Sony NEX-5R and NEX-6 mirrorless cameras with Wi-Fi rumored for September launch

Sony's Q1 financial results made for predictably depressing reading yesterday, but one of the few positives was the imaging division's strong performance boosted by sales of interchangeable lens cameras. The popular mirrorless NEX range is at the forefront of Sony's drive to become a major photography player, so it's no surprise to hear word of new models coming up soon — the often reliable Sony Alpha Rumors says that the NEX-5R and NEX-6 are both set to be announced in September ahead of Photokina.

The NEX-5R is reportedly a follow-up to the excellent NEX-5N that uses a similar 180-degree tilting screen to the recent NEX-F3, while the NEX-6 is said to be a cut-price alternative to the high-end NEX-7 with a lower resolution electronic viewfinder. Both cameras will apparently feature Wi-Fi support, too, something we're slowly starting to see make the jump from compacts to more advanced models. Finally, for existing NEX owners not looking for new bodies, it looks like we'll see three new E-mount lenses appear at around the same time — 11-18mm and 16-50mm pancake zooms and a "fast prime" of unspecified nature.

[Source: The Verge]

Sony loses $312 million in Q1 2012 amid high restructuring costs

Sony has announced its financial results for the first quarter of its fiscal year, and as expected for a company in transition they don't make for pleasant reading — it managed to lose $312 million off sales of $19.2 billion. Sony actually increased its sales year-on-year by 1.4 percent, attributed to the consolidation of Sony Mobile, but $143 million in restructuring costs caused operating income to slide from $270 million to $79 million. Together with the high yen and unstable situation in Europe, the company has downgraded its operating profit forecast for the year from $2.29 billion to $1.66 billion.

The company's few profitable areas right now are its imaging, components, and music businesses, while the gaming, home entertainment, and mobile divisions are all making losses. The games division in particular was disappointing, with sales falling 14.5 percent and the PS Vita not doing much to stop the business slip into the red. However, despite a decline in sales the TV business is actually bleeding less money than this time last year, possibly due to efforts Sony is making to streamline the category. The imaging division, too, is one of the company's recent success stories with high-end cameras contributing to profits of $160 million. The company claims it is "proceeding steadily with efforts to transform our business structure," but shareholders will no doubt have to be patient.

[Source: The Verge]

The Best Looking Phones of 2012

Let’s keep it realistic: mobile phones are much more than simple devices used to make phone calls. Let’s get even more realistic however, and declare that they’re even much more than tools used to play video games, watch videos, listen to music, and do whatever other functions now possible on our smartphones. Mobiles are fashion accessories, in every sense of the word. Now we’ve got that basic truth off our chest, it’s time to discern which models are the best looking of the year.

Sony Xperia S

If mobile phones were a woman, the Sony Xperia S would be a cross between Beyonce and Jennifer Anniston in their prime. Well that might look a little bit weird actually but I think you get my drift, for the phone is THAT good looking. 

The Sony Xperia S’s inventive mono-bloc style design is seductive to say the least, and its outer layer which comes in both silver and black delicately adds a strong touch of class to the model. This touch is further enhanced by the silver strip running across the phone near its bottom.

Samsung Galaxy SIII

Perhaps it’s the sheer aura of the phone due to its capabilities, or maybe it is the design that makes the phone’s capabilities seem that extra bit better. Either way, the Samsung Galaxy SIII has had people scouring mobile phone deals just to behold the device as if it’s some kind of treasure. 

It may very well be some kind of treasure, as it certainly looks like one. The phone’s white silver encasing represents something of extreme value and the blue version is just as – if not even more – beautiful. 

The only problem with the phone however, is that unlike the Sony Xperia S, it costs as expensive as it looks at some half a grand in pound sterling. Still, as Samsung will tell you, it costs money to look this good.

HTC One X

Admittedly, the HTC One X isn’t quite as attractive as the Galaxy SIII and Xperia S. However, this is more a credit to the other two, rather than a criticism of HTC’s One X. This phone just looks both neat and solid, which is a hard combination to pull off. 

With a back end just as attractive as its front, the One X is a phone that looks equally great in white and black, with a design that’s chic and stylish.

Sony PS Vita Launches at GAME Oxford Street

The 22nd February 2012 is finally here and GAME in Oxford Street, London held a special midnight launch event. Check out my full review of the Sony PS Vita by clicking here and check out the launch photos below.

Coke Zero Offering up 5x PS Vita before UK Release

I am so excited about the launch of the PS Vita, even more amazed that five lucky people have the chance to win one before they are readily available. Read this…

We know that the only thing that beats being the first to get your hands on a new games console is bragging to your friends about it. Coke Zero is going to make the improbable possible and not only give five lucky winners a brand new PlayStation VITA, but give them the best bragging video ever – a personalised congratulatory film featuring international supermodel Bar Refeali.

As well as getting your hands on the most anticipated console launch of 2012, the five winners will receive a personal tribute from international supermodel Bar Refaeli as an extra special reward. 

So how can you enter this once-in-a-lifetime competition? Watch this video, the click this link.

Open Planet Ideas with WWF & Sony

Sony and WWF want to hear your smart ideas about using technology to make the most of our planet's resources. And to get you started, we've pulled together a showcase of technologies that are ripe for re-purposing. Now it's up to you to put them together in radical new ways... and shape a cleaner, more sustainable future for our planet.

WWF and Sony have teamed up to create Open Planet Ideas, a new community that will have the mission to brain storm and collaborate to come up with viable ideas to tackle critical environmental issues.

http://www.openplanetideas.com/

Note to original copyright holder. This was uploaded with express written permission by your representative at The 7th Chamber.

New DSLR lenses from Sony at PMA 2010

The α family of over 30 interchangeable lenses and teleconverters is set to grow with the addition of exciting new models. Shown in advanced pre-production form at PMA is the Distagon T* 24mm f/2 ZA SSM Carl Zeiss wide angle lens. Scheduled for launch in 2010, this bright, wide angle prime is an ideal choice for reportage, naturally lit interiors and other quality-critical handheld shooting applications.

Displayed as a mock-up on the Sony booth, the newest lens to carry the G Lens name is a bright, high-power Super Telephoto 500mm f/4 G with class-leading optical performance.

Sony to grow DSLR range

In more PMA 2010 news, Sony also confirms that the current α range will continue to grow with the introduction of further new mainstream DSLR models using the newly-developed Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and integrating HD video function with AVCHD format.

Sony announce interchangeable lens compact at PMA

Ultra-compact camera with interchangeable lenses and APS-C sensor
In 2010 Sony will introduce a new ultra-compact camera with interchangeable lenses that teams “any time, anywhere” convenience with DSLR picture quality. Exhibited in early concept mock-up form at PMA, the camera features a newly-developed Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. It will also support HD video recording using the efficient AVCHD format. Shown in mock-up form alongside the compact, easy-to-use new camera is a selection of compatible interchangeable lenses.

CES 2010 Sony Announcements

CES 2010 Sony Announcements. Plenty of news coming from the Consumer Electronics Show for 2010. Sony announce their new Bravia range of televisions, some new Cyber-shot cameras, and new Handycam high definition camcorders.