Sony is releasing at least five mobile games in Asia
Sony’s PlayStation division has finally revealed how it plans to conquer mobile device. According to Wall Street Journal, the unit aims to release five to six PS games for both iOS and Android devices under the ForwardWorks subsidiary it formed in March. The company didn’t reveal a timeline along with the announcement, but it’s apparently looking to launch all of them before March 2018. All the titles will initially be available in Japan, followed by other Asian countries. Unfortunately, fans in the US and in Europe will have to wait for further info — the regions aren’t part of Sony’s current plans.
ForwardWorks is Sony’s second attempt at getting into mobile. Its first one, which offered cross-platform purchases between the PS Vita and Android, shut down for good in July 2015. As the WSJ mentioned, mobile gaming is much bigger than console gaming in Sony’s home country. It only makes sense for the company to give it another shot, especially now that its long-time rival joined forces with Apple to bring Mario to iPhones and iPads. Mobile gaming also continues to grow in the US, where it earned more money than PC and console games for the first time earlier this year.
Sony didn’t mention what it plans to bring to mobile devices exactly, but the WSJ said possibilities include the long-awaited game The Last Guardian, as well as classic titles Hot Shots Golf and I.Q.: Intelligent Qube.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
PS4 adds 360-degree videos and photos in time for PSVR
Now that the PSVR has finally been released to the public, Sony can now bring new PS4 features online that take advantage of the new peripheral. A few of these come in an update to the console’s Media Player, which now lets users watch 360-degree video and photos when they don the headset. They’ve also added support for audio played in the high-definition FLAC format as well as boosting the quality of lossy music.
Any content on media servers or plugged in via USB can be accessed by switching on “VR Mode” in the Media Player’s menu, but you can’t just load up any old YouTube video and see it in glorious virtual reality. Only media that was “captured in equirectangular format by a 360-degree omnidirectional camera” and saved in a supported format can be viewed in VR. (For reference, that includes video files in MKV, AVI, MP4, MPEG2 PS, MPEG2 TS or AVCHD, as well as photos saved as JPEG, BMP or PNG.)
Sony also enhanced the Media Player’s music capabilities, introducing support for FLAC audio and automatically upscaling lower-resolution files. Compressed MP3 or AAC files will get boosted to a quality approaching that of lossless FLAC or WAV formats thanks to the company’s DSEE HX tech, previously available only in a handful of Sony’s high-resolution audio products.
Source: PlayStation blog
Original PS3 owners can file claims in the ‘Other OS’ lawsuit
After more than six years, Sony agreed to pay out millions to settle the class-action lawsuit surrounding its removal of the “install other OS” feature from the PS3 in 2010. Now owners of the original version of that console can file claims. A settlement notice sent out this week states that PS3 “Fat” owners who made the purchase between November 1, 2006 and April 1, 2010 are eligible to do so.
Original PS3 owners who can submit proof of purchase and proof that they actually used the feature that allowed Linux to be installed on a partition of the console’s hard drive are entitled to a $55 payment. If you can submit only proof of purchase and state that you intended to use the tool, you’ll receive $9. Proof that you installed Linux can be submitted in the form of a screenshot/photo or documentation of communication between you and Sony or a third party. The installation would’ve had to be done before April 1, 2010.
Sony reached a proposed settlement with the plaintiffs this summer and received preliminary approval from a federal judge last month. The settlement is still pending final approval from the court. The deadline to submit a claim is December 7th. A hearing where the court will decide whether or not to approve the settlement is scheduled for January 24, 2017. If approved, payments will be sent out about 40 days after.
The “Other OS” suit was filed in 2010 after Sony pushed a mandatory software update to the PS3. That download forced users to nix the ability to install Linux or lose the ability to play online. The company said at the time that security concerns were the reason for change. Note that the PS3 “Slim” model that debuted in 2009 isn’t included in the litigation even though it debuted during the aforementioned time frame. The “Slim” never had the Linux feature, so that’s why owners of that console aren’t eligible to file a claim as part of this class-action.
Via: Polygon
Source: “OtherOS” Settlement Notice
Steam will soon natively support PlayStation 4 controllers
While it’s been possible to link a DualShock 4 to a PC to play Steam games, the functionality has been provided by third-party apps, not the companies themselves. Luckily, that will soon change, after Valve’s Jeff Bellinghausen confirmed to Gamasutra that the game company is working to include native support for other gamepads, starting with the PlayStation 4 controller.
“Believe it or not, when you use the PS4 Controller through the Steam API, it’s exactly the same as a Steam Controller. Not only is it a really nice, high quality controller, but it’s also got a gyro and a touchpad.” says Bellinghausen. “Existing native support for the PS4 controller on the PC is a bit weak; in this case Steam itself is communicating directly with the device so everything that’s nice and reliable.”
In the past, Steam users have relied on apps like DS4Windows to connect DualShock controllers to their PC. However, with native Steam support and the new DualShock 4 USB Wireless Adaptor, which already helps PC users play PlayStation Now games on their desktop, it won’t be long before Sony’s gamepad can be fully utilized — touchpad and all — without any additional customization.
Via: Polygon
Source: Gamasutra
The original ‘Red Dead’ is on PlayStation 4
Sure, Xbox One owners have been able to play Red Dead Redemption since this summer, but Sony fans have been left out in the cold on PlayStation 4. Well, that’s sort of changing. The game’s progenitor, Red Dead Revolver, is the latest PlayStation 2 port from Rockstar Games to grace the PS4. But unlike past instances, you won’t have to wait a week for the game to mosey over to the US PlayStation store from its European counterpart.
Naturally, playing it on PS4 brings 1080p upscaling, support for trophies, Shareplay, Remote Play and, if you haven’t sold off your PS Vita or uninstalled the PlayStation app from your mobile gizmo, game manuals via your second screen of choice.
Sure, this feels like getting Google Cardboard when you asked for an HTC Vive for your birthday, but it lays the groundwork for us (possibly, finally, hopefully) getting closer to another Red Dead sequel. Hell, maybe it’ll even come out for PC. While I’m dreaming, maybe Sony will put a UHD Blu-ray drive in the PS4 Pro too.
Red Dead Revolver is up on US PSN https://t.co/XwhK3c61Xq pic.twitter.com/gJctvVEE8C
— Wario64 (@Wario64) October 11, 2016
Via: PlayStation Blog
Source: PlayStation Store
Sony’s PlayStation VR teardown video is a soothing diversion
Sony’s PlayStation VR headset might not have the graphics horsepower of the HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift, but the lower price tag, the widely available PS4 hardware and bigger game selection make it an attractive option for an entry-level VR rig. Of course, none of that matters when you’re watching it get slowly and methodically dismantled by Sony Interactive’s mechanical design director Takamasa Araki.
Unlike other teardown videos, this one is a little light on the technical specs. But if you’re a fan of neatly organized things, you could certainly do worse than to spend the next 12 minutes or so watching Araki precisely removing every screw, motion sensor, silicon chip and rubber seal that makes up Sony’s first big leap into consumer VR. And if you still need the nitty gritty specs afterwards, well Sony has already published a lengthy FAQ right here.
Source: Wired, PlayStation Report (YouTube)
Sony’s ‘EmojiMovie’ looks terrifying
If you’ve ever wondered what emojis would look like if they were anthropomorphized as mutated Pac-Man characters, just take a look at the first image from Sony’s upcoming Emojimovie: Express Yourself. The project, which we were hoping was a joke when it was being bounced around last year, will star The Late Late Show host James Corden and Broad City’s Ilana Glazer when it hits theaters on August 11, 2017.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film centers on Textopolis, a world inside our phones where emojis live. While most have only one facial expression, the movie will follow a unique emoji named Gene (played by Silicon Valley’s T.J. Miller) who can show multiple expressions. In an effort to be “normal,” he teams up with a friend, Hi-5 (Corden), and the infamous Jailbreak (Glazer) to find a fix. The trio will encounter “the most popular and universally recognized smartphones apps” in their journey, which means you can expect a slew of on the nose jokes about Facebook and Snapchat (and maybe a sly reference to swiping right on Tinder).
Now there’s a slim chance Emojimovie could actually end up being watchable. But unlike The LEGO Movie, this project doesn’t a team of renowned comedians behind it. The film is directed by Anthony Leondis, who previously handled the direct-to-video Lilo & Stitch 2, who also shares writing credits with sitcom writer Eric Siegel. And judging from the image above, it doesn’t seem like much thought was put into character designs, aside from slapping stick figure legs and simple faces on existing emojis.
Via: The Hollywood
Sony Xperia XZ review – flagship, at a price!
Sony may be done with the Z series, but the letter returns with the company’s latest addition to their flagship X range, with the Xperia XZ. Introduced alongside the much smaller Xperia X Compact at IFA a little over a month ago, this high-end smartphone is Sony’s attempt at finding a foothold once again in the competitive US market.
- Hands on with the Sony Xperia XZ
- Sony Xperia X Performance review
- Sony Xperia X Compact review
With the company hoping to arrest their continuing fall in popularity, does their latest offering prove to be the answer? We find out, in this comprehensive Sony Xperia XZ review!
Buy the Sony Xperia XZ now
Design
The Xperia XZ features a design that has been refreshed in a few different ways, but the general rectangular slab-like design language still makes it easily recognizable as a Sony smartphone. A combination of materials has gone into the build of this device, with glass up front, an all metal back plate, and plastic along its sides.
The phone comes with what Sony is calling a “loop” design. Basically, the sides are rounded and taper towards the front and back, which makes the transition between the different build materials feel more seamless, and also allows for a very comfortable feel when holding the phone. Sony has never had issues with build quality as far as their high-end offerings are concerned, and that remains true for the Xperia XZ as well, with the device feeling sturdy and substantial in the hand.
A few color variations of the Xperia XZ are available, with options including blue and silver, and as seen with this review unit, black. The black version comes with a satin-like finish, which isn’t particularly glossy, but does tend to be prone to fingerprints. That said, black also gives this phone a very sleek and stealthy look.
The Xperia XZ comes with a 5.2-inch display, which allows for a relatively easy one-handed handling experience, despite the back plate being made with metal. Speaking of the metal backing, there are no plastic inserts to be found here, resulting in the NFC chip being moved from the back, where it is normally expected to be, to the front, next to the front-facing camera. This isn’t the first time that Sony has gone with this placement, but it does make tapping the phone to other devices or payment terminals just a little bit more awkward.
Taking a look around the device, the headphone jack and USB Type-C port are at the top and bottom respectively, a combined SIM card and microSD card slot is on the left, and finally, on the right side is the power button, volume rocker, and Sony’s signature dedicated camera shutter button.
As I also noted in the full review of the Xperia X Compact, the inclusion of a dedicated camera button provides a quick and easy way to get to the camera and is very convenient, but having all the buttons on the right makes the whole side feel quite cluttered. The placement of the volume rocker makes sense when considering its secondary use as a digital zoom control, but it is very awkward and uncomfortable to reach with your thumb when trying to adjust the volume in the portrait orientation.
The power button of the Xperia XZ does function as a fingerprint sensor, but that’s only true in other markets around the world, and unfortunately not the case in the US. For reasons unknown, Sony has decided to disable the scanner with the US version of the device, as the company did with previous Sony flagships as well. The keyword here is disable, and some developers have figured out a workaround that you can attempt at your own risk, if a fingerprint scanner is a must have.
Display
The Sony Xperia XZ comes with a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display, with a Full HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 424 ppi. Quad HD is generally what is expected from current generation flagships, but unless you are planning to use the device for VR, you are not going to notice any difference with 1080p here.
The screen is plenty sharp for comfortably reading text and web browsing, has excellent viewing angles, and is surprisingly very vibrant. Brightness is of no concern, and the display is easily view-able outdoors. You also have the usual white balance controls and Sony’s X-Reality engine built-in, that provide a sharper and more natural looking image when looking at photos and videos. There are also some benefits to having a lower resolution display, particularly in terms of performance and battery life.
Performance
Under the hood, the Xperia XZ packs a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, backed by the Adreno 530 GPU and 3 GB of RAM. While this is the processing package that is generally seen with most current flagships, 4 GB of RAM is the norm, so the reduction may be disappointing to some.
With a 1080p display, you’ll generally get much smoother game play and graphics performance when compared to Quad HD screens, because of the reduced strain on the GPU. Not surprisingly, the game play on the Xperia XZ is definitely extremely smooth, and there were no stutters or dropped frames that were noticeable with high-end games. Day to day operations including web browsing, opening apps, checking emails, and watching videos, have also been very smooth. Despite having 3 GB of RAM, I haven’t managed to slow this phone down with heavy amounts of multi-tasking either, so you certainly won’t feel the loss of an additional gig of RAM.
Hardware
The Xperia XZ comes with 32 GB or 64 GB of on-board storage, but if you do opt for the lower storage option, you can bolster that with a microSD card by up to 256 GB. The US version of the device is a single SIM version, but there is also a dual SIM iteration available in some other markets, where users will have to make the choice between dual SIM capabilities and expandable storage.
Unlike the Xperia X Compact, the Xperia XZ does come with an IP 68 rating for resistance to dust and water, which means that you can use the phone in the rain or while in the shower if you want to, and it can also survive a dunk in the water with no adverse effect on functionality.
Audio is a big part of the Xperia XZ experience. By plugging in a pair of headphones, you can take advantage of the device’s built-in support for Hi-Res audio files like FLAC, ALAC, DSD, and LPCM, and it can also upscale an compressed music files to give it more of a Hi-Res sound.
Two small slits above and below the display house dual stereo front-facing speakers, which sound excellent, with no distortion even at the highest volume. However, when compared to something like the Nexus 6P, these speakers are no where near as loud, and don’t offer as much low-end punch.
The Xperia XZ comes with a 2,900 mAh battery, with is a little smaller than a lot of other flagships out there. The battery is good enough to comfortably allow for a full day of use, but you won’t get a whole lot more beyond that. Even with heavy usage that involved a few hours of gaming every day, along with the usual activities that include social, email, and texting, the phone lasted for 12 hours off the charger, which is definitely not bad.
The phone comes with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, which will allow you to get back to a full charge quickly. If you are running out of battery and can’t get to a charger easily, you do get Sony’s staple Stamina and Ultra Stamina modes that limit performance and certain functionality in favor of longer battery life.
Camera
Sony is known for making really good camera sensors for smartphones, but they have unfortunately never managed to get the camera quite right with their own phones. However, there are a lot of improvements that have been made with the new sensor that the Xperia XZ is sporting. The device is sharing the same 23 MP rear camera as the smaller Xperia X Compact, and also comes with a 5-axis image stabilization, a new laser auto focus sensor, and a RGBC-IR that helps get the most accurate white balance, regardless of the lighting condition.
A point to remember is that the 5-axis stabilization is purely software based, so there are no moving parts that are making this happen. This stabilization also kicks in only when you are recording close ups or macro shots, and in other situations, 3-axis stabilization is what you are getting. It does work extremely well though for video, and stabilizes the footage without any noticeable warping or distortion.
Where the Xperia XZ differs from its smaller sibling is when it comes to the front-facing camera, with the former coming with a 13 MP shooter, instead of the 5 MP front-facing unit of the Xperia X Compact. The front camera of the Xperia XZ allows for plenty of detail and color to be captured, and you also get a lot more flexibility with zooming into and cropping shots.
The rest of the camera experience is typically what has been available from Sony. The camera app is fairly simplistic, and navigating between Superior Auto, Manual, Video Recording, or switching to the front-facing camera can all be done by simply swiping on the screen. You also get the usual modes like AR Effect, Sweep Panorama, and Timeshift Video, that can be a lot of fun to play around with. The only quirk with Sony’s default camera app is that the HDR mode is still buried in the camera settings, and is only accessible when using the Manual mode.
It is very quick and easy to launch the camera and take a shot, especially when using the dedicated camera key, and the pictures it takes are surprisingly very good. Images are extremely sharp and detailed, and it produces colors that are much more natural and true to life, but at the same time are stilll very pleasing to the eye.
The predictive hybrid auto focus feature that Sony has been using a for a while now also works well for tracking moving objects and capturing them without motion blur. As long as the subject is moving at a reasonable speed, you’ll be able to get a crystal clear shot.
In low light conditions, there is still a fair amount of detail to be had, and the images come out relatively noise free. The camera does to tend overexpose shots though, and there is a lot of blooming in the highlights. The camera can also be really slow to capture a picture poorly-lit situations, and if you aren’t holding the phone perfectly steady, you will end up with a lot of blurry shots.
Software
On the software side of things, the Xperia XZ is running Android 6.0 Marshmallow with the Xperia UI on top, which Sony has scaled back significantly to keep the experience fairly light. You still have Sony’s own launcher, Settings menu, app icons, and a built-in themes engine, but the majority of the user interface feels very close to stock Android.
This integration goes up to the point where the Google Now second screen is now a part of the Xperia launcher as well. While the Xperia XZ is only available unlocked and free of network carrier bloatware, there are a few pre-installed applications to deal with, like AVG protection, Amazon Shopping, and Sony’s own list of apps. Overall however, this is a very clean and simple software experience, which is definitely a contributing factor to the smooth performance of the device.
Specifications
| Display | 5.2″ Full HD Triluminos IPS LCD |
| Processor | Quad-core, 64-bit Snapdragon 820 |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB (single SIM), 64 GB (dual-SIM) + microSD |
| Dimensions | 146 x 72 x 8.1 mm |
| Weight | 161g |
| IP rating | IP65/IP68 |
| Main camera | 23 MP with triple image sensing, predictive hybrid autofocus, 5-axis stabilization |
| Front camera | 13 MP |
| Battery | 2,900 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0, Qnovo Adaptive Charging, USB Type-C |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes |
| Networks | GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G), UMTS HSPA+ (3G), Cat. 9 LTE |
| Connectivity | A-GNSS (GPS + GLONASS), Wi-Fi Miracast, Bluetooth 4.2 |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
If you are looking to get the Xperia XZ, the price is going to be something to contend with, with the device priced at $699. This puts it in the same price range as other flagships like the Galaxy S7 Edge and Google’s brand new Pixel smartphones, and there are also smartphones that offer flagship experiences at a fraction of the price, like the ZTE Axon 7 and the OnePlus 3.
So, there you have it for this in-depth review of the Sony Xperia XZ! It has to be admitted that I do really like this phone, and it has been a long time since a Sony smartphone has truly impressed me. The Xperia XZ has got a refreshing, new, and beautiful design which is still true to Sony, and also features a beautiful display, excellent performance, and a really great camera.
There is so much to like about this phone that I was able to forgive the lack of Quad HD display and a fingerprint sensor. However, with these features missing, the high price point might be harder to forgive. The Xperia XZ is undoubtedly the best smartphone that Sony has made in a long while, but if that is enough to justify paying a premium for it is up to you.
Buy the Sony Xperia XZ now
After Math: Ooooohhh, numbers!
It’s been a big week for counting. IBM laid out $200 million in Watson research, Amazon dropped the price of its fresh produce deliveries, Oculus unveiled a slew of new accessories for its VR headset and Sony announced 80 — count ’em, 8-0 — titles for its upcoming PSVR platform. Numbers, because what else is your right hemisphere good for?
Sony’s RX100 V camera makes a strong first impression
With the introduction of its RX100 series in 2012, Sony raised the bar for point-and-shoot cameras. As such, it’s no surprise that the latest model can do things like capture JPEG and RAW photos at a mind-boggling 24 frames per second. The RX100 V is all about speed, driven by a 20.1-megapixel 1-inch sensor and an autofocus system that, according to Sony, meets and exceeds the requirements of any professional photographer. That may be a marketing hyperbole, but I did shoot with the RX100 V last night and the results are impressive. Especially for a camera that fits in my pocket.
I’ll hold off on making any final judgements until Sony sends a review unit to Engadget HQ. But, for now, I can tell you that the RX100 V’s burst shooting mode is as good as it seems on paper. And you can’t help but crack a smile when you listen to that shutter fire shot after shot in quick succession. The sample images we have here were taken at a studio in New York City, which Sony decked with different performers for members of the media to use as subjects.
We’ll have more on the RX100 V soon. Stay tuned.
To view our sample images in full resolution, click here.
AIVAnet 