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Sony BMG to go DRM-free

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drm.gifAfter years of clamor against the ever limiting Digital Rights Management (DRM), many record label companies has yielded to the popular demand of the online community. The latest casualty is Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

According to BusinessWeek, the company has decided to sell part of its collection without this copyright protection software, starting this first quarter. Perhaps the decision of other major companies such as Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group to go DRM-free is the strongest motivator for rather this sweet surrender.

But don’t get excited now. When Sony BMG declared it will share part of its collection, it is the non-selling, crappy part of its catalogue. The first batch of DRM-free audio files will come from those artists selling less than 100,000 units. This cunning yet clever lip service can lure many innocent online music buyers to believe that they can buy any song without this copyright protection.

Then again, let’s give Sony BMG a chance to prove its sincerity. After all, this DRM-free downloads is just a trial phase which will run for six months.

Oh, by the way, t-shirt here is available at Giant Robot Printing

via bit-tech

Originally posted on January 4, 2008 @ 12:59 pm

Sony releases new 40GB Playstation 3, reduces price for 80GB model

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playstation3.pngSony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) today announced plans to introduce a new 40GB model of its Playstation 3 (PS3) computer entertainment system beginning November 2. The new 40GB PS3 model will come bundled with the blockbuster movie Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and will be available in North America for a suggested retail price of $399. The company also announced that effective immediately, the current 80GB PS3 model will be available in North America for $499, $100 below the original launch price.

The new 40GB PS3, however, will no longer play PlayStation 2 titles.

Originally posted on October 18, 2007 @ 10:23 am

Sony planning to start movie download service

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sony.jpgThe Associated Press reports that Sony is possible headed to a head-on collision with Apple as it plans to create its own movie download service.

“Music and video downloading has been available through networks, and we are looking into the area as a possible business,” said Sony spokesman Shigenori Yoshida.

The Japanese company recently launched a new Walkman video player that comes with Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Media Player 11. It is capable of managing digital libraries in the U.S. and Europe. The LCD-mounted players, which will also be compatible with MPEG-4 encoded video and AVC, are already available in Japan.

Originally posted on September 4, 2007 @ 10:19 am

Sony teams up with Myspace, launches Minisodes Network

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The Minisode NetworkMyspace launches Sony Pictures Television‘s Minisode Network, featuring a bunch of classic TV shows condensed into 3-5 minute episodes available for viewing online.

These minisodes follow the same plot of the full TV show episodes from 15 classic series: Partridge Family, Starsky & Hutch, TJ Hooker, Charlie’s Angels, Diff’rent Strokes, Facts of Life, Silver Spoons, Who’s the Boss?, What’s Happening!!, Dilbert, Sheena, Fantasy Island, Police Woman, VIP and Ricki Lake.

“Now MySpace users can discover classic TV shows in a stylized, modern format,” said Chris DeWolfe, MySpace’s CEO. “Teaming with Sony to debut The Minisode Network exclusively on MySpace gives our millions of users yet another reason to make MySpace Video a daily destination.”

“This is exactly the kind of content that resonates with our audience,” said Jeff Berman, MySpace’s general manager of video. “We’re turning old school TV dinners into Internet video snacks and I think MySpace viewers will eat it up.”

Honda signed as the Minisode Network’s exclusive sponsor to launch. You can view The Minisodes Network at www.myspace.com/minisodesnetwork.

Originally posted on June 20, 2007 @ 7:59 am

Sony joins blogosphere, launches official Playstation blog

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Sony Playstation BlogSony Computer Entertainment America launches the new blog on the block, the Playstation.Blog — Sony’s official developer blog that features the latest newsbits, opinions, game annoucements aned updates, and other related posts about Playstation products and services as blogged by Sony executives and PR reps.

“PlayStation.Blog is a bit of work in progress, we see it as a place where we can share with you our company’s collective insights, opinions and perspectives on all things related to SCEA, PlayStation and the industry we play in,” says Patrick Seybold, SCEA’s PR manager in the blog’s first official post.

Just like similar gaming blogs such as Gamerscore and Major Nelson, Playstation.Blog is Sony’s way of joining the viral marketing bandwagon and connecting with Playstation gamers, giving them the opportunity to speak out their thoughts and opinions through commenting so as to create a healthy give-and-take relationship between the producers and consumers.

Through the comments section, SCEA hopes to get a feel of what the gamers want and expect so that they can provide answers to relevant concerns and improve their services as well. Seybold adds, “a blog like this is really about you and the things you want to hear, share and discuss with us. With that in mind, you’ll notice that comments are enabled – and encouraged – so tell us what you want to see here and we’ll do our best to make it happen.”

Originally posted on June 12, 2007 @ 7:05 pm