Sony enters Marketshare War, with Playstation Tablet

[The Central Scrutinizer]

The fast-growing market of hand-held keyboard-less, touch-only, tablets that was started because of Apple's iPAD has now gotten more crowded now with Sony finally officially entering into the ongoing war for marketshare, with two models dubbed the Playstation Tablet!

Like the Playstation Phone that was released earlier this month, these new devices will be running a new form of Android (codenamed Honeycomb), and designs that are pictured below have been noted by Sony they are subject to change, but currently Sony is offering to the press a picture a of large 9.4" widescreen device, and a smaller folding 5.5" dual-screen wedge-shaped one.

Besides aiming these devices towards the fast-growing Android marketshare, being Sony branded and designed, they will also office access to the PlayStation compatible library filled lock-DRMed, signed-protected, digital only titles that currently now only available on the phone version, which are basically been so far a few re-ported classic PS-One games!

Of course sadly with current state of PSN Network being down for over a week, no-one can purchase any of these digital games, and if these new tablets become successful in the market-place, will they also become a target for 'scene' developers to 'unlock' and 'un-DRM' the digital content, so you can at least protect your 'digital purchases' or 'transfer' them to another device.

What about the near future of 'digital only', how is the world going to react if again something like what is on-going with only the PS3 owners and their PSN Network happens again and millions and millions of people owning these future tablets can't use them at all???

It seems also very bad timing to announce to the world, a device that clearly needs a solid and stable on-all-the-time "cloud-based" network that you always can access so you can use your tablet, when their current same network they are promoting in the following press release is down worldwide and none of their current 75 million users can even access it, and worse now annouced that all stored "personal info" was stolen over a week ago from Sony's servers, so is anyone going to trust a "Sony Tablet" to access the world with, and read their emails, when the same thing might happen???

Sony Announces Optimally Designed “Sony Tablet” that
Complements Network Services for an
Immersive Entertainment Experience!

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.

This is of course one of the key Sony products that is now forever protected from being ever touched by Mr. George Hotz (aka GEOHOT) thanks to the lawsuit settlement agreement that Sony and him signed earlier this month!

News Source: Sony Global

[Manic Mondays]

Looks cool but, good luck trying to get online with it.

[gamba]

They definitely need to hire a new staff. Clearly, they have no idea how or when to market products.

Reminds me when they announced the PS3 @ 599$ with a huge smile on their faces (sigh)

[Nihn]

"This is of course one of the key Sony products that is now forever protected from being ever touched by Mr. George Hotz" unless they can keep a gun trained on him 24/7 there is NO protection from anyone. If he wants to he will plain and simple, he just won't be loud about it...I mean how many people drive without a license, insurance, tags?

Besides this "pad" fad is useless. Trying to replace the laptop with a flimsy piece of prebroken shit is gonna bite a lot of people in the ass. Keep gobbling up this "digital content" devices and when you are being forced to pay for things that are meant to be free don't go crying...oh who am I kidding, people will be crying from day one, someone is gonna buy one and smash it in front of people waiting in line, then the tweets start pouring in about how he/she is a retard and how he/she is a Sony hater....our own technology is being used to juice us for every dime it can, making worthless people extremely rich while they are stuck with a multi-year contract for limited data transfer and really strict usage limits. Making it a perfect product for the rich and dumb

[RatAndDragon]

Meh, looks like Sony will make something pretty and flimsy that can't do half of what every other tablet can already do.

Don't we already have PSOne emulators for android?

Either way, no more of my hard-earned for Sony, ever.

[ModIT]

I dont't think they are that stupid and crypt their booloader for these devices.
There are so many new Honeycomb tablets and Android users very dislike any locks, so if they wanna sell it, it has to be open...

Anyways : i won't buy it - never again you will see me buy a sony product.

[ironhide666]

if they are repeating the thing they did with the world famous and expected playstation phone (A.k.a. Xperia play) they should take all the papers and prototipe, box them and throw it into fukushima's reactor to see if its get a little cooler

[Kraktos]

The PSN has nothing to do with these devices. I have the Xperia Play and it has no connectivity to PSN whatsoever. Purchases are made trough android market.

[Rage]

Sony announces yet another product you don't actually own.

[Chino7564]

Another $ony fail. What horrible timing. What the hell is wrong with them? They release something that is going to need PSN and PSN is down for who the hell knows how long. I knew they were dumb but holy crap I didn't think they were this dumb. Congrats $ony on showing your fan base and loyal consumers how dumb you actually are. Another reason I am thinking about going back to the 360.