Sony Tablet P Hands-on [Video]

Today Sony has officially announced and unveiled both the Sony Tablet S as well as the popular Sony Tablet P. Until now these were known as the S1 and S2 but recently earned official names. We told you about the Sony S2 clamshell being named the Tablet P earlier this week and now that Sony has officially announced these devices we were lucky enough to get some pics and hands-on video for everyone to check out after the break.

A quick overview now the specs are fully official, the Sony Tablet P will in fact be launched with Android 3.2 Honeycomb. It features those dual 5.5″ LED displays we’ve seen plenty of recently, combined with the power of the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor at 1.0 Ghz. It will come with 512mb of RAM and 6GB of internal storage. The Tablet P will not have different configurations or internal storage options available. It will come with AT&T 4G LTE connectivity and 6GB of internal storage with up to 32GB of additional storage thanks to the SD slot.

Just like its larger sibling the Tablet P will come with a 5MP camera on the rear capable of 720p video capture with a VGA 0.3MP front facing camera. Both tablets also feature Sony’s “TruBlack” display technology which reduces glare while providing superior blacks and color reproduction. With dual-screens that easily fold up for portability and weighing in at under 1 lbs (only 0.83 lbs) the Tablet P will easily and comfortably fit in a jacket or jeans pocket, or in a women’s purse.
The Tablet P will also come equipped with the same options as the Tablet S such as Playstation certification for PS1 and PSP gaming (Crash Bandicoot is awesome), Sony Network services such as Video and Music Unlimited, and the Sony e-reader store. The Tablet P will not offer infrared technology like the S but does feature the same DLNA support for streaming movies, music and more to DLNA supported TV’s.
Full pricing and availability was not yet released so for now we will just have to wonder where they plan to price this tablet with a unique design and features. I personally think it could really be a great portable device and would love to have it for the gaming aspects alone. We will report back as soon as we hear more from Sony regarding pricing and availability. In the mean time check out our hands-on video and pictures below.
Sony Tablet P Hands-on Video



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Sony S2 Clamshell Tablet to be named Sony Tablet P

Today we have a few new details on the new line up of Android Honeycomb tablets from Sony. Previously known as the S1 and S2 tablets, we are now hearing they’ve decided on a few official names for these tablets. First the S1 is the 10.1″ standard tablet and will be called the Sony Tablet S, then we have that dual-screen clamshell tablet they’ve been calling the S2.

My first guess is P is for “portable” or something of that sort since it does fold up and become a pretty small and portable device. We’ve seen plenty of both of these tablets and here you can see them in the wild on video.
Sources are now claiming the Tablet P (aka Sony S2) clamshell will be running Android 3.2 Honeycomb, those dual 5.5″ displays we’ve already seen, as well as the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1 Ghz CPU but we all already knew that. They are saying however, that the Tablet P will only have 512MB of RAM rather than 1GB like almost every other tablet offers. It will feature 4GB of internal storage, be lighter than the iPad 2 and you’ll be able to get it with AT&T 4G LTE. No word on official price or release dates yet but I have a feeling we’ll be seeing plenty more on both of these tablets real soon.
[via Engadget]

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Sony Tablet S Revealed as Release Name for S1

It appears that Sony’s first big Android tablet effort has an official name beyond the very basic “S1″ moniker we’ve been seeing thus far. This tablet will now be called the Sony Tablet S and will indeed be “PlayStation Certified” which places it as only the second Android device to be dubbed so, right after the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY. This tablet will be blasting into your living room running Android 3.1 Honeycomb sooner than later and will, if Sony does indeed release it with this new “All Our Innovations Folded Into One” set of info intact, have a tablet that allows you to control your whole living room at the tap of a display.

We already know quite a bit about both this flat tablet and the clamshell Android device Sony will be releasing soon, this sheet confirming several items and revealing a few new bits. The Sony S tablet is the magazine-style tablet that’s rolling out with 1,280 x 768 pixel TruBlack LCD panel, Quickview enhancement for speed in browsing your mobile web, and Quick Touch Panel to improve touch responsiveness – we’ll be proving or disproving all of this once we get another hands-on look at the device of course.

This spec sheet shows the device toting a built-in Universal IR remote that’ll control any compatible device around your living room, share, view, and transfer capabilities to add to this experience with DNLA capable PCs, televisions, and speakers. Inside the tablet you’ll find a Video Unlimited app for renting or purchasing movies, purchase music with Music Unlimited app also pre-installed, eBooks available in the same fashion through the pre-installed Reader Store, and of course several PlayStation Certified games will be pre-loaded in the final release as well.
Can you just not wait?



[via Engadget]

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Sony In-Dash Car Stereo syncs to Pandora, Comes with Android Support

After years of waiting it appears Sony will finally be launching a full line of in-dash car audio receivers that will sync with all of our favorite Android devices. Sony and Pandora Radio have partnered up to bring car stereos with Pandora Internet Radio support to Android, iOS, and even those Blackberry phones. While playing music from our favorite devices might be nothing new to in-car stereo’s doing it all wireless and with Pandora is — sort of.

The digital music service can now be accessed through four of Sony’s latest connected car stereos — the DSX-S210X, DSX-S310BTX, and even the SiriusXM compatible CDX-GT660UP and CDX-GT565UP models. The higher DSX units connect to Pandora via the smartphone application and an integrated “tune tray” with easy navigation while the other models have to go old school and use USB. Sadly only the bluetooth models will work with Android for now but this is nothing new.
Don’t forget we still have pretty great music on that one thing if you remember, called the FM radio (or AM radio for the oldies). While this new line-up from Sony is a nice change of pace and something I’ve been waiting to see for a while it wont really help many users like myself. I’ve been using Bluetooth to sync to my car stereo and stream music in my Chevy truck for like 4 years now. With Pandora Radio, Google Music and my new personal favorite Spotify, I’ve been wirelessly listening to all the music my heart desires while on-the-go over bluetooth with all of the recent Android phones I’ve owned, you just need a bluetooth enabled stereo and their is plenty of those on the market.
When I can wirelessly stream YouTube and Netflix from my Android phone to the 7″ TV in my truck, then I’ll be excited.
[via Engadget]

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Sony and LG settle patent fight, sign cross-licensing deal

(Reuters) - LG Electronics and Sony said on Thursday that they have resolved patent disputes between the two firms spanning smartphones, TVs and Blu-ray technology, with LG adding that they have signed a cross-licensing deal.

"LG and Sony recently agreed to drop patent infringement lawsuits against each other," a spokeswoman at South Korea's LG Electronics said. Sony confirmed this, but declined to comment further.
LG shares were up 1.3 percent, outperforming the Korea Composite Stock Price Index's (KOSPI) 1.7 percent fall, while Sony shares were down 2.7 percent, hitting a 2-1/2 year low, against a 1.5 percent drop in the benchmark Nikkei average.
Sony and LG have been embroiled in a string of bitter lawsuits on a wide range of products in Europe and the United States since the two technology giants failed to renew a technology sharing agreement that expired three years ago, a person familiar with the matter said.
Sony had filed a complaint against LG with the U.S. International Trade Commission, seeking to block LG from shipping its Rumor Touch and several other smartphones to the United States.
LG also told the commission that Sony's PlayStation 3 infringed its Blu-ray video technology.
The patent spat culminated in the seizure of PlayStation 3 game consoles by customs officers in the Netherlands following a court injunction by LG in March

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LG, Sony drop patent infringement lawsuits, strike cross-licensing agreement

Patent battle between LG and Sony has finally come to an end, now that the companies have decided to lay down their arms and call a truce. In a statement issued today, an LG spokeswoman declared that the two parties have "agreed to drop patent infringement lawsuits against each other," adding that they've struck a cross-licensing deal on the TVs, smartphones and other gadgets in question. A Sony representative confirmed this, but did not offer further details. The spat began back in December, when Sony filed a complaint with the ITC over a handful of allegedly patent infringing LG mobile devices. The Korean manufacturer later struck back with an ITC complaint of its own, targeting Sony products like the Bravia and PlayStation 3. Now, however, the two have apparently learned how to play nice, though details on their settlement remain scarce. As soon as we have them, we'll pass them along.

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Sony unveils the S1 and S2 dual-screen Android tablets, coming this fall

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Sony has made its 9.4-inch Sony S1 and 5.5-inch dual-screened S2 Honeycomb tablets official with a press event in Tokyo today.  We've been hearing about these since mid-February, and recently the Japanese paper Nikkei has said Sony has plans to enter the U.S. market before the end of Summer 2011. That's not to be the case, however, as Sony says we'll have to wait until fall 2011 before these come to market.

The S1 is a 9.4-inch tablet with an "off-center of gravity design" that supposedly makes it easier to grip and more comfortable to hold.  Kunimasa Suzuki, Deputy President of Sony’s consumer products and services group likens it to holding a magazine.  The S2 is a 5.5-inch dual-screened tablet that has the ability to use the screens as one large canvas, or feature specially coded applications running in each independently.  This sounds very much like the Kyocera Echo.

Both the S1 and S2 house Nvidia Tegra 2 processors, and the ability to integrate with other Sony products. And they both sport the Playstation Suite moniker, like the new Xperia Play smartphone. An example was given where the S1 can act as a remote for Bravia marked equipment.  These two look very interesting, and ones we'll certainly be following.  You can find a short video and the press release after the break.

Sony Announces Optimally Designed “Sony Tablet” with Android 3.0 that Complements Network Services for an Immersive Entertainment Experience
-Also strengthening VAIO in expanding PC markets-

 Sony Corporation (“Sony”), announces “Sony Tablet” that delivers the perfect combination of hardware, content and network with seamless usability for a high-quality, engaging entertainment experience. Based on decades of engineering heritage, Sony is developing two tablets with unprecedented design, including S1 (codename) which is optimized for rich media entertainment and S2 (codename) which is ideal for mobile communication and entertainment. “Sony Tablet” will become available in the global market starting in fall 2011.
“Sony Tablet” is equipped with the latest Android 3.0 which is designed for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. Both tablets are WiFi and WAN (3G/4G) compatible and users can not only browse the internet or check e-mail but they can also smoothly access digital content including videos, games and books through Sony’s premium network services and more, on-the-go at any time.
S1 has a 9.4-inch display for enjoying the web and rich content on a large screen. Its off-center of gravity design realizes stability and ease of grip as well as a sense of stability and lightness, offering comfortable use for hours.
S2 has two 5.5-inch displays that can be folded for easy portability. In contrast to existing tablets, its unprecedented dual screen presentation and usability allows its displays to be combined and used as a large screen or for different functions such as playing video on one screen while showing control buttons on the other.
“‘Sony Tablet’ delivers an entertainment experience where users can enjoy cloud-based services on-the-go at any time. We’re aiming to create a new lifestyle by integrating consumer hardware, including ‘Sony Tablet’ with content and network,” said Kunimasa Suzuki, Corporate Executive, SVP, and Deputy President of Consumer Products & Services Group.
“Android 3.0 is a new version of the Android platform with a new holographic user interface that is designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. I'm excited about “Sony Tablet” as it will further spur the development of applications and network offerings which users are looking for.” said Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President, Mobile, Google Inc.
Also, in the mobile computing category, the market for PCs which realize high productivity is expected to steadily grow, particularly in emerging markets. Therefore, Sony will also remain committed to strengthening its VAIO brand and introduce increasingly compelling products which offer new value propositions to the market.

“Sony Tablet” features.

Designed for portability and intuitive gripping

With its off-center of gravity form factor, the 9.4-inch S1 offers stability and a sense of lightness, offering comfortable use for hours.
The dual screen S2 comes with two 5.5-inch displays which can be used together as one large screen to browse websites and more. They can also be used for different functions as users can watch a video on one screen and input commands on the other, or check email on one screen and use the other as a soft keyboard.

Seamless Usability and Performance

Through Sony’s knowhow for combining hardware and software, “Sony Tablet” realizes optimal usability and performance. Because of Sony’s rapid response technologies, users can perform smooth, quick touch-screen operations and enjoy fast and efficient website loading. The keyboard arrangement is also optimized for the large screen, making email and SNS communication a breeze.

Rich entertainment experiences through various network services

Through Qriocity¹ music and video services, users can enjoy rich video and music content. Also, through PlayStation®Suite, users can immerse themselves in high quality first generation PlayStation® titles. Additionally, users can easily download ebook content from Reader™Store² and use both tablets as digital reading devices. The integration with various services allows users to take their entertainment experiences on-the-go. Furthermore, “Sony Tablet” is equipped with functionality that organizes content for easy access.

Remote access functionality with AV devices

Through “Sony Tablet”, users can control home entertainment devices as well as enjoy content in new ways. S1 uses infrared technology and works as universal remote controls for a variety of AV devices starting with <BRAVIA>. Users can perform functions like turning on their TVs, changing the channel and adjusting the volume. Also, through DLNA functionality on “Sony Tablet”, users can “throw” personal content to large screen televisions or music to wireless speakers.
In 2010, Sony launched a network platform called “Qriocity” which connects many of Sony’s network-enabled devices, and has been expanding its services into global markets. Also, Sony Computer Entertainment has been providing various contents and services for PlayStation users through PlayStation®Network, which now has over 75 million registered accounts (as of March 20, 2011) worldwide.
Simultaneously, Sony will continue to announce various devices which leverage these services. Starting in early 2011, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the next-generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP) while Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications brought “Xperia™PLAY” to the market. Sony is introducing “Sony Tablet” to deliver an entertainment experience which integrates hardware with network services that deliver rich content.
With the establishment of Consumer Products and Services Group in April 2011, Sony will focus on accelerating the development of innovative next generation products and aim to deliver a new lifestyle by strengthening the integration of hardware and network services.

 

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