Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com Download Squad http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Sony announces PlayStation Suite Android gaming store for Gingerbread devices]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/27/sony-announces-playstation-suite-android-gaming-store/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/27/sony-announces-playstation-suite-android-gaming-store/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/27/sony-announces-playstation-suite-android-gaming-store/#commentsSony PlayStation Suite for Android At an event in Tokyo, Sony has just unveiled its plans to introduce an Android gaming store called PlayStation Suite. More than just a store for an Android-based PlayStation Phone, or the newly announced PSP2, the PS Suite will be 'hardware-neutral' and offer games for any Android phones or tablets running at least Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Of course your average Android device doesn't come packing dual sticks, a D-pad, and shoulder buttons, but the PS Suite looks to be able to provide emulated touchscreen controls instead.

First out the gate will be a PS1 classics emulator, but Sony is promising an Android game store later this year. The Japanese powerhouse is taking a more traditional game publishing route too, with a licensing and quality-assurance scheme called PlayStation Certified, and will sell games through its own store. Sony is hoping to attract big name game developers to the platform, and of course, take its cut of the game sales.

Considering Apple's currently winning the mobile gaming war with a plethora of top-tier and time waster titles on the App Store, something big like this was the only way to balance the playing field. Whether this will actually work, and work well, time will tell. Mobile World Congress next month is certainly going to be interesting, but in the mean time, head on over to our sister blog Engadget, for the full skinny and press release.

Download SquadSony announces PlayStation Suite Android gaming store for Gingerbread devices originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidcellphonesgamingPlayStationPlayStation PhonePlayStation SuitePlaystationPhonePlaystationSuiteSonyThu, 27 Jan 2011 03:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Qriocity Music Unlimited rolls out streaming tunes to France, Germany, Italy and Spain]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/24/sonys-qriocity-music-unlimited-rolls-out-streaming-tunes-to-fra/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/24/sonys-qriocity-music-unlimited-rolls-out-streaming-tunes-to-fra/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/01/24/sonys-qriocity-music-unlimited-rolls-out-streaming-tunes-to-fra/#commentsMusic Unlimited by Qriocity logoSony has announced the immediate availability of Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, its subscription streaming music service, in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The service has been available in the UK since December, and it offers two subscription plans.

The Basic subscription costs £3.99 per month in the UK and €3.99 in the four other countries, and gives you a virtual radio station, complete with personalized channels categorized by genre, era or mood. The Premium subscription adds on-demand access to the entire catalog of millions of songs for £9.99 or €9.99, respectively. It also lets you create personal playlists and allows you to listen to Premium Top 100 channels, which are regularly updated with the latest hits.

Both subscriptions work from a great variety of Sony hardware, such as Blu-ray players, TVs, the PlayStation 3, as well as Vaio laptops and other computers. Support for portable devices and smartphones is reportedly on the way.

Download SquadSony's Qriocity Music Unlimited rolls out streaming tunes to France, Germany, Italy and Spain originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiomusicmusic subscriptionmusic unlimitedMusic Unlimited powered by QriocityMusicSubscriptionMusicUnlimitedMusicUnlimitedPoweredByQriocityqriocitySONYstreaming musicStreamingMusicsubscriptionMon, 24 Jan 2011 10:51:00 EST<![CDATA[LoveFilm PlayStation 3 streaming now live in the UK for movies only]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/lovefilm-playstation-3-streaming-now-live-in-the-uk-for-movies-o/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/lovefilm-playstation-3-streaming-now-live-in-the-uk-for-movies-o/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/lovefilm-playstation-3-streaming-now-live-in-the-uk-for-movies-o/#commentsFiled under: ,

LoveFilm streaming to PS3
LoveFilm, the UK's Netflix equivalent, can now stream movies direct to your PlayStation 3, following through on the announcement from a couple of weeks ago. Streaming from the company's 'Watch Online' library is available free but with limited hours on a £5.99 per month package, which excludes games rental, or free and unlimited on a £9.99-or-more per month package. A quick look through LoveFilm's FAQs indicates that, at the moment, it's just free movie streaming, no TV or pay-per-view, and that there are currently over 2000 films available, with more added each week. Movies are streamed in 'near DVD-quality' at 1.6Mbps, not exactly mind blowing, but it's better than nothing. You can pause, rewind and fast-forward a stream, or even resume from a point where you stopped watching, handy if you need to pop to the shops for more popcorn in the middle of the movie.

LoveFilm can be accessed directly from the XMB using a brand new icon that should appear after a power cycle of a UK-based PS3. A free PlayStation Network account is required for streaming, but two PSN accounts can be used to link up two different LoveFilm accounts, while two PS3s can be linked to one LoveFilm account -- perfect if you happen to have a PS3 in the bedroom as well as the lounge.

A free trial is available for those who don't have a LoveFilm account, so there's no reason not to try it out. Fire up your PS3 now if you're in the UK, or head to LoveFilm's PS3 page for more information.

[via Engadget]

Download SquadLoveFilm PlayStation 3 streaming now live in the UK for movies only originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lovefilmmoviesPlaystation 3Playstation3PS3sonystreamingUKvideo on demandVideoOnDemandWed, 10 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hulu Plus goes invite-free, comes to PlayStation 3, Sony TVs and Blu-Ray players]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/04/hulu-plus-goes-invite-free-jumps-onto-the-playstation-3-sony-t/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/04/hulu-plus-goes-invite-free-jumps-onto-the-playstation-3-sony-t/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/04/hulu-plus-goes-invite-free-jumps-onto-the-playstation-3-sony-t/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hulu subscription comparison

Hulu has announced that it will start making its Hulu Plus subscription service available to anyone who wants to try it, removing the previously existing barrier of needing an invitation to subscribe. Hulu has also revealed that its service is now available on all 2010 Sony Bravia HDTVs, with more Sony connected devices -- including Blu-Ray players -- to get access soon.

Last, but definitely not least, starting next week, all PlayStation 3 owners in the US who have a PlayStation Network account will be able to download and subscribe to Hulu Plus. This availability will coincide with the release of an updated Hulu application for the PS3.

Hulu Plus costs $9.99 per month and, unlike the free, vanilla Hulu, Plus supports HD streaming, can be used on devices other than a computer (iPad and iPhone included), and has more episodes of each show available (whereas the free version is limited to the newest five). However, both Hulu and Hulu Plus serve ads.

Download SquadHulu Plus goes invite-free, comes to PlayStation 3, Sony TVs and Blu-Ray players originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>huluhulu plusHuluPlusPlayStationPlaystation 3Playstation3PlaystationNetworkSony BraviaSonyBraviastreamingsubscriptiontvtv streamingTvStreamingvideovideo streamingVideoStreamingThu, 04 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LoveFilm to bring Netflix-like video-on-demand to PlayStation 3 owners in the UK]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/lovefilm-streaming-coming-to-playstation-3-in-the-uk/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/lovefilm-streaming-coming-to-playstation-3-in-the-uk/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/lovefilm-streaming-coming-to-playstation-3-in-the-uk/#commentsFiled under: ,

We heard rumors earlier this week, but now it's official - LoveFilm, like its US counterpart Netflix, is taking its online streaming into UK living rooms via the PS3. This is big news for the UK's largest movie rental service and great news for British PS3 owners, who up until now, have been stuck with pricey PlayStation Store media rentals.

Details are a bit thin on the ground at the moment; we don't know whether this is HD or SD streaming, for instance, but what we do know is it's coming in November. LoveFilm subscribers on a package costing at least £5.99 a month will get the service included, and you'll also be able to manage your traditional disc queue, rate movies and view trailers, all from the comfort of your PS3.

LoveFilm have produced a run through video, which we've included after the break.

Update: Electricpig have word from LoveFilm themselves that it's only SD streaming and that it should be available before year end. Let's just hope this is only the start.

Continue reading LoveFilm to bring Netflix-like video-on-demand to PlayStation 3 owners in the UK

Download SquadLoveFilm to bring Netflix-like video-on-demand to PlayStation 3 owners in the UK originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there's one thing that users outside the U.S. find irritating about online video, it's the fact that we don't have access to many of the awesome services that our American chums do. Sony has struck a minor blow against geotarding today, however, with the expansion of Crackle.

Canadians can now enjoy Crackle's Sony-powered content as well. Most of it, anyway -- I'm not able to watch most movies. Mothra and Godzilla flicks do work, as do The Three Stooges. I'm willing to overlook the lack of complete access, though, since I can enjoy Patrick Warburton's antics as The Tick in the full-screen glory it deserves.

Crackle is definitely worth a bookmark if you're in Canada and looking for a place to watch free movies, TV shows, and cartoons on the Web.

[via Tubefilter]

Download SquadSony's Crackle expands, brings free movies, TV shows to Canada originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cartoonscracklemoviesonlinesonystreamingtvvideowebMon, 13 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jailbreak your PlayStation 3 with your Android phone (or TI-84 calculator...)]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/07/jailbreak-your-playstation-3-with-your-android-phone-or-ti-84-calculator/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/07/jailbreak-your-playstation-3-with-your-android-phone-or-ti-84-calculator/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/09/07/jailbreak-your-playstation-3-with-your-android-phone-or-ti-84-calculator/#commentsFiled under: ,

Over the past week, a lot has changed in the PS3 modding and hacking community. In just a few short days, the PS3 has shifted from almost-impossible-to-hack to become both the easiest and cheapest console to jailbreak. All you need is a USB memory stick and some open-source code -- or an Android phone or TI-84 calculator.

I should warn you that Sony has just released a firmware fix that renders this hack null and void -- if you've already updated your PS3, you can stop reading now. I should also disclaim that this hack might break your PS3 (but it's extremely unlikely).

But why would you softmod a PS3? To play backups of your scratched game discs, of course! No, seriously, on the off-chance that Sony can track jailbroken consoles, I would strongly suggest that you merely take this as an awesome example console hacker tenacity.

[via Phandroid]
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Download SquadJailbreak your PlayStation 3 with your Android phone (or TI-84 calculator...) originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neowin has the scoop: according to the Microsoft Careers website, a new game studio that specializes in Windows Phone games is being created as we speak. This news comes just a few hours after details of Sony Ericsson's 'PlayStation Phone' emerged. The new studio's 'mission statement' follows:
MGS Mobile Gaming - focused on bringing games and entertainment to the mobile life that people lead. Our vision is to deliver games and entertainment so good that people will want them always with them, on a service that makes them social, connected and relevant anywhere their life goes. The Mobile Gaming team is building industry leading products that showcase our Windows Phone platform as well as emerging mobile platforms, and will help realize Microsoft's connected entertainment vision. The Mobile Gaming studio will be the hub for MGS franchises and titles on mobile devices and a center of excellence for mobile games.
I can't add much to the story other than speculation. What are the other 'emerging mobile platforms' that are alluded to? Experience with Xbox Live and C# are listed as 'highly desired', so I can't imagine them making games for iOS devices -- but who knows what Microsoft has planned?

Microsoft definitely managed to carve itself a nice chunk of the console industry with the Xbox -- can it do the same with the mobile segment? Before today, the mobile phone industry lacked a big-money developer and now we have both Sony and Microsoft weighing in! Things are about to get very interesting -- and right now, if I happened to be a Nintendo executive, I'd be wondering when and where the mobile phone and portable gaming markets will collide...
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Download SquadMicrosoft Games Studios is establishing a new Mobile Gaming studio to develop Windows Phone 7 games originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you don't know what RAW format is, you can stop reading now. If, on the other hand, you've just bought a brand new camera, shot a few pictures, and then bashed your head against your shiny white miracle machine because it doesn't recognize the file format -- well, I have good news! Apple's Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.3 adds RAW support for a bunch of brand new cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto '09.

Because there's nothing else to report, here's a list of the cameras that are now supported: Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, Olympus E-PL1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10, Samsung NX10, Sony Alpha DSLR-A390, Sony Alpha NEX-3, Sony Alpha NEX-5.

Download SquadRAW compatibility update for Aperture 3 and iPhoto '09 released originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apertureapplecameracanondigitaliphotoolympuspanasonicrawsamsungsonyWed, 04 Aug 2010 06:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo sneers at the lack of quality gaming on Apple devices]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/04/07/nintendo-sneers-at-the-lack-of-quality-gaming-on-apple-devices/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/04/07/nintendo-sneers-at-the-lack-of-quality-gaming-on-apple-devices/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/04/07/nintendo-sneers-at-the-lack-of-quality-gaming-on-apple-devices/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hidden at the bottom of a great piece on Kotaku, about why Nintendo should never fear Apple, there are some fantastic quotes from Nintendo of America's president, Reggie Fils-Aime: "If our games represent a range between snacks of entertainment and full meals depending on the type of game, [Apple's] aren't even a mouthful, in terms of the gaming experience you get."

To say that Nintendo isn't afraid of Apple would be an understatement -- even with the release of the iPad, with its larger screen and supercharged iPod Touch hardware, Nintendo isn't batting an eyelid. While Nintendo's share of the mobile gaming market has dipped in the past year, most of that has been attributed to Sony's PSP.

The iPhone, iPod and iPad are certainly popular, and make up a sizable fraction of games sold, but the president of Nintendo still fails to see them as contenders in the 'proper gaming' marketplace. "[Apple] is not having an impact on Nintendo when you look at our business, our volume, our hardware, our software. I've seen data that suggests that while consumers are constantly downloading Apps, they play with them for a few times and then they are moving on to the next thing."

He also cites the number of free downloads as a sign that Apple gamers are either unwilling to pay for quality content, or that quality games worth purchasing simply don't exist.

The iPhone OS devices, in essence, lack the quality games that Nintendo and Sony sport on their tried and tested platforms. In most cases, the only 'proper' games for the portable Apple devices are ports of Nintendo and Sony games! Going forward, what remains to be seen is whether game studios are just gearing up to build better games on Apple devices -- or if they simply perceive Apple gamers to be too fleeting, too disloyal, too...ooh a butterfly! to invest money in.
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Download SquadNintendo sneers at the lack of quality gaming on Apple devices originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beyonce

In an act of corporate insanity that reminds me of military behavior as described in Catch 22, Sony BMG removed the videos from Beyonce's official YouTube channel for "copyright infringement." It is her channel, and she is their artist. This is awesome! I mean, talk about caring for your musicians! Way to go, BMG!

This is just one example of the heights of madness that copyright "protection" has ascended to. And now that the super-secret ACTA negotiations appear to be well underway, we are drawing near to a day when ISPs will be held accountable whenever one of their users downloads infringing content.

Please, dear readers, convince me that I'm scare-mongering here. Tell me that ACTA will never happen, and that this is just a slight glitch on Sony's part and not an actual symptom.

As they ask over at motherboard.tv, how long will it be before Sony starts suing ladies who put a ring on it, or before Beyonce sues herself?

Download SquadSony BMG takes Beyonce's official YouTube channel down for "copyright infringement" originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actabeynocecommercialdmcagooglemusicmusical-websonyyoutubeTue, 30 Mar 2010 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Finally, serious competition for iTunes...from Sony!]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/20/finally-serious-competition-for-itunes-from-sony/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/20/finally-serious-competition-for-itunes-from-sony/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/20/finally-serious-competition-for-itunes-from-sony/#commentsFiled under: ,

They've been awfully quiet the last couple of years, except for the recent PS3 price reduction and slow drip-feed of good games. But it seems, after the appointment of a new CEO back in 2006, the results of some internal reshuffling might finally be coming to fruition!

There's no name for the new software reported on by BusinessWeek. There's also very few details of the functionality Sony's iTunes-killer will actually utilize to draw people away from Apple's soft, white allure and into their black, serious grasp.

BusinessWeek suggests that the software will try to differentiate itself from iTunes by including Picasa- and YouTube-like functionality, allowing users to upload videos and photos from their (Sony?) cameras. Other than that... who knows what Sony has up their sleeves?

Sony are huge however -- multi-national robber-baron 'XBox' huge -- with an additional vast library of music and movies. They also have a large installed base of PlayStation owners (that's fast increasing!) It wouldn't be a surprise to see some kind of 'PlayStation App Store' included in Sony's new software.

We shall see!

[via BusinessWeek]

Download SquadFinally, serious competition for iTunes...from Sony! originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStoreitunessoftwaresonyFri, 20 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Proper web browsing on a console: Firefox coming to the Sony PS3?]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/20/proper-web-browsing-on-a-console-firefox-coming-to-the-sony-ps3/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/20/proper-web-browsing-on-a-console-firefox-coming-to-the-sony-ps3/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/11/20/proper-web-browsing-on-a-console-firefox-coming-to-the-sony-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Firefox/PS3 mash-up. Stolen from CNET, who stole it from Gizmodo.It seems the age of humdrum, crippled browsers on consoles might finally be coming to an end! Though the details are very slim, with the only source being an unnamed insider very close to Sony, it is exciting news indeed if it turns out to true.

Games consoles have always had feeble browser offerings, with PS3's default browser generally considered one of the worst and most unreliable. Porting Firefox to the PS3 would make a lot of sense, especially if Sony intend to inroads against the competing XBox Live service. Or perhaps they need a proper web browser for their newly-announced iTunes-killer...?

Obviously this is very much a rumour, but it would make a lot of sense -- and it will probably appear quite soon, considering how hard Sony are pushing for a larger slice of the console market at the moment.

I wonder if Flash and the ability to stream videos from sites like YouPo YouTube will be included....

[via CNET]

Download SquadProper web browsing on a console: Firefox coming to the Sony PS3? originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolefirefoxps3sonyFri, 20 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony to ship computers with Google Chrome as default browser]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/01/sony-to-ship-computers-with-google-chrome-as-default-browser/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/01/sony-to-ship-computers-with-google-chrome-as-default-browser/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/09/01/sony-to-ship-computers-with-google-chrome-as-default-browser/#commentsFiled under: ,


Remember how we all kind of laughed when Google removed the "beta" label from the Google Chrome web browser after just a few months of development? It seemed funny, given that Gmail stayed in beta for over 4 years before Google was ready for the popular email service to emerge from beta.

But it turns out there was a method to the madness. Google was working behind the scenes to convince hardware manufacturers to bundle the web browser with their computers. And it's kind of tricky to do that when your software is in beta, implying that it's unfinished or unstable.

Now about 9 months after Chrome emerged from beta, the Financial Times is reporting that Sony and Google have reached a deal to bundle the browser with Sony computers. Sony Vaio computers are already shipping with Chrome loaded as the default web browser, and Google says it's working on similar deals with other PC vendors.

The deal could help boost the number of people using the web browser. After all, if we've learned one thing by the success of Internet Explorer, it's that most people will probably just use whatever web browser comes with their computer. Google also produced a video earlier this year (shown above) that shows that a heck of a lot of people don't really understand what exactly a browser is, which kind of suggests that there are a lot of people who aren't going to be changing the default browser on their computers anytime soon.

Download SquadSony to ship computers with Google Chrome as default browser originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's been a lot of buzz this week about Sony's new eBook readers which will go head to head with the Amazon Kindle. But it's not all about hardware. Sony also released version 3.0 of its eBook Library desktop software this week. It's available for Mac (for the first time) as well as Windows, and it lets you purchase, download, organize, and read eBooks whether you have a Sony digital eBook reader or not.

While reading eBooks on a computer screen isn't necessarily the most pleasant experience, if you slap the eBook library software on a netbook or Tablet PC, it would make a passable eBook reader. And while the Sony library is choc full of books you can buy, there are also a fair number of titles that you can download for free, including Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, a book I haven't read in years, but which I'm looking forward to giving another try.

The Sony eBook Library software can also titles in EPUB format, which means that you can read any of the million public domain titles Google recently made available in that format.

[via Mashable]

Download SquadSony eBook Library now available for Mac, Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebooksepubsonysony-ebook-librarysony-ebook-readerThu, 27 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google makes 500,000 free eBooks available for Sony Reader]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/03/19/google-makes-500-000-free-ebooks-available-for-sony-reader/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/03/19/google-makes-500-000-free-ebooks-available-for-sony-reader/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2009/03/19/google-makes-500-000-free-ebooks-available-for-sony-reader/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony eBook reader
Sony and Google are partnering to make half a million books that Google has digitized for its eBook project available for free to Sony Reader customers through the Sony digital book store. That brings the total number of books in the Sony store to 600,000, or more than twice the number of eBooks found in Amazon's Kindle store.

The only catch is that these books are all public domain works, most which were written at least 80 years ago. Not exactly the stuff of the New York Times bestseller list. Amazon, by contrast offers a number of new release titles for around $10.

You also don't need a Sony Reader to access the Google library. Any computer or mobile device with an internet connection will do.

Download SquadGoogle makes 500,000 free eBooks available for Sony Reader originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazon-kindleebooksgoogle-bookssonysony-readerThu, 19 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony BMG could launch subscription music service]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/25/sony-bmg-could-launch-subscription-music-service/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/25/sony-bmg-could-launch-subscription-music-service/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/25/sony-bmg-could-launch-subscription-music-service/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony BMG
In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Sony BMG CEO Rolf Schmid-Holtz explained that the music studio is considering launching an all-you-can-eat style subscription music service. There aren't a ton of details at this point, and it's not even clear if this subscription plan will ever materialize, but here are a few highlights from the interview:
  • The service would probably cost between 6 and 8 Euros per month (or $9 to $12).
  • This isn't just idle talk. Sony BMG has conducted at least enough market research to set what theybelieve is a fair price.
  • Sony will continue to sell music through Apple's iTunes Store.
Now for the confusing part. Tracks would play on all MP3 players, including the iPod. We assume this means the music would have to be DRM-free, but Schmid-Holtz also explains that most of the music would no longer play if you stop paying your monthly subscription bill. Huh?
[via Engadget]

Download SquadSony BMG could launch subscription music service originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drmmp3musicsonysony-bmgTue, 25 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Complain and you shall receive: Sony drops $50 anti-crapware fee]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/complain-and-you-shall-receive-sony-drops-50-anti-crapware-fee/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/complain-and-you-shall-receive-sony-drops-50-anti-crapware-fee/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/complain-and-you-shall-receive-sony-drops-50-anti-crapware-fee/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony Fresh ReStart
Earlier today we reported that Sony was going to charge customers $50 to remove crapware like trial software, anti-virus applications, and other software that you probably didn't want anyway from its TZ2000 line of laptop computers. While it might sound funny that you're expected to pay money to receive less software, there's a pretty simple explanation: Software companies pay computer makers to add a bunch of junk you never asked for to your PC. So Sony wanted to offer a bloat-free option, but planned to make up the lost revenue by charging consumers.

But a funny thing happened today. A ton of tech sites started reporting on the move, and for the most part, bloggers, readers, and commentors didn't have pleasant things to say. And now Wired reports that Sony has changed its plans and will offer the "Fresh Start" option to TZ2000 customers free of charge.

Now, don't get too excited about this. Customers will still need to upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows Vista Business to qualify for Fresh Start, which means you'll still have to pay an extra $100 (although you will get some additional Windows Vista features). And the TZ2000 line of computers don't exactly come cheap. The laptop computers start at $1900. We don't expect to see a budget line with a free "Fresh Start" option offered anytime soon.

Download SquadComplain and you shall receive: Sony drops $50 anti-crapware fee originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commercialcrapwarefresh-startsonyFri, 21 Mar 2008 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony charges $50 to remove crapware from your new PC]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/sony-charges-50-to-remove-crapware-from-your-new-pc/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/sony-charges-50-to-remove-crapware-from-your-new-pc/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/21/sony-charges-50-to-remove-crapware-from-your-new-pc/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sony Fresh Start
What's the first think you do when you get a new computer? You spend time trying to figure out how much of the junk preloaded by the manufacturer is worth keeping and how much you can throw away. Every now and again you'll get something useful like an antivirus program or software for managing your display settings. But just as often, you get demos of applications you have no plans to pay for.

Sony is offering some customer a chance to remove all of that promotional software (often referred to as crapware). But here's the dirty little secret - Sony and other computer makers are including that software for a reason. They get kickbacks from software companies. So Sony will charge you an extra $50 to remove the software. You have to select "Fresh Start" while you're configuring your PC to do this.

Currently, the only Sony model with the Fresh Start option is the TZ2000 line of laptops. And in order to qualify, you have to upgrade from Windwos Vista Home Premium to Windows Vista Business, which will tack $100 to your price. So really, Sony is charging users who want a crapware free system as much as $150. Classy.

Of course, you can also just buy your new PC preloaded with applications you don't need and use the free PC Decrapifier to remove all the unnecessary bloat.

Update: Sony has dropped the $50 fee.

[via Engadget]

Download SquadSony charges $50 to remove crapware from your new PC originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloatcommercialcrapwaredecrapifierfresh-startsonyFri, 21 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SXSW iF! Trade Show Floor]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/12/sxsw-if-trade-show-floor/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/12/sxsw-if-trade-show-floor/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/03/12/sxsw-if-trade-show-floor/#commentsFiled under: ,


Gallery: SXSW iF! Trade Show Floor



SXSW is a junction of film, music and interactive folks with the iF! trade show floor reflecting that eclectic mix. We found a healthy smattering of music booths, some film schools and lots of web app companies. Big booths included Sony, Mapquest, Opera, Yahoo and O'Reilly while smaller booths from Axiom, Kyte and AIM provided a smorgasbord of interactive wares. You can see the full list on the SXSW site or just peep our gallery for a virtual tour.

Trade show floors often take on a circus-like atmosphere, with booths doing what they can to lure you to their wares. At iF! the "cool thing" was Guitar Hero. We counted no less than four booths with the ubiquitous guitar controllers and LCD screens (even if they were often unmanned). One booth broke with tradition and had Rock Band. Brave, no?

Our money for Most Fun Demo is on Bitstrips, a killer app for making your own comic strips online. Imagine mixing Mii-creation tools with Comic Life and you get the idea. Lots of fun, diverse and powerful, and stupid simple to use. Most boring? Well, hard to say because by the time we hit the floor a few booth attendees had left, leaving their booths sitting there, dejected and stickerless.

Download SquadSXSW iF! Trade Show Floor originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimaxiombitstripsguitar-herokytemapquestoperaoreillyrock-bandsonysxswsxsw2008yahooWed, 12 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Introduction to PSP Homebrew]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/03/introduction-to-psp-homebrew/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/03/introduction-to-psp-homebrew/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/03/introduction-to-psp-homebrew/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

PSP
The Playstation Portable is a jack of all trades. It plays music, videos, browses the Internet, and plays games. However, for an increasing number of people, this still isn't enough. With its powerful dual-processor configuration and Memory Stick Pro Duo slot, the PSP is a pocket powerhouse, capable of much more than just gaming and multimedia.

This is where the homebrew community comes in. With some modifications to its system software, the PSP can run 3rd party software, just like an ordinary computer. A massive community has sprung up online that is dedicated to these modifications. Read on to find out more.

Continue reading Introduction to PSP Homebrew

Download SquadIntroduction to PSP Homebrew originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askdlscommercialEmulationfreewareGamingHomebrewmodsPlaystationPSPSonytweet-thisSun, 03 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony confirms closure of 'Connect' music store - paying customers get stung by DRM]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/01/sony-confirms-closure-of-connect-music-store-paying-customer/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/01/sony-confirms-closure-of-connect-music-store-paying-customer/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/02/01/sony-confirms-closure-of-connect-music-store-paying-customer/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony's Connect music store has been around a fair while, in fact, a fair while longer than perhaps some of us expected. Sony -- a company once so powerful and successful in portable music -- cooked up the Connect service as a response to Apple's all-powerful iTunes Store. The plan was a store to supply music to the dozen or so users who bought one of its NetMD or MP3 players, and couldn't play media on these devices in a format other than Sony's proprietary ATRAC-3 format.*

Of course, Sony is also a record-label and (as with all of Sony's digital music efforts) the Connect service was clearly put in front of some executives who were absolutely terrified of the 'Cloverfield monster' otherwise known as piracy. The executives, so hell-bent on protecting their content, forgot that actually they had to sell the service to the public and decided that they'd allow Connect, but that the DRM would be so visible and limited that no-one would dare think of pirating music again. If you hadn't guessed, here at Download Squad, some of us have 'issues' with Sony's digital mis-steps -- issues best explained in another post -- so we'll skip forward to the present day.


Continue reading Sony confirms closure of 'Connect' music store - paying customers get stung by DRM

Download SquadSony confirms closure of 'Connect' music store - paying customers get stung by DRM originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drmmusicsonyFri, 01 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Download Squad Week in Review]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/12/download-squad-week-in-review/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/12/download-squad-week-in-review/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/12/download-squad-week-in-review/#commentsFiled under:

logoDisappointed by yet another underwhelming CES packed with expensive gadgets that don't do much more than last year's model? Fear not, we've been busy bringing you the best of free and cheap software. And unlike CES, Download Squad runs 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Here's some of what you might have missed if you were knee deep in UMPCs and HDTVs this week.

Comcast could receive a hefty FCC fine for throttling Bittorrent
Look, we know Comcast probably isn't going to get slapped with a $1.77 trillion fine. But that's what some groups are calling for in response to findings that the cable/internet/phone provider has been intentionally favoring some internet traffic. And next time your downloads slow down or you have to spend an hour on the phone with a tech support person, that $1.77 trillion figure gives you something to dream about.

AT&T openly says it may filter internet content
Oh sweet irony. Not a day after the FCC announced it was considering fines against Comcast for filtering internet content, AT&T officials said they might consider doing the same thing. Seriously, don't they read Download Squad?

Continue reading Download Squad Week in Review

Download SquadDownload Squad Week in Review originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 12 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comcastdrmhululinuxmusicpackage-managementsonyVistaweekendreviewSat, 12 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony to sell DRM-free music online after all]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/10/sony-to-sell-drm-free-music-online-after-all/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/10/sony-to-sell-drm-free-music-online-after-all/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/10/sony-to-sell-drm-free-music-online-after-all/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Amazon MP3Apparently Sony's plan for DRM-free music distribution isn't quite as dumb as we thought. Sure, the music label's announcement that it would sell DRM-free music was quickly followed by the news that you'd have to walk into a bricks and mortar retail store and buy a gift card allowing you to download an album's worth of tracks from the web. But it turns out that's not the only way to get DRM-free music from Sony BMG.

Amazon just put out a press release stating that it will be adding MP3 tracks from Sony to Amazon MP3 later this month. That will make Amazon the first online music store to offer DRM-free music from each of the four major music labels.

No word on how much of Sony's music library will be available via Amazon, but we're just glad to see you'll be able to purchase individual tracks and that you won't have to leave the house to get your music fix.

Download SquadSony to sell DRM-free music online after all originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazon-mp3drmmusicsonysony-bmgThu, 10 Jan 2008 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony may have the oddest plan ever for DRM-free music]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/07/sony-may-have-the-oddest-plan-ever-for-drm-free-music/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/07/sony-may-have-the-oddest-plan-ever-for-drm-free-music/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/07/sony-may-have-the-oddest-plan-ever-for-drm-free-music/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony BMG MusicPass cardsYou know how we told you the other day that Sony would become the last major label to offer DRM-free music? Yeah, apparently they're going kicking and screaming. While most record labels offering DRM-free downloads are letting users buy songs from online retailers like iTunes and Amazon, Sony wants you to go into a bricks and mortar store and drop $12.99 on a plastic card with a code that will let you download the album from the company's new MusicPass web site.

That's right, you've got to walk into a store, pay for a full album, and then go home to download your song. You might as well just buy a CD while you're at the store and rip it for yourself.

But wait, there's more. Or less, rather. When the service launches on January 15th, there will be a whopping 37 albums available for download. And no way to buy singles.

You'll be able to pick up MusicPass cards at Best Buy, Target, Fred's and a handful of other stores.

[via USA Today]

Download SquadSony may have the oddest plan ever for DRM-free music originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drmmusicmusicpasssonysony-bmgMon, 07 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony BMG dropping DRM]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-dropping-drm/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-dropping-drm/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-dropping-drm/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony BMG artistsDRM is dead, long live the MP3. OK, dead might be an overstatement, but Sony BMG is the latest major record label planning to offer music in the unrestricted MP3 format. For years, Sony, EMI, Universal, and Warner have insisted on using digital rights management software to limit music piracy. But now each of the major four labels is offering up at least a portion of its library in DRM-free MP3 or AAC formats.

Why the change? Partly because as time goes by and consumers are used to paying for music from online retailers like iTunes or Amazon MP3, fewer people are turning to pirate networks to get free music. But more importantly, over the last few years Apple has developed a near-monopoly on the music download business. And while the record labels are certainly profiting from their relationship with Apple, they also don't want to be locked into selling their music through just one channel. By offering DRM-free music, they can help boost Amazon MP3 and other online music retailers that are competing with Apple.

It's not clear how much of Sony BMG's library will be available DRM-free. But the company does plan to participate in Amazon and Pepsi's upcoming Super Bowl promotion to give away 1 billion DRM-free tracks.

Download SquadSony BMG dropping DRM originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DRMmusicSonySony-BMGFri, 04 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skype headed for the PSP?]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/02/skype-headed-for-the-psp/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/02/skype-headed-for-the-psp/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2008/01/02/skype-headed-for-the-psp/#commentsFiled under: ,

Skype on the PSP

There are some signs that Skype VoIP software may be coming Sony's PSP. According to Sony's CES PR documentation, Skype is going to be available on the PSP. We tried to contact Skype's PR department for an official word, but they said "No comment at this time". We'll see what happens when CES kicks off this coming week.

For now, we can only rely on the fact that Skype is listed in the PSP's feature list on their site, as seen below.

Continue reading Skype headed for the PSP?

Download SquadSkype headed for the PSP? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pspskypesonyvoipWed, 02 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony to shut down ImageStation online photo site]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/21/sony-to-shut-down-imagestation-online-photo-site/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/21/sony-to-shut-down-imagestation-online-photo-site/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/21/sony-to-shut-down-imagestation-online-photo-site/#commentsFiled under: ,

ImageStationSony seems to be gutting its online media offerings like a fish... or something else you gut. Last month we found out that Sony was closing its Connect music store. Now it turns out the company is also killing the ImageStation online photo sharing site.

ImageStation is dying a slow death. You can no longer sign up for a new account. Some features will be shut down on November 12th, including image uploading, sharing, and shopping. The site will officially close on February 1, 2008.

In the meantime, Sony is offering current users the ability to transfer their photos to Shutterfly. You can also download high resolution images to your computer one at a time, which could take a while. Or for $7.49 per disc, you can order archived copies on CD or DVD.

[Thanks Frank]

Download SquadSony to shut down ImageStation online photo site originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>imagestationphotosshutdownshutterflysonyFri, 21 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony to launch video download store]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/04/sony-to-launch-video-download-store/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/04/sony-to-launch-video-download-store/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/04/sony-to-launch-video-download-store/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony Bravia logoJust days after Sony announced it was pulling the plug on the Connect music download service, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sony plans to launch a video download service to compete with iTunes.

Sony may have the goods to pull this off. Apple developed the iTunes music store in order to sell content that would make you want to buy an iPod. The hardware and software are made to work together. Sony already has the hardware (the Playstation3, the Playstation Portable, and Bravia television sets) and the content (Sony Pictures movies and TV shows).

Now imagine media service where you can go online using your computer, PS3, PSP, or even your TV remote control, buy a movie or a complete season of a TV show, and automatically download it to a device for viewing. No $300 AppleTV required.

Of course, in order to succeed, Sony will need to sign distribution deals with other TV and movie producers. But while Apple holds onto its number one position in online music sales with a strong grip, there's not clear leader in video downloads. So whether Sony can take the lead is kind of beside the point right now. We're just happy to see someone else moving into this space.

Download SquadSony to launch video download store originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braviaitunesps3pspSonyvideo downloadsVideoDownloadsTue, 04 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony kills off Connect online music store, ATRAC format]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/30/sony-kills-off-connect-online-music-store-atrac-format/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/30/sony-kills-off-connect-online-music-store-atrac-format/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/30/sony-kills-off-connect-online-music-store-atrac-format/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony ConnectSony's introducing a new line of Walkman media players with support for video playback. While this is a first for the company, we're much more excited about a corollary to that story: Sony is killing off its Connect music store and along with it, the proprietary ATRAC music format.

In a nutshell, ATRAC files sound about as good as any other compressed digital audio files. But unlike MP3, OGG, and WMA files, you can pretty much only listen to ATRAC files on Sony devices. That's because not only does ATRAC use DRM, but most manufacturers just don't support the standard.

Sony's switching from ATRAC to WMA in its new players, and phasing out the Connect Music Service starting next year.

The company will be giving customers "the best possible guidance on how to successfully transfer your music library to an MP3 or Windows Media-compatible format." It's not quite clear whether that means Sony will be providing conversion tools or just instructions. Updates will be available on the Connect website.

Oh yeah, and they recommend using up any account credit or promotional vouchers you've got before March of 2008. In other words, don't expect to get a cash refund if you don't use them by the time the store closes.

[via Engadget]

Download SquadSony kills off Connect online music store, ATRAC format originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atracconnectdrmmp3sonywmaThu, 30 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy belated 25th Anniversary CD]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/20/happy-belated-25th-anniversary-cd/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/20/happy-belated-25th-anniversary-cd/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/08/20/happy-belated-25th-anniversary-cd/#commentsFiled under: , ,

happy 25th belated birthday cdSeems that we forgot to wish our good friend 'Compact Disk' a happy birthday on August 17th. It was that day in 1982 that the first CD was manufactured at a Philips factory in Langenhagen Germany, close to Hanover.

Sony and Philips worked together to develop this new technology as a shift away from analog and into digital recordings leading to the eventual launch of the DVD and Blu-ray media technologies. This technological revolution sparked a big change for the music industry, skyrocketing music prices among other things. Since then there has been over 200 billion CD's sold, with Polygram holding the title of the first CD for ABBA's The Visitors album. However, people couldn't listen to them because the first CD players hit the Japanese shelves three months later, with the US and Europe not seeing them until March of 1983.

The computer virus also celebrated its 25th birthday earlier this year. So one thing we need, and one thing we definitely do not.

Download SquadHappy belated 25th Anniversary CD originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBluRaycdcompact diskCompactDiskdvdhappy birthdayHappyBirthdayphilipssonyMon, 20 Aug 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony to launch YouTube competitor in Japan]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/26/sony-to-launch-youtube-competitor-in-japan/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/26/sony-to-launch-youtube-competitor-in-japan/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/04/26/sony-to-launch-youtube-competitor-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,

EyeVio
Sony is set to announce a video sharing site in Japan tomorrow. While this makes Sony just the latest in a long line of companies trying to get in on some of that YouTube-style action, Sony does have the benefit of owning quite a bit of video content that it can push onto the website.

News Corp and NBC Universal last month announced they would launch a similar site this year.

While Sony is launching its EyeVio site in Japan, the company plans to expand the service to other countries if it performs well.

Sony hopes to avoid the lawsuits that have plagued Google by actively monitoring the site for copyright violations from the get go, rather than waiting for content producers to contact the company with complaints. Of course, this raises the question: Without copyrighted videos, will anyone user the new site? There are conflicting reports over whether YouTube owes its success more to user-generated video or clips from programs like The Daily Show.

Download SquadSony to launch YouTube competitor in Japan originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eyeviosonyyoutubeThu, 26 Apr 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Buy a PS3 preloaded with Linux]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/22/buy-a-ps3-preloaded-with-linux/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/22/buy-a-ps3-preloaded-with-linux/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/02/22/buy-a-ps3-preloaded-with-linux/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you're jealous of all those mad scientists who've been loading up Linux on their shiny new Sony PS3, TerraSoft thinks they have the answer. They're taking pre-orders for PS3's pre-loaded with Yellow Dog Linux's Playstation distribution. Now, even if you don't know a kernel from a colonel, you can smile brightly when your friends and foes drop jaws to the ground while your expensive console boots the most advanced open source OS on the planet.

Your Linux laden PS3 will set you back $650 credits dollars and TerraSoft isn't making any promises on when your new pride and joy will arrive. If you've already got your hot little hand on the third generation of Sony console, IBM's got a helpful guide to squeezing Yellow Dog in alongside Sony's own proprietary OS. The only caveat? Sony's partial opening of the platform comes with a tiny string attached; You'll get no accelerated graphics capabilities when running Linux.

Download SquadBuy a PS3 preloaded with Linux originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwareibmlinux on ps3LinuxOnPs3newsopensourceps3ps3 linuxPs3Linuxsonyyellow dog linuxYellowDogLinuxThu, 22 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PC makers may demand additional compensation from Sony]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/16/pc-makers-may-demand-additional-compensation-from-sony/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/16/pc-makers-may-demand-additional-compensation-from-sony/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/16/pc-makers-may-demand-additional-compensation-from-sony/#commentsFiled under: , ,

sony battery recallSony was hit hard with the battery recall mess that has been going on over the past few months. Now its time for the laptop makers to fight back, on a brand note. PC manufacturers believe that their brand images were tarnished due to the mass recall of Sony PC batteries. Apple, Dell, Hitachi, IBM, Lenovo, and Toshiba have all recalled batteries in fear those consumers machines may overheat and catch fire. Even though Sony has said that they would in fact cover all recall costs, Toshiba is stepping out in front and asking for more to fix their brand image, and loss of potential sales. Other manufacturers have yet to file such claims.

Download SquadPC makers may demand additional compensation from Sony originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebattery recallBatteryRecalldellhitachiibmlenovorecallsonytoshibaMon, 16 Oct 2006 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Content filtering in the works for YouTube]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/16/content-filtering-in-the-works-for-youtube/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/16/content-filtering-in-the-works-for-youtube/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/16/content-filtering-in-the-works-for-youtube/#commentsFiled under: , ,

google youtube content filteringLooks like Google's new partners, Warner, Universal, and Sony, are pushing Google to develop a technology that allows copyright owners to search and locate their content and choose to whether they want remove it from YouTube. This new technology that is in development is said to be able to scan audio in mp3 or video and compare so-called electronic fingerprints. In order to make labels happy and avoid costly lawsuits, Google is going to have to implement this software, and prove to record labels that the YouTube service is going to make everyone happy.

Download SquadContent filtering in the works for YouTube originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocontentcontent filteringContentFilteringgooglerecord labelRecordLabelsonyuniversalvideowarneryoutubeMon, 16 Oct 2006 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Google shakes hands with Sony BMG, Warner for free music videos]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/google-shakes-hands-with-sony-bmg-warner-for-free-music-videos/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/google-shakes-hands-with-sony-bmg-warner-for-free-music-videos/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/12/google-shakes-hands-with-sony-bmg-warner-for-free-music-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Google shakes hands with Sony BMG, Warner for free music videosAh when the river of Google flows, it is plentiful. Not even sitting down for a breather, the big G has announced a deal with Sony BMG and Warner Music Group (yea, they shook hands with YouTube last week too) to bring "thousands" of free music videos to GooTube Google Video, thanks to their standard ad-supported model. They have plenty of videos linked front and center under their search box from big players like Madonna, Justin Timberlake and John Mayer, with a promise of more on the way.

It's going to be real interesting how all this Google Video, YouTube and copyright stuff pans out. Warner's aforementioned plan with YouTube showed some forward-thinking on the company's part to embrace these new distribution mediums instead of threatening them - it looks like these new post-YouTube acquisition deals, now with Sony on board, could be a sign of the times.

Download SquadGoogle shakes hands with Sony BMG, Warner for free music videos originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmggooglegooglevideomusicmusic videosMusicVideosnewssonyvideowarnerThu, 12 Oct 2006 15:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Sony battery recall, this time Lenovo]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/02/another-sony-battery-recall-this-time-lenovo/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/02/another-sony-battery-recall-this-time-lenovo/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/10/02/another-sony-battery-recall-this-time-lenovo/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony batteriesSo now we have another manufacturer who is recalling Sony batteries for its laptop computer products. Lenovo has issued a voluntary battery recall for over 500,000 batteries. Where does the carnage end? Will Sony still provide batteries for laptops after this, or is this a minor set-back? I know mistakes happen, but I don't know that Sony can afford another big battery catastrophe like this if they want to keep their battery business. Do they even care? Sony is a big company, so what do you think, will this incident hurt their bottom line enough to matter? This is the one time when I am actually glad I have an older laptop. One that isn't subject to a battery recall. It really isn't much of a consolation, but its something, right?

Download SquadAnother Sony battery recall, this time Lenovo originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Oct 2006 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplebatteriesbatteryDellhardwareHPlaptopLenovonewsrecallSonyMon, 02 Oct 2006 13:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson's music download service]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/21/sony-ericssons-music-download-service/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/21/sony-ericssons-music-download-service/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/21/sony-ericssons-music-download-service/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

sony ericsson music downloadsSony Ericsson is ramping up to launch its music download service. Details of the new service were released Tuesday, and spoke about allowing full music downloading of up-and-coming artists though its mobile phones, with mainstream artists being integrated at a later date. I would imagine that it could be possible to transfer these music downloads to your PC, so you could enjoy music outside of your mobile phone. The new service is called M-BUZZ, and Sony sees this as a giant step at increasing the units sold, and making the M-BUZZ world a strong differentiating feature. It seems like this could also be a move to step up to the competition of the iPod. There were no reports as to when the service will exactly be launched, only talk about late in the second half of 2006.

Download SquadSony Ericsson's music download service originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ToshibaToshiba now recalls 340,000 laptop batteries that were made by Sony and were shipped with laptops made between March and May this year. The BBC states that the batteries may lose all their power. This is the largest battery recall in computer history (if you hadn't heard), and Toshiba joins an list of companies whom Sony has effectively screwed with bad batteries. The recall is in effect for Dynabook and Dynabook Satellite notebooks where in rare cases the batteries would simply lose power. There is no risk on overheating or catching fire for Toshiba's version of the batteries known, so this problem isn't quite so explosive, literally.

Download SquadToshiba recalls 340,000 Sony batteries originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alertApplebatteriesconsumerDellhardwarenewsrecallSonyToshibaThu, 21 Sep 2006 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@Home on PS3]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/06/folding-home-on-ps3/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/06/folding-home-on-ps3/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2006/09/06/folding-home-on-ps3/#commentsFiled under:

PS3 Folding@Home beta screencapI've never been a big console gamer; my last console was an Atari 7800. One of my big gripes has always the complete lack of value in consoles: they cost a tremendous amount of money for what is essentially a unitasking machine. Put a second rate processor and a mediocre video card in a box, cripple it by tying it to a proprietary cartridge or disc format, call it a video game console and sell it for six times what you get for it if you called it a computer. Clever marketing ploy, to be sure, but there are plenty of games I like that run on hardware I already own. It follows that I normally ignore most console news and announcements unless they involve doing something useful, like cracking firmware and booting up Linux on the stupid things.

This news from Sony, though caught my eye. Apparently, they're working with the Folding@Home project to let gamers get in on the distributed computing fun and help cure cancer and a host of other diseases. They've even announced a beta application even before the PS3 itself is ready. Now that's an idea I can get behind. Most PS3s will sit around idle for the vast majority of their lives; why not put that processing power to good use? No word yet on whether they're planning to support two of my favorite distributed projects, SETI@Home and FightAIDS@Home, but this is a great gesture on Sony's part and I hope everyone who buys a PS3 gets involved. Why not do some good with all those processor cycles you're not using anyway? As long as we're on the subject: are you running a distributed computing client for a worthy project on your computer right now? you should be.

[via BoingBoing]

Download SquadFolding@Home on PS3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Sep 2006 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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