Watch Dogs won’t hit 1080p on either PlayStation 4 or Xbox One
The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are both plenty powerful, but so far, many third-party games have ended up running better on Sony’s console. That trend apparently continues later this month with Ubisoft’s upcoming cyberpunk hackathon, Watch Dogs. The PS4 may have the upper hand in terms of native resolution as Joystiq noticed, but the game will run at 30fps (the gold standard for open-world games) on both platforms and neither will sport 1080p natively according to publisher Ubisoft. This is contrary to what a PlayStation.com listing said before it vanished over the weekend. The adventures of Aiden Pearce will run at 900p for Sony fans, while Xbox One owners will see 792p on their flat-screens. Because both consoles will upscale the game and output it to your display’s native resolution, it’s a difference you might only notice if both versions are running side-by-side. If you’ll remember, Assassin’s Creed 4 shipped on the PS4 at 900p as well, and received an update to hit full HD after the game launched — we’ll be watching to see if that happens here, too.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony, Microsoft
Via: Joystiq
Source: UbiBlog
Sony reportedly puts its OLED TV efforts on hold
There were hints that Sony’s OLED TV plans were in trouble when the company’s collaboration with Panasonic went south last year, and it now looks like those efforts have stalled out completely. Nikkei reports that Sony has put development of OLED sets “on ice,” shifting those involved to other projects. The electronics firm just doesn’t see the faster, higher-contrast displays catching on in the near future, according to the Japanese newspaper — it’s far more interested in pushing its 4K LCDs, which are selling like gangbusters compared to equivalent screens from rivals like Samsung.
The company hasn’t put out an official statement so far, and we’ve reached out to learn what’s happening. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sony gave OLED TVs the chop. The firm has been shedding businesses that aren’t profitable, including its PC line. When there’s a chance that Sony’s TV group could be profitable for the first time in more than a decade, it might make sense to cut any projects that are likely to bleed cash — no matter how eye-catching they may be.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
Via: OLED-Display.net
Source: Nikkei
Old console, new tricks: Getting the most out of your PS3
Already paid up for Sony’s PlayStation 4? Or are you waiting on a certain blockbuster title before you make the move to the next gen? We don’t blame you. However, the PS4′s ancestor — that slightly curved obelisk sitting under your TV, the one with half an inch of dust — still has a few tricks in it. While we wait for Sony to perfect its streaming tech, there’s still no way to play PS3 titles on Console No. 4, unless it gets a fancy facelift… and you buy it again. So, we turn back to our faithful PlayStation 3. Born in 2006, eight years is a pretty good term for a games console. But maybe you don’t want your time with it to be over. We don’t either, and have found a few ways to breathe new life into your gradually graying PS3.
Get a PlayStation Plus subscription
Really, this should be in past tense: Because you should have gotten in on this surprisingly high-value service a year ago. PlayStation Plus is really that good. For under 10 bucks a month (down to $5 per month if you sign up for a year), you’re offered an “instant game collection” that’s updated every 30 days or so, and that one fee gives you access on every compatible console (PS3, Vita and PS4). As of this writing, the library includes BioShock Infinite, Payday 2, Uncharted 3, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and eight more PS3 titles. Free games rotate in and out each month, but if you “buy” it to download (even if you didn’t download right then), you can play it for as long as your sub lasts — not just when it’s part of the selection. Past titles (depending on region) have included Super Street Fighter IV, Infamous 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, Far Cry 3, Assassin’s Creed III, to name a few. Yeah, more titles than you’d probably ever have time to play, but the service typically delivers something we actually want to play nearly every month. Since launch, a total of 138 PS3 games and a host of PS1 games have been available on the service.
Protip: The “instant game collection” on PS Plus differs from region to region. There are more mainstream titles coming to US and European subscribers, but the Japanese one (you’ll need to pick up some yen-based PlayStation Network credit to buy your sub), has a ridiculous archive of original PlayStation (and, er, PC Engine) games. Are most of them in Japanese? Yes. Did we get a handful of free PS3 games (Shadow of the Colossus HD) games in the process? Oh yes.
Upgrade the PS3′s hard drive
Rather than delete your downloads to make space for new ones, why not expand? Go from 20GB to 300GB. For your shopping list, you’ll need a 2.5-inch internal SATA drive. Many tinkerers suggest one that spins at 5,400 RPM to match the PS3′s original drive and to keep the new one from running too hot. It’s not plug-in-and-play simple — you can’t just pull out the smaller HDD, insert a new one into the PS3 Slim and play away. After backing up your current setup with the console’s backup utility, you’ll need to remove a few screws and gingerly switch out the drives. The only tricky part is remembering to put a system update file on a USB stick alongside your backup data. Thankfully, SCE has provisioned all the instructions needed here, for all three hardware iterations. Make sure you know what you’re doing here, too. Proceed at your own risk, although despite our apprehension, our own installation went without a hitch.
Protip: You saw our first suggestion right? May as well throw in a 500GB — nah, make it a 1TB drive. Game download binge.
Use the (much better) PS4 controller with your PS3
Sony’s newest DualShock is just so much better. It’s more comfortable, looks better and even comes with a smartphone-baiting touch panel and share button, although those last two features aren’t going to work here. The rest of the controller, surprisingly, does work. There are some caveats: There’s no PS button, so it’s really only for use during a game, and it won’t connect to the PS3 wirelessly — you’ll have to keep it tethered while you play. Handily, Reddit users have also compiled a list of games that will (and won’t) work with a PS4 DualShock, and for the fantasists among you, you can pretend that you’re playing on a PS4.
Protip: Did you know that if you put a PS4 game disc into the PS3… nothing really happens? Did you even read the intro? C’mon.
Try PS3 Remote Play on the PS Vita (but don’t depend on it)
Yeah, the PS3 did it first. Unfortunately, it didn’t work all that well. On the PS4, Remote Play is fully functional, but on its predecessor, the feature is limited. That said, the HD remasters of Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and the God of War Collection are all worth playing through on a handheld. Should you do so, we advise staying well within range of the nearest WiFi router — in our experience, Remote Play on PS3 is temperamental, particularly when you lack a robust wireless signal.
Protip: Give it at least four tries. If you liked the experience, well, maybe you should buy a PS4.
Official FIFA World Cup theme for Xperia phones gets leaked
Sony’s getting ready for the World Cup and because they’re an official sponsor have made a special FIFA World Cup theme to honor the tournament for their Xperia devices. The theme hasn’t officially been released yet, but that hasn’t stopped it from leaking out online.
The new FIFA World Cup Theme has custom icons, backgrounds, and colours all to get you into the World Cup spirit. It’s available to download here and will probably make an official appearance on the Google Play Store closer to the launch of the World Cup.
SOURCE: XperiaBlog
The post Official FIFA World Cup theme for Xperia phones gets leaked appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Dualshock 4 controller support for Xperia devices may be here Soon
One of the coolest things about Sony’s PlayStation Certified Xperia devices is the fact that they can be linked up to Sony’s Dualshock 3 controllers from the PS3. With the recent release of the PS4, we’ve been wondering if Sony would be allowing the same capabilities to be added for the Dualshock 4 controllers. If the above picture is anything to go by, Dualshock 4 controller support for Xperia devices is well on its way.
As you can see, pictured with a Dualshock 4 controller is the Sony Xperia T2 Ultra, tweeted out my Sony Mobile’s Middle Eastern branch, implying that compatibility of Xperia devices with the controller should be available at some point in the future. This is definitely exciting news for Android and PS4 enthusiasts as Sony has gradually been improving its Sony-related gaming repertoire on Xperia devices under the guise of its PlayStation Certified program.
Are you excited by the prospect of playing mobile games with the Dualshock 4 controller? Let us know what you think about Sony’s efforts with mobile gaming.
Source: Twitter via XperiaBlog
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Kobo takes over Sony’s eBook business starting today
As part of its multi-pronged effort to stop leaking red ink Sony decided to eliminate its Reader division. Rather than simply cut off customers who have already bought one of its devices though, it’s turning to the Canada-based e-reader giant Kobo, which has a 4-million strong e-book catalog. The transition is now officially underway, as Sony has announced that Kobo’s app will now be pre-loaded on Xperia and Reader devices in the UK, Austria and Germany. And thus begins the inevitable shuttering of Reader stores across the world. But don’t panic, customers will get an email describing how to transfer their library over to Kobo. And until the the transition is complete you’ll still be able to buy e-books from the Reader Store. If the whole thing has left a sour taste in your mouth, though, there are plenty of other options.
Filed under: Sony
Source: Sony
Sony built the PlayStation 4’s controller with VR in mind
You may think that Sony built its Project Morpheus virtual reality headset to accommodate the PlayStation 4′s DualShock 4 controller, but it turns out that the opposite is true — the gamepad was designed for VR from the start. The company’s Jed Ashforth tells TechRadar that the Morpheus team insisted on building the always-on (and occasionally irksome) light bar into the DualShock for its purposes, and had to remain silent about its real objectives until the VR helmet’s unveiling this March. The move isn’t completely surprising given Sony’s tendency to use PlayStations as technology launching pads — see the PS3′s Blu-ray drive as an example. Still, it’s good to know that the controller was designed for much, much more than motion-based experiences like The Playroom.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Sony
Source: TechRadar
Sony Xperia Z2 launched in India for INR 49,900, comes with free Sony SmartBand fitness tracker
Sony Xperia Z2, which was announced during MWC in February has been officially launched today in India at a price of INR 49,900. It also comes with a lot of freebies including a free Sony SmartBand fitness tracker worth INR 5,990. Other freebies include free accidental damage protection for 6 months and 6 movies free from Xperia Lounge store. It competes with flagship smartphones from other brands such as Apple iPhone 5S, HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G Pro 2.
Sony Xperia Z2
Sony Xperia Z2 Specifications
- 5.2 inch Triluminous IPS LCD Display, 1920 x 1080 pixels,
- 2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, Adreno 330 GPU
- 3GB LP-DDR3 RAM, 16GB internal storage, microSD card slot (up to 128GB)
- 20.7MP Exmor RS camera sensor, LED flash, 4K video recording @ 30 fps, 720p video recording @ 120 fps
- 2.2MP front-facing camera, full HD 1080p video recording @ 30 fps
- 42.2 Mbps HSPA+, dual-band Wi-Fi ac/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v4.0 + LE, NFC, GLONASS A-GPS, Miracast, microUSB 2.0 port
- 3200 mAh battery, 8.2 mm thin, 163 grams, dust-proof & water-resistant (IP58 certification)
The price of the Xperia Z2 in India is lower than that of the Samsung Galaxy S5, which was priced at INR 51,500 during its launch. The Xperia Z2 exactly matches with the price of HTC One M8′s in India. The Sony SmartBand is being bundled for free with the Xperia Z2 and it might attract buyers.
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Drone inspectors: UK airline easyJet looks to tech to cut costs
Virgin’s the kind of brand we’re not shocked to see playing with the latest tech — after all, Richard Branson’s got a space plane. Experiments with Google Glass, smartwatches and iBeacon for Virgin have all focused on boosting customer experience, as long as you’re in Upper Class, anyway. European airline easyJet, however, is known for its no-frills, low-cost approach, which is why we’re curious to see the company investing in an “innovation” arm that looks at how new technologies can be applied to aviation, with no immediate return. easyJet sees it differently, though, as the long-term goal is to save money by reducing technical delays, or hopefully avoiding them all together. This has a knock-on effect of improving customer service by minimizing disruptions, of course, but make no mistake: easyJet’s motivated to explore emerging tech because a grounded plane might as well be a money pit.
easyJet envisions reducing aircraft downtime in a number of ways, the simplest (on paper) being better software. In this area, the airline’s testing a system that monitors its fleet in real time, and schedules part replacements before they fail, as well as looking at mobile apps that also take the hassle out of identifying and ordering the right parts. The main issue for easyJet, really, is when a plane is struck by lightning or suffers some other event that might’ve caused damage, and it needs meticulous inspection before returning to active duty. We’re told it can take up to a day for engineers to OK a plane, and it’s this lost time that easyJet is trying to cut dramatically by using a much smaller kind of aircraft: the drone.
Though the airline admittedly has no real idea of when it could deploy drones in support of its engineers, the pipe dream sees UAVs shrinking lengthy inspection times to little more than an hour. Instead of making engineers climb about the aircraft in search of damage, the thinking is drones could help get at hard-to-reach places quickly. While laser scanning and 3D modeling could be part of a drone’s job in the future, easyJet’s still just working on making sure camera quality is as good as it can be. The airline’s working with drone-builders CopterCraft and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (UK) to perform proof-of-concept studies, with the latter even looking into autonomous scanning, multi-drone setups to divide workload and particularly outdoor flight in turbulent environments.
All aircraft maintenance is managed from a command center next to London’s Luton Airport, and the hope is that drone imagery and scans can enhance communication and data availability with engineers on the ground. Not limited to just drones, easyJet’s also testing hand-held and head-mounted cameras, as well as portable 3D scanners for relaying information back to base. AR headwear from the likes of Epson and Vuzix could also feed information the other way, giving engineers a heads-up as to where an issue might be found. Most of these applications are a long way from formal introduction, but some tech is set to save easyJet money right now. By the end of the month, the 25kg of flight manuals and other paperwork its planes lug around will be replaced by Panasonic’s rugged Toughpad tablets. And, according to easyJet, one kilo costs it $20,000 each year. In an effort to make truly paper-free planes, Sony’s large e-paper slates are also expected to substitute in for the plethora of forms the crew must fill out for each flight.
easyJet considers all these projects investments, and ones that will eventually pay off. It’s not concerned with other airline’s riffing of the ideas, either, and in some respects hopes to be a leader in assessing new technologies for their potential in aviation. Most of all though, easyJet wants its planes in the air as much as possible, getting you on your way and making dollars in the process.
Sharif Sakr contributed to this report.
Filed under: Robots, Tablets, Transportation, Wearables, Software, Sony
Source: easyJet
Hyperrealistic virtual reality adventure Loading Human headed to Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus
As the medium of virtual reality progresses, its applications only get more incredible. Take Untold Games’ Loading Human, for instance. It takes Unreal Engine 4 and infuses it with the tropes of the adventure game genre, only instead of pointing and clicking, you’re in that world. Solving puzzles and exploring narrative are at the heart of Loading Human, and it shows in the eerily realistic gameplay clip the studio’s released. The game’s intended for Oculus Rift, naturally, and Sony’s Project Morpheus headset as well.
That’s if the studio achieves its Kickstarter goal of $30,000, of course. The 11-person team claims it can create the first episode of a planned three episode game for that paltry sum, with backer benefits ranging from the basic (a thank you in the game) to the extreme ($5,000 gets your face in the game in place of the main character — creepy!). But when will you get the game itself, given the total lack of a release date (or even a window) for consumer-ready VR headsets? Untold Games is anticipating “Q1 2015″ for Rift availability (though, ya know, that’s not from Oculus), so maybe then? Only time will tell.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Wearables, Software, HD, Sony
Source: Kickstarter
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