Sony unveils 30-and 56-inch professional 4K OLED monitor prototypes

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony unveils professional 4K OLED monitor prototypes, promises reduced color shift, better viewing angles" data-src-height="391" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/nab3333.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> The 56-inch OLED TV Sony trotted out at CES may not be headed to the consumer market, but it is becoming a reality, at least in the professional sector. The company showcased a pair of 4K OLED prototypes at NAB 2013, outing a 4,096 x 2,160 30-inch model as well as a 3,840 x 2160 56-inch display. Both panels boast of wide viewing angles and low color shift, promising accurate signal reproduction for industry professionals working with 4K content. No word yet on pricing, but professionals can look forward to upgrading sometime in next year. Sony also announced a refresh for its existing line of professional OLED displays. The A series will replace seven older skus, again promising better viewing angles and color shift than the previous generation. <span>Hit the break for the official press release, item skus, and a quick break down of what products the A series will be replacing.</span></div></div>

Sony unveils 30-and 56-inch professional 4K OLED monitor prototypes

The 56-inch OLED TV Sony trotted out at CES may not be headed to the consumer market, but it is becoming a reality, at least in the profe...

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Sony announces $699 FMP-X1 4K media player and distribution service

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony announces FMPX1 4K media player and distribution service" data-src-height="313" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/fmp-x1basic-f-12001-1024x671.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Along with its new smaller (and cheaper) 4K TVs, Sony has announced its FMP-X1 4K media player and 4K video distribution service. Plans for both were first revealed at CES, however the official press release (included after the break) provides the full details, that it will be $699 and arrive preloaded with 10 4K films and shorts when it ships this summer. Starting in the fall, the video service will launch, with "fee-based" access to Sony's library of movies. Sony also revealed that it has started adding to the 4K movie collections for the buyers of its $25k 84-inch Ultra HDTV, delivering <em>Lawrence of Arabia</em>. Those buyers will be able to swap their current player for the FMP-X1 when the 4K distribution network launches in the fall. The "mastered in 4K" (but delivered in 1080p) Blu-ray discs are still part of the plan as well, and buyers of the new TVs can expect <em>Spiderman</em>, <em>Ghostbusters</em> and <em>Angels & Demons</em> as pack-ins.</div></div>

Sony announces $699 FMP-X1 4K media player and distribution service

Along with its new smaller (and cheaper) 4K TVs, Sony has announced its FMP-X1 4K media player and 4K video distribution service. Plans fo...

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Sony unveils Anycast Touch all-in-one production system at NAB

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony unveils Anycast Touch allinone production system at NAB" data-src-height="263" data-src-width="361" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/anycast-1365368576.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> In addition to announcing pricing for its 55- and 65-inch 4K TVs at its NAB press event, Sony unveiled updates to its Anycast studio-in-a-box. Sony has been offering its live broadcasting all-in-one for quite some time, but the Anycast Touch (AWS-750) unveiled today features several updates, including sliding dual touch displays. (The product looks more like a beefed-up Duo 11 than a bulky suitcase, which can't be said about earlier models from the Anycast line.) A tilt-screen function lets you split audio- and video-editing functions between the two panels, and you'll be able to bring up video sources just by tapping their thumbnails on-screen.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Aside from the new touchscreen design, the Anycast Touch offers all the A/V essentials:<span> a video switcher, audio mixer, a special effects generator, an encoder and a scale converter. Video output tops out at 1080p with 10-bit processing, though other specs, such as display size, are TBA. </span><span>Sony hasn't discussed pricing yet, but it <em>did</em> reveal that the Anycast Touch will go on sale in September -- we imagine additional details will surface before that far-off date.</span></div></div>

Sony unveils Anycast Touch all-in-one production system at NAB

In addition to announcing pricing for its 55- and 65-inch 4K TVs at its NAB press event, Sony unveiled updates to its Anycast studio-in-...

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Sony announces pricing for 55- and 65-inch 4K TVs, shipping April 21st

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" itemprop="text" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony announces pricing for 55 and 65inch 4K TVs, set to ship April 21st" data-src-height="299" data-src-width="525" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/xbr-55x900a-1357535092.jpg" /></div>Think $25,000 for an 84-inch 4K TV is a bit tough to swallow? You're certainly not alone, but if you're willing to compromise on a few viewable inches, you could very well save yourself quite a bit of cash. At Sony's NAB press conference today here in Las Vegas, the company finally shared pricing for its smaller 4K models, the Bravia XBR-55X900A and the XBR-65X900A, which ring in at 55 and 65 inches, respectively. That first flavor will retail for a mere $5,000, with its larger sibling due in stores for just a grand more. As we learned at CES, both models offer Triluminous displays with X-Reality PRO and Motionflow XR960 technology, WiFi and NFC one-touch screen mirroring, not to mention native support for displaying 3,840 x 2,160 pixels images. The more budget-friendly duo will hit stores on April 21st -- they'll also be available to order online in just two weeks' time.<br /> </div></div>

Sony announces pricing for 55- and 65-inch 4K TVs, shipping April 21st

Think $25,000 for an 84-inch 4K TV is a bit tough to swallow? You're certainly not alone, but if you're willing to compromise on ...

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Sony outs Lightning-friendly speaker dock in Japan, alarm clock and radio features in tow

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony outs Lightningfriendly speaker dock in Japan, alarm clock and radio features in tow" data-src-height="463" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/sonyrdocklightning45.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Sony may have unveiled a slew of new audio products back at CES 2013, but the company has been relatively quiet when it comes to launching ones that are compatible with Apple's novel Lightning connector. That being said, it looks as if folks in the <em>Land of the Rising Sun </em>will soon be able to pair their current-gen iOS device with a dock from the PlayStation maker, thanks to the recently announced SRS-GC11IP. Pictured above, this little 0.8W speaker isn't loaded with fancy features like Bluetooth 4.0 or WiFi, but it does offer convenient functions such as an alarm clock and AM / FM radio -- these, of course, go along with the ability to also play tunes straight from a Lighting-ready iDevice or, with the proper <span>RDP-NWC11</span><span> model, a new-era Walkman and many different smartphones. Whether we'll ever see the as-yet-unpriced tubular peripheral hit other markets, well, that still remains to be seen, with Sony only going so far as to listing it as "coming soon" on its Japanese website.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="Gallery Image" height="436" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/rdp-nwc11-1365176494.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="480" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/rdp-nwc11b.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="480" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/04/rdp-nwc11w.jpg" width="640" /></div></div>

Sony outs Lightning-friendly speaker dock in Japan, alarm clock and radio features in tow

Sony may have unveiled a slew of new audio products back at CES 2013, but the company has been relatively quiet when it comes to launching...

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Sony Xperia ZL reaches Canada through Bell, Rogers and Videotron

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" itemprop="text" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://greenzoneregypt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Sony Xperia ZL" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/xperiazl.jpg" /></a></div>While we're still waiting on an American carrier to officially release Sony's <a href="http://greenzoneregypt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Xperia ZL</a>, it turns out that Canadians don't have to be quite so patient. That promised April launch in the northern country has come right at the start of the month, and locals can order the compact 5-inch flagship from Bell, Rogers or <a href="http://greenzoneregypt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Videotron </a>as of today. Pricing varies sharply between networks, however. Bell is offering the most aggressive discount, at $100 on a lengthy three-year contract, while Rogers and <a href="http://greenzoneregypt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Videotron</a> raise the prices to a respective $125 and $200 on similar terms. You can also buy the smartphone off-contract from the carriers for $600 (Bell and <a href="http://greenzoneregypt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Videotron)</a> or $625 (Rogers), in addition to the $675 unlocked model from Sony itself. We'd think carefully about a purchase when the <a href="http://greenzoneregypt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Xperia ZL</a> is about to get some stiff competition in the next few weeks; those who want a better sense of (Omni)balance in their lives can hit the carrier links at the source.<br /> </div></div>

Sony Xperia ZL reaches Canada through Bell, Rogers and Videotron

While we're still waiting on an American carrier to officially release Sony's Xperia ZL , it turns out that Canadians don't h...

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Epix hits PlayStation 3 today, arriving on Vita in coming weeks

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/10/ps3ssmonolith620pxbodyimg.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Took a couple of months, but EPIX is finally ready to fulfill its promise of PlayStation 3 movie streaming today. The network's launching its app for the console, giving users access to some 3,000-plus titles including the likes of The Avengers, Skyfall and The Hunger Games, plus a slew of documentaries, concerts and such. The app itself is free, but requires a premium subscription to really do its job. In fact, if you're already a paid-up member of PlayStation Plus, you'll get a free movie or special every week. A more handheld version of the service is set to hit the Vita in "the coming weeks," according to the company.</div><div class="pr_box open" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div class="pr_text"> <strong>EPIX Goes Live Today on the PlayStation®3 System</strong><br /> Premium TV network EPIX is launching the EPIX app today on the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system and will launch on the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) in the coming weeks. A leader in multiplatform availability, EPIX will provide authenticated subscribers access to more than 3,000 titles, featuring new releases like The Avengers, Skyfall, The Hunger Games, Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol, plus EPIX original programming including documentaries, music concerts, comedy specials and championship boxing all in high definition.<br /> Just in time to catch the world television premiere of the biggest movie of 2012, The Avengers, PlayStation®Network users in the U.S. can sign up for a free two week trial to EPIX and get access to the full slate of EPIX programming. On an ongoing basis, EPIX will offer exclusive content such as songs from EPIX Original Concert Events and in the future a free movie or special each week to PlayStation Plus members who download the EPIX app. For more information on the EPIX Free Trial and weekly free preview titles, please visit: www.epixhd.com/watchnow-ps3/.<br /> The EPIX app will be available as a free download from the Media & Apps section of the PlayStation®Store for PS3 and PS Vita users in the United States.<br /> The ability to stream full movies and concerts on the PS3 and PS Vita systems is included as part of the EPIX premium subscription service available through cable, satellite and telco distributors.<br /> </div></div></div>

Epix hits PlayStation 3 today, arriving on Vita in coming weeks

Took a couple of months, but EPIX is finally ready to fulfill its promise of PlayStation 3 movie streaming today. The network's launc...

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Sony speakers combine NFC and WiFi / Bluetooth for minimal streaming effort

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" itemprop="text" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony speakers combine NFC and WiFi Bluetooth " data-src-height="282" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/cmt-bt80wb-head-on.png" /></div>The whole syncing thing proving too much effort for your music listening habits? Fear not -- two new streaming speakers from Sony are embracing the world of near field communication to take some of the trouble out of playback. The speakers come in two flavors -- the CMT-BT60B does Bluetooth streaming and the similarly alphanumeric CMT-BT80WB will stream via Bluetooth, WiFi or AirPlay. Both speakers feature aux inputs and USB for charging (and playback, in the case of the BT80WB). As for, you know, making sound, both feature Magnetic Fluid Speakers and S-Master amplifiers. They'll be hitting parts of Europe in May and the UK in June.<br /> </div></div>

Sony speakers combine NFC and WiFi / Bluetooth for minimal streaming effort

The whole syncing thing proving too much effort for your music listening habits? Fear not -- two new streaming speakers from Sony are embr...

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PlayStation 4's Blu-ray drive is 3x as fast as PS3's, PSN friends list cap raised, and other tidbits from Sony's GDC panel

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" itemprop="text" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/ps4leadimg619pxwmed.jpg" /></div>The PlayStation 4's new DualShock 4 controller can be charged even while the PlayStation 4 is turned off. The PlayStation 4's new Eye motion camera has a tilt sensor so it can tell players when its facing the wrong direction or if it's fallen off your TV stand. The PlayStation 4's Blu-ray disc drive is three times as fast as the PlayStation 3's. In case it weren't clear, Sony's PlayStation 4 panel at this week's Game Developers Conference wasn't chock full of major revelations, but it did provide plenty of interesting little details about the PlayStation 4 and its various hardware companions.<br /> For instance, the console's "True Name" social functionality isn't automatic -- you have to opt-in to who will see your real name versus your PlayStation Network ID. That is, unless you find a friend through Facebook or another social network where your real name is already your main ID; in that instance, the console defaults to displaying your actual name. That's not the only change coming to your friends list, either, as the standing 100 friends cap is being raised to an unknown amount.<br /> Additionally, the Gaikai-powered Remote Play functionality between the Vita and PS4 is said to be "much better," according to Sony senior staff engineer Chris Norden. Not only can it display your PS4 games in the Vita's native resolution (960x544), but it can be activated at any given time rather than having to be preset. And unlike Remote Play on PS3, with PS4 the game being pushed to the Vita is mirrored on your television screen. None of this stuff is what we'd call <em>red hot</em>, but we're hungry for PS4 details and this is what Sony's delivering. Here's hoping the company's more forthcoming at E3.<br /> </div></div>

PlayStation 4's Blu-ray drive is 3x as fast as PS3's, PSN friends list cap raised, and other tidbits from Sony's GDC panel

The PlayStation 4's new DualShock 4 controller can be charged even while the PlayStation 4 is turned off. The PlayStation 4's new ...

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Sony's PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 controller and Eye found at GDC 2013, we go eyes-on

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony's PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 controller and Eye found at GDC 2013, we go eyeson" data-src-height="394" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/ps4leadimg619pxwmed.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Sony's next-gen console, the PlayStation 4, is getting an updated DualShock controller when it arrives at retail this holiday. It's also getting an updated PlayStation Eye camera, which brings the camera much more in line with Microsoft's Kinect than any previous versions. We found the PS4 peripherals trapped under a glass box on the Game Developers Conference show floor, and Sony sadly wouldn't let us free them. We of course snapped a mess of pictures regardless, which you can see just below in the gallery. We anticipate the first hands-on opportunity with the DualShock 4 and PS4 Eye at E3 2013 in June, so hang tight for a few months!</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc06264.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc06276.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc06277.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="425" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/dsc06278.jpg" width="640" /></div></div>

Sony's PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 controller and Eye found at GDC 2013, we go eyes-on

Sony's next-gen console, the PlayStation 4, is getting an updated DualShock controller when it arrives at retail this holiday. It'...

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Sony Xperia Tablet Z passes through the FCC in WiFi trim

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony Xperia Tablet Z passes through the FCC in WiFi trim" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/sony-xperia-tablet-z-fcc.jpg" /></div>Sure, we've seen Sony dissect the Xperia Tablet Z to show its inner workings, but that doesn't get the slate any closer to its spring launch. An FCC approval will, however. The tablet has swung through the US agency in its regular WiFi form, with photos and a user manual removing any doubts as to its nature. While there's no surprises here -- not unless you really, <em>really</em> wanted to know the exact location of the WiFi antenna -- the move should leave just a few formalities between Americans and Sony's extra-thin design.<br /> </div></div>

Sony Xperia Tablet Z passes through the FCC in WiFi trim

Sure, we've seen Sony dissect the Xperia Tablet Z to show its inner workings, but that doesn't get the slate any closer to its spr...

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Sony Xperia ZL goes on pre-order for US customers, off-contract: $720 for HSPA, $760 for LTE

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Sony Xperia ZL goes on preorder for US customers, carrierfree" data-src-height="446" data-src-width="619" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/xperiazl.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Remember the Xperia ZL? While it lingered in the shadow of the waterproof Xperia Z back at CES, the phone does still exist and has now gone on preorder at Sony's own webstore. Withc the same 5-inch 1080p display, 13-megapixel camera and Snapdragon S4 Pro of the omnibalanced Z model, the Xperia ZL packs it into a smaller footprint and adds the courtesy of a physical camera button. Sony's NFC skills remain onboard and that lead camera is capable of HDR video capture, alongside recent improvements to the Xperia range's automatic shooting mode. While its own retail site is currently down (and there's no concrete date for when you'll get your hands on the phone), Sony says that it will be available from other online stores soon, pricing the Xperia ZL, contract- and carrier-less, at a hefty $720 on HSPA, or $760 for the 4G variant. That pricier option includes LTE Bands 2, 4 5, and 17, which means it should connect with AT&T's 4G network -- with or without any carrier branding.</div><div class="pr_box open" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div class="pr_text"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <strong>The Xperia™ ZL, the World's Most Compact Smartphone with a 5" Display, Comes to the US</strong></div>--5" Full HD Reality Display with the highest* phone-to-screen ratio, powered by Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2<br /> --13MP camera with Exmor RS™ for Mobile image sensor for HDR photos and videos<br /> --Easy One-touch connections to wirelessly share music, photos, and videos across other NFC-enabled devices<br /> --Sony's media applications deliver rich user experiences and instant access to entertainment services<br /> <br /> ATLANTA, March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Mobile Communications (USA), Inc. ("Sony Mobile") brings the Xperia™ ZL to the US, offering consumers the best of Sony in a premium smartphone. The Xperia ZL is now available online for pre-sale at Sony Store and will soon be available through other select online retailers.<br /> The Xperia ZL has all of the specifications expected from a premium smartphone and offers even more with best of Sony experiences. It combines a razor sharp 5" full HD (1920x1080p) Reality Display with an elegant and compact design. Intelligent camera features make taking high quality images easier than ever, and One-touch connections via NFC (Near field communication) allow the Xperia ZL to communicate with a wide range of NFC-enabled devices with a single tap.<br /> Compact design<br /> With Sony's expertise in design and craftsmanship, the Xperia ZL comes with subtly rounded edges, a curvature that fits naturally into the palm of your hand, and a compact layout that optimizes the iconic phone design.<br /> The power button also has high functionality, as the average user is likely to touch it an estimated 76 times per day, and exemplifies the premium build and craftsmanship that has gone into the Xperia ZL.<br /> <br /> Intelligent Sony Technology<br /> <br /> Xperia ZL's Reality Display, powered by Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2, brings Sony's long-standing TV expertise to the smartphone and delivers an immersive viewing experience with optimized colors, contrast, and clarity. Most smartphones available today have screen ratios of between 60 and 68 percent. Xperia ZL has been precision engineered for an exceptional viewing experience while maintaining a compact design, allowing the brilliant display-representing 75 percent of the overall footprint*-to take the spotlight.<br /> <br /> Xperia ZL also shares capabilities with Sony digital cameras and features Exmor RS for mobile, the world's first image sensor with HDR** (High Dynamic Range) video for smartphones. HDR technology enhances clear images against strong backlight, enabling users to capture razor sharp pictures and videos, no matter the conditions.<br /> <br /> Sony's One-touch functions enable consumers to easily share music, photos, and videos from their smartphone to an array of NFC-enabled Sony devices including speakers, headphones, and TVs. With the latest NFC-capable BRAVIA TV, simply touch the Xperia ZL to the TV remote control to instantly enjoy your photos or view the content of your phone's screen on a large TV screen. With an NFC-enabled headset or speaker, listen to the songs on your Xperia ZL with just a tap.<br /> <br /> Xperia ZL also includes Battery STAMINA Mode that significantly improves the battery standby time by automatically shutting down battery-draining apps whenever the screen is off and starting them up again when the screen is back on.<br /> <br /> Discover, enjoy and share entertainment with Sony's media applications<br /> <br /> Sony media applications offer a consistent entertainment experience across a range of Sony devices. The "WALKMAN", Album, and Movies apps enable discovery of online and offline content through a single access point. Each application provides new ways to enjoy and share that content. The "WALKMAN" application provides access to all of your downloaded music, a library of 18 million songs to explore from Music Unlimited***, and Facebook social integration. The Movies application gives consumers access to over 100,000 movies and TV series from Video Unlimited***, while the Album application enables easy access to Facebook friends' photos-you can even browse photos by location.<br /> Key features for Xperia ZL<br /> 5" 1080 x 1920p full HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2<br /> 13MP Fast Capture camera with Exmor RS for mobile, HDR video (1080p), Superior Auto and Noise Reduction to effortlessly capture razor sharp pictures and videos in any conditions<br /> Battery STAMINA for improved standby time<br /> NFC-enabled and Infra-red capable<br /> 1.5 GHz asynchronous quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 2GB RAM<br /> MSRP $759.99 (unlocked, Model C6506) and $719.99 (unlocked, Model C6502)<br /> Available colors: Black, White, Red<br /> Compatible network bands:<br /> Model C6502 HSPA+: 1,2,4,5,8 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900<br /> Model C6506 LTE: 2,4,5,17 & HSPA+: 1,2,4,5,8 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900<br /> Xperia ZL will launch on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)<br /> </div></div></div>

Sony Xperia ZL goes on pre-order for US customers, off-contract: $720 for HSPA, $760 for LTE

Remember the Xperia ZL? While it lingered in the shadow of the waterproof Xperia Z back at CES, the phone does still exist and has now go...

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Sony ruthlessly guts an Xperia Tablet Z for your viewing pleasure (video)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Sony ruthlessly tears apart an Xperia Tablet Z for your viewing pleasure (video)" data-src-height="310" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/xperiazteardown.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">It's not unusual to see products helplessly dismantled by the likes of <i>iFixit</i> and the FCC, but on rare occasions, companies sacrifice their own creations for our twisted enjoyment. This particular teardown is one of those instances, as Sony employed the skills of one "badass engineer" to reduce an Xperia Tablet Z to nothing but parts. There isn't much to learn from the accompanying gadget snuff movie aside from the cold speed at which said badass accomplishes the task -- inside the slate is a bundle of known components held together by a mixture of screws, tape and glue. The clip's narrator specifies the Tablet Z will be available sometime in May, but check out the video below if you'd like to get thoroughly acquainted beforehand. And don't worry about the poor unit's fate. Sony is just as adept at putting things back together.</div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zczfTnBFqtA?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Sony ruthlessly guts an Xperia Tablet Z for your viewing pleasure (video)

It's not unusual to see products helplessly dismantled by the likes of iFixit and the FCC, but on rare occasions, companies sacrifice t...

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Caption contest: Sony imagines the future of commuting, involves its 3D visors

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Caption contest Sony imagines the future of commuting, involves its giant 3D visors" data-src-height="450" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/sonyvisors.jpg" /></div>Musing on a dystopian near-future where you <em>really</em> don't want to see your fellow commuters, Sony Japan's Twitter account just offered us the above image. Is this what's going to happen when the likes of Sony and Google have managed to supplant our affection for smartphones with eyewear tech?<br /> <strong>Mat:</strong> "We're going to need more charging sockets."<br /> <strong>James:</strong> "Perhaps not the best time to be watching <em>Unstoppable</em>."<br /> <strong>Richard Lai: </strong>"You're seeing this ad because your fellow passengers are also watching this."<br /> <strong>Tim:</strong> "Nice shoes."<br /> <strong>Steve:</strong> "We've arrived? I'll just finish the movie while crossing this intersection."<br /> <strong>Dan:</strong> "Trainspotting? I haven't seen a train in years."<br /> <strong>Jon Fingas:</strong> "Seeing where you're going is <em>so</em> 2012."<br /> <strong>Brad:</strong> "We just can't get enough of that amazing Galaxy S 4 launch event."<br /> <strong>Edgar: </strong>"<em>Glass</em>? Where we're going, we don't need Glass."<br /> <strong>Ben:</strong> "Where am I? What's happened to my life? Oooh, a new episode of <em>Deadliest Catch</em>!"<br /> <strong>Darren</strong>: "Geordi La Forge is all up in these royalties."<br /> <strong>Terrence</strong>: <em>Blah, blah, bah, something, something, something</em>, private porn watching.<br /> <strong>Brian:</strong> "You guys are going to the X-Men auditions, too? Cool. Didn't want to miss my stop."<br /> <strong> David:</strong> "Do you know where we are? Hmm, about ten minutes into the season finale of <em>Game of Thrones</em>."<br /> <strong>Jon Turi:</strong> "Victims of the Krazy Glue prankster all try to go about their day."<br /> <strong>Michael:</strong> "Sony says all your face are belong to us."<br /> <strong>Don:</strong> "Wow. This is <em>just</em> like being on a train."<br /> <strong>Myriam:</strong> "So those grab-handles double as VR glasses, right?<br /> </div></div>

Caption contest: Sony imagines the future of commuting, involves its 3D visors

Musing on a dystopian near-future where you really don't want to see your fellow commuters, Sony Japan's Twitter account just of...

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NVIDIA opted out of PlayStation 4, cites Sony not offering enough money

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/ps4620x340pxhedimg.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Having produced the graphics chips that powered both the original Xbox and the PlayStation 3, it was a surprise to see NVIDIA's name left out of Sony's big PlayStation 4 reveal event last month. But there was AMD, picking up the empty spot left by NVIDIA, powering the PS4 with its 8-core "Jaguar" CPU and Radeon GPU. So, what happened? While we don't know the specifics of how AMD won the contract, NVIDIA's senior VP of content and tech Tony Tamasi tells <em>GameSpot</em> that his company, "Didn't want to do the business at the price those guys [Sony] were willing to pay."</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> In so many words, Tamasi says NVIDIA weighed its options against other potential products the company would be working on -- rather than producing discreet tech for a single console manufacturer, thus being unable to use said tech elsewhere -- and decided against it. "We had to look at console business as an opportunity cost. If we say, did a console, what other piece of our business would we put on hold to chase after that?" he tells the game site.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> NVIDIA is indeed working on a variety of new products, including an Android-powered Tegra 4 gaming handheld called Project Shield. That's in addition to its bread-and-butter business of PC GPU development -- the company recently unveiled its Titan GPU, a $1,000 card with enough power to keep your gaming graphics needs met for years to come (or at least we sure hope so at that price).</div></div>

NVIDIA opted out of PlayStation 4, cites Sony not offering enough money

  Having produced the graphics chips that powered both the original Xbox and the PlayStation 3, it was a surprise to see NVIDIA's name l...

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Reports: Apple's internet radio service delayed by slow-going music licensing negotiations

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/10/apple-itunes.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">According to folks in the know who've spoken to <em>Bloomberg</em> and <em>The New York Times</em>, Apple's oft-rumored streaming radio service is set for a late arrival. The reason is because of snails-pace negotiations with the publisher Sony/ATV for music licensing deals. As the <em>Times </em>notes, Sony no longer lets outsiders like ASCAP dole out licenses, leaving itself as chief point of contact for such agreements on its content -- this apparently got Pandora locked into a twenty five-percent increase on royalty payments to Sony. Prior to today's reports, <em>Bloomberg</em> stated that Cupertino was aiming for a Q1 release for this year, and the <em>NYT </em>notes Apple hoped that launch would've happened near the Grammy Awards. If you'll recall, Apple's service is said be direct competition to others like Pandora rather than Spotify, as it would be ad-supported for revenue. As usual, take all of this with a grain of salt, and don't get too thirsty for an Apple-curated streaming music service just yet. More info at the source links.</div></div>

Reports: Apple's internet radio service delayed by slow-going music licensing negotiations

  According to folks in the know who've spoken to Bloomberg and The New York Times , Apple's oft-rumored streaming radio service i...

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NVIDIA rolls out Apex and PhysX developer support for the PlayStation 4

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Just because the PlayStation 4 centers around an AMD-based platform doesn't mean that NVIDIA is out of the picture. The graphics firm is updating the software developer kits for both its Apex dynamics framework and PhysX physics modeling system to address Sony's new console, even if they won<img alt="NVIDIA rolls out APEX and PhysX developer support for the PlayStation 4" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/ps4-knack-340.jpg" />'t have the full hardware acceleration that comes with using NVIDIA's own chipsets. The introductions will mostly take some of the guesswork out of creating realistic-looking games -- theoretically, adding a larger number of collisions, destructible objects and subtler elements like cloth and hair modeling. Most of us won't see the fruits of the updated SDKs until at least this holiday, but programmers looking for more plausible PS4 game worlds can hit the source links.</div><div class="open" dir="ltr" id="pr_box" style="text-align: left;"> <div id="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div id="pr_text"> <em><strong>NVIDIA Announces PhysX and APEX Support for Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation®4</strong></em><br /> <em>SANTA CLARA, Calif.-March 7, 2013-NVIDIA today announced support for the Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation®4 with the popular NVIDIA® PhysX® and NVIDIA® APEX® software development kits (SDKs).<br /> <br /> Game designers use PhysX and APEX technologies for collision detection and simulation of rigid bodies, clothing, fluids, particle systems and more across a wide range of platforms, including desktop PCs, game consoles, and mobile and handheld devices.<br /> <br /> NVIDIA PhysX technology is the world's most pervasive physics solution for designing real-time, real-world effects into interactive entertainment titles. The PhysX development environment gives developers unprecedented control over the look of their final in-game interactivity.<br /> <br /> Taking PhysX technology content creation to the next level, NVIDIA APEX technology lets artists create intricate physics-enabled environments. They can expand the quantity and visual quality of destructible objects; make smoke and other particle-based fluids integral to game play; and create life-like clothing that interacts with the character's body to achieve more realism in their games.<br /> <br /> "Great physics technology is essential for delivering a better gaming experience and multiplatform support is critical for developers," said Mike Skolones, product manager for the PhysX at NVIDIA. "With PhysX and APEX support for PlayStation®4, customers can look forward to better games."<br /> <br /> NVIDIA PhysX and APEX technologies are designed to run on a variety of CPU architectures and can be accelerated by any CUDA® architecture-enabled NVIDIA GPU, GeForce 8-series or higher.</em><br /> </div></div></div>

NVIDIA rolls out Apex and PhysX developer support for the PlayStation 4

Just because the PlayStation 4 centers around an AMD-based platform doesn't mean that NVIDIA is out of the picture. The graphics firm i...

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The ever-expanding smartphone screen: how supersized became everyday

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Ever expanding smartphone screens" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/ever-expandingsmartphonescreen-crop-2.gif" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> It used to be that any smartphone screen beyond three inches was considered big -- and it was, for an audience still weaning itself off of flip phones and PDAs. Flash-forward several years, however, and we're to the point where many won't even consider less than a 4-inch screen, and the once-unfathomable 5-inch display is quickly becoming the de facto standard for high-end models. It's clear that many of us like our phones supersized, Zack Morris style. But when the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate is a reality, and Mobile World Congress<span> or future events may push the boundaries even further, there's still a worry that the focus on successively bigger displays might have gone too far. Have we pushed too hard for more glass? Or are we witnessing a wholesale shift away from the smartphone as we once knew it? There's truth to both sides. Follow along as we look at how smartphones have swelled over time, and how we're learning to love (or cope with) their dimensions.</span></div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title0" style="text-align: left;"> Before 2007: Small is a virtue</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="The evergrowing smartphone screen how big is too big" data-src-height="450" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/blackberry-6210.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7080182682816192337">We almost need a reminder that much of the smartphone's development before 2007 reflected a drive to shrink the phone, not make it bigger. A desire to slim down the body sometimes took the screen along for the ride, with relatively few objections from buyers who were often just happy to have a smartphone in the first place. The BlackBerry's display shrank from a 3-inch screen on the 5810 to 2.6 inches on the 6200 series, but sales didn't exactly slow down. There were exceptions like the 3.7-inch HTC Universal, too. When even the (now ironically named) TyTN had a 2.8-inch display, however, it's safe to say screen size didn't play nearly as much of a role as it does now.</a> <br /> To some extent, this was dictated by the technology. Bigger displays were more expensive to make than they are today, and they demanded battery power that phones couldn't always supply. Moreover, the resistive touchscreens of the day weren't making a convincing case for touch input as a whole -- anyone who's had to stab multiple times at an unresponsive panel will know why. Combine that with interfaces that often weren't optimized for finger touch, and it's not surprising that phone makers sometimes decided it was easier to combine a smaller screen with a directional pad, a keyboard or both. This was the heyday of the BlackBerry, Nokia's N series and the Palm Treo, when many of us were just getting used to email on our phones.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title1" style="text-align: left;"> 2007-2009: The iPhone and early Android</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="The evergrowing smartphone screen how big is too big" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/droid-and-iphone.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Whatever your platform allegiances, it's hard to dispute the significance of the iPhone's January 2007 announcement in changing our expectations for smartphone screens. Never mind that Steve Jobs describing the device's 3.5-inch LCD as "giant" seems quaint several years later -- the iPhone's support for capacitive multi-touch, and the more intuitive interface that came with it, helped justify replacing hardware buttons with a larger display. Apple also highlighted full web browsing and advanced media playback, both tasks that benefited from a larger screen.<br /> <br /> There weren't any immediate responses in 2007, if only because most competitors already had products in mid-development. The HTC Touch was locked in at 2.8 inches, and Palm was going even smaller with the Centro's 2.2-inch screen. In 2008 and 2009, however, the battle of bigger displays was starting in earnest as companies raced to introduce modern touchscreen phones of their own. Both the BlackBerry Storm and T-Mobile G1 carried 3.2-inch screens. Nokia followed the conventional, 2.8-inch N96 with the touch-focused, 3.5-inch N97. Others even staked the survival of their brands on bigger displays, as complete overhauls of their OS platforms revolved around truly touch-native interfaces. Motorola dropped its BlackBerry-like, Windows Mobile-based Q9 series for the 3.7-inch Droid and the Palm Pre jumped to 3.1 inches after years of 2.5-inch Treos. HTC pushed the limits toward the end of this period with the 4.3-inch HD2 -- a device that seemed like an oversized outlier in late 2009, but it would set the tone for 2010. It was safe to say that any major smartphone builder worth its salt had at least a 3-inch model going into the new decade.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title2" style="text-align: left;"> 2010: The Android screen size explosion</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="The evergrowing smartphone screen how big is too big" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dell-streak-review-620.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Android was taking off in the wake of the Motorola Droid, and the software's support for both finger touch and multiple resolutions effectively opened the floodgates for companies wanting to one-up each other with bigger screens across more of their lineups. HTC matched Motorola with the 3.7-inch Desire, Nexus One and Droid Incredible earlier in 2010, and expanded its 4.3-inch line to include the Desire HD in October. Motorola continued a hit streak with the 4.3-inch Droid X. Samsung wasn't quite as aggressive as its peers, but there's no denying that the 4-inch Galaxy S served as a benchmark for the entire industry, if just through sheer ubiquity. When it was available on seemingly every carrier and well-regarded for both its vibrant display and its high performance, there was a good chance that many smartphone buyers at least considered a Galaxy S if they weren't dead-set on another device. Samsung managed to sell 10 million units of the flagship smartphone by the start of 2011, proving that 4-inch or larger phones could be popular.</div><blockquote class="quote right" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> We even got a peek at how smartphones would look two years down the road, although we didn't realize it at first.</blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> We even got a peek at how smartphones would look two years down the road, although we didn't realize it at first. LG's 4.8-inch, Intel-packing GW990 prototype was labeled as a Mobile Internet Device because it was so much larger than its contemporaries; we had a hard time even believing that it could be a smartphone, even though the necessary cellular ingredients were in place. Nevertheless, the quickly scuttled design served as an unofficial template for future phones by showing how the web and video could benefit from a large canvas. And who can forget the 5-inch Dell Streak? While a chunky frame, cellular data in only some models and a misplaced emphasis on tablet-like software kept the Streak from setting the world on fire, it would prove to be prophetic. It suggested that phones would eventually turn into big-screened data devices that just happened to take phone calls. As often as we teased those who insisted Dell's crossover was pocketable, they had foresight that would have been immensely valuable to phone makers.<br /> <br /> Not every designer hopped on the bandwagon. Apple, Nokia, Palm and RIM mostly stayed the course on screen size in 2010. However, this conservatism wasn't necessarily a setback at the time. Apple had no trouble selling the iPhone 4 with an extra-sharp 3.5-inch display, and it was even defensive about its choice: Jobs is well-known for insisting at the time that phones needed to be usable with one hand, and app compatibility was better served by maintaining the status quos for resolution and size. Palm and other companies bleeding market share had far more on their plates to worry about than mere phone dimensions, even if short-lived devices like the Pre 3 signaled intentions to catch up. Nonetheless, developments during the year would set the stage for the size debate ahead. There were now multiple phones that really needed two hands to work, with no signs of the trend slowing down.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title3" style="text-align: left;"> 2011: Dawn of the supersized phone</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="The evergrowing smartphone screen how big is too big" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/samsung-galaxy-note-review-angle.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> And then the gloves came off. Almost as soon as 2011 began, 4.3-inch smartphones were in the pipeline from most major manufacturers, including Samsung's platform-defining Galaxy S II. Only it didn't stop there: we saw Samsung's 4.5-inch Infuse 4G eclipsed by the 4.65-inch Galaxy Nexus, and HTC rolled out 4.7-inch phones like the Sensation XL and Titan. The rush toward ever-larger phones was sometimes dictated as much by the extreme battery demands of early LTE as it was corporate one-upmanship -- just ask any long-suffering Thunderbolt owner -- but it ultimately led to a market where phones that seemed enormous a year earlier were suddenly modest.</div><blockquote class="quote left" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> The Galaxy Note's 5.3-inch screen and pen pushed it so far past smartphone conventions that it popularized a new term -- like it or not, the "phablet" badge gained wider acceptance.</blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> All this doesn't even include Samsung's original Galaxy Note. Its 5.3-inch screen and pen pushed it so far past smartphone conventions that it popularized a new term -- like it or not, the "phablet" badge gained wider acceptance after the Note's arrival in October 2011. It was arguably too big to comfortably use one-handed, like the Streak, but faster hardware, a better display and smartly optimized software kept it from becoming a specialist device. The Note would go on to become one of Samsung's best-selling smartphones during the period, and it would ultimately spawn a horde of me-too devices.<br /> <br /> That breakneck pace in screen growth made the exceptions (voluntary or otherwise) all the more visible. While Apple had no shortage of customers for the iPhone 4S, the gap between the iPhone's 3.5-inch LCD and that of its rapidly growing competition was becoming glaringly obvious to those who wanted as much screen area as possible. The difference was even more apparent in the BlackBerry line, where 3.2 inches was still the maximum. Meanwhile, Nokia was mostly saved by its full-steam-ahead transition to Windows Phone, where a brief regression from four inches in Symbian phones to 3.7 inches in the Lumia 800 was accompanied by a more sophisticated platform that may well have rescued the company. Whatever the arguments about the value of screen size, the goalposts for common sizes were shifting.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title4" style="text-align: left;"> 2012: Huge is the new normal</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="HTC Droid DNA review" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/11/dsc02849-1353052941.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> By 2012, even those who hadn't rushed to embrace larger displays had them on deck. Nokia proved it could grow with the 4.3-inch Lumia 900 and, later, the 4.5-inch Lumia 920. Apple also answered a longstanding call for a bigger screen with the 4-inch iPhone 5 -- a comparatively modest leap, but an acknowledgment that the market had changed since the iPhone first arrived. The conservative increase was once again justified by Apple's view that a phone had to be usable with one hand.</div><blockquote class="quote right" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Companies using large screens were increasingly self-conscious of the design limits. A big screen had to work well, not just serve as a bragging right.</blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Elsewhere, screen dimensions didn't grow up so much as grow out. Sizes once thought extreme were now making their way into thoroughly ordinary devices. Remember how the GW990's 4.8-inch screen seemed impossibly large in 2010? By 2012, Samsung's Galaxy S III made that size commonplace. Many other predominantly Android-based phones, such as the HTC One X, LG Optimus G and Sony Xperia T, often came close at 4.6 or 4.7 inches. The 4.3-inch displays we'd been awed by in 2010 were more often reserved for mid-range handsets like the One S and Motorola's Droid RAZR M. Thankfully, many of the companies using large screens were increasingly self-conscious of the design limits. A big screen had to work well, not just serve as a bragging right. Motorola and Samsung respectively introduced the Droid RAZR HD and Galaxy S III by emphasizing how efficiently they used screen space, occupying little, if any, more total area than their ancestors.<br /> <br /> The extra-large category saw a similar trend. LG only had limited success in countering the Galaxy Note with the overly squat, 5-inch Optimus Vu, but Samsung's own 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II was considerably smarter. While it was more expansive than its ancestor, the Note II was easier to hold, better justified its pen and included settings to make one-handed use feasible for some tasks. Sometimes that improved ergonomic design was the very selling point, as with Pantech's Vega R3 -- its one-handed grip was a relative novelty where such a notion was once a certainty.<br /> <br /> Toward the end of the year, we'd see a trend that would spill into 2013: the 5-inch, 1080p smartphone. HTC's Droid DNA justified its larger size not through pens or other special tricks, but through sheer resolution. It was hard to deny the at least superficial appeal of a phone with as many pixels as the 55-inch TV in the den, even if that device was scarcely smaller than the Galaxy Note from a year earlier.</div><h3 dir="ltr" id="title5" style="text-align: left;"> 2013: Where do we go from here?</h3><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Huawei Ascend Mate" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/01/huaweimate.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> While we're just weeks into 2013 as of this writing, a pattern is quickly forming. The once-rare 5-inch smartphone is already abundant with the presence of the Huawei Ascend D2, Sony Xperia Z / ZL and ZTE Grand S. LG's Optimus G Pro is coming in both 5-inch and Samsung-rivaling 5.5-inch flavors. And then there are the 5.7-inch ZTE Grand Memo and 6.1-inch Huawei Ascend Mate -- devices so expansive that they're scarcely an inch away from full-fledged tablets like the Nexus 7. If there's a point where manufacturers back off, we haven't yet reached it.<br /> <br /> As such, it's doubtful that we'll hear a different tune from many of those who have yet to show key parts of their smartphone lineups this year. Apple and BlackBerry are the two companies that haven't pushed their phones to 4.3 inches or beyond, but they've purposefully drawn lines in the sand that they won't cross, at least not in the near future. They have the advantages of OS differences and brand cachet to explain their more moderate screen sizes. Others won't necessarily have that luxury if they're competing mostly on hardware features, however. "Go big or go home" is more than just a truism in this field.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/12/samsung-ativ-s-review-9-1355871164.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> We wouldn't say the seeming arms race is a problem, however. Most of the phones we've tried so far include design traits that offset their massive surfaces, such as narrow edges and curved backs. We wouldn't have believed that the Xperia ZL would be comfortable if you'd told us the year before, for example. Samsung's software optimization for single-hand use may be an admission that its hardware design is stretching the limits of human hands, but it's also a way to get the advantages of a big device without requiring both hands at all times.<br /> <br /> Moreover, the primary purposes of smartphones have clearly changed. Early on, they were phones first, and data devices second. The various advents of modern apps, browsing and media shifted the focus enough that voice is almost incidental today. Our smartphones are now pocket computers, and they're often our cameras and GPS units, too. Until and unless wearable computing replaces the smartphone, a bigger screen helps us process the glut of information we face in a day, and frequently provides a source of entertainment when it's time to relax. There's undeniably a threshold at which smartphone builders will have to relent: no one's about to stuff a Galaxy Tab into their pocket. Likewise, there's a good chance we'll still see smaller devices for those who can't (or won't) switch to a phone that's too big for their hands or pockets. Still, the past few years have taught us not to make too many assumptions -- through technology and shifting tastes, what's an extraordinary screen one year often becomes run-of-the-mill fare the next.</div></div>

The ever-expanding smartphone screen: how supersized became everyday

It used to be that any smartphone screen beyond three inches was considered big -- and it was, for an audience still weaning itself off ...

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Sony intros MDR-X05 headphones: massive Simon Cowell-endorsed bass, small footprint

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Sony intros MDRX05 headphones massive Simon Cowellendorsed bass, small footprint " data-src-height="413" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc04832.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Is this really happening, again? Why, yes, it is. Following up on its massive MDR-X10 bass-pumping headphones from last year, Sony and Simon Cowell have introduced the MDR-X05. As you might take from the name, the cans are basically a smaller addition to the series, packing 40MM drivers (down from 50) and a few more color options (red/black, red/red, white/silver, red/silver and black/silver) -- some of which do the headphones more justice than the silver/red colorway we got our mitts on previously. As far as we can tell, by the way, these are very likely a re-badge of the MDR-X400 headphones for the American market. As you'd expect, the cans fold flat for storage and feature an iDevice-compatible inline remote and mic. </div><div class="post-gallery" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="title"><strong>Sony MDR-X05 hands-on</strong></h3><br /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc04824_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc04825_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc04826_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc04827-1362083443_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc04828_95x95.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/dsc04829_95x95.jpg" /> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Unlike the X10, the tangle-proof flat cabling isn't removeable and connects using both earcups, but the connections seem robust enough to handle a good bit of torture. Because the same materials and finish are used on the X05 as the X10, the headphones feel virtually the same in-hand -- a bit plasticky, but solid overall. The headphones may be smaller, but they still manage to feel nearly as cosy and isolate a fair amount amount of external noise as their bigger brother, mostly because they're packing the same style of plush memory foam earpads wrapped in synthetic leather. As far as sound quality goes, the bass push on these is just as smooth and open-sounding as the X10, but the high-end is noticeably harsher -- we definitely felt the need to turn on "treble reducer" in our iPhone's EQ settings. If you're bass-hungry ears are interested, the X05 headphones are up for pre-sale at Sony's online store for $200 (100 less than the X10), but the smaller discount won't make them look any less loud on your ears while you're out and about. You can expect 'em to hit shelves March 22nd. For now, find more details in the press release after the break.</div><div class="open" dir="ltr" id="pr_box" style="text-align: left;"> <div id="pr_box_button">Hide Press Release</div><div id="pr_text"> <em>THURSDAY 28TH February</em><br /> <em><strong>SONY ANNOUNCES NEW ADDITION TO X HEADPHONE LINE</strong></em><br /> <em>More Compact Option; Available in Variety of Colors</em><br /> <em>NEW YORK (February 28, 2013) – Sony announced today its newest addition to the X</em><br /> <em>Headphone line, the on-ear MDR-X05. These new headphones deliver music lovers a premium</em><br /> <em>Sony audio experience in a more compact and lightweight design. Together in collaboration with</em><br /> <em>one of the world's leading record producers, Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment, the</em><br /> <em>new X05 delivers killer sound reproduction in an aggressive, stylish design.</em><br /> <em>"When Sony teamed up with Simon Cowell, our goal was to create the best sounding</em><br /> <em>headphones in the world for today's most popular music– allowing listeners to experience</em><br /> <em>the full spectrum of audio that artists and producers hear in recording studios," said Andrew</em><br /> <em>Sivori, vice president of the Personal Audio group at Sony Electronics. "With the newest X</em><br /> <em>Headphones, now we're delivering that experience in a more compact and portable design."</em><br /> <em>Legendary Sony Audio Engineering</em><br /> <em>Sony set out to achieve unmatched high performance sound in a smaller and lightweight</em><br /> <em>design with the new X Headphones. Engineered with an efficient acoustic design, the new</em><br /> <em>X Headphones feature precision 40mm drivers for a crisp, full-range audio experience that</em><br /> <em>optimally reproduces today's bass-heavy music.</em><br /> <em>With their pressure-relieving memory foam ear pads, the X Headphones conform to each</em><br /> <em>user's unique ear shape, providing a highly effective acoustic seal and preventing sound leakage.</em><br /> <em>In addition to reinforcing the headphones' powerful sub-bass reproduction capability, the ear</em><br /> <em>pads deliver a supportive, cushy feel, ideal for maximum long-term comfort.</em><br /> <em>Stylish Design</em><br /> <em>The X Headphones look as great as they perform with their color-accented headbands,</em><br /> <em>swivel mechanisms and end caps. Their dual folding style allows the user to swivel the noise</em><br /> <em>isolating ear pads for listening flexibility, as well as conveniently fold the headphones into an</em><br /> <em>included sleek carrying case for hassle-free portability.</em><br /> <em>Featuring grooved serrations on its surface, the X Headphones' high-quality cord</em><br /> <em>provides an innovative design that eliminates friction between cable surfaces, reducing the</em><br /> <em>incidence of frustrating tangles.</em><br /> <em>The X Headphones are designed to provide maximum performance when used with all</em><br /> <em>of today's portable music devices. For iPod®, iPhone® and iPad® users, the X Headphones</em><br /> <em>include a convenient Apple® 3-button control with a microphone, track, and volume control</em><br /> <em>functionality, allowing users to access their music and answer phone calls. The remote also</em><br /> <em>provides basic control of most AndroidTM devices as well.</em><br /> <em>Hearing is Believing</em><br /> <em>The new X Headphones will be available in five new color variations (red on silver, black</em><br /> <em>on silver, white on silver, black on red, and red on black) for pre-sale today at www.sony.com/</em><br /> <em>X5 and beginning March 22 through the Sony Store online (http://store.sony.com), in Sony</em><br /> <em>retail stores, and at other authorized retailers nationwide for about $199. Special demonstration</em><br /> <em>stations at Sony Stores and at select retailers will give consumers the opportunity to experience</em><br /> <em>the headphones for themselves. For images and information, please visit www.sony.com/news.</em><br /> <em>Please visit www.sony.com/XHeadphones or Follow #SonyX on Twitter for the latest</em><br /> <em>X Headphones news. Also, stay tuned to the Sony Blog for upcoming opportunities to win your</em><br /> <em>own X Headphones.</em><br /> </div></div></div>

Sony intros MDR-X05 headphones: massive Simon Cowell-endorsed bass, small footprint

  Is this really happening, again? Why, yes, it is. Following up on its massive MDR-X10 bass-pumping headphones from last year, Sony and Si...

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Ustream on PlayStation 4: discovery, one-click sharing and being 'a modern day cable provider'

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /> <div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="How Ustream will work on PlayStation 4" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/sharebutton620x340pxhedimgwmed.jpg" /></div>"We've partnered with some of the biggest and most influential social networks in the world, including Facebook and Ustream, to bring gamers' friends into games like never before," former Gaikai CEO David Perry told attendees of Sony's PlayStation 4 event last week. It was the only mention Ustream got during the show, despite the video streaming service playing a critical role in Sony's next video game console. In-tandem with the PlayStation 4's new DualShock 4 controller and its "Share" button, users will be able to quickly upload saved gameplay video clips or directly stream their game out to the internet. The console's lead system architect, Mark Cerny, expanded on the importance of the Share button and its implications to the PlayStation 4 during last week's presentation. "Social play is so important to PlayStation 4 that we've added in hardware to support it, in the form of dedicated, always-on video compression and decompression systems," he said.<br /> We saw a bit of the game sharing / streaming interface during Sony's presentation, but were left wondering about specifics: how will discovery work? and what of other, non-gaming Ustream content? Thankfully, Ustream CEO Brad Hunstable was able to offer up most of our answers in a recent interview. "Our goal is to allow discovery in a very clean user experience, both in discovery on the console itself and on various platforms that the content'll be available on (like Ustream, Twitter, and Facebook)," Hunstable said. He wouldn't speak to the specifics of how that discovery will work, nor would he say if you'll be able to sign-in simply using your PlayStation Network ID or if you'll have to sign up for a separate Ustream account, but he stressed that the decisions being made are, "based on what's easiest and best for the gamer." That same rubric is (<em>thankfully</em>) being applied to functionality. "The goal is to make sure it's very easy -- one click of a button, super simple -- and most importantly make sure it looks really, really good. And is viewable wherever people want to watch it from," Hunstable said.<br /> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Ustream on PlayStation 4 discovery, oneclick sharing, and being 'a modern day cable provider'" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/ps4interface620x340pxhedimgwmed.jpg" /></div>As for console culture versus PC gaming, where streaming has been the norm for some time now, Hunstable's bullish on its reception. He even went as far as to call his company, "a modern day cable provider," while the PlayStation 4 is, "a modern day cable box." He cited gamers as "the modern day star" in this analogy; "The way I'm really thinking about it is you can think of gamers now having the ability to direct, produce, and star in their own video game production, their own video game TV show (if you will)." While we're not so sure we'd go that far just yet, something else he said made that concept a bit more realistic.<br /><blockquote> "It's very much our intention and plan to be able to serve the amazing content outside of gaming into these consoles for entertainment purposes. Whether that's a Justin Bieber concert or a Psy concert or an asteroid flyby like we had the other day from NASA (that had about the same viewership as the Sony PlayStation -- 8 million people, and one million concurrents as well), all the way down to your local high school football game. Our intention very much is to bring all the capability of Ustream into these environments."</blockquote>Hunstable said we'll find out many more specifics in the coming months. He also confirmed that Ustream expects all of its promised PlayStation 4 functionality to be functioning and available alongside the console's launch this holiday.<br /> </div></div>

Ustream on PlayStation 4: discovery, one-click sharing and being 'a modern day cable provider'

"We've partnered with some of the biggest and most influential social networks in the world...

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