Category: Sony

Sony Announces Online Challenger Series Tournament For Every PS4 User

Online competitive gaming tournaments have become increasingly more popular in the last couple of years. Mainstream media have already started taking notice on the vast potential of a new breed of athletes. E-sports is the official name of this newfound sport which is video gaming-centric in nature. Now, after various gaming tournaments having been successfully hosted, Sony is also starting a new Challenger Series for every PS4 user.

PS4 Tournament: Challenger Series

Sony has invited users of all skill levels to participate in its latest seasonal online competitive gaming tournament. The game roasters that will be played for the competition include AAA titles like Mortal Kombat 11, Warface, Battlefield V, and FIFA 20. One of the taglines the company is pushing is that anyone of any skill level can compete against their friends and other PS4 gamers to win prizes. The PS4 Challenger Series officially kicks off on August 6th with Mortal Kombat 11.

Competition & Prizes

Seasons: PS4 Tournaments: Challenger Series is seasonal, it means gamers are given repeated chance to compete again within a fixed interval. In each season, PS4 users can progress through various stages that test their skills on a level playing field which will be rewarded.

Competition Stages: In every season of the tournament, the competition will be played in 3 stages. Stage 1 has, for Mortal Kombat 11, users win at least 3 out of 4 matches to advance to the next stage. In Stage 2, users will compete at a higher skill level and need to win to get to the final stage. Stage 3 has the gamers join other elite competitors to fight for the PS4 championship title.

Prizes: Sony is offering a chance to every PS4 user to compete and win various prizes. With progression, gamers can have the value of prizes earned increase with each rising levels of competition. The prizes include unique games specific dynamic themes to in-game currency and even cash prizes. There are plenty of reasons for gamers to compete throughout the season so look out for the tournament.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop 3 Specs Leaked Ahead Of Launch

Earlier this very month, a Fortnite championship had seen a teenager take home millions of dollars. Furthermore, Valve is also hosting a DOTA 2 crowdfunded tournament which will have its total prize pool cross over $35 million. If it is any indication, video games are here to stay and the multi-billion dollar industry is an ever-growing form of popular entertainment and virtual sport. Sony is jumping on the bandwagon and the PS4 Challenger Series seems very promising. It provides a competitive platform to its user and offers a great opportunity for an esports career. Stay tuned for more updates.

August 2, 2019
Sony Launches Master Series A9G Premium OLED TVs In India

Further expanding its portfolio of premium LED TVs, Sony has launched the Master Series A9G 4K television in India which succeeds the A9F series from the year 2018. The company has currently launched two different sized TVs which have a screen size of 55 inch and 65 inch.

Features Of Sony Master Bravia A9G Lineup

The TVs in the Bravia Master A9G series run on Android 8.0 Oreo and have 16 GB of built-in storage. Right out of the box, they have multiple pre-installed video streaming services which include Netflix, Amazon Vidoe, Hotstar, Alt Balaji, Zee 5 and Sony Liv.

As the Bravia Master TVs run on Android OS, users also have the option to download a wide range of applications which are available on the Google Play store. Additionally, the TVs also support hands-free voice operation via the built Google assistant.

Furthermore, they are also compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit which can be used to directly stream content from iOS or macOS devices wirelessly.

In terms of design, both the 55 inch and 65 inch A9G TVs from Sony have an elegant design due to narrow bezels on all sides of the display.

The TVs are equipped with Acoustic Surface Audio+ that consists of 2.2 channel speakers along with two actuators and two subwoofers. Moreover, they support Dolby Atmos and DTS digital sound which provides for a clear and immersive audio experience.

The Sony Master Bravia A9G TVs are kitted with X1 Ultimate 4K HDR processors which Sony claims are best in industry. The processor supports Pixel Contrast Booster Technology which can individually control each pixel to offer the best possible live contrast ratio. They also have Bluetooth compatibility to pair wireless earphones to enjoy digital media without disturbances or interruptions.

Sony Master Bravia A9G TV Price

Also Read: MediaTek Announces G90 and G90T Chipsets For Mid Range Gaming Smartphones

The Sony Master Bravia A9G with the 55 inch display is priced at Rs 2,69,990 while the variant with the 65 inch display costs Rs 3,69,990. The TV sets will soon be available for purchase across all Sony Centers, major electronic stores and e-commerce portals in India.

Even though the price of the TVs seems quite steep, the quality that these Sony devices deliver is second to none. Therefore, the price of the feature-packed TV offerings from the company can be justified to a greater extent.

Interested readers can check company page by clicking here.

July 30, 2019
Sony Is Working On A Foldable Phone With A Host Of New Sensors

After a decade of smartphones with a rigid form factor, the year 2019 saw the launch of two visionary devices, the Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X 5G. Although both the smartphones aim towards achieving the same goal i.e is packing a large screen display on a compact device, they have a completely different approach. The Galaxy Fold has dual displays, out of which one is present on the outside aka “cover display” and a larger foldable display which is concealed with a unique folding mechanism. On the other hand, the Mate X has an outer folding display which the company refers to as “falcon wing” design. Unfortunately, the commercial availability of both handsets has been pushed to a future date (1,2). However, by the time the two devices make a comeback, they might not be the only competitors in this segment, as Sony is also working on futuristic device claim patents (1).
Besides having a foldable display, the alleged Sony smartphone will have a few other nifty tricks up its sleeve. The patent discovered by a Netherland based website, Letsgodigital reveals that foldable Sony smartphones which are expected to launch in the near future will have an array of new generation sensors. Accordingly, the drawings in the document exhibit three different sensors in a foldable device which include a temperature sensor, pressure sensor and acceleration sensor. As the name suggests the pressure sensor will be able to sense the force applied on the display, this could something be similar to 3D touch seen on Apple iPhones which prompt different options based on the pressure applied to the display.

Furthermore, the temperature sensor will likely measure the temperature of the users from their finger. Though not many details about this type of sensor are available, this could very well be targetted towards the health and fitness domain. The accelerometer sensor is common sighting on most modern smartphones and it is mainly used to track the orientation of the device.

Also Read: PUBG Kicks Off Season 4 With A Story Trailer And Better Visuals

The patents also divulge that the device from Sony will have just one display which will fold on the outside. The design is similar to that Huawei Mate X, that we, fortunately, got to have a close look at. The patents do not reveal any specifications about the Sony handset but it is expected to be laden with high end features.

To sum it up, Sony holds the technical prowess required to fabricate such a device. However, we will have to wait for some concrete details in order to verify the existence of the handset.

July 18, 2019
Sony Xperia 1R With A 5K Resolution Display Leaked

Japanese electronics giant Sony launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 back in the month of February earlier this year. The device boasts of being the first in the world with a 4K resolution OLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. A while ago, reports of its successor, along with credible renders surfaced online. Now, the latest source code leak of the smartphone reveals that it may be called the Xperia 1R and will have a whopping 5K resolution OLED display.

Sony Xperia 1R

As mentioned above, the Xperia 1R will be the successor to the Xperia 1 and is expected to feature notable improvements over it. The biggest change will be the smartphone’s design, which has been revealed in renders to be different than its predecessors. While the form factor and the basic looks of the Xperia 1R will remain the same, it will have the triple rear camera setup on the left side of the back. This is unlike the more central placement on the Xperia 1. According to the leaked source code of the upcoming device, it will have a display resolution of 5040 x 2160 px. This is equivalent to a 5K display with an aspect ratio of 21:9.

Sony Xperia 1

Also read: Nokia 7.2 With An Elegant Design Leaked Before Launch

Notably, Sony was the first company to introduce a 4K display in a smartphone with the Xperia XZ Premium in the year 2017. The company was also the first to bring the technology to OLED displays with the Xperia 1 launched earlier this year. With the launch of the alleged Xperia 1R, Sony may be planning on adding another world record to its name. Unfortunately, more details like the launch date and pricing of the smartphone are not known yet. However, as the company has done every year, the device may be unveiled at the IFA consumer electronics show in the month of September.

July 18, 2019
Vaio Launches Thin and Light SX12 Laptop With Plenty Of I/O Ports
Laptop maker, Vaio which has now perished from the global electronics market is still going strong in its home country, Japan. The company has launched the Vaio SX12, an ultra-compact 12.5-inch laptop which only weighs 897 grams or less depending on the variant. Despite having a thin and light form factor, Vaio has managed to pack the SX12 with a wide variety of input and output ports which were usually present on much chunkier notebook computers from early 2010

The Vaio SX12 is made out of brushed aluminium which not only provides for a robust feel but also a premium design. The lid of the device is ergonomically designed, therefore, when in it is in the open state the base of the laptop slightly rises from the surface which allows for better airflow and convenient typing angle.

Even though Vaio SX12 has a compact footprint, the laptop packs a full-size keyboard which is well spaced. Also, the keys are coated with a special UV coating which prevents them from rubbing off after a period of time. The device features a multi-touch glass trackpad which is accompanied by right and left mouse buttons. For securely and rapidly logging into Windows, the laptop also features a fingerprint sensor.

As previously mentioned, the Vaio SX12 features a 12.5-inch display. It is coated with an anti-glare liquid crystal which reduces eye strain when the laptop is used continuously for long hours. The laptop is kitted with U line of Intel 8th generation processors which offer upto four courses and eight threads.

The Vaio SX12 is equipped with high-speed SSD which helps in drastically reducing boot times and app load times. In terms of I/O ports the laptop is outfitted with the following ports:
- HDMI port
- VGA port
- RJ45 LAN port
- USB C Port
- SD card slot
- 3.5 mm Hybrid Audio in/out jack
- Kensington Lock
- 3x USB A Ports
- Charging Port
In terms of battery, the Vaio SX12 is claimed to offer a backup of upto 14 hours which will vary dependent on the type of usage. It also supports 4G LTE, therefore, users who are always on the go can carry the device with them without fearing availability of an internet connection.

Also Read: Indian Government Will Soon Be Able To Track Stolen Mobiles More Effectively

The Vaio SX12 is priced between 119,800 yen (around Rs 75,500) to 216,800 yen (around Rs 1,36,000) based on storage, colour options, and processor. The device is currently limited to the Japanese market and the company is yet to provide a statement whether it will be launched in India or not.

What your thoughts on the mini yet feature-loaded offering from Vaio? Let us know in the comments below
July 9, 2019
Sony To Launch A Rollable Smartphone To Compete Against Galaxy Fold

After a decade of smartphones with a rigid form factor, Samsung launched the Galaxy Fold that packs a large screen display in a compact form factor. Likewise, Huawei had also unveiled the Mate X which goes in line with the same philosophy, however, it implements a different design. Amidst display issues, the launch of both smartphones (1,2) has been pushed to a later date. By the time they go sale, Sony might unveil an unconventional smartphone which will join the pack of visionary smartphones.

As per a fresh claim, Japanese electronics Titan, Sony is also working on a unique smartphone which will pack a large screen display in a much smaller and portable form factor. Noteworthy, instead of a foldable display, Sony’s offering will employ a rollable display.

According to the source, the current prototype that Sony has in the works features a 10x zoom camera and is kitted with the SM7250 SoC. Though, the retail model will reportedly feature a Snapdragon 855 SoC along with the Qualcomm X50 modem. Therefore, the Sony smartphone will be 5G capable. In terms of battery, the device will be powered by a 3220 mAh cell which is most likely to support fast charging.

LG Smartphone Patent With Rollable Display

Talking more about the looks, the Sony smartphone is reported to have a nautilus design. In simpler words, it will have a spiral design which uncurls to present the rollable large screen display which is similar to a patent which was granted to LG in the past.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Fit E Launched In India

Even though Sony is yet to confirm the existence or possible launch of a smartphone with this type of form factor. Taking the fact into consideration that Sony has previously launched numerous unconventional smartphones in the Xperia lineup (1,2), this imaginary device has high feasibility of turning in to reality.

Besides, this would allow the company to steer ahead of the fiercely competent mass market and enter a niche segment where the margins are much higher.

Conclusively, we will have to wait patiently as reports claim the unique Sony smartphone will launch in Q4 of 2019 or early 2020.

July 8, 2019
Sony PlayStation 5 Benchmark Reveal A 4x Performance Jump Over PS4

Sony revealed a few key details about its next generation of gaming console a few weeks ago. This device assumed to be called the PlayStation 5, will be the successor to the PlayStation 4 launched in the year 2014. The loading times of the upcoming console were shown off a while ago which revealed a ten times improvement over the last generation. Now, a tipster on the microblogging website Twitter has leaked the benchmarks scores of the PlayStation 5 and it is claimed to be four times as much as the PlayStation 4. The tipster notes that the four time improvement will not apply to the latest PlayStation 4 Pro.

Sony PlayStation 5

According to the tipster on Twitter, the Sony PlayStation 5 has been codenamed, Gonzalo. The upcoming console has scored an impressive score of 20,000 on the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark. This is four times higher than the roughly 5,000 score of the PlayStation 4. It also corroborates the company’s promise that the latest device will be a big jump in performance and power. The score of the upcoming gaming console are on par with what the NVIDIA GeForce 2070 has scored in the test, if not better. This is supposedly an indication that the PlayStation 5 can finally match up to the gaming performance of gaming PCs.

Also read: NASA’s Dragonfly Mission Will Send A Drone To Saturn’s Moon In Search For Life

Sony previously revealed information regarding some features of the upcoming console. For instance, the PlayStation 5 is expected to sport 3D audio technology, which will enable gamers to have immersive gaming experience. Another speculated feature of the PS5 is the incorporation of a Solid State Drive or an SSD. This will lead to visibly faster game load times and seamless switching between various applications within the console’s interface. The device is expected to launch towards the end of next year at an expected price of US$ 550 (~INR 39,000). This is the same time when Microsoft will also announce its latest gaming console, called Xbox Project Scarlet.

June 28, 2019
Sony Hexa Lens Smartphone Camera Specifications Revealed

It was reported last week that Japanese electronics company Sony is planning on releasing a smartphone with six cameras on the back. The device was leaked by a known gadget tipster on microblogging website Twitter. Unfortunately, no information other than the handset was under development was known then. Now, the same tipster has posted the camera specifications of the rumoured Sony smartphone. The device is touted to have six cameras on the back and two on the front. This takes the number of sensors on the handset to eight.

Sony Xperia Hexa Camera Smartphone

https://twitter.com/Samsung_News_/status/1140939989230006272

As mentioned above, the optical specifications of the alleged Sony Xperia smartphone with six rear cameras have been leaked. According to the tipster, Max J. on Twitter the camera unit of the Xperia device will be comprised of an f/2.4 aperture equipped 20MP sensor; combined with an f/2.4 aperture equipped 8MP sensor, a variable aperture ranging from f/1.2-f/2.4 outfitted 48MP sensor; with the fourth sensor also having a variable aperture of f/1.2-f/2.4 and a resolution of 12MP. The fifth sensor will be an f/2.4 aperture kitted 16MP sensor which will be further combined by a 0.5MP Time of Flight (ToF) sensor. Unfortunately, it is not known how the company will implement each sensor to work in tandem with another. For selfies, the leak further claims a 10MP sensor combined with a 0.3MP ToF sensor will be present on the front of the smartphone.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy S10 5G Pricing For European Markets Revealed

While the camera specifications of the Sony Xperia smartphone seem authentic, the tipster claims it should be taken with a grain of salt. As the device is still in development and nowhere near its official announcement, the optics can be changed before the launch. However, if Sony does go forward and launch a handset with eight cameras in total, it will beat the previous record held by the Nokia 9 PureView for most camera sensors in a smartphone; which has a total of six cameras, five at the back and one on the front.

June 19, 2019
Sony Xperia 2 Spotted On EEC Website

An unnamed smartphone from Sony has been spotted on the EEC (Eurasian Economic Commission) certification. The device is yet to be announced or teased in any manner by the company, so finer details are still at large. What can be gathered, however, is the model number J9210 that may relate it to the Xperia 1 which was J9110 and may be its successor dubbed the Sony Xperia 2.

The name of the smartphone may still differ from simply being a successor to the Xperia 1. Due to lack of any information, only speculations can be made regarding Sony Xperia 2’s specifications. The smartphone would most likely host the top of the line current gen hardware specifications. Sony Xperia 1 was released in February 2019 to a mixed reception. The device brought many desirable features to the table but lacked in other fundamental areas at the same time.

The CinemaWide HDR OLED display of Xperia 1 was one of the key features introduced and will also probably see a return with Xperia 2. Likewise, the upcoming flagship similar to its predecessor would sport the latest Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm. Alleged renders of the Sony Xperia 2 showcase a triple camera setup as well, albeit in a different position. Furthermore, this device could be utilized as an opportunity by the company to make up for all the shortcomings of its previous iteration. Xperia 1 was infamous for its dim display and a glitchy fingerprint sensor on the side.

Due to the lack of any form of concrete data, it is still unclear if this unannounced smartphone would be a standalone device or even simply a refreshed variant of the pre-existing versions from Sony. However, regardless of the name, the upcoming device will carry the unique 21:9 display with a similar camera sensor and even storage options in the Sony Xperia 2.

Also Read: Google Accused Of Copying Song Lyrics In Search Results

Sony has publicly withdrawn its production and shipping of its Xperia brand of smartphones in most countries like India and the US. The tech giant has already stated its desires to continue the Xperia brand that is failing in most markets. Now focusing on just the Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong markets. So an Indian release is probably not being taken into account.

June 17, 2019
Sony Working On Smartphone With Six Rear Cameras

In the past few years, the race to put an extravagant number of cameras in a smartphone has increased significantly. From installing triple rear cameras in the P20 Pro to having a quad camera set up at the back as seen in the P30 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S10 5G; the competition seems to be just heating up. HMD Global’s Nokia upped the ante by providing Penta rear cameras in the Nokia 9 PureView earlier this year. Now, according to a reliable gadget tipster, Japanese electronics giant Sony is working on an Xperia smartphone with six cameras at the back.

Sony Xperia Hexa Camera Smartphone

https://twitter.com/Samsung_News_/status/1138162759105961984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1138162759105961984%7Ctwgr%5E393039363b636f6e74726f6c&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.91mobiles.com%2Fhub%2Fsony-xperia-phone-six-rear-cameras%2F

According to the tipster, who goes by the name Max J. on microblogging website Twitter; Sony is working on a new Xperia smartphone which will feature six camera lenses at its back. To enhance the front facing videos and photos, the device will also have a dual camera set up on the front taking the total number of cameras in the handset to eight. This will make the rumoured smartphone first in the world to sport a total of eight cameras; taking the mantle from the aforementioned Nokia 9 PureView with a combined six cameras on the device.

Sony Xperia 1

Also read: Battery Capacity Of The Upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Series Revealed

While the idea of six cameras in a smartphone sounds exciting, the tipster claims the device from Sony is still in development. This means it may take a while before any details about the specifications or how the camera sensors on the handset would work are revealed. Currently, the highest number of sensors in any Sony Xperia smartphone belongs to the Xperia 1 flagship launched back in the month of February. The device has a total of three cameras at the back and a single lens on the front.

June 11, 2019
Sony PlayStation 5 Details Revealed By Company CEO

Sony may have stated that no big announcements will be made at E3 2019, but on the other hand, fans are getting their fair share of PS5 details from the company itself. Previously, company officials revealed key pieces of information regarding the upcoming console. The loading speed of games on the PlayStation 5 was also compared to that of PlayStation 4, in which PS5 beat the PS4 by a huge margin. As per latest reports, Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment has also revealed that the ‘PlayStation Now’ game streaming service will be ‘taken to the next level’ with the next generation Playstation amongst other upgrades.

As per sources, the Japanese company also plans to introduce Cross-Generational play with the successor of the PS4. With cross-generational play, players can simply switch to a new console and continue playing their game of interest from the point where it was left off. This implies that it won’t matter to Sony’s servers what device players are using. The friend list will be retained across all the consoles including the PlayStation 5, no matter what.

Sony’s CEO also stated that the company has an active user base of 94 million players, out of which 36 million players have an active Sony PlayStation Plus subscription. To hold on to such a huge player base, the company plans to include a custom-designed SSD (Solid State Drive) in the console to make games load faster. In terms of graphics, it will offer HD 4K graphics at a staggering 120Hz refresh rate, Jim Ryan added.

Also Read: Astrobotic’s Tiny Rover To Test Endurance Of Small Robots On The Moon

The PlayStation 5 is expected to sport 3D audio technology, which will enable gamers to have immersive gaming experience. Last but not least, some new PS5 games may support Ray Tracing. Ray Tracing simulates the interaction of real-world light with real-time objects in the game, which leads to lifelike graphics rendering. Battlefield 5 was the first game to support Ray Tracing on NIVIDA RTX powered PCs, and we can expect developers to release more titles in accordance with Ray Tracing technology if consoles start supporting it too.

June 6, 2019
Microsoft And Sony Join Hands For Cloud Gaming Service

Microsoft has yet to give out any set specifications or details regarding its new cloud gaming service, xCloud. The software developing company has been testing the service with its employees as of late, letting them stream Xbox games anywhere. Microsoft is currently in the process of setting up multiple servers required for xCloud across the world.

The company revealed today that the service is capable of streaming more than 3500 game titles all without ever needing their respective developers to make any optimisations. Capcom and Paradox are one of the game developers that are testing their games on xCloud. Microsoft has confirmed that it has sent Project xCloud to data centres encompassing 13 Azure regions, focusing on a few key locations in the world, not just the US, for its launch. The public trials are set to start later this year.

The service has prompted many game developers to tweak their games for smaller displays in compact devices (namely text sizes and fonts) and to add the ability to host multiplayer games. More information on xCloud is claimed to go public at E3 2019 in the following month. The service will face Google’s Stadia and Sony’s PlayStation Now head on. Interestingly enough, Sony is working in conjunction with Microsoft for future cloud game streaming services.

Microsoft and Sony in a groundbreaking new move shook hands for collaboration, something that the gaming community thought was impossible. The companies would still operate separate services for their respective Xbox and PlayStation customers, but Sony has reached out to Microsoft for their Azure Services. Sony lacks an integral part of the service which is cloud computing.

Excited about the opportunities ahead with @Sony for us to pursue our mutual gaming ambitions and delight players around the world. https://t.co/3vBuQiruiR
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) May 16, 2019

Azure by Microsoft is a cloud computing service that allows first and third-party developers to put out their proprietary services through Microsoft’s data centres around the globe. Sony and its PlayStation Now is severely underequipped in comparison to either Google or Microsoft. Sony has never taken stream service into account as its PS4 Remote Play only supports limited devices that are streamed through the consumer’s PlayStation console. PlayStation Now so far is only confirmed to be able to stream to PC and PlayStation.

Also Read: Google Trained Its AI To Learn Depth Perception From YouTube’s Mannequin Challenge

Cloud game-streaming is not intent on overthrowing the console or PC markets. Many would claim that it would ‘kill’ the hardware breed as cloud-based service does eliminate the need for a console or PC, but most forget it is not a zero-sum game. Sony assured that the PlayStation brand is here to stay and the company will take it forward for the foreseeable future.

Sony with Microsoft Azure’s technology showcase a healthier trend of business rivalry, this benefits both in the long run. Cross-Play in consoles comes to mind when talking about healthy relations, that may arrive soon maybe with the launch of the new generation consoles.

May 25, 2019
Sony To Exit The Smartphone Business In India, North America Among Other Countries

Japanese electronics giant Sony was once one of the most renowned smartphone makers in the world. In the past, mobile devices from the company boasted of a unique design, innovative camera features and a clean software experience. But, due to the ever-increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers like Huawei, OnePlus and Xiaomi, Sony has not seen much success lately. According to a latest report, the smartphone business by the company is running on losses. Now, in an attempt to curb costs and prevent more loss, Sony has announced it is exiting major markets worldwide including India and North America.

What Does This Mean?

In the annual corporate strategy day on the 21st of March, Sony announced it has selected its areas of focus for smartphones. These countries include Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Europe. The countries that constitute the rest of the world either don’t have a presence of the company’s mobile devices yet or are the ones which have been left out of the focus areas. The latter are referred to as defocussed areas and includes regions like India, Australia, Canada, North America, Africa, The Middle East among others. While reports of the company jumping ship from these markets were rife for a while; it is the first time an official confirmation from Sony has been received.

Also read: Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition Launched In China

Along with concentrating on the focussed areas, Sony also plans to cut down its smartphone workforce by half in the next year. This is seen as a cost-cutting measure which may return profits; especially in regions where mobile devices from the company have proven to be popular. With respect to the defocused areas, Sony has planned to withdraw from the sales and marketing of smartphones in the aforementioned regions. All the above changes insinuate that the company is looking forward to implementing major changes with regard to its smartphone business.

May 22, 2019
PlayStation 5 Loading Speed Shown Off, Will Be Ten Times Faster Than The PS4 Pro

Japanese technology giant Sony revealed a few key details about its next generation of gaming console a few weeks ago. This device assumed to be called the PlayStation 5, will be the successor to the PlayStation 4 launched in the year 2014. Now, a video has been posted on microblogging website Twitter of a corporate strategy presentation by Sony. This video shows off the loading speeds of the PlayStation 5 and compares them to the last generation to showcase the upgrade in the load times and rendering.

PlayStation 5 Loading Speeds

Sony's official video comparing performance of PS4 Pro vs next-gen PlayStation pic.twitter.com/2eUROxKFLq
— Takashi Mochizuki (@6d6f636869) May 21, 2019

The video shared on Twitter compares the load times of Sony’s latest console, the PlayStation 4 Pro; and the upcoming PlayStation 5. In the video, the former registers a load time for a scene to be around 8 seconds. When the video from the latter is shown, it is noted the gaming console achieves a staggering load time of around 0.8 seconds. This is around 10 times faster than the company’s last console and is thus expected to be a major upgrade. The video further shows a scene being rendered on both the consoles. The PlayStation 4 is shown suffering in rendering complex scenes while the PlayStation 5 on the other hand; churns through the scene with ease and outputs a faster time than the former.

Sony PS5: Expected Features

PlayStation 4 Pro

Sony previously revealed information regarding some features of the upcoming console. For instance, the PlayStation 5 is expected to sport 3D audio technology, which will enable gamers to have immersive gaming experience. Another speculated feature of the PS5 is the incorporation of a Solid State Drive or an SSD. This will lead to visibly faster game load times and seamless switching between various applications within the console’s interface.

The Sony PlayStation 5 is expected to be the first console to sport 8K resolution gaming. Of course, to take full advantage of the same, gamers will need to plug in their console to an 8K supported panel, but Sony making a move for future-proof gaming will surely be appreciated. Last but not least, some new PS5 games may support Ray Tracing. Ray Tracing simulates the interaction of real-world light with real-time objects in the game, which leads to lifelike graphics rendering. Battlefield 5 was the first game to support Ray Tracing on NIVIDA RTX powered PCs, and we can expect developers to release more titles in accordance with Ray Tracing technology if consoles start supporting it too.

Expected Price And Availability

Also Read: Honor 20 Pro Leaks Online In White Colour Variant, Showcases Quad Rear Cameras

The PlayStation 5 is not expected to release anytime soon though, in fact, reports state that the PS5 may not see the light of day before the year 2021. However, other sources state that the PS5 might make its way into the market by the end of the year 2020. Either way, Sony is known for releasing their consoles according to a 7-year-product-cycle so something along the aforementioned lines can be expected for sure. It is expected to be priced somewhere around US$ 550 (~INR 39,000) considering that the price of the PlayStation 4 Pro was US$ 400 (~INR 31,000). Furthermore, companies like Nintendo and Microsoft may release their gaming consoles around the same time, which may provide some solid competition to Sony’s console.

May 21, 2019
Sony WH XB700 Wireless Headphones Review
The WH-XB700 are the latest addition to Sony’s wireless headphones family. For audiophiles, the Sony WH-XB700 provide a good set of features at a competitive price. One of the highlighting features of these headphones is Extra Bass, and that is an aspect most “regular” headphone users are willing to bet their money on. Let’s deduce where the Sony WH-XB700 delivers and where it could’ve done better.

Inside The Box
- Sony WH-XB700 Headphones
- Instruction Manual and Warranty/Safety Guide
- 3.5mm AUX cable
- USB Type-C cable
Build Quality And Design

The Sony WH-XB700 are fabricated from high grade plastic with a smooth matte finish. The framework of the headphones is made of metal though. More metal would have been appreciated in the build of the WH-XB700. The ear cups have a swivel design, implying that the Earcups can rotate around the pivot. This will make it convenient for users to slip these headphones inside their backpacks . Weighing at just around 195 grams, these may be one of the lightest headphones in this segment

The Sony Logo is neatly embossed above both the earcups. The headphones look good enough to make a style statement. The headphones have an on-the-ear, or supra-aural design, implying that they rest on the ears rather over them.

The earcup’s pads, as well as the headband’s cushioning, are made out of memory foam. This material feels very premium and comfortable even when used for longer periods of time. The extending strips along with the framework are designed out of metal, which allows for considerable freedom of movement. Even upon stretching the ear cups apart, they seemed to retain their original shape upon restoring. Noteworthy, owing to the light weight of the Sony WH-XB700, they tend to sway “dangerously” when you move around while wearing these, so you might want to be careful when you take them out for a run.

The left earcup houses the power button (which also doubles up as the pairing button). In addition, it accommodates the 3.5mm audio jack, USB Type-C port, the notification LED and a “Custom” button, which will be discussed in detail later. On the other hand, the right earcup houses the volume rockers and the play/pause/answer calls button.

Audio Quality

The primary defining feature of any headphones is its audio quality. The Sony WH-XB700 operate within a frequency range of 20-20,000 Hz with 44.1 kHz Sampling and have an impedance of 37 ? (ohms). The headphones are quite loud, clocking in at a loudness level of 103 decibels. The 30mm Neodymium driver churns out evenly distributed frequencies, but it’s really the lows where the headphones excel. At higher volumes, negligible distortion in the sound is present. Even though Sony has laid emphasis on the lower frequencies here, there is a profound focus on the highs as well, which make them a pleasure to listen to.

The headphones are advertised with “Extra-Bass”, and they live up to their name. The ample amount of bass goes easy on the ears, delivering a rich experience. Plus, the headphones sport the “Vocal Clarity” feature, which enhances the experience if you are listening to a podcast or watching a lecture. Noise isolation is not that great, but that is expected considering the supra-aural design of the headphones.

Audio is captured via the microphone present on the right earcup, and in the course of usage, the microphone quality is mediocre when it comes to answering calls indoors. Furthermore, the audio doesn’t bleed a lot when you have the headphones on. Advanced tweaking of the sound quality and bass levels can be done via the Smart Headphone Connect app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices. Firmware updates are also pushed to the WH-XB700 via the same app.

Connectivity Options

In terms of connectivity, the Sony WH-XB700 features Bluetooth v4.2, NFC (Near Field Communication), a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack for those times where you run out of battery. To pair the headphones with your smartphone via Bluetooth, the user needs to simply hold down the power button and the headphones will pop-up on your smartphone’s Bluetooth devices list. Like other headphones in this range, the Sony WH-XB700 cannot be connected to multiple devices simultaneously. They have to be disconnected from one device in order to connect to another one.

The WH-XB700 also supports one-touch NFC pairing, where users can just stream music to their headphones by touching their NFC-enabled devices with the headphones. One thing to note is that there is a significant loss in audio quality when the headphones are connected via the 3.5mm AUX cable. Similarly, all the buttons present on the headphones stop functioning when the headphones are connected passively.

Battery Life And Additional Features

The Sony WH-XB700 features a Li-ion battery, which promises a battery life of 30 hours, and we tested that out. Interestingly, on the maximum value and bass levels, the headphones were able to churn out the aforementioned time with ease. The headphones can be charged via the USB-Type C port which is mounted on the left earcup. They also provide a 90-minute playback time after a 10-minute charge time, which can be helpful for users who are on-the-go. Overall, the headphones take a bit more than 4 hours to attain maximum charging capacity. And if you do manage to run out of battery, you always have the option to use them with the 3.5mm AUX cable.

As previously mentioned, the Sony WH-XB700 headphones have a “Custom” button on the left earcup which can be mapped to either Alexa or Google Assistant dependent on user preferences. We noticed that the button was very responsive, as it immediately launched Google Assistant on our device in all instances. However, as mentioned previously, the Custom button only works in wireless mode. Nonetheless, we found the custom Assistant button very convenient and is welcoming addition.

Conclusion

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In a nutshell, the Sony WH-XB700 is a pretty good deal considering it checks most of the boxes in the list. Rich and punchy bass, low distortion levels, rich highs and lows, and that’s just the audio quality. The headphones have a good battery life, support a host of connectivity options and look good on the ears.

The only drawbacks that are worth mentioning are some aspects of the build quality, such as the lack of any metal accents. The fact that the headphones tend not to be very stable while wearing them might be a bit pesky for those who like to listen to music while running. Noteworthy, the Sony WH-XB700 don’t ship with a carrying pouch or hard case in-the-box. Although not a deal breaker it is worth taking into consideration.

Another worthy option in the same segment is the JBL Tune 600, which provides passive noise cancellation and deep, punchy bass. For almost INR 1,500 less, you can also try out the Sennheiser HD 4.40 Bluetooth headphones, which are a good buy considering its price. The Sony WH-XB700 is a pair of good sounding headphones, and audiophiles who want a set of portable cans should definitely go for them.
May 2, 2019