Sony at IFA 2012: Tablet S, 4K TV, Windows 8, and more
Sony took to the stage at IFA 2012 in Berlin and proceeded to unpack a boatload of new products. Notable among the lineup was the new Xperia Tablet S, a Surface-lookalike, a handful of Xperia smartphones, the massive XBR-84X900 4K TV, the Wi-Fi-equipped NEX-5R camera, and the Windows 8 powered VAIO Duo 11. We're updating the Stream with news as we get it, so stay locked here for all the info.
Sony Xperia TX video preview
Sony's IFA 2012 announcements were primarily about the bigger picture, both in terms of the company's One Sony strategy and in the literal sense that the Japanese giant showed off its first 84-inch 4K TV. Still, almost out of habit, Sony also refreshed its Android smartphone lineup with a trio of new handsets: the Xperia T / TX, the Xperia V and the Xperia J.
The distinction between the two versions of the flagship T device is actually bigger than Sony would have you believe: The Germany-only...
Samsung and Sony try again at tablets, but Microsoft may have the last laugh
At large gadget conventions like IFA, the most-talked about company is often the one who isn’t there: Apple. This year, the elephant in the room is actually Microsoft and its two Surface tablets. The Surface is now the de facto competitor and the standard by which these Windows 8 OEMs will be judged. Sony and Samsung have revealed their latest tablet strategies at IFA 2012 as they prepare to enter the all-important holiday season. Both have shown off new tablets, hybrids, and phones — but...
Sony XBR-84X900: hands-on with 84 inches of 4K TV
It may not have been the most significant of Sony's announcements today at IFA, but it's certainly the largest: the company introduced the XBR-84X900, its first 4K TV. We got a closer look at the TV at a small event in New York City, and there were definitely a few gasps when the first footage — of an orchestra, of all things — came on screen. We spent a few minutes watching the TV's montage of 4K video, and nearly everything we saw looked fantastic (other than the weirdly low-res volume...
Sony's Phil Molyneux: 'consumers weren't embracing' split-screen Tablet P
Sony held a big press event at IFA in Berlin today, but we spent also got to spend some time with Sony Electronics America COO Phil Molyneux in New York. What's interesting is that Sony isn't announcing the intriguing VAIO Duo or Tap 20 Windows 8 PCs in America just yet — Phil told us that SEA wants to announce those later in a more focused way. But we did get to talk about Sony's updated Tablet S, which looks quite nice.
"We put our focus and our energy into creating a beautiful new...
Sony Xperia T, TX, V, and J hands-on pictures
Sony is just about out of letters to use for its Xperia lineup. (Look for the company to patent a new alphabet in the near future.) The company today announced three new phones — the T / TX flagship and the lower-tier V and J models. At face value, there isn't much aesthetic difference — similar design, slightly different materials, the lack of "Xperia" on the front plate for Xperia V and J. (The J in particular also seems especially prone to fingerprints.)
The Xperia T is the clear...
Sony VAIO Duo 11 hybrid tablet hands-on pictures and video (update)
We've just gotten our first look at Sony's VAIO Duo 11, a "hybrid-style ultrabook" with a hinge that slides the keyboard in, turning it into a Windows 8 tablet. The touch-equipped device looks light as a notebook, but it's hefty as a tablet. The 11.6-inch device is supposed to weigh about 2.9 pounds, a little more than Microsoft's Surface, but it's not too difficult to hold with both hands. The display units have a separate supplementary battery, which adds significantly to the weight. The...
Sony Xperia Tablet S hands-on pictures and video
Sony's new $399 Xperia Tablet S has the familiar "folded magazine" form factor as its previous tablet, but it's way thinner and fairly light. It's quite nice, actually. Performance was smooth in in the time we had it (which, admittedly, are ideal settings), and there's an interesting dongle to cover up the port for complete "splash-proof" protection — but thankfully that can be plugged in and still work with the various stands and docks. Sadly, the Tablet S is running Android 4.0 at this...
Sony's new Action Cam rugged cameras go straight for GoPro's bread and butter
GoPro is the name everyone thinks of when it comes to small rugged cameras that can be mounted virtually anywhere, but now Sony is aiming to grab a piece of that pie. The new Action Cam HDR-AS10 and Wi-Fi-equipped HDR-AS15, announced today, can shoot full 1080p HD video and 16-megapixel stills in nearly any weather condition. Both cameras weigh about three ounces and feature ultra-wide angle Carl Zeiss lenses that can capture a 170-degree field of view and have Sony's SteadyShot image...
Sony enters the 4K TV era with the XBR-84X900
Sony has just officially announced its new 84-inch 4K television at its IFA 2012 press conference, the company's first 4K TV, and its first TV with passive 3D viewing. Sony says the new XBR-84X900 television is capable of upscaling content to 4K (that's a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160) from any source, including things like digital photos from the PlayStation 3. As you can see from the picture above, the panel is a sizable stand-up unit with two long vertical speaker bars — Sony says the TV...
Sony announces NEX-5R mirrorless camera with Wi-Fi, better focus, and more controls
Sony's mirrorless cameras get better and better, and now they're good enough that the company says it's taking aim at your DSLR. Sony just announced the NEX-5R at IFA in Berlin, and the successor to the NEX-5N has a few key new additions. There's finally a physical control dial on the 16.1-megapixel camera, so you can flip through settings much more easily. There's also a new Function button that makes the scroll wheel even more versatile. The camera's autofocus performance has been...
Sony introduces VAIO Tap 20 tabletop Windows 8 PC, release set for October
Today at its IFA presser, Sony announced a 20-inch touch-enabled tabletop PC it's calling the VAIO Tap 20. Featuring a unique adjustable stand that lets owners orient the device between upright and lay-flat positions, and paired with Microsoft's touch-centric Windows 8 operating system, Sony describes the Tap 20 as "a fresh, new concept in home computing." The company has tailored the PC for use in the living room, claiming its Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 technology makes for smoother movie...
Sony VAIO Duo 11 'hybrid-style ultrabook' announced, coming late October
Leaked earlier this week, Sony has just announced its VAIO Duo 11 hybrid Windows 8 tablet that features a full backlit keyboard tucked away on a sliding hinge (what Sony calls the "Surf Slider") — a somewhat different take on the portable PC than Microsoft's design for the Surface. It's got a pressure-sensitive digitizer with a choice of two pen tips for writing feel, an 11.6-inch 1920 x 1080 "OptiContrast" panel, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB or 256GB SSD stuffed into a shell that...
Breaking
Sony refreshes Xperia line with three new smartphones
During its big press event at the IFA trade show today, Sony unveiled its new Xperia T, V, and J smartphones. The Xperia T (known as the Xperia TX in some markets) is the company's new global flagship model. It includes a 13-megapixel camera Sony's "sleep to snap" fast shutter feature. The T has a 4.6-inch HD Reality display with Sony's Mobile Bravia engine. It is powered by a dual-core, 1.5GHz processor that can play back 1080p HD video, and runs Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich from the...
Sony's Xperia Tablet S takes on your laptop and your remote control
Sony's first round of tablets, the Tablet S and Tablet P, were interesting ideas that weren't always well executed. But the company's back at it, announcing today at IFA the new Xperia Tablet S. The new device looks a lot like the Tablet S, particularly the folded-back-magazine aesthetic, but it's clear Sony took cues from what it — and its competitors — did right with all older tablets. The Xperia Tablet S is waterproof, and runs Android 4.0 on a Tegra 3 processor, but more than its pure...
