GameStop gets exclusive Final Fantasy PSP bundle

Posted in Sony by Shane McGlaun on May 15th, 2009

finalfantastpsp-sbSony often announces limited edition entertainment packs for its PSP console that bundle some new game with an exclusive color and other items to entice users to buy its portable console. The PSP-3000 is getting a bit long in the tooth now and rumors are circulating that a new PSP may be coming.

I’m not sure about the new PSP yet, but GameStop is getting a new exclusive PSP bundle to go along with the launch of the Dissidia Final Fantasy game. The bundle will include a mystic silver PSP-3000, Dissidia Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children CGI movie UMD, and a 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo.

Slim PS3 spotted?

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on May 14th, 2009

Slim PS3 spotted?Check out this grainy shot of a PS3 “slim,”. If this turns out to be the real deal, it has a wild redesign and would be one of the smallest Blu-ray devices out there. This is similar to the Slimline PS2, with the familiar curve of the PS3, and even a slot-loading disc drive and 120GB hard drive.

Sony has officially denied its existence saying “We currently don’t have any plans for a redesigned PS3 at this time,” but what else would they say? We’ll probably learn the truth at E3, but at least we have some pics to back it up.

Slimmer PS3 at E3?

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on May 13th, 2009

Slimmer PS3 at E3?Hot on the heels of that white US DualShock 3 this morning, there’s word that a revised PS3 is in the works. Rumor is that it’s the long-rumored slimmed-down redesign of the current console, not just a change in color or storage.

It makes sense as it would be cheaper to make and it might even include the rumored motion-sensing hardware. That would help sales.

White PS3 Dual Shock 3 surfaces in US

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on May 13th, 2009

White PS3 Dual Shock 3 surfaces in USSomething interesting happened at a Walmart in Florida. A white Dual Shock 3 controller for the PS3 seems to have surfaced. It’s possible that it may be announced sometime later this year. Possibly at E3. So far, this color is only available in Japan, but does a white Dual Shock sighting mean a release in either North America or Canada?

Sony has responded and denied the existence of the white controller as well as plans for releasing it Stateside in a color that is not black. Maybe some guy just spray painted one and re-boxed it.

Sony whips out X-series Walkman

Posted in Sony by Shane McGlaun on May 13th, 2009

sonyxwalkman-sbThe Sony Walkman has been around for decades. When I was a kid, the name was tied to big yellow cassette tape players. Later the Walkman was a huge set of earphones with a silver antenna a mile long for tuning FM radio. Today the Walkman name is on mobile phones and MP3 players.

Sony has announced a new top-of-the-line Walkman MP3 player called the X-series. The series has integrated Wi-Fi, Slacker Radio, YouTube and integrated noise reduction technology. The device is optimized for both audio and video with a 3-inch OLED touch screen with high contrast and fast response rates.

Sony prepping Alpha A230, A330, A380 SLRs

Posted in Cameras by Conner Flynn on May 7th, 2009

Sony prepping Alpha A230, A330, A380 SLRsSony is preparing not one, not two, but three entry-level Alpha digital SLRs for a launch in the near future. A drop-down menu on the company’s UK support page gives it away, revealing the A330 and two lenses (50mm and 18-55mm) when choosing from cameras, plus an analyst’s Twitter update has also revealed the existence of the A230 and the A380. No details about either of these cameras.

Apparently the models are all direct upgrades to the A200, A300 and A350. The A200 and A300 have been entry-level models with fixed (A200) and swivel (A300) LCDs with 10.2-megapixel sensors and live view on the A300. The A350 has largely been a higher-resolution version of the A300.

Sony Rolly discontinued

Posted in Sony by Conner Flynn on May 6th, 2009

Sony Rolly gets Bluetooth, more memoryWe wish we could say that this came as a surprise, but nope, we kinda figured that the little Rolly was on The way out. The Sony Rolly has been discontinued in the U.S. The good news is if you are located near a SonyStyle store, go check it out to see if they have them in stock. Thy are having a fire sale with a price of $99. That’s $300 off the original price.

Again, this is no big surprise. The Rolly was a $400 dancing egg. You do the math. But we can’t help wondering what Sony will dream up next to take its place. Maybe a little dancing and hopping cube. Think Rubik’s cube meets Disco.

PlayStation 3 motion-sensing controller at E3?

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on May 1st, 2009

PlayStation 3 motion-sensing controller at E3?Sony’s E3 press event is just over one month away. The rumors are already flying. We told you about PSP’s overhaul, but now Variety is reporting that the PlayStation 3 motion sensing controller will be appearing on stage.

Word is that third-party developers have already been asked to implement the functionality into their upcoming games. You guys interested in the PS-Wii?

Sony debuts connected BRAVIA Z5500 LCD HDTV line

Posted in HDTV by Conner Flynn on April 30th, 2009

Sony debuts connected BRAVIA Z5500 LCD HDTV lineSony introduced the Z5500 line. A trio consisting of 40-inch, 46-inch and 52-inch models, the set boasts Motionflow 200Hz technology, DLNA certification, the outfit’s BRAVIA Engine 3, its own ‘draw the LINE’ design concept, a 1080p panel and a CI Plus interface.

You’ll also get an integrated MPEG-4/AVC HD tuner, BRAVIA Sync (HDMI-CEC), an auto shut-off function, a dedicated ‘Energy Saving Switch’ and AppliCast, which lets users access a range of online services (RSS feeds and all sorts of other widgets) via the built-in Ethernet jack.

The PXP-900 looks familiar

Posted in Handheld Entertainmnet by Conner Flynn on April 29th, 2009

pxp-900_1-480x389We’ve seen our share of gaming and gadget rip-offs, but this is one of the most blatant knockoffs we’ve seen in a while. Look familiar? Why it looks exactly like a Sony PSP. And while the PXP-900 clones the style, it doesn’t bother with the titles, instead, sticking to retro gaming ROMs.

The PXP-900 can handle classic titles from the NES, Famicom, Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Super Famicom and SEGA MegaDrive. Onboard storage is 2GB, and it functions as a PMP too, playing up to 25fps 320 x 240 video in a bunch of formats on a 4.3-inch display.

Sony unveiling new PSP with slide-out buttons at E3?

Posted in PSP by Conner Flynn on April 29th, 2009

Sony unveiling new PSP with slide-out buttons at E3?Rumors of a major PSP hardware redesign have repeatedly surfaced over the last several months. There have been claims that the UMD disc drive is gone, and others pointing to a second analog stick and sliding screen. 1up cites some sources directly involved with the new system and says that Sony will unveil their revamped PSP at this year’s E3 conference in June.

Here’s the breakdown. The UMD is gone, replaced with options for 8GB or 16GB of built-in flash memory. Three rumored names include PSP Slide, PSP Flip, and PSP Go!. That last borrows from Sony’s Go! brand and has us thinking there might be a built-in camera. The same D-pad, analog nub, and face button configuration, but they now slide out from the bottom of the unit.

Sony outs two new Bluetooth headphones

Posted in Headphones by Conner Flynn on April 28th, 2009

Sony outs two new Bluetooth headphonesSony has released a few new Bluetooth 2.1 headphones to delight your ears and hearts. They come with echo and noise cancellation technologies for a better experience. The duo in question consists of the Sony DR-BT100CX and DR-BT101.

They come with controls for volume, play and skipping tracks and of course you can either accept or reject incoming calls. The DR-BT100CX has USB charging with 8 hours of playback and silicon ear buds, while the DR-BT101 has a 30mm neodymium driver and 12 hours of non-stop audio playback.

Sony releases VPL-EX7 and VPL-EX70 projectors

Posted in Projectors by Conner Flynn on April 23rd, 2009

Sony releases VPL-EX7 and VPL-EX70 projectorsSony’s latest attempts at the projector market come in the form of these latest two models, the VPL-EX7 and VPL-EX70. Both of these models have the ability to throw a 60″ screen at 1,024 x 768 resolution from a distance of 1.8m, with a short focal lens.

The VPL-EX70 is labeled as BrighEra with a 900:1 contrast ratio and a brightness of 2600 lumens, while the VPL-EX7 has a 500:1 contrast ratio and a 2000 lumens brightness. There is no word on pricing yet.

PSP Firmware Update 5.50

Posted in PSP by Conner Flynn on April 21st, 2009

PSP Firmware Update 5.50With every release of new PSP firmware, Sony’s handheld gets closer to the PS3 as far as features. Firmware update 5.50 will installed the “Information Board” to the XMB, letting PSP users get the latest news from Sony whenever new additions are available.

Some other super-amazing updates include creating and accessing sub-directories on the Memory Stick, on the browser side there’s a trial of Trend Micro’s “Kid’s Safety” service and Internet search games.

Silver DualShock 3 controller spotted at Gamestop

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on April 18th, 2009

Silver DualShock 3 controller spotted at GamestopYou’re probably getting mighty sick of that all-black DualShock 3 controller. Colorware is one option, but who wants to lay out that much money just to paint a controller? Luckily for you GameStop has your back. Assuming you like silver.

Today, the website has a listing for a silver version of the wireless SIXAXIS controller. It’s actually been available on the Japanese market forever, but those of us in North America can finally have a crack at it now.





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