Sony returns to profitability as core electronics business struggles

Finally, after closing 18% of its manufacturing facilities and cutting 20,000 heads across its global organization, Sony just posted a profit for the quarter. We’re talking an operating profit of ¥146 billion ($1.5 billion) for the quarter on ¥2.2 trillion in sales. Sony’s net profitability came in at ¥79.2 billion after three straight quarters of losses, handily beating The Street’s mean estimate of ¥33.73 billion sending stock up some 4% at the time of this post. Unfortunately for us gadget nerds, Sony’s return to prosperity is largely due to a doubling of sales at Sony’s financial unit and a 16% rise in its movie business — sales from its consumer products and devices division were off 11% thanks to flat-panel TV price competition and component costs. VAIO PC sales were up a slight 2% worldwide while sales of its venerable PS2 (2.1 million units vs. 2.5 million a year earlier) and PSP (4.2 million vs 5.1 million a year earlier) were both off for the quarter. At least the price cuts on the PS3 helped push sales up to 6.5 million from 4.5 million. Still, profit is profit and profit must grow regardless of crummy consumer sales, you know.

Sony returns to profitability as core electronics business struggles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Go ‘relaunch’ in the works?

There’s not much to go on here, but according to alleged sources of Gamervision, Sony’s planning a relaunch of sorts for the PSP Go. The oft-maligned portable hasn’t exactly taken the world by storm — and with its lack of an UMD drive, despite the company’s continued support of the format, that arguably wasn’t the point of its existence, anyway. An apparent marketing blitz is in the cards (unsurprising), and additionally there’s speculation that a price drop might be coming, too. That seems a bit early given it only launched back in October, but if the company’s really wanting to get aggressive and pushing units of its admittedly pretty hardware, that’s a pretty good way to do so. Then again, its hands might be full adding some vigor to its other gaming machine.

PSP Go ‘relaunch’ in the works? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceGamervision  | Email this | Comments

Jill Stuart’s Sweet Limited Package PSP makes its own innuendos, coming in March

¥21,000 ($232), Japan, March 4. All of the foregoing should be irrelevant information because we’re absolutely, positively, definitely sure you’re not going to actually buy one. Right? Look, even if you genuinely don’t object to Blossom Pink as your color scheme, and if you quite rightly find yourself attracted by the handy soft pouch for ensconcing your new PSP-3000 in, don’t you care about what other people might think? And that’s entirely aside from the generic and lazy expectation that women will buy anything so long as it bears a hue from the pink portion of the spectrum. Either way, this bundle of corporate greed and malevolence is coming in about a month’s time, if you’re weird enough to care.

Jill Stuart’s Sweet Limited Package PSP makes its own innuendos, coming in March originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s John Koller: Apple’s entrance into gaming market drives consumers to PSP

Um, okay? Just days after Apple introduced its exceedingly underwhelming iPad while simultaneously attempting to convince that masses that said product was the portable gaming device they had been waiting their whole lives for, Sony’s own hardware marketing honcho has come forward and extolled Cupertino’s decision to finally make the gaming leap. In a recent interview, John stated the following:

“Apple’s entrance into the portable gaming space has been a net positive for Sony. When people want a deeper, richer console, they start playing on a PSP.”

While we can’t seem to shake the suspicion that Mr. Koller is drawing links that probably don’t exist (at least fully) in reality, research firm NPD does show that sales of the PSP have “nearly tripled since the iPhone went on sale in June 2007.” Of course, it’s not like the PSP has gained functionality, become the home of more than a few killer titles and spawned a UMD-less sibling since the heydays of ’07, but hey — who are we to question the suit?

Sony’s John Koller: Apple’s entrance into gaming market drives consumers to PSP originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceFox Business  | Email this | Comments

PSP Go disassembled in awesome stop motion video

Oh sure, we’ve seen Sony’s UMD-hatin’ PSP Go splayed before, but never like this. Call us crazy, but we’re calling stop motion video the future of unboxings and tear downs. Seriously — this is one wild two minute ride that you simply have to take. Peek the video after the break, won’t you?

Continue reading PSP Go disassembled in awesome stop motion video

PSP Go disassembled in awesome stop motion video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korean Air subsidiary renting out PSP Go consoles for in-flight gaming

Korean Air subsidiary Jin Air has a new trick up its sleeve for entertaining passengers going to and fro South Korea. The airline is now offering a 16GB PSP Go to rent for in-flight gaming. No clue what games are on the device, but it’s probably the best 4,000 won (about $3.50) you can spend — assuming, that is, there’s more than a sudoku app.

Korean Air subsidiary renting out PSP Go consoles for in-flight gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceSiliconera  | Email this | Comments

Pink PSP 3000 official in Japan for March, get ready girls!

Hey — are you in love with the PSP 3000 but can’t stand the fact that a pink one doesn’t exist? Well, your life just got a lot better. Playstation Japan’s just officially outed the handheld in “Spring Blossom Pink” for a March 2010 launch. Other than its new, more girlish figure, this PSP 3000 is exactly the same as every one on the market, but you know, looks sure are important. Sadly, this beauty’s only been announced for Japan so far, but we’ll keep our eyes open for other availability. This one’s going to run ¥16,800 (that’s about $183). There’s one more looker after the break.

Continue reading Pink PSP 3000 official in Japan for March, get ready girls!

Pink PSP 3000 official in Japan for March, get ready girls! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Datel claims new Action Replay works on PSP Go, we hope cautiously

Now this is interesting. Datel, which is well known for enabling all sorts of hacks on varying consoles, seems to have just introduced a refreshed version of its Action Replay PSP. What’s new, you ask? Why, PSP Go support, of course! In the item description, we’re told that those using this on Sony’s UMD-less portable console will have to install it directly on the inbuilt memory, but one of two things has to happen (in theory, anyway) for that claim to be true. The first is that Datel is now an official Sony partner, which is about as likely as you getting a Foleo for Christmas. The other is that Datel found a way to run unencrypted code on the PSP Go, and if that’s the case, we’ve got an idea that the homebrew junkies in the crowd will be all over this in search of further exploits. Hop on past the break for a promo video, and if you’re down with shelling out funds for something that may or may not work as advertised, it’s all yours for $24.99.

[Thanks, Bill]

Continue reading Datel claims new Action Replay works on PSP Go, we hope cautiously

Datel claims new Action Replay works on PSP Go, we hope cautiously originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP-4000 accidentally leaked in print ad over the weekend?

What’s this, then? MCV, a British games industry publication, has run an ad for Little Big Planet game accessories that boasts among its many compelling features compatibility with the PSP-4000. Of course, there is no PSP-4000, but you have to admit — this is more than a simple typo. When asked what the dilly was, a rep from Accessories 4 Gamers told Negative Gamer that it was merely a simple “mistake.” Sure, but the questions still remain: was it a mistake because the PSP-4000 doesn’t yet exist? You see, we’ve definitely heard otherwise. Or was this a mistake because you accidentally spilled the beans on some top secret new handheld game console? If that’s the case, you might want to contact us with the details. We won’t tell anyone — promise.

Continue reading PSP-4000 accidentally leaked in print ad over the weekend?

PSP-4000 accidentally leaked in print ad over the weekend? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Destructoid  |  sourceNegative Gamer  | Email this | Comments

PSP Digital Comics set to launch in US today

If you feel like geeking it up (or, as they say back east, “getting your geek on”) there really is no better combination than gaming and comic books — that’s why we’re stoked to hear that the PSP comic store is set to go live at 3:00 PM today. In addition, the European PlayStation blog states that the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa stores should become available at 5PM GMT, while the store in Ireland is being held up due to technical issues. The store boasts “hundreds of new and classic collections,” including your favorites from Marvel, IDW, Titan, iVerse and 2000AD. Check out playstationcomics.com to give it a shot yourself — but not before peeping the video after the break.

Continue reading PSP Digital Comics set to launch in US today

PSP Digital Comics set to launch in US today originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceEuropean PlayStation blog, Twitter  | Email this | Comments