Sony QX10 And QX100 Lens Kit Official: Transforms iPhone And Android Into A High-End Camera [VIDEO]

At the IFA 2013 Press Conference today, Sony unveiled a bunch of new gadgets, such as the waterproof Xperia Z, including the much hyped DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 Cyber-shot smartphone lens cameras. Both the devices are scheduled for availability starting September 27, based on Amazon’s official listing, and are going to provide “DSLR-quality shooting from the convenience of a smartphone”. Let’s take a deeper look at both these models right after the break.

In a nutshell, both the devices are basically attachments for iPhone and Android smartphones coupling in-built image sensors and lenses, making the phone behave like a dedicated point-and-shoot camera. The QX10 is the basic model, offering a 4:3 aspect ratio 1/2.3” Exmor R CMOS image sensor, with effective resolution of 18.2 megapixels. It features an optical zoom of 10X, with an aperture range of F3.3 to F5.9 at the telephoto end. The shutter speed varies from 1/1600 sec to 4 seconds, which makes the accessory excellent for low light photography. Supported ISO range is 100 to 12800, although the latter becomes pretty much useless owing to high-level grain that will seep through the image.

On the video front, the DSC-QX10 lens and sensor combo can record at 1080p with 30fps frame rate, in MP4 format. The device also supports on-board memory (M2, micro SD, Memory Stick Micro etc.) for storing images and video.

The DSC-QX100 is the elder sibling, borrowing the 20-MP sensor from RX100 Mark II camera, with the sensor size going up to 1” for better image quality. Supported aspect ratio is 3:2, while the aperture range goes form an impressive F1.8 to F4.9, giving the resulting images an even shallower depth of field and making them closer to what you’d get with a DSLR. The lens accessory also comes with aperture priority mode for advanced users, while manual focus is also on-board for even better level of control on output. Exposure compensation goes from -3.0 EV to +3.0 EV, while the ISO range varies from 160 – 25600. Video recording capabilities for QX100 remain the same as for QX10.

Both the devices will be compatible with Android smartphones running OS version 2.3 – 4.2, while iPhones require iOS version 4.1 – 6.0. Connectivity is established through either Wi-Fi or NFC. Of course, it requires an app for connectivity which serves as the camera interface, and is called PlayMemories, and is available to download from the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store for iPhone and Android, respectively.

On the pricing front, the QX10 will be sold (by Amazon, at least) at $248, while the elder sibling, the QX100, will cost you a hefty $498. This is what an entry-level DSLR would cost you (even less), so unless you see a huge value in being able to take photos with your smartphone, and unless the lenses actually produce images on par with dedicated cameras, these accessories might not find that much love from consumers.

(Download: PlayMemories for iOS / Android)

Sony Xperia Z1: A Waterproof Android Powerhouse With A 20.7-Megapixel Camera [VIDEO]

It’s finally here – the Sony Xperia Z1, which might well be the best Android phone on the market today. And it’s not just Sony claiming it; the specifications and the on-board goodies seem to verify the claim to the last bit. Let’s take you on a virtual tour of what Sony unveiled today at its IFA 2013 Press Conference.

The device, which was called Sony ‘Honami’ in the leaks, had so much information already available that the official announcement today hardly carried any bells and whistles other than confirming what was already known. Let’s begin with the specs’ recap.

Xperia Z1 will feature a 5-inch true HD 1080p display, coupled with TRILUMINOUS and X-Reality technologies for mobile phones. The device is water resistant with a certification of IP55/IP58, which puts is above and beyond Xperia Z (and we found that to be pretty resistant itself). The build this time around is a “solid one-piece aluminum” frame, improving ergonomics greatly. The device will be powered by a Snapdragon 800 2.2GHz quad-core processor and feature Adreno 330 GPU for ultimate gaming performance. It boasts a 2GB DDR3 RAM module, and 16GB of on-board storage with microSD expansion possibility.

All of this is powered by a 3,000mAh battery, which should be pretty decent in everyday usage scenarios, even with the power hungry hardware.

Next comes the biggest highlight of the Sony Xperia Z1 – the 20.7 MP camera with 1/2.3 inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor. According to Sony’s official statements, “independent testing has confirmed that Xperia Z1 provides the best overall image quality of all leading smartphones”. They even go as far as claiming that you can have 3x lossless zoom, akin to Nokia’s PureView technology. What we don’t know for sure is whether the zoom will be available at full resolution as well or not.

To complete the imaging spec sheet further, Xperia Z1 will be using Sony’s G Lens, which holds at 27mm wide angle in 35mm equivalent terms, and features a bright maximum aperture of F2.0, which is almost better than anything we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. Image processing engine behind this magnificence will be BIONZ for mobile, alongside a plethora of proprietary imaging apps, including Info-eye, AR effect, Timeshift burst and Social live.

Also available for the Xperia Z1 will be a multitude of accessories, including the QX10 and QX100 lens attachments, tripods and imaging stands, and even a wireless display.

Xperia Z1 will be running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, and with this superb spec sheet and distinction of being a flagship, we can predict beyond doubt that the device will receive updates pretty soon. It is expected to go on sale worldwide mid of September. Pricing details are yet to be made available.

GTA 5 Soundtrack Audio Files Leaked Online Following PlayStation Store Pre-Download Hack

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 5 is certainly one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the current generation of game consoles, and with time running out before the next round of consoles are released it’s unlikely we’ll see many more big releases hitting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It’s not long until the latest GTA game arrives on the scene, and because of that Sony has been allowing PS3 owners to pre-download the title to their consoles, ready for playing on day one. It’s something Steam has done for years, and the aim is to try and avoid the download servers going into meltdown on release day, and it usually works.

That sounds all very well and good, but things aren’t always as simple as that as the folks behind the game have found out after hackers managed to get a hold of a whole 42 hours of audio content from the game. Not content with that, they’ve leaked it all online for everyone else to consume, or listen to, depends on how you plan on looking at the situation. Sony has since pulled the game from the PlayStation Store until it goes live for real, so let’s just hope that everything doesn’t go into meltdown on launch day.

The 42 hours of audio content includes the game’s opening theme music as well as the title’s in-game radio stations. Thanks to the leak, we now know that Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Elton John, Queen and Stevie Wonder amongst others are all included in the music lineup. That’s a pretty eclectic collection, and it’s just the start.

Sony is obviously feeling a little sorry for itself following the leak and said that they apologize “Rockstar and GTA fans across the world who were exposed to the spoiler content.”, and Rockstar seems less than impressed also, saying that the company is “deeply disappointed by leaks and spoilers being spread in advance of the game’s launch.”

Grand Theft Auto 5 launches on the PS3 and Xbox 360 on September 17th, and is sure to be a strong seller across both consoles, as all previous titles have sold particularly well.

Rockstar will be hoping for no more surprises in the couple of weeks before the title is officially in gamers’ hands.

Until then, we’ll keep an eye out for you guys in case something interesting pops up for us to share with you guys.

PlayStation 4 Supports Voice Recognition Through PlayStation Camera, Confirms Sony

Voice recognition tech has been around for a number of years, but only did it really make its mark on the digital industry back in 2011, when Apple dropped Siri for the iPhone 4S. Since then, it has become a mainstay, and Sony has just confirmed that its upcoming PlayStation 4console will indeed feature voice recognition.

Although announced all the way back in February, Sony has been drip-feeding information regarding the next-gen console, and having just learned of a rather cool downloading feature, which allows smartphone users to wake up their machine remotely in order to download a game, this voice recognition implementation is certain to please the ardent geeks.

Rumors running back from Spring pointed to this kind of feature making the final cut of the PS4, but only now has the Japanese company given the official word. Apparently, it will work through the PlayStation Camera, although unlike the Xbox One, which comes with the Kinect sensor out of the box, you’ll have to pony up for this peripheral if you decide on the PlayStation 4; this is unless, of course, you decide to opt for one of the special bundles offering the PlayStation Camera as part of the deal.

Sony has revealed that it will divulge more information as to the extent of the voice recognition "shortly," so while now know the technology is to be there, we don’t, as yet, know exactly how Sony plans to use it.

Sony’s decision not to bundle the PlayStation Camera is an interesting one, particularly given that Microsoft’s Xbox One will bring Kinect to every single owner of the console. However, the omission does mean that the sequel to the PlayStation 3 can retail at a significantly lower price to its keenest rival, and with the initial high cost of the PS3 cited by many as the main reason for the Xbox 360′s eventual triumph in the console wars, perhaps Sony would rather try to get an edge this time around, rather than opt for the difficult task of pitting the PlayStation Camera directly against the rampantly successful Kinect.

Still, by the sounds of things, both consoles will have their fair share of trump cards, and if voice recognition enables considerable feature control with very little effort on the part of the user, one suspects it could become very popular.

Thoughts?

(via: Polygon)

Sony QX Smart Shot Camera Accessory Will Have A iPhone 5S-Like Champagne Color Option [IMAGES]

We’re inching closer and closer to the impending announcement of the supposed iPhone 5Sand 5C, and while it may just be a speed bump of the existing iPhone 5, the 5S is currently the one that everyone is shouting about thanks to that rumored champagne colored option.

If Apple is indeed set to bring a silvery-gold iPhone to market after its September 10th announcement then it will have some company if reports of a similarly colored camera attachment from Sony prove to be accurate.

Dubbed the Sony QX Smart Shot, the camera lens will apparently be available in three colors for both the iPhone and Android devices. Those three colors are white, black and, you guessed it, champagne.

The camera itself will support lens stabilization as well as making it possible to record 1080p video even in situations where a lack of light would potentially be an issue normally. The device will also allow the controlling of zoom, exposure, white balance and focus on your choice of device, with the camera accessory apparently connecting to the smartphone via either Wi-Fi or NFC, depending on what phone you happen to be using.

Sony is expected to make the Smart Shot official at the IFA event on September 4th, at which point we will also get an idea as to how much we will need to hand over in order to get our hands on one. We’ll be keeping an eye on IFA anyway, but Sony just got hold of our attention even more than it already had.

While the news that Sony will be announcing a champagne colored accessory certainly doesn’t confirm a similarly colored iPhone is on the cards, it does add fuel to the fire that there will be more than just a black and white offering this year. We’ll find out inside two weeks though, so all the speculation isn’t too far away from ending!

It would be also interesting to see whether if this accessory gets any sort of limelight from Apple at their event. Think about it, a big name attached to a launch of a flagship device, sounds like a match made in heaven.

But our gut feeling tells us otherwise. Apple would want the stage to itself to flaunt the image snapping capabilities of its newest device, not Sony!

(Source: SonyAlphaRumors)

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PlayStation 4 Features Cooler Smartphone Integration Than We Originally Thought

The PlayStation 4 is one of the most sought-after gadgets of the year. In fact, alongside the Xbox One, it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated machines to have released in the past five years, and while we already knew a great deal about the console thanks to numerous insights from Sony, we’re still now only learning about some of the new features.

We already know of the PS4′s smartphone integration, but we certainly yet fully versed with the ins and outs of how everything will work upon release. This was confirmed earlier on today on Twitter by a rather nonchalant reply to a gaming fan from Sony’s President of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida, which revealed that when a game is downloaded via a user’s handset, the PlayStation 4 will automatically fire itself up, download the game, and drift back off to sleep again. Awesome? We certainly think so.

Microsoft has its own integration with SmartGlass, but of what we’ve seen and heard about so far, this feature from Sony has to be one of the best and most useful features as our consoles join forces with what has become – more so than since the last round of console releases – our most treasured gadget.

If, for example, you’re on a train, half an hour away from home, and happen to read of a new game’s release online, you could start the download there and then. By the time you get home, the game would be ready to play even if your console was asleep when you left initially.

As we draw ever closer to November 15th, the PS4 release date, I’m sure we’ll continue to learn new and exciting tidbits about the PlayStation 4. There’s still no precise word on when its fiercest rival, the Xbox One, will rear its head, but as both Sony and Microsoft continue the battle of oneupmanship, one wouldn’t be too shocked or surprised if the Redmond company tried to outfox its competitor by dropping in marginally earlier. In fact, my money’s on Microsoft doing what it did last time around with the 360, and hitting the market first.

Whatever the case may be, you’ll catch all of the best console news and info right here atRedmond Pie, so stay tuned!

(Source: Twitter [Shuhei Yoshida])

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PlayStation 4 Bundle With Killzone: Shadow Fall And PS Camera Leaked Ahead Of Release

With what’s shaping up to be an interesting slog for the next-gen console crown, both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 continue to grapple for those column inches as consumers make up their minds about which one to choose. After a spate of reports pertaining Microsoft’s next big thing, a leak of the PS4′s Killzone: Shadow Fall bundle has emerged. Now, we’ve seen a Killzone bundle already, but this one, which features the new Killzone as well as a PlayStation Camera, briefly appeared on the French Amazon site.

Although the PlayStation 4 will cost considerably less than its fierce rival at point of launch, this is because the PlayStation Camera won’t be bundled as standard, like Kinect will be with the Xbox One. But we’ve seen plenty of bundles already to suggest that more than a few PS4 owners will be investing in a motion sensor for some interactive gaming, and this latest Killzone: Shadow Fall bundle underlines this.

The Amazon listing looks as though it was posted by accident, and only appeared for a short while before being pulled, but luckily, one of our reader managed to grab a screenshot of it before it was removed. As you can see, it lists Killzone: Shadow Fall, along with the PS camera, for 499 Euros, and given that prices for Euros and Dollars tend to remain the same (even if the exchange rate states otherwise), it could well be the case that a Killzone + PS Camera bundle is in the offing for the sub-$500 price tag.

This is certainly the kind of price many gamers could agree to, and although it would be naive to get too excited just now, it’s something for Killzone fans to bear in mind.

The PS4 release date was made official by Sony a few days back, with the North American market seeing a drop by November 15th. Meanwhile, those in Europe will get the console two weeks later on November 29th. With a price tag of $399 in the US, 399 Euros in Europe, and £349 in the UK, one hopes the well-priced Killzone bundle is also in the offing, allowing fans to get hold of a PS Camera on the cheap.

We’ll keep you posted!

Thanks, Damien for the hat tip!

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Grand Theft Auto 5: The Final Trailer Drops Ahead Of Release [VIDEO]

Grand Theft Auto 5 is almost here, and Rockstar Games, the developer-publisher of the popular franchise, is doing its level best to generate even more hype in anticipation of the September 17th launch than there already is. While naturally dismayed by the news that 40+ hours of the game’s famed music content leaked online last week, the company’s mission to feed Grand Theft Auto 5 fans plenty of teasers continues, and with several GTA 5 trailers of the title already having been released, including the GTA 5 online gameplay video, another official trailer of the lively Los Santos-based title has just been uploaded to YouTube.

There was a general sense of disappointment when the original spring release date was pushed right back to fall, but to its credit, Rockstar has done a pretty good job of keeping long-time fans interested in the launch. A constant barrage of screenshots, now well into the hundreds, has ensured that GTA 5′s release is as ceremonious as it is unavoidable, and although Call of Duty: Ghosts is expected to become (once again, yawn), the biggest-selling title of the year, Grand Theft Auto 5 will certainly push heavy numbers when it finally drops for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Although you guys are probably as hyped as we are about the prospect of the next-gen Xbox One and PlayStation 4, there’s no word on when or if GTA 5 will arrive for those forthcoming consoles, and for the time being, Rockstar’s latest export should ensure that many owners of current-gen consoles don’t throw them out in haste just yet.

Unlike previous official trailers, this one-minute clip looks very much like it could be the one we’ll see on our TV screens and at theaters very soon. Giving a quick glimpse of the protagonists, weaponry, vehicles and activities, it offers a rounded look at what gamers can expect when GTA 5 arrives, and we simply cannot wait until it does.

In case a reminder was ever needed, Grand Theft Auto 5 will be available from September 17th for both the Xbox 360 and PS3, with most decent retailers having been running pre-orders for a good while now. NVIDIA recently insinuated that a GTA 5 PC version would be out before the end of the year, and although Rockstar has kept mum on the subject, we’ll be sure to let you know if there is any substance to these claims in due course.

Check the official trailer below: