Hasta La Gadget!

It’s been available for some VAIOs in Japan, and some intrepid individuals have even gotten it working on non-VAIO computers, but it looks like VAIO users in the US can now finally get some official PS3 Remote Play support. We’re still trying to track down a complete list of the computers supported, but it looks like the update at least covers the VAIO EA series, and includes all the functionality you’d expect — streaming, Bluetooth keyboard support, etc. Be sure to let us know in comments if the update has hit your VAIO.

[Thanks, Adam]

Sony VAIO laptops start getting PS3 Remote Play update in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See this computer here? Yeah, well Sony’s going to launch a laptop next year that will most likely look nothing like this. Intrigued? We thought you would be. Sony announced today that it will be launching at least one laptop next year (probably a mini-series of ’em) with a 3D-capable 240Hz LCD. The laptop will be using a built-in IR blaster to sync with your regular Bravia shutter glasses, but it’s unclear whether the price of a laptop will get you a free pair of the precious specs. The prototype we got to look at here has a 16-inch 16:9 display, housed in a current F series chassis, but all that is of course subject to change when the final model lands. We do have to say, in comparison to some of the other 3D laptops we’ve seen, Sony’s tech comes off looking pretty good, but there’s nothing here to convince us this is anything beyond a niche luxury for now — although an ability to use this screen as a 3D display for our PS3 might help us change our mind (we asked, the answer is no). Expect to hear more about this mysterious beast at next year’s CES.

3D Sony Vaio landing next year, we preview the prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today, in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, eight high school students from the California Academy for Math and Sciences will attempt to put a 29-foot, 500-pound rocket into orbit, using the skills they picked up in an crash course in rocketry and a 17-inch Sony Vaio CW and F-series laptops with Intel Core i5 and i7 processors under the hood.

The operation is called The Rocket Project, a collaboration sponsored by Sony and Intel to give high school students proficient and dedicated to math, science, and technology the opportunity to put a rocket into orbit. The catch is that the students had only 60 days to design, build, and launch it. The students were ready to launch at the 60 day mark, but weather conditions delayed the launch. Today the students will try again, with clear weather and the approval of the FAA. If the launch goes well, amateur astronomers and radio operators will be able to see the satellite and pick up its radio signal in-orbit, and the students that launched the rocket will have eternal bragging rights. 

Sony’s VAIO P has been around since last decade, but just recently Sony decided to pry it out of the company’s left rear pocket in order to reface it and bless it with a few updated components. We still have a hard time stomaching the $800 price tag, but there’s honestly not much competition when looking specifically at this form factor. Have any of you all managed to procure one of these buggers over the past month and change? Is it worlds better than your netbook? Would you change the resolution or keyboard layout? How’s that CPU treating you? Would a touchpanel have been better? Go on and toss your opinions down in comments below — there’s no telling how long Sony will keep this thing alive, but you might as well contribute to making the next better, right?

How would you change Sony’s VAIO P? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been keeping a close eye on AMD’s big laptop comeback over the last couple of months, and in addition to gaining steam with HP, Dell, Toshiba and Lenovo, it appears AMD’s also gotten Sony back into its court. Both Fry’s and Best Buy are now carrying AMD Athlon II X2-powered machines, and as you may expect, the prices are quite tempting. Conversely, the Intel-based lineup ranges from $699 to $799, but until we get our hands on one of these ourselves, there isn’t exactly a fair comparison to draw at this point. You can hit the source links for the complete specs, but the 15.4-inch EE Series with 4GB of RAM / 320GB of storage and a Blu-ray player is going for $650 while the 17.3-inch EF with a 500GB hard drive for $720. Both also have integrated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 graphics, but regardless, the move certainly bodes well for AMD’s newest processor / graphics, since it appears that Sony hasn’t used AMD in its systems since 2005. We guess a welcome back hug is in order.

Sony selling AMD powered VAIOs for the first time in years originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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