A Unique Blog Site Focused on Sony Products
Circa 2010 - 2011



This was a unique blog site which focused on Sony products.
Content is from the site's 2010 -2011 archived pages.

The new owners of this domain decided to keep some blog posts from each of the featured bloggers for historical reference.

 

When you come across a brand’s blog, your first thought may be that it’s all one-way chat and corporate marketing speak. This isn’t that kind of blog.

Of course when we have announcements, our blog will be one of the first places to learn the details, but our blog goes beyond that. In the Sony blog, you’ll see posts inviting you to discuss your experiences with us-from the moment you learn about a new Sony product to your gadgets’ last day of play. You’ll also come across an array of writers with their own perspectives on how we make our products to what goes into the making of a Sony commercial. The truth of the matter is that this blog will cover what you’re looking to read because you are what matters. You just need to tell us. So as we power up, we hope you enjoy listening to us, because we look forward to listening to you.

Rules of the Game
We’re going to talk about a lot of different topics and we encourage you to participate.

We’d just like to take this opportunity to cover the rules of the road. It’s basic stuff around being respectful so it shouldn’t be anything you didn’t already learn in pre-school or haven’t already seen on other sites. Besides when you are respectful, people listen more.

rules of the game

Now there are some guidelines beyond the basics that would require a comment removal. For example, if you need help with an order or product support, we need to collect personal information so we’ll do this outside the blog. If your comment is ever not posted, you’ll hear from us as to why. We won’t leave you in the dark.

OUR BLOGGERS

Gina
aka “Blog Mama” (although not to her face) is a chic geek.

 Michael
Tech obsessed since getting his first computer at age 8.

 

 Sukhjit
(it’s pronounced sook-jeet) is a video blogging junkie

 


 

"Among my friends, there is no one more a Sony fan than the former Queens Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Pred. Not only does he love Sony products, but he also follows all the litigation involving the company just for fun. So it came as no surprise to find this site sent to me by him via email when any announcement was made by the Sony or 3rd parties involved in any accessories or product reviews. He included info on Sony's Advagym - a workout app the he says could have prevented his hospital stay after an episode caused by an extreme fitness workout. This proves to me that Benjamin Pred is really a Sony super fan. My family is also a fan of Sony, mainly for the quality of their products, starting with the Walkman - which we still have and it still works!" Tyler Johns

 

 

POSTS

Gina BLOG EDITOR

Gina, aka "Blog Mama" (although not to her face), is the nice lady who writes for the blog and does other "social-esque" programs at Sony Style. Gina is quite the girlie-girl. Reads fashion magazines, clips coupons, likes puppies, yet can also hang in Star Wars and Star Trek trivia challenges with the best of them. She’s a fan of companies make pink gadgets (her Grandma is a breast cancer survivor) and she hates bios so much that she begs her fellow editors to write them; including hers.

Recent Posts

 

walkman

Flashback Friday: Video of the History of the Walkman

By: Gina | Posted: 12/24/2010 | ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS, FLASHBACK FRIDAYS

It’s 1979, then the 1980’s, 90’s and into the twenty-first century. As we march closer towards another year, it was only appropriate to take a Flashback Friday to pay tribute to the Sony Cassette Walkman which was retired earlier this year. You may have seen my blogger pal, Sukhjit’s post about it. Well the team at SGNL couldn’t start their 2011 season without a look back. And they also clear up a little misunderstanding on what exactly retired…

So as we throw on our fancy new outfits, down that holiday eggnog, and put on those holiday tunes – let’s look back at a cassette player that helped start it all. Don’t fret, it’s a new year ahead and that means more endless possibilities. Why? Because it’s not just any Friday, it’s Flashback Friday too.

Happy Holidays & drive safe everyone.

 

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Android Apps for the Holidays

By: Gina | Posted: 12/09/2010 | ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS, NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS

If you’re like me, you’re shopping, baking, entertaining (or going to a holiday event) and likely not going to the gym. This holiday season, it seems like there’s apps for all kinds of things (though the day there’s an app that actually goes to the gym for me…well…sign me up!).

Seeing how Sony Ericsson offers Android phones, Melody, host of Sony’s new Internet show, “SGNL by Sony” sought out the expert to seek the best Android apps for the holidays. That expert is Mr. Ron Richards, host of the infamous App centric show AppJudgement. Demo’d on an Xperia X10 (which by the way has a sweet offer happening right now*), Melody and Ron look at apps ranging from bar code scanners to calorie counters. For me, it was a helpful to weed through Google’s Android Market and pull out the gems I need now. I really liked some of the recipe apps that included grocery lists. So take a look and let me know what you think. And if you have any Android apps you’d recommend, be sure to post your comment on the blog!.

Offer as of 12/9/10 and subject to change or expire

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Special Sony Holiday Gift Guide

By: Gina | Posted: 11/30/2010 | ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS, NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS

Alright so we’re past Thanksgiving. Hopefully by now everyone has had a chance to take a breath. Family is gone, dishes are done and left-overs are on their last day out. It’s now time to get back to work where we can all recover and spend our paid hours doing some holiday shopping. I read that one survey reported over 70.1 million Americans plan to shop at work today. Um that’s more than half the workforce.

I have to admit. I’ve done it before. Each year I get that nervousness that my boss is around the corner. Hands trembling, I quickly check out envisioning that I’m a secret agent on a covert mission. To help us all be a little more efficient at work, the Sony Style team had some fun in helping shoppers find the perfect gift. Now yes, gift guides are everywhere and yes, this is a gift guide all about Sony® products – but if you’re in the market for gadgets this season, hopefully the guide will help you dig through the site as well as suggest some items you wouldn’t have considered. It might even help do some homework and research for you.

Our pals Melody and Anthony from SGNL covered it in the latest episode of SGNL by Sony. You can check out the video here as well as see what their favorite holiday Sony gadgets are.

I appreciated the flavor that Sony Style’s creative team took with a couple of features. First they made a mobile version which is nice. If I’m in a store considering Sony as an option (or even another brand), I can at least use this guide to find ideas and inspiration. I also liked the naughty/nice bar they added. Look, I love you mom but I just can’t spend $200 on you. I enjoyed having the ability to adjust to my comfort level in budget. And I do like that they took a different approach in categories. It’s not the “him” “her” “kids” titles you see. It’s grouped by interest and use case which helps me. But hey, you gatta judge for yourself and I always recommend checking our customer reviews on sites like CNet or SonyStyle.com.

And for good holiday deals this season, we’re keeping tabs on all the Sony Style deals via www.sony.com/deals. Hopefully you’re (not) reading this at work.

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CyBerMonday

Cyber Monday & Other Holiday Deals

By: Gina | Posted: 11/29/2010 | ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS, NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Is it just me or do Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales now pop up before Black Friday? In fact I know it’s not just me because it took me 20 minutes to find a mall parking spot this weekend. Nowadays more and more retailers realize that us shoppers are always looking for deals and willing to start snatching up gifts earlier if that means the deals are there.

I can tell you Sony Style is no exception.

Here’s a consolidated list of deals, sales, and coupons to help navigate the Sony Style holiday deal waters. We’ll be updating this page as new coupons/whatever gets added.

If you have questions let me know and be sure to note the deets at the bottom.

I wish you shoppers happy hunting on the latest and greatest holiday deals. Check back often as things get added!

Coupon Codes (use code at check out)

  • 15% off VAIO® Accessories (ends 11/30) : SGNLVAIO
  • 20% off refurb Cyber-shot Digital Camera W310 in silver (DSCW310) – exp 11/29: SONYDSC1121
  • 25% off  refurb 1080p Upscaling DVD Player (DVP-NS710H/B) – exp 11/29: SONYDVP1121
  • 25% off  refurb Sound Bar (HT-CT100) – exp 11/29: SONYHTC1121
  • $350 off  VAIO Z Series Laptop (VPCZ124GX/B) – exp 11/29 or after 100 uses: VAIOSAVE350Z
  • $120 off Sony VAIO EB Series Laptop (VPCEB35FX/WI) – exp 11/29 or after 300 uses : EBVAIOSAVE120
  • $130 off  VAIO EB Series Laptop (VPCEB27FX/L): exp 11/29 or after 100 uses: EBVAIOSAVE130
  • TV & Home Theater Offers

TV & Home Theater Offers

  • Up to $200 in savings on Sony Internet TVs; ends 11/29
  • $100 off a Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player; now only $299.99
  • 46″ (diag.) HX800 3D HDTV + 160GB PS3™ system: $1699.99; ends 11/29
  • 55″ Class (54.6” diag.) HX800 3D HDTV+ 160GB PS3 system: $2199.99; ends 11/29
  • 46″ (diag.) NX810 3D HDTV+ 160GB PS3 system +3D sync transmitter+(2) pairs of 3D active glasses+3D-ready HDMI™ cable+ Alice In Wonderland on Blu-ray 3D™:$2,299.99; ends 12/4
  • 55″ Class (54.6” diag.) NX810 3D HDTV+ 160GB PS3 system +3D sync transmitter+(2) pairs of 3D active glasses+3D-ready HDMI™ cable+ Alice In Wonderland on Blu-ray 3D™:$2,899.99; ends 12/4
  • 52″ (diag.) BRAVIA® LX900 Series 3D HDTV (XBR-52LX900), 160GB PlayStation®3 system (PS398418), 2 pairs of 3D active glasses (TDG-BR100/B) and free basic TV installation: $3,599.99; ends 1/1
  • 46″ (diag) HX909 Series 3D HDTV160GB PlayStation®3 system (PS398418), 2 pairs of 3D active glasses (TDG-BR100/B) and free basic TV installation: $3149.99; ends 1/1
  • 52″ (diag)HX909 Series 3D HDTV160GB PlayStation®3 system (PS398418), 2 pairs of 3D active glasses (TDG-BR100/B) and free basic TV installation: $3599.99; ends 1/1
  • Free 5.1 channel surround sound system with purchase of 60” (diag.) EX700 Series HDTV
  • Blu-ray Disc™ Player (BDP-S370): $99.99; ends 12/4
  • 3D Blu-ray Disc™ Player with Wi-Fi® (BDP-S570): $159.99; ends 12/4
  • 40″ (diag) BRAVIA EX400 Series HDTV; $549.99; ends 11/29
  • 3D Blu-ray Disc™ Player with Wi-Fi (BDP-S770); $199.99 ends 12/4
  •  

Cameras & Camcorders

  • Cyber-shot® Digital Camera W310, $30 off;  on sale for $99.99; exp 11/29
  • Cyber-shot® Digital Camera H55; $30 off; on sale for $199.99; exp 11/29
  • Sony α33 DSLR Camera and Lens; $50 off; on sale for $699.99; exp 1/1

VAIO Computers

  • Up to $948 in performance upgrades and software with purchase of select customized VAIO computers; ends 12/18
  • $150 Mail-in rebate with purchase of bloggie™ HD camera and VAIO EA or J Series PC.
  • $400 in total savings on VAIO L Series All-in-One Touchscreen PC Computers
  • Up to $100 off select VAIO W Series laptops – exp 11/29
  • Free case w/purchase of a pre-built  VAIO EA or EB Series laptop ; ends 11/29

Readers

  • $50 off a Reader Daily Edition™ – exp 11/27
  • $30 off a Reader Touch Edition™ or Reader Pocket Edition™ – exp 11/27

PlayStation

  • ($90 value) – 160GB PS3, UNCHARTED 2 game and Blu-ray movie; $299.99 -exp 11/30
  • ($90 value) PSP®, LittleBigPlanet™ game and Karate Kid movie; $129.99 – exp 11/30

Please note for all offers/sales/deals/coupons posted above:  Prices exclude tax. These are limited time offers and while supplies last. Dates are subject to change or expire without notice on this blog. They cannot be combined with other offers, there’s a limit of 2 per customer and please visit the urls for all the information.

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candid photos how to

How To Shoot Candid Vacation Photos

By: Gina | Posted: 11/15/2010 | ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS, NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

The holidays are quickly approaching and as we book our airline tickets, I thought this  video found on Sony Style’s How To Video site is a good one to share. It’s hosted by Nigel Barker, photography expert who provides great tips on capturing candid photos while on vacation. Now a vacation can be a day trip or it can be a trip to see family where you wish it were only a day. In either case, he covers everything from the best cameras to utilize (you’d be surprised that a DSLR isn’t always recommended and the video highlights Cyber-shot cameras, our Alpha NEX line and Alpha DSLR line) to suggesting defocusing backgrounds and portraits.

The video is only 3 minutes but leaves you with some fantastic things to think about the next time you’ve got a camera in your hand. Take a look and let me know what you think. For more how to videos, you can check out our page on SonyStyle.com.

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SGNL by Sony

New Sony Internet Video Show Debuts

By: Gina | Posted: 11/09/2010 | ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS, NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

So you may have read that Sony recently launched a new internet show. The rumors are true. I now officially introduce to you SGNL by Sony (pronounced “Signal by So you may have read that Sony recently launched a new internet show. The rumors are true. I now officially introduce to you SGNL by Sony (pronounced “Signal by Sony”). SGNL is going to show viewers all the Sony haps and not just electronics. We’ll dive into music, movies, games and gadgets. For example you may see a certain Jim Lee (comic book legend) in our next episode.

No matter what the topic, the purpose isn’t to be all Sony sunshine and butterflies. Yes it will be a show about Sony products but we will talk about both the pluses of our products and some of the downsides as well as answering customer concerns during the show. You’ll also see us chatting about how our gadgets stack up to some other options out there. If you’re in the market for something, the hope is that this show can take care of some of your homework.
So what kind of stuff will you see? Everything. From interviews with experts, behind the scenes looks, unboxing videos, news and even taking gadgets out for a test spin. It’s a bi-weekly show and it’s hosted by two folks: Melody Akhtari and Anthony Carboni. In fact you may have seen Anthony on a few other shows like Bytejacker and AppJudgement.

Our first episode just launched and it gives you an inside look at our Alpha NEX-5 camera with a pro photographer. He actually is a Cannon DSLR user but had a great time with our NEX-5. You’ll also see an unboxing of our new gaming PC headset and how Sony’s Netbox SMP-100 stacks up against Apple TV. I think you’ll be surprised at what you’ll see. And lastly you get to learn a little bit about some orbed men taking over Norway on Facebook. Don’t know what I’m talking about? You’re going to have to watch to find out.



Michael BLOG EDITOR

Often questioned by the police, just because they find him interesting, Michael’s been tech obsessed since getting his first computer at age 8 (an IBM PS/2 Model 30). Always tinkering with gadgets, he loves technology that keeps him connected with the things he loves: his vast music and movie collection, his novice photography hobby, his family and the news. With a VAIO in one hand and a strawberry milkshake in the other, you can always find him on the 7th floor rushing to his next meeting to discuss all things VAIO. The first Sony product he fell in love with: the Sony Walkman FM/AM Radio Cassette Player (WM-FX421).

 

Recent Posts

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WCGlogo

VAIO Downtime to Aid Researchers Worldwide

By: Michael | Posted: 10/21/2010 | NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS, VAIO

As a tech nerd, one of the things I love most about my job is the constant exposure to new technology.

In my position, I’m surrounded by all the ideas our engineers are working on and often I get to experiment with what’s being developed long before it ever hits a retail shelf.

And after all these years – it never fails – I continue to be stunned by what new technology enables us to do.

Here’s just one example.

Researchers looking to make advancements in medicine, science and other fields require major computing power to run experiments, simulations, etc.  But often these non-profit research programs don’t have the resources to purchase the costly super computers they require.

As a result, a group of dedicated software programmers and engineers have developed a fascinating solution.  Your VAIO PC and IBM’s World Community Grid can make all the difference without lifting a finger – literally.

How it works:

Through advanced networking  technology that combines little pieces of spare processing power from millions of PCs around the globe, scientist are granted access to what is the equivalent of one of the world’s fastest super computers.  This technology speeds up research by crunching numbers and performing simulations that would have otherwise took hundreds of years to perform on typical computers.

When you activate the World Community Grid on your VAIO, it creates a “free and open source lab for researchers around the globe” by tapping your PCs surplus processing power.  It detects idle time in your computer activity – when you’re away from the PC, for example – and takes advantage of those lulls by initiating calculations.

Simply put, the World Community Grid goes to work when you’re not.

Once you start typing or browsing again, the World Community Grid app stops immediately – so it never interferes with what you’re doing.

The app even lets you track your activity with a screensaver indicating what project your computer is working on and the progress you’re helping to make towards that research.

A Smallpox Miracle:

IBM and others sponsored a research project aimed at accelerating the discovery of a cure for smallpox.

By leveraging the power of distributed computing, scientist were able to screen 35 million potential drug molecules against several smallpox proteins to identify good candidates for developing into smallpox treatments.

In the first 72 hours, 100,000 results were returned and by the end of the project, 44 strong treatment candidates had been identified.

Out of the success of this early project, World Community Grid was born and opened to the public.

Why it’s important:

Now, with the aid of the World Community Grid, scientists at the Scripps Research Institute are making advances in HIV/AIDS drug research.  Meanwhile, French scientists are tackling the proteins involved in muscular dystrophy. Scientists at the University of Washington are also hard at work, developing hardier and healthier strains of rice – a staple important to many people around the world.

As more people participate, the computing power of World Community Grid grows exponentially and more research projects can leverage its power to uncover solutions that benefit us all.

As more people participate, the computing power of the World Community Grid grows exponentially and more research projects can leverage its power to uncover solutions that benefit us all.

How Sony is involved:

Sony has partnered with the World Community Grid to further assist with the development of this life-changing technology.  Starting now, all Sony VAIO PCs – excluding Atom based laptops – will come equipped with World Community Grid software that users can opt to run. 

So join the VAIO team now!  Click the live VAIO team ticker below for real time stats on the contributions our team is already making.  In fact, as of the date of this article, VAIO owners have already contributed over 22,900 hours of processing time!

So as more and more Sony fans join the cause, the computing power of the World Community Grid grows exponentially and more research projects can leverage its power to uncover solutions that benefit us all.  And as our team grows, I’ll provide  regular updates on the contributions Sony fans are making plus bring you behind-the-scenes interviews with the people behind the technology and stories from research projects that benefit from your processing time

 

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Backstage Quick Tip #83: Using Intel Wireless Display

By: Michael | Posted: 9/141/2010 | NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS, VAIO

I often find myself with something on my laptop that just has to be shared with whoever is in the room with me. Be it photos, videos or music; sometimes huddling around my laptop just won’t due. But digging behind my HDTV every time I want to connect my laptop to a TV or home theater system can be time consuming and frustrating.

Did you know though that select VAIO PCs offer a simple solution for streaming content from your laptop to any display? This quick tip covers Intel Wireless Display technology and demonstrates just how simple and convenient it is to use. Hit the link to watch the video.

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VAIO News: Recent Tour Stop Recaps + a Contest for You

By: Michael | Posted: 8/25/2010 | NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS, VAIO

As you’ve been reading, we’ve been up and down both coasts with Billabong on their High Five Movie Tour.  And as we roll into the end of August, we’ve approached our final two tour stops.

To begin, we drove into Newport Beach for a unique screening at the historic Lido Theater.  Opening its doors for the first time in 1938, the theater continues on to this day and stands as an authentically rare relic from the glamour of 1930’s Hollywood.  Plus, being only a block away from the ocean and with surfers of all ages calling Newport Beach their home, the Lido has evolved into the surf film capital of Southern California running a full schedule of classic and new surf films.

With so much character the theater offered the perfect backdrop for a screening of High Five and to kick things off right, guitarist Wally P (right) – who contributed to the film’s soundtrack – performed live before the film began.

From Newport Beach, we then landed in San Diego for our final stop.  Home to countless popular beaches, San Diego seemed like the ideal place to wrap things up.  To celebrate the successful summer tour we headed downtown to Quality Social for one last hurrah and screening.

As always, we brought a camera crew along to both events to record all the fun and capture the reaction of Collin J. (left) – the second fan to win a new W Series in our three stop homestretch.  Check out his reaction and all the highlights from the past two events in the clips below.  You can also find photos from all the events on our flickr page and keep reading after the video for your chance to win free stuff.

Now for the best part. Because not all of our readers live in Southern California, we wanted to ensure you didn’t feel left out from all the excitement.  So, starting today, we’ll be giving away 2 Imperial Lime W Series PCs and 10 Billabong boardshorts to some lucky fans.

Here’s how it works. Simply answer all 3 pop quiz questions below correctly by leaving your answers in the comment section.  If you get stuck you can find hints to the answers by clicking the link to the related story.  Next Friday, September 3rd,  we’ll close the contest and randomly select 2 grand prize winners and 10 boardshort winners from the lot of those who answered all 3 questions correctly.  We’ll announce the winners as a follow up to this post shortly thereafter.  Good luck and be sure to let us know what you thought of the movie if you saw it!

P.S.  Be sure that when you post your comment, you enter your real e-mail address in the e-mail field below (not in the comment area).  Without a valid e-mail address in that field, I won’t be able to reach you if you win!

All the details our lawyers make us include:

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  PURCHASING ANY SONY PRODUCT WILL NOT INCREASE CHANCES OF WINNING.
1.     ELIGIBILITY:  This sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is only open to natural persons who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia and age 18 or older at the time of entry.  Employees of Sony Electronics Inc. (“Sony”), their affiliates and members of immediate family (spouse and parent, children and siblings and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and persons living in the same household, whether or not related, of such employees, are not eligible to enter or win.  This sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and is void where prohibited.
2.     HOW TO ENTER:  To enter the Sweepstakes, visit http://blog.discover.sonystyle.com/ vaio-news-recent-tour-stop-recaps-a-contest-for-you and post your answers to the pop quiz as a comment on the blog post “VAIO News:  Recent Tour Stop Recaps + a Contest for You.” Additional profile information will be optional and not required to enter the Sweepstakes, and will not impact your chances of winning.

Alternate entry method:  Participants can also mail in a sweepstakes entry.  To enter, send a postcard with your name (first and last), address (street, city, state and zip) phone number or email address, and your answers to the pop quiz.  Send Mail-in entries to Sony Electronics Community Giveaway Sweepstakes Mail-in Entry, Sony Electronics Inc., 16530 Via Esprillo, San Diego, CA 92127, MZ 1097.

3.   PROMOTION PERIOD:  The Sweepstakes starts at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 25, 2010 and ends at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on September 3, 2010 (the “Promotion Period”). All entries must be received by Sony during the Promotion Period.  Limit one entry per person. All entries submitted become the sole property of Sony and will not be returned.  Online entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the registered subscriber of the e-mail account from which the entry is made.  Entries generated by a script, macro or other automated means are prohibited and will be disqualified.

4.     SELECTION OF WINNER:  Selection of the winners will be at random from the lot of readers who answered all three questions correctly during the Promotion Period.  This selection will take place within seven (7) days of the end of the Promotion Period.  All decisions by Sony regarding selection of the winner shall be binding and final in all respects.
5.     GENERAL CONDITIONS:  This Sweepstakes is governed by the laws of the United States.  All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.  Winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Publicity and Liability within fourteen (14) days of notification.  In the event of noncompliance, if the winner cannot be reached at the e-mail address or telephone number submitted with entry, or if the prize or prize notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable, the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected.  No cash alternative or substitution of any prizes will be offered.  No prize transfer permitted. If a prize is unavailable, Sony reserves the sole right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.  Limit one prize per person. Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sony, which are final and binding in all respects.  All taxes, fees, and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners.  Any winner agrees to provide Sony with necessary information to complete any necessary I.R.S. 1099 and other forms. By participating and accepting a prize, so long as there is no legal prohibition, winner agrees to the use of his/her name for advertising or publicity purposes and to the use of statements made by or attributed to him/her relating to Sony or this Sweepstakes, and releases any and all rights to said use without further compensation. Any entrant who tampers with the Sweepstakes or provides fraudulent data will be disqualified.  Registrations received from any persons or email addresses in excess of the stated limitation will be void.    Sony is not responsible for lost, late or illegible entries.
6.     PRIZE AND ODDS OF WINNING:  Grand Prize (2): A Sony VAIO W Series. Approximate Retail Value (ARV): $499.   1St Place Prize (10):  A billabong boardshort.  Aprroximate Retail Value (ARV):  $50.  Twelve (12) winners will be selected, the first two selected will be deemed the Grand Prize winners.  Odds of winning depend on the number of registrations received during the Promotion Period.  Only one prize per person. A winner will be selected in accordance with Section 4 of these Official Rules.
7.     RELEASE OF LIABILITY: All Sweepstakes entrants release Sony, its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, agents, employees and all others associated with the Sweepstakes from any and all liability with respect to or in any way arising from this Sweepstakes and/or acceptance or use of the prizes, including without limitation liability for personal injury, death, damages, or financial loss.
Sony is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions in the Sweepstakes.  Sony assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries.  Sony is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line-systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, or failure of e-mail on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or combination thereof, including injury or damage to entrants or to any person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes.  Sony is not responsible for user cheating or fraud by any entrants.  Any activities intended to disrupt or interfere with the Sweepstakes, or defraud Sony in any way may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Entrants engaging in any of the foregoing activities will be disqualified and will forfeit any prizes won.
If, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, including without limitation infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sony which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, Sony reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes.
8.     WINNERS LIST:  A Winners List will be available within ten (10) days after the end of the Promotion Period.  For a list of the Grand Prize winner, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Sony Electronics Community Giveaway Sweepstakes Winner List, Sony Electronics Inc., 16530 Via Esprillo, San Diego, CA 92127.  All requests must be received within ninety (90) days after the end of the Promotion Period.
9.     SWEEPSTAKES SPONSOR:  Sony Electronics Inc., 16530 Via Esprillo, San Diego, CA 92127.

 

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Backstage Quick Tip #7: Troubleshooting PC Audio Issues

By: Michael | Posted: 8/23/2010 | NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS, VAIO

Editors Note:Backstage Technicians arehere to help and in this ongoing series, they’ll offer me their favorite tips and provide answers to some of the most common service related questions they hear at both the call center and in Sony Style Stores.

Experiencing PC audio playback issues and need help getting sound to play again from your computer?  More often than not, problems with audio playback often stem from a user inadvertently disabling a drive or changing a setting.

In this quick tip, we’ll review the top three most common fixes our Backstageā„  Technicians have found to help solve the case.

  • Check the jack your headphones are plugged into. They may be plugged into the wrong spot (such as the Line Out or Microphone port). Note too that most computers will cut the sound to its internal or external speakers as soon as headphones are plugged in.
  • Be sure your speakers are plugged into a working power source, turned on and that your system volume is up appropriately and not muted.  To check your system volume open Volume Control.

a)    To do this, click the Start button, and select Control Panel, then Hardware and Sound.

b)    Under Audio Devices and Sound, select Adjust System Volume.

c)    Under the Main Volume, move the slider up or down to raise or lower the volume.

  • Be sure your computer has a properly functioning sound card – a small piece of hardware within your PC that translates code into sound.  You can check the status of your sound card within the Device Manager.

a)    To do this, click the Start menu, type Device Manager and hit enter.  Enter your PC’s administrator password if prompted (Vista & Windows 7 only).

b)    Expand the Sound, video and game controllers category – you can do this by double clicking the category.

c)    If there is an audio device listed (for example it may say, Intel High Definition Audio Device), then your PC has a sound card. If no sound card appears in the list, you will need to install one – for most users, especially laptop owners, leave this installation to the experts.

d)    If a yellow question mark appears next to the name, it indicates there might be a problem with the sound card. Right-click the name of the sound card and select Properties.

e)    Click the General tab, and look in the Device Status box to view any problems.

f)    In most cases, you may need to update the sound card’s driver.  To do this click the Driver tab, then select Update Driver.

g)    It’s possible you may have also updated the sound card with a driver that’s incompatible with the OS or PC’s BIOS.  To revert to the previously working driver, simply click the Driver tab again then select Roll Back Driver. If this option is greyed out it means you have the original driver installed and that no previous version is available.

Again, our Backstage Technicians have found these three simple tips to solve most issues with PC audio playback.  However, if you’re still experiencing problems with playback, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Backstage Technician for more advanced troubleshooting or jump over to our Forums to get additional tips and technical advice from other users.

For a list of SonyStyle stores near you that offer Backstage services, check out the store locator page here.And as always, be sure to share your tips below – you just might have the perfect solution no one else has thought of.

 

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VAIO News: Recap from Huntington Beach and More

By: Michael | Posted: 8/11/2010 | NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS, VAIO

We continue to tag along with Billabong on their High Five Movie Tour as they travel up and down southern California to surf, meet fans and screen TransWorld’s latest surf movie High Five. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check out the trailer below.

After a long day of competition at the US Open of Surfing, the Billabong team and VAIO headed to Ra Sushi to celebrate, offer a free screening of High Five, and mingle with fans. We brought a camera crew along to record all the fun and capture the reactions of fans who won PCs at the end of the night.

Hit the read more link for all the video and photos plus a trailer of the movie, High Five…

This time, last Wednesday we hit the road and headed up the 5 to Huntington Beach to catch some amazing pro surfers compete in the week long US Open of Surfing.  The annual competition brings out the best of the best as it’s a major part of the qualification process for the ASP World Tour.

After a long day of competition, the Billabong team headed to Ra Sushi to celebrate, offer a free screening of High Five, and mingle with fans.  We brought a camera crew along to record all the fun and capture the reactions of fans to the new W Series as well as Kayla B. (that’s her to the right) who won the PC at the end of the night.

And remember the tour continues tonight with a stop at the Lido Theater in Newport Beach.  There will be two showings: 7:00 and 8:30 pm.  Plus, we’ll be giving away another W Series following the 8:30 show.  For all the details head over to our Facebook events page .

 



 

Sukhjit BLOG EDITOR

HB Event

Sukhjit (it's pronounced sook-jeet) is a video blogging junkie. She's worked as a producer and writer at television networks like Travel Channel, HGTV and the Fine Living Network but her gadget and innovation obsession actually started along with her career at the first 24-hr technology television network called TechTV. Sukhjit has also spent some time in social media startups working for companies like Seemsic and PeopleBrowsr. Today she spends her days as a one woman band, shooting, editing, producing and distributing blogs and vlogs for Sony Electronics. If you can't find her in real life, look for her on twitter as @sukhjit or on her blog sukhjit.me.

Recent Posts

 

What you need to watch ESPN in 3D

NBA in 3D tips off tonight

By: Sukhjit | Posted: 12/17/2010 | Posted in CAMERAS & CAMCORDERS, SONY 3D, TV & HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Any basketball fans out there? You know who you are. Tonight, some of the greatest athletes in the world will be broadcast in 3D in one of the world’s most famous arena. Want to see an in your face dunk in 3D? How about an incredible jump shot or a star basketball player drive to the hoop? Well tonight marks the first time you’ll be able to see all of this in 3D as the Miami vs New York game marks the inaugural 3D broadcast of National Basketball Association games in 3D.

The NBA adds to the growing lineup of content on ESPN 3D. Sony has worked with the network to bring you events like the World Cup, Summer X Games, BCS Football and now a planned 14 NBA games in 3D.

All of these events are brought to you using Sony professional 3D equipment. If you’ve got a 3D setup at home, then you can enjoy the game in what has got to be THE next best thing to actually being courtside. The depth of 3D will make watching basketball even more thrilling since the court size is smaller and speed and pacing of the players is faster too.

Sony HD cameras are by far the most popular cameras used to capture 3D sports and live events. For the Miami vs NY game, crews will be Sony HDC-P1 cameras in 3D rigs, as well as the Sony MVS-8000X production switcher with 3D capabilities that enables producers to easily manage and work with stereo signals.

You can find a full list of games from the ESPN 3D schedule. And right around the corner is March Madness, so if college hoops are more your speed check out the select games that will be broadcast in 3D.

 

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Three Sony cameras to put on your wish list, but don’t just take my word for it…


By: Sukhjit | Posted: 12/07/2010 | CAMERAS & CAMCORDERS

It’s been a stellar year from Sony cameras as a flurry of awards and accolades have come our way. Just today, Popular Photography Magazine named the Sony® α55 Camera of the Year! That’s on the heels of TIME™ Magazine proclaiming the α55 one of the 50 best inventions of 2010, American Photo Editors giving both the NEX-5 camera and NEX-VG10 camcorder Editor’s choice awards and additional accolades for the NEX-5 from Digital Trends and Popular Photo Magazine.

With the holidays around the corner I wanted to take a minute to highlight these three cameras as many of  you are considering your shopping list. The α55, NEX-5 and NEX-VG10 cameras continue to collect awards, I think they have tremendous style and all three sport new technologies that have both the industry and fans taking notice.

I created this video guide with the help of Sony product expert, El-Deane Naude to give you an even closer look at all 3. There’s a lot of information, so to make it easier to navigate I made video chapters. Click on the note within the video to skip ahead to the next camera or back to the beginning.

I think it’s safe to say award winning Sony cameras equal great gift ideas for you. And if the photographer you’re buying for is you, get ready to see your videos and photos go from good to great with the help of one of these devices. If you’re already a proud owner of one of these cameras, how about sharing your thoughts on the cameras and even links to images you’re taken with them in the comments below.

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Sony Internet TV launch day with Toby Turner

By: Sukhjit | Posted: 12/01/2010 | YOU TUBE AND FLICKR GALLERY PAGE

We invited YouTube star and funny man, Toby Turner, to the Sony Internet TV launch event in New York City. Take a look at his hilarious visit both for the world premier of the Sony Internet TV commercial in Times Square and for a special launch event held later that night!

There is lots to know about the  Sony Internet TV powered by GoogleTV find it on a special site we’ve set up to give an online tour.

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You had to be there app on Facebook

You had to be there…

By: Sukhjit | Posted: 12/01/2010 | CAMERAS & CAMCORDERS

We can’t all be natural story tellers but with the aid of a little video, you can get pretty close. So the cute video about your cat or the time your kid accomplished something crazy out on the football field or the video you caught of your ex doing something really dumb that you’ve been itching to share with the world, can actually win you a cool Sony prize. Enter it in the “You had to be there” contest on Facebook. We want all you wannabe storytellers out there to be armed with the Sony MP4 camera everyone is buzzing about, the Sony Bloggie Touch, so you can share your fun moments with more than words.

Visit the Sony Electronic Facebook page and click on the Bloggie Touch tab. Follow the directions there to sharing your “You had to be there” moment via video along with a description of that moment.

There’s a nifty little application there that allows you to record directly into the app or upload a video from your computer and then edit. Follow the directions once you get to the page to learn how it works and then post away. Enter as many times as you like and make sure to tell your friends to check out your entry and give it a thumbs up. Five first prize winners will get a Sony Bloggie Touch camera and one grand prize winner will get the Bloggie Touch and a VIP package for 2 to attend an incredible music festival held in March 2011.

If you’re too shy to upload your own video, take part by voting on the videos you like the most. You’re sure to get at least a chuckle from many of the videos you see there!

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Shopping at the Sony Style Store Beverly Center

Fill in the blank: My #BlackFriday is____________.

By: Sukhjit | Posted: 11/25/2010 | ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS, NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS

What are you doing this Friday? Come on, you can tell me. You’re going shopping, right? This Friday marks the day retailers and bargain hunters wait for all year, Black Friday. The day the prices drop, the stores are all open (the earlier, the better) and shoppers load up their carts, pace the aisles and walk off that extra piece of pie they had at Thanksgiving dinner.

Whatever you do, we want to hear your Black Friday stories. So if you’re on Twitter™ send us a tweet! You can do something as simple as filling out the blank like in the title above. Tell us what you saw while braving the crowd. What did you love or hate about the day? Were there any incredible deals, special displays or just funny things that happened?  If you are looking at a Sony® product here’s your chance to give us some feedback and share your excitement. We know Sony fans love to buzz about their gadgets, so much so that you’ve helped us get in the Top 5 of Forbes Black Friday’s Hottest Consumer Electronics list. So, while you’re collecting bargains or just browsing for ideas, send @SonyElectronics a message via Twitter and use #BlackFriday in your tweets and of course, pictures and video are welcome too. Just make sure to add @SonyElectronics and #BlackFriday to your social correspondence.

Two more things to note: if you haven’t yet, checIf you’re one of the growing number of television watchers catching their favorite shows, new and old, online get ready for some good news about your viewing options. Hulu Plus, one of the deepest online libraries of current and classic TV shows, will be available to Sony Dash owners starting today with the latest over

 

Check out the article my fellow Sony blogger Gina wrote last year about the origins of Black Friday. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for updates on the best deals happening on SonyStyle.com. Oh, and last but certainly not least, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend.

 

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Sony brings you more connections to content via Hulu Plus

By: Sukhjit | Posted: 11/12/2010 | ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS, DASH PERSONAL INTERNET VIEW, NEWS & ANNOUCEMEMENTS, TV & HOME ENTERTAINMENT

If you’re one of the growing number of television watchers catching their favorite shows, new and old, online get ready for some good news about your viewing options. Hulu Plus, one of the deepest online libraries of current and classic TV shows, will be available to Sony Dash owners starting today with the latest over the air software update. Hulu Plus is a subscription service that allows connected devices to access everything from the latest episodes of Glee, Modern Family and The Office to tons of golden oldies.

The Sony Dash personal internet viewer is the latest Sony device to include on option to subscribe to Hulu streaming content.  US Owners of 2010 BRAVIA HDTVs saw it show up in the menus of their televisions last week as did Playstation 3 fans taking the experience usually reserved for laptop and PC consumption into a more relaxing viewing mode, the living room.

Hulu Plus is a paid service and costs $9.99 per month.  If you’d like to get more info on today’s Dash update you can find it on the Facebook.com/sonydash or the Sony news and information site.  For those of you looking to buy one of these connected devices, follow this link for a promotion that provides $20 towards a trial of Hulu Plus on selected BRAVIA Internet-enabled products.
If you’ve taken the plunge and are streaming via Hulu Plus on your BRAVIA or Dash, we want to hear from you.

 

 

SonyElectronicsCommunity.com