Posts Tagged ‘Sony’

This device from Sony made an appearance on the FCC this morning.  Known as the NAC-SV10i Network Audio Component/Server, the device offers 802.11 b/g WiFi as well as an Ethernet port.

We don’t know precisely what this device will be used for, but from the looks of things we’d guess that it either has internal storage, and can be used to pump out audio over a home network, or perhaps the device simply streams audio from PCs.

The NAC-SV10i only has audio out and in ports, however, so it doesn’t look like the device does video.

No word on pricing or a release date.

We spotted Sony’s PS3 Motion Controller on the FCC back in March, and yesterday the controller made a follow-up appearance on the FCC with a slight antenna gain bump.  You can see test reports from Sony’s March FCC filing, below left, and yesterday’s filing, below right.  The lower row of the table, Antenna Gain, shows an increase from 0.4 dBi max in March to 0.8 dBi max in yesterday’s filing.

Now, we’re not antenna engineers by any means, but we’re gonna assume bigger is better in this case.  Antenna gain measures the intensity of an antenna in a given direction that would be produced by a hypothetical ideal antenna that radiates equally in all directions, at least that’s what Wikipedia tells us, so we’re assuming a higher number in yesterday’s FCC filing is indicative of an antenna with greater intensity.  Sounds good to us.

Rumors of a Hulu subscription service have been circling for months, and today the company formally unveiled the service, now known as Hulu Plus.  For $10 a month, Hulu Plus brings you streaming HD TV to your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Samsung App-compatible device.  iPad and iPhone support includes both 3G and WiFi access.  Later this year, Hulu Plus will offer support for TVs and Blu Ray players from Sony and Vizio, with support for the PS3 coming in July, followed by the Xbox 360 in early 2011.

Hulu Plus features the current season of 40 shows, including 30 Rock, Dancing with the Stars, Friday Night Lights, House, Modern Family and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  The service also includes access to past seasons of 33 shows, including The Office, Arrested Development, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives and Heroes.  You can see a full list of shows here.

The $10 per month price point is reasonable and the service does offer a pretty rich selection of content.  You can download the Hulu Plus iPhone and iPad app for free, however you must request an invite to the service – it is not yet available to the general public.

Sony was busy on the FCC today, winning FCC approval for four new PS3 models, as well as a “Reference Tool” for the PS3.

The new PS3s have the model numbers:

• CECH-2501A
• CECH-2501B
• DECH-2500A
• DECH-S2500A

The CECH-2501A and B models are described as a “Computer Entertainment System” and the only difference between these two devices is hard drive size.  Interestingly, the DECH-2500A and S2500A devices are PS3 debugging stations, and are similar to the CECH models except for cosmetics.

If you remember, debugging stations with the ‘DECH’ model prefix were provided to reviewers prior to the launch of the original PS3.  Debugging stations apparently can fetch a nice price on eBay, since they are so rare.

The big question is what is the difference, if any, between these four PS3s and the current PS3.  FCC reports do not show any significant difference between the models that passed through the FCC today and current PS3 models.  However, new PS3 debugging stations suggests that there is definitely something unique about these PS3s.

Sony also passed a device called a “Reference Tool” through the FCC today (below).  According to test reports, this device is used “to make software for game.”

Reference Tools are typically sent to game developers for software testing.  It’s not clear, however, why Sony is approving new Reference Tools for the PS3.  This could indicate something as exciting as new features or functionality for the PS3, or maybe something less exciting like the use of different Bluetooth or WiFi chipsets.

It’s also possible that these new PS3 units are related to Sony’s upcoming Motion Controller launch.  Although, it’s not clear why the Motion Controller would require new PS3 Reference Tools and Debugging Stations.

We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

This intriguing little box from Sony made an appearance on the FCC today.  Dubbed the NSZ-GT1 “Internet TV Box,” this device sounds suspiciously like a Google TV solution from Sony.

Sony has already announced plans to release a Google TV-enabled TV called Sony Internet TV, and it’s conceivable that the Internet TV Box is designed to Google TV-enable existing TVs.  The device offers 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, a good solution for entertainment centers that are not near a wired Ethernet connection.  FCC test reports also show the device connected to a USB mouse, so the device apparently will have at least one USB port, as well.

We don’t have a firm release date for Sony’s Internet TV or the Internet TV Box, but Google TV developer tools will be released in a couple months, with products likely to follow later this year.  We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

A couple new netbooks from Sony appeared on the FCC today.  Known as the PCG-51311L and the PCG-51411L, these netbooks feature CDMA/EVDO 850, 1900 connectivity, as well as Bluetooth and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi.

We’re not sure where these two netbooks fit into Sony’s Vaio lineup.  However, test reports show that the devices use a VGP-AC19V39 AC adapter.  This is the same adapter used by Vaio W Series netbooks, so we wouldn’t be surprised if these netbooks are part of the W Series as well.

Late last month, Sony passed their PlayStation Move controller, model number CECH-ZCM1U, through the FCC.  Today, the other half of Sony’s Move system, known as the CECH-ZCS1U Navigation Controller, passed through the FCC.

The Navigation controller (below, left) has a D-pad and analog stick, along with X and O buttons accessible with a thumb.  The device also has an analog trigger and shoulder button, as well as a PlayStation button.

Both the Move and Navigation controllers use Bluetooth to communicate with the PS3.  This is an improvement over the Wii’s Nunchuck remote, which has a wired connection.

We still don’t have a solid release date for the Move system, although Sony has mentioned a ‘holiday’ launch.  However, with both Move and Navigation controllers already approved by the FCC, we are hopeful that we’ll see a launch date in the early Winter, if not Fall.

Sony passed the PCG-11111L notebook, pictured above through the FCC today.  According to FCC test reports, the device features an 802.11 b/g/n WiFi module from Atheros, a Foxconn Bluetooth module, and CDMA/EVDO 850/1900 powered by a Qualcomm Gobi2000 module.

Sony doesn’t specify what Vaio series the PCG-11111L belongs to.  However, FCC test reports show that the device uses Sony’s VGP-AC10V2 AC adapter, which is currently only used by Sony’s P Series notebooks.  The PCG-11111L’s distinctive form factor, above, seems to confirm this.

We don’t have any other information about the device’s specs, but we’re confident at this point that Sony will be adding the PCG-11111L to their P Series lineup.

On March 10, 2010, Sony formally announced their PlayStation Move motion controller for the PS3.  Today, Sony passed the Move motion controller through the FCC, suggesting that the device is on schedule for its planned Fall 2010 launch.

The Move controller’s model number is CECH-ZCM1U.  Interestingly, the device’s label pic, above, refers to the controller as the ‘Motion Controller.’  Sony will probably adopt ‘Move’ branding when the device nears its release.

Like other PS3 controllers, the Move controller relies on Bluetooth to communicate with the PS3.  Unfortunately, FCC documents did not contain any public external or internal pics of the device.

A new laptop from Sony called the PCG-31113L passed through the FCC today.  The device features a Qualcomm Gobi2000 that provides CDMA/EVDO and GSM/WCDMA 3G connectivity, along with an Intel 802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN card and Bluetooth.  The device’s label, above, also makes mention of a optical drive.

Test reports show that the PCG-31113L uses a VGP-AC19V32 AC adapter.  This adapter is currently used in Sony’s Z-Series notebooks, so this is likely a new addition to the Z-Series line.

We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.