same people who make these. On the other hand, Sony will benefit from the added expertise of the modding community, as we have a bit of a reputation when it comes to finding bugs in manufacturer’s products. This goes hand in hand with the addition of the Xperia S to the device vendor list in the AOSP source.
This is indeed quite a change of heart by the same people who just a little over two years ago were in absolute denial and going after underground hackers, who ironically were their customers and a big driving force behind a percentage of their sales. Keep going down the right path, Sony! We are proud of you and we sincerely hope that the others will follow your example as well (ahem… HTC… we hope you are taking down notes). Last but not least, a big thumbs up for cyanogen and his team for opening Sony’s eyes. Way to go, guys!
You can find more information in the original article from Sony’s blog. You can also read cyanogen’s comments on his G+ page.
Want something published in the Portal? Contact any News Writer.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
SONY Shows off their FIRST SONY-Phone
Sony Xperia S – 4.3″ screen, Android 2.3, due Q1 2012
So we’ve just seen the US-only Xperia Ion revealed at CES, now it’s time for something for us. The Sony Xperia S is a 4.3″ model with a BRAVIA Engine Reality Display running at 720×1280 resolution, with the pixels pushed about the place by a dual-core MSM8260 processor running at 1.5GHz.
There’s a 12megapixel Exmor R camera inside the Xperia S just like there is within the Xperia Ion, with a similar 1.3MP front-facing chat camera, while it’s also PlayStation Certified for gaming, has 32GB of onboard storage and includes NFC support. And here it is…
…which you may recognise as the phone we’ve seen many times before and the internet used to call the Xperia Arc HD. But it’s not that. It’s the Sony Xperia S. Officially. It’ll launch at the back end of Q1 2012, so ought to beat the new 2012 Samsung and HTC models to market.
Here’s the full press release, which confirms the “first quarter 2012″ launch window, also stating the Xperia S will arrive with Android 2.3 onboard – with an update to Android 4.0 planned for Q2. The full spec sheet is available on the official Xperia S site.
First smartphone from the new Xperia NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony
Xperia™ S, the first smartphone from the new Xperia NXT series – next generation smartphones from Sony*, was today announced at Sony’s press conference ahead of the 2012 International CES show in Las Vegas. The new Xperia S is an Android™ smartphone that delivers a stunning viewing experience with a high resolution screen, Sony HD experiences and a 12MP camera that takes pictures in just 1.5 seconds from standby. Xperia S also comes with a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor for faster performance.
Xperia S within the world of Sony
The new Xperia S enables easy connectivity with multiple screens for consumers looking to share and enjoy content on whichever screen best suits their situation, whether it’s TV, smartphone, laptop or tablet. Consumers can watch their favourite content from the Sony Entertainment Network by connecting their Xperia S through HMDI to TV or share photos wirelessly with just one touch. Xperia S is also NFC (near field communication) enabled to allow consumers to share content with each other as well as enjoying an increasing number of NFC applications and services.
Biggest and best entertainment experiences from Sony
Xperia S will be able to access the richest entertainment experiences from Sony Entertainment Network**. Music Unlimited offers a global catalogue of 12 million unique songs while Video Unlimited has the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios***.
Xperia S is also PlayStation™ Certified, guaranteeing a high quality smartphone gaming experience and access to the PlayStation® Store****.
Instantly Recognizable Design
Xperia S showcases a new design approach referred to as “Iconic Identity”. The design will be replicated across the Xperia NXT series and creates a simple strong look that is instantly recognizable. The transparent element at the base creates an iconic silhouette where the display is emphasized and underlined. In addition, it provides illumination effects and integrates the antenna components.
The user interface has been redesigned to match the minimalistic design of the hardware. The home screen has a new colorful flow background making full usage of HD Reality Display and dual-core processing power.
Availability
Xperia S will be available to consumers globally from the first quarter 2012. Launching on Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread) Xperia S will be upgraded to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter 2012.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sony Ericsson To Rebrand In 2012, Aims For Top Of The Android Pack
from TechCrunch by Chris Velazco
Sony and Ericsson have made no secret of their impending split-up, but at the time of the announcement, the two didn’t have much to say about when the companies would officially go their separate ways.
That is, of course, until now: an executive source from within Sony told the Times of India that the mobile phone company will begin to fly solely under Sony’s banner by the middle of 2012.
The joint venture, which celebrated it’s 10th anniversary this past October, made waves earlier in the decade thanks to their scores of multimedia-friendly devices and successes in the burgeoning smartphone market. To say that their position has changed in recent years is putting it lightly — Sony-Ericsson is now the sixth-largest handset manufacturer in the world, and they’re preparing to put all of their eggs in a single proverbial basket.
Now, as the company has stated in their Q3 financials, it’s going to be all Android smartphones all the time. Killing off their feature phone portfolio going forward is a bold move, considering that companies like Nokia successfully milk developing markets while bolstering their smartphone lineup. Still, Sony Ericsson EVP Kristian Tear has high hopes for their Android-only push. He says that the company’s target is to become the number one Android player in the smartphone segment — a lofty goal, but will Sony actually make able to make good on their word?
Samsung currently occupies the seat that Sony wants to claim for themselves; the Korean company became the biggest smartphone vendor in the world in Q3 2011 for shipping 24 million smartphones. Sony Ericsson, on the other hand, shipped a relatively paltry 9.5 million units in total, and CEO/President Bert Nordberg stated that the company shipped 22 million Xperia smartphones through the end of October 2011. That’s right — Samsung shipped more smartphones in one quarter than Sony Ericsson’s flagship Xperia line has since it was released. Talk about David taking on Goliath.
Of course, having the full backing of Sony’s consumer electronics empire could help even the playing field. Once the buyout transaction is approved, one of the first things Sony’s mobile division will do is refocus on their advertising and marketing campaigns in an attempt to harness the power of the Sony brand. It’s a step in the right direction, but Tear feels that’s just the beginning:
“Sony is the world’s biggest entertainment company. We were earlier a 50-50 JV, but now that we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corp, we expect to gain from its assets on the content, technology and brand side.”
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