Hasta La Gadget!

Last year, Sony put out one of the most practical solutions to the convertible problem with its "Flip" line of laptops. Now the backflipping, keyboard-stashing, laptop-tablet hybrid lines is getting a new member: an 11-incher, that comes loaded up with Photoshop Elements 12.

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November 2013 was the month when gaming fans around the world were pumped up and excited because both Sony and Microsoft were releasing their next generation consoles. The initial launch took place in limited markets and almost immediately all pre-order and day one stock was sold out. Since then over the following weeks both companies released the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in additional markets. Its been a while since Sony updated us on PS4 sales stats, on the other hand Microsoft has revealed that it sold over three million Xbox One units in 2013.

This figure combines sales of the next generation console in 13 markets in 2013, and the number will definitely go up in 2014 as even more markets are added. Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi says that demand for the console has been strong since its launch. Last we heard from Sony on the PS4 was when it announced that the console only took 16 days to cross the 2.1 million units sold milestone, whereas the Xbox One crossed a similar milestone in 18 days. Sony hasn’t revealed any more stats since then, presumably its only a matter of time before it too announces that over three million units have now been moved to gaming enthusiasts around the world. Microsoft says that 2014 is going to be a promising year with more games, content and features in the pipeline.

Three Million Xbox One Units Were Sold In 2013 original content from Ubergizmo.

As far as console gaming is concerned, Microsoft and Sony can be thought of as rivals, and rightfully so given that both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are considered to be nearly equals, with some hardware differences and game titles set aside. But has their rivalry resulted in bitterness on either part? You might think so, given that Samsung and Apple have had a very fierce, bitter, and not to mention expensive rivalry, but as it turns out both Microsoft and Sony appear to be relatively amicable, with Microsoft Studios’ Phil Spencer admitting that there were things that Microsoft could learn from Sony, such as Sony’s commitment to franchises and developers, even if those titles might not necessarily be blockbusters.

Spencer mentioned titles such as Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls as examples of Sony’s commitment to developers, and in an interview he gave with OXM, Spencer acknowledges that they did a good job with the PS4. “I think that long-term commitment to franchises is important, where it’s easy to pull off the Band-Aid and move onto the next thing [if it doesn’t sell]. I respect their ‘stick-to-it-iveness’. […] I’ll say, they’ve done a nice job with PS4 […] When I think about their announcement, their clear focus on a customer, leading with the value proposition of what they’re trying to do, staying true to a vision, I think they’ve done a nice job in how they defined the PS4.”

The friendly rivalry Sony and Microsoft have with each other is somewhat admirable and both companies are pretty sporting, with either company wishing the other well upon the launch of the PS4 and the Xbox One.

Microsoft Admits That They Can Learn A Thing Or Two From Sony original content from Ubergizmo.

Here’s a tip: if you want to know if a product might be refreshed soon, seeing it being listed as unavailable could be a sign that it is about to be replaced by a presumably newer and better model. Of course this is not always 100% the case, but it’s worth taking note of. Photographers and enthusiasts might also want to take note that it would seem as though Sony’s A65 has been officially listed as unavailable on Amazon’s website, while other retailers have listed it as being back-ordered. While this doesn’t mean that there is no more A65 stock, it probably means that Sony might have stopped production and will not have any new units available for retailers.

In fact it was a few months ago that we reported that the camera had been listed as discontinued which prompted speculation that its successor, the A69, could be on its way. Interestingly enough despite there being Sony A77 stock available, Sony Alpha Rumors has reported that the A77 could soon be replaced as well, presumably by the rumored A79. This rumor lines up with what we have heard the past few months where it was suggested that in 2014, the A77’s successor could be making an official appearance.

Take it all with a grain of salt for now, since these are just rumors, but who knows, perhaps Sony might have something for us at CES 2014, or maybe even at CP+ which takes place not too long after the event.

Sony A65 And A77 Successors Rumored To Be Coming Soon original content from Ubergizmo.

It has been a while since Sony had purchased Gaikai, a cloud-based gaming service that many expected Sony to utilize as a means to stream PS3 games onto the PS4 or maybe even onto the PS Vita, but exactly how this will work out remains to be seen, especially considering that Sony has not shared much information yet on how they plan to truly utilize their recent acquisition. Well thanks to a patent filed by Sony back in 2012, it reveals the company’s plans on how they might potentially take advantage of Gaikai, which is to allow gamers to relive some classic PlayStation titles, but take advantage of the fact that the game is streaming to add new content or challenges to older titles.

According to the patent, “Finding new ways to play preexisting video games can increase the longevity of older games. Instead of replaying the same level or completing the same missions repeatedly, gamers often desire new challenges when replaying legacy games. In response to this need, game designers have begun to produce mini-games. Within a mini-game, the gamer can be instructed to complete new objectives or challenge their friends for high scores in a format that was not originally designed into the legacy game.” It certainly does sound like a good idea and we’re sure many gamers will be able to appreciate replaying older titles but with newer challenges, keeping things fresh, but at the same time allowing them to relive some memories.

However since this is only a patent, there’s no telling these are truly Sony’s plans for Gaikai as they could merely be one of the many ideas that Sony has had over the past couple of years. It could also be a way of Sony to protect potential ideas and for all we know, it could never see the light of day, but in the meantime what do you guys think? Does this sound like a great idea?

Sony Patent Describes Method Of Revitalizing Classic PS Games Through Streaming original content from Ubergizmo.