Japan's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/box-office-ford-v-ferrari-races-to-first-place-charlies-angels-collapses-262840">Sony</a> Corp is in talks to acquire a stake in Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's TV business, Network18 Media &amp; Investments Ltd, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd, through various subsidiaries, owns a controlling stake in Network18, which has a market capitalization of about 30 billion rupees($417.66 million).

Network18 shares rose 18 per cent, while shares of TV18 Broadcast Ltd, the broadcast arm of the Network 18 group, were up 4 per cent.

Sony is doing due diligence and considering several potential deal options, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

A Reliance Industries spokesman declined to comment, saying that the company "evaluates various opportunities on an ongoing basis." Sony did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

A potential stake deal with Sony would come at a time when India's lucrative but crowded TV market is expected to grow more than 50 per cent in the next three years, according to Statista.

Cable television started going mainstream in India through the 1990s, riding on the country's massive middle-class population.

Network18's channel portfolio includes <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lilly-singh-creates-tv-history-as-the-first-asian-queer-woman-to-host-a-late-night-show-250355">VH1</a>,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/beyond-baby-shark-creator-of-viral-hit-eyes-china-with-dinosaurs-262289"> Nickelodeon</a>,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/late-prodigy-singer-keith-flints-belongings-sell-for-nearly-450000-260929"> MTV</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/airtel-vodafone-idea-shares-jump-after-on-hopes-of-govt-help-262309">CNBC TV18</a>, and a range of other local language channels, along with news portals like Firstpost and Moneycontrol.

The media company also has a broad suite of news channels including CNN-News18, CNBC TV18, and other regional language news channels that together held over a 10 per cent&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;share in TV news viewership in India in fiscal 2018-19, according to its annual report.

Japan's Sony Corp is in talks to acquire a stake in Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's TV business, Network18 Media & Investments Ltd, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

Japan's Sony Corp is in talks to acquire a stake in Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's TV business, Network18 Media & Investments Ltd, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd, through various subsidiaries, owns a controlling stake in Network18, which has a market capitalization of about 30 billion rupees($417.66 million). Network18 shares rose 18 per cent, while shares of TV18 Broadcast Ltd, the broadcast arm of the Network 18 group, were up 4 per cent. Sony is doing due diligence and considering several potential deal options, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. A Reliance Industries spokesman declined to comment, saying that the company "evaluates various opportunities on an ongoing basis." Sony did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. A potential stake deal with Sony would come at a time when India's lucrative but crowded TV market is expected to grow more than 50 per cent in the next three years, according to Statista. Cable television started going mainstream in India through the 1990s, riding on the country's massive middle-class population. Network18's channel portfolio includes VH1, Nickelodeon, MTV, CNBC TV18, and a range of other local language channels, along with news portals like Firstpost and Moneycontrol. The media company also has a broad suite of news channels including CNN-News18, CNBC TV18, and other regional language news channels that together held over a 10 per cent per cent share in TV news viewership in India in fiscal 2018-19, according to its annual report.

Japan's Sony in talks to buy stake in India's Network18 Media

Your friendly neighbourhood web-slinger will be missing in action on social media!. Actor Tom Holland announced that he is taking a break from Instagram to focus on a new project. 
 
The 'Spider-Man: Far From Home'&nbsp;star announced his hiatus on the photo-sharing application, breaking the news that he is starting work on his new venture with the Russ Brothers -- Joe and Anthony. 
 
The 23-year-old actor, who plays Peter Parker aka Spider-Man, shared a cute still of him cuddling his pooch with the announcement. 
 
The actor wrote, "My Pooch and Me. Off now to go begin my latest venture with the @therussobrothers. I'm going to be taking a short break from instagram, so see you all in the not so distant future".

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Ha6E_lUF-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">My Pooch and Me. Off now to go begin my latest venture with the @therussobrothers ✌🏼 I’m going to be taking a short break from instagram, so see you all in the not so distant future ❤️</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tomholland2013/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Tom Holland</a> (@tomholland2013) on <time datetime="2019-10-02T12:32:44+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Oct 2, 2019 at 5:32am PDT</time>
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While the star didn't share any details regarding his new project, we are hoping that something exciting is coming up. It was previously announced that the Russo Brothers would direct Holland in a drug drama 'Cherry', which is about an army medic with PTSD who develops an addiction and ends up robbing banks, reported news agency. 
 
Holland has previously worked with the Russo brothers on several Marvel films, including 'Captain America: Civil War', 'Avengers: Infinity War'&nbsp;and the upcoming&nbsp; 'Avengers: Endgame'. 
 
Sony Pictures Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios recently announced that Marvel Studios and its President Kevin Feige will be producing the third film in the 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'&nbsp;series, despite the epic spat.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/sony-pictures-marvel-strike-deal-for-new-spider-man-film-252743">Sony Pictures, Marvel strike deal for new 'Spider-Man' film</a> 
 
Moreover, Holland will also be seen in any future Marvel films, according to their latest arrangement. Announcing Spidey's return to the series. 
 
Feige said in a statement: ''I am thrilled that Spidey's journey in the MCU will continue, and I and all of us at Marvel Studios are very excited that we get to keep working on it". 
 
Last month, the news of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/spider-man-may-exit-marvel-universe-due-to-a-stand-off-between-sony-and-disney-244554">Marvel and Sony parting </a>ways surfaced and pointed to likely affecting the release of future Spider-Man films. 
 
The move came after Marvel and its parent company, Disney, requested for a bigger share from any Spider-Man movies going forward, which was turned down by Sony. 
 
Sony owns the film rights to the flicks, and several years ago, the studios struck a deal - Feige would help in producing Sony's solo 'Spider-Man'&nbsp;movies, allowing Holland's character Spider-Man to appear in the MCU, beginning with 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War' . 
 
After the release of this year's 'Spider-Man: Far From Home', which has now become Sony's highest-grossing film of all time with USD 1.11 billion worldwide, Disney asked to share co-financing on future 'Spider-Man'&nbsp;films, while Sony wanted the financing arrangement to remain the same as it had been earlier.&nbsp;

Your friendly neighbourhood web-slinger will be missing in action on social media!. Actor Tom Holland announced that he is taking a break from Instagram to focus on a new project.

Your friendly neighbourhood web-slinger will be missing in action on social media!. Actor Tom Holland announced that he is taking a break from Instagram to focus on a new project. The 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' star announced his hiatus on the photo-sharing application, breaking the news that he is starting work on his new venture with the Russ Brothers -- Joe and Anthony. The 23-year-old actor, who plays Peter Parker aka Spider-Man, shared a cute still of him cuddling his pooch with the announcement. The actor wrote, "My Pooch and Me. Off now to go begin my latest venture with the @therussobrothers. I'm going to be taking a short break from instagram, so see you all in the not so distant future". View this post on Instagram My Pooch and Me. Off now to go begin my latest venture with the @therussobrothers ✌🏼 I’m going to be taking a short break from instagram, so see you all in the not so distant future ❤️ A post shared by Tom Holland (@tomholland2013) on Oct 2, 2019 at 5:32am PDT × While the star didn't share any details regarding his new project, we are hoping that something exciting is coming up. It was previously announced that the Russo Brothers would direct Holland in a drug drama 'Cherry', which is about an army medic with PTSD who develops an addiction and ends up robbing banks, reported news agency. Holland has previously worked with the Russo brothers on several Marvel films, including 'Captain America: Civil War', 'Avengers: Infinity War' and the upcoming 'Avengers: Endgame'. Sony Pictures Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios recently announced that Marvel Studios and its President Kevin Feige will be producing the third film in the 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' series, despite the epic spat. Sony Pictures, Marvel strike deal for new 'Spider-Man' film Moreover, Holland will also be seen in any future Marvel films, according to their latest arrangement. Announcing Spidey's return to the series. Feige said in a statement: ''I am thrilled that Spidey's journey in the MCU will continue, and I and all of us at Marvel Studios are very excited that we get to keep working on it". Last month, the news of Marvel and Sony parting ways surfaced and pointed to likely affecting the release of future Spider-Man films. The move came after Marvel and its parent company, Disney, requested for a bigger share from any Spider-Man movies going forward, which was turned down by Sony. Sony owns the film rights to the flicks, and several years ago, the studios struck a deal - Feige would help in producing Sony's solo 'Spider-Man' movies, allowing Holland's character Spider-Man to appear in the MCU, beginning with 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War' . After the release of this year's 'Spider-Man: Far From Home', which has now become Sony's highest-grossing film of all time with USD 1.11 billion worldwide, Disney asked to share co-financing on future 'Spider-Man' films, while Sony wanted the financing arrangement to remain the same as it had been earlier.

Tom Holland taking break from Instagram to focus on a future project

It has been 40 years since the Japanese electronics giant, Sony, launched the iconic 'walkman'- the portable music playback device.

You will hardly meet a college-going youth of the 1980s who wasn't a walkman fan. The ubiquitous cassette player was a must-have gadget of the youth of those times.

With over 1000 different models out in markets across the world, the one-time icon of Japan electronics is now triggering nostalgia on its 40th birthday.

Launched in 1979 with a shiny silver exterior and chunky buttons, the walkman was truly revolutionary at that time. And it quickly became synonymous with portable cassette players and a style statement. 
&nbsp; 
Now a new exhibition on a walkman in Japan is taking a closer look at the iconic cassette player, once again.

Launched at a hefty price of 33,000 yen or 300 dollars in today’s money — the stereo music playback function of walkman took over the music-loving world in japan and then the world. 
&nbsp; 
Though walkman had a disappointing first month when only 3,000 units were sold, they picked up eventually to hit 1.5 million worldwide. And there was no looking back for sony after that.

With over 1000 different models produced, Sony sold more than 420 million “walkmen" in four decades.

Sony continued production of the cassette-tape Walkman until 2010, long after the technology had been overtaken first by the Compact Disc in the 1980s and the MiniDisc Walkman in 1992.

Like many in the industry, the Japanese firm was shaken by the emergence of Apple's iPod when suddenly a listener's entire music collection was available on the move.

But Sony has scrambled to keep up and the latest high-end versions cost well over $2,000 and look more like a smartphone with flash memory and high-res audio -- a far cry from the early generations.

(With inputs from AFP)

It has been 40 years since the Japanese electronics giant, Sony, launched the iconic 'walkman'- the portable music playback device. You will hardly meet a college-going youth of the 1980s who wasn't a walkman fan.

It has been 40 years since the Japanese electronics giant, Sony, launched the iconic 'walkman'- the portable music playback device. You will hardly meet a college-going youth of the 1980s who wasn't a walkman fan. The ubiquitous cassette player was a must-have gadget of the youth of those times. With over 1000 different models out in markets across the world, the one-time icon of Japan electronics is now triggering nostalgia on its 40th birthday. Launched in 1979 with a shiny silver exterior and chunky buttons, the walkman was truly revolutionary at that time. And it quickly became synonymous with portable cassette players and a style statement. Now a new exhibition on a walkman in Japan is taking a closer look at the iconic cassette player, once again. Launched at a hefty price of 33,000 yen or 300 dollars in today’s money — the stereo music playback function of walkman took over the music-loving world in japan and then the world. Though walkman had a disappointing first month when only 3,000 units were sold, they picked up eventually to hit 1.5 million worldwide. And there was no looking back for sony after that. With over 1000 different models produced, Sony sold more than 420 million “walkmen" in four decades. Sony continued production of the cassette-tape Walkman until 2010, long after the technology had been overtaken first by the Compact Disc in the 1980s and the MiniDisc Walkman in 1992. Like many in the industry, the Japanese firm was shaken by the emergence of Apple's iPod when suddenly a listener's entire music collection was available on the move. But Sony has scrambled to keep up and the latest high-end versions cost well over $2,000 and look more like a smartphone with flash memory and high-res audio -- a far cry from the early generations. (With inputs from AFP)

40 years of Walkman: World's first portable music player

Microsoft Corp and Sony Corp on Thursday said they struck a strategic partnership in which Sony would use Microsoft's cloud for streaming games and media and the two would work together to develop image sensors.

The deal is in its early stages, with many specifics yet to be determined. But the owners of two major consumer interactive entertainment franchises - Microsoft's Xbox platform and Sony's PlayStation - would collaborate to stream games and content to consumers and offer game makers new development tools.

"For many years, Microsoft has been a key business partner for us, though of course the two companies have also been competing in some areas," Sony Chief Executive Kenichiro Yoshida said in a statement. "I believe that our joint development of future cloud solutions will contribute greatly to the advancement of interactive content."

Sony shares jumped nearly 11 per cent as Asian markets opened. Microsoft's stock closed up 2 per cent on Thursday.

Sony's deal with Microsoft comes at a time when the Japanese firm's gaming business is losing some steam as its PlayStation 4 (PS4) console nears the end of its life.

Analysts widely expect Sony to launch a next-generation console in 2020 to replace the five-year-old PS4, but for this year at least Sony has flagged a drop in profit.

For Microsoft, the deal bolsters its Azure cloud computing business, which helped push its market value past $1 trillion last month. It also helps the Redmond, Washington-based company counter cloud-market leader Amazon.com Inc's Amazon Web Services.

Amazon has also jumped into the gaming market, offering game makers new technology tools, and with its nearly $1 billion acquisition of Twitch, a major destination for gamers to watch other players competing in the e-sports market.

Japan's Sony is also a major supplier of camera chips for smartphones and other devices.

Sony and Microsoft said they will potentially develop new image sensor chips that use Microsoft's artificial intelligence (AI) technology for business customers. The two companies did not specify how the chips would be used.

Intelligent cameras are currently being used in applications such as spotting defective items coming off manufacturing lines with greater accuracy than human inspectors.

Sony and Microsoft said they would explore how to use Microsoft's AI tools in Sony's consumer products "to provide highly intuitive and user-friendly AI experiences."

Microsoft's technology for tasks like recognizing images and understanding human speech is widely believed to be competitive with better-known rivals such Alphabet Inc's Google, but its focus on business customers has left it fewer outlets for technology that consumers touch.&nbsp;

Sony, by contrast, makes a wide range of televisions, phones and other consumer devices.

"Sony has always been a leader in both entertainment and technology, and the collaboration we announced today builds on this history of innovation," Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella said in a statement.

Microsoft Corp and Sony Corp on Thursday said they struck a strategic partnership in which Sony would use Microsoft's cloud for streaming games and media and the two would work together to develop image sensors.

Microsoft Corp and Sony Corp on Thursday said they struck a strategic partnership in which Sony would use Microsoft's cloud for streaming games and media and the two would work together to develop image sensors. The deal is in its early stages, with many specifics yet to be determined. But the owners of two major consumer interactive entertainment franchises - Microsoft's Xbox platform and Sony's PlayStation - would collaborate to stream games and content to consumers and offer game makers new development tools. "For many years, Microsoft has been a key business partner for us, though of course the two companies have also been competing in some areas," Sony Chief Executive Kenichiro Yoshida said in a statement. "I believe that our joint development of future cloud solutions will contribute greatly to the advancement of interactive content." Sony shares jumped nearly 11 per cent as Asian markets opened. Microsoft's stock closed up 2 per cent on Thursday. Sony's deal with Microsoft comes at a time when the Japanese firm's gaming business is losing some steam as its PlayStation 4 (PS4) console nears the end of its life. Analysts widely expect Sony to launch a next-generation console in 2020 to replace the five-year-old PS4, but for this year at least Sony has flagged a drop in profit. For Microsoft, the deal bolsters its Azure cloud computing business, which helped push its market value past $1 trillion last month. It also helps the Redmond, Washington-based company counter cloud-market leader Amazon.com Inc's Amazon Web Services. Amazon has also jumped into the gaming market, offering game makers new technology tools, and with its nearly $1 billion acquisition of Twitch, a major destination for gamers to watch other players competing in the e-sports market. Japan's Sony is also a major supplier of camera chips for smartphones and other devices. Sony and Microsoft said they will potentially develop new image sensor chips that use Microsoft's artificial intelligence (AI) technology for business customers. The two companies did not specify how the chips would be used. Intelligent cameras are currently being used in applications such as spotting defective items coming off manufacturing lines with greater accuracy than human inspectors. Sony and Microsoft said they would explore how to use Microsoft's AI tools in Sony's consumer products "to provide highly intuitive and user-friendly AI experiences." Microsoft's technology for tasks like recognizing images and understanding human speech is widely believed to be competitive with better-known rivals such Alphabet Inc's Google, but its focus on business customers has left it fewer outlets for technology that consumers touch. Sony, by contrast, makes a wide range of televisions, phones and other consumer devices. "Sony has always been a leader in both entertainment and technology, and the collaboration we announced today builds on this history of innovation," Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella said in a statement.

Microsoft, Sony partner on streaming games, chips and Artificial Intelligence

Sony to close smartphone plant in Beijing

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Sony unveiled two smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona - Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact - as a set of flagship smartphones on Sunday.&nbsp;

This is Sony&#39;s first ever phone which comes with a full-screen display. The company has announced that they will be available from March, however, prices have not been disclosed yet.&nbsp;

The Sony Xperia XZ2 comes in four colour models &ndash; Liquid Silver, Liquid Black, Deep Green, and Ash Pink. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact, on the other hand, has White Silver, Black, Moss Green, and Coral Pink as the colour variants.

The phones include Sony&#39;s proprietary advanced 19-megapixel Motion Eye camera technology with 4 HDR video recording and f/2 aperture. The rear camera comes with slow-motion video recording at 960 frames per second (fps).&nbsp;The Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact have 3180mAh and 2870mAh batteries under the hood.&nbsp;

The Xperia XZ2 comes with a 5.7-inch full-HD+ (1440&times;2560 pixels) HDR display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, while the Xperia XZ2 Compact bears a 5-inch full-HD+ (1440&times;2560 pixels) display with HDR support and 18:9 aspect ratio.&nbsp;

The smartphones come with Quick Charge 3.0 technology while the Xperia XZ2 comes with wireless charging support. They also include high-resolution audio with front-facing stereo speakers, water resistance IP65/ 68, HDR displays and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC.&nbsp;

The Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact pack 4GB of RAM along with 64GB of internal storage that can be further expanded via microSD card up to 400GB. The Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact come with 3180mAh and 2870mAh batteries under the hood.&nbsp;

The phones include a single/dual SIM (Nano) and will also run Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box. Connectivity options include USB Type-C (3.1), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Wi-Fi, GPS, GLONASS, wireless charging, and Google Cast. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the rear panel. dimensions are 153x72x11.1mm and weight is 198 grams.&nbsp;

The company has announced that they will be available from March, however, prices have not been disclosed yet

Sony unveiled two smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona - Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact - as a set of flagship smartphones on Sunday. This is Sony's first ever phone which comes with a full-screen display. The company has announced that they will be available from March, however, prices have not been disclosed yet. The Sony Xperia XZ2 comes in four colour models – Liquid Silver, Liquid Black, Deep Green, and Ash Pink. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact, on the other hand, has White Silver, Black, Moss Green, and Coral Pink as the colour variants. The phones include Sony's proprietary advanced 19-megapixel Motion Eye camera technology with 4 HDR video recording and f/2 aperture. The rear camera comes with slow-motion video recording at 960 frames per second (fps). The Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact have 3180mAh and 2870mAh batteries under the hood. The Xperia XZ2 comes with a 5.7-inch full-HD+ (1440×2560 pixels) HDR display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, while the Xperia XZ2 Compact bears a 5-inch full-HD+ (1440×2560 pixels) display with HDR support and 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphones come with Quick Charge 3.0 technology while the Xperia XZ2 comes with wireless charging support. They also include high-resolution audio with front-facing stereo speakers, water resistance IP65/ 68, HDR displays and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. The Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact pack 4GB of RAM along with 64GB of internal storage that can be further expanded via microSD card up to 400GB. The Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact come with 3180mAh and 2870mAh batteries under the hood. The phones include a single/dual SIM (Nano) and will also run Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box. Connectivity options include USB Type-C (3.1), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Wi-Fi, GPS, GLONASS, wireless charging, and Google Cast. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the rear panel. dimensions are 153x72x11.1mm and weight is 198 grams.

Sony Xperia XZ2, Xperia XZ2 Compact: Features, specifications, availability

Alphabet Inc&#39;s Google said on Monday its voice-controlled virtual assistant will show up this year in new tablet-like devices designed by LG Electronics Inc and Sony Corp as the technology company seeks to challenge Amazon.com Inc&#39;s dominance in a fledgeling market.

Dubbed smart displays by Google, the new devices introduce tablet-like screens to speakers that can obey oral commands to perform tasks like playing music, dimming lights, locking doors and setting alarms.

JBL and Lenovo Group Ltd also are developing smart displays, Google said.

Amazon kick-started the market for smart speakers in 2014 with its Echo device, which included the Alexa virtual assistant. The company added a screen for the first time in June, calling the device the Echo Show.

Neither Apple Inc&#39;s assistant Siri nor Microsoft Corp&#39;s Cortana is currently available on a speaker with a tablet-like display.

The new Google Assistant gadgets unveiled Monday at the CES trade show in Las Vegas marked the first challenge to Amazon&#39;s Echo Show and the smaller Echo Spot, which also has a display. The Show went on sale in June for $230 and the Spot in December for $130.

Users of the smart displays being unveiled by Google cannot browse the Web or install apps as they would on a tablet, but the new gadgets are optimized for sound quality and listening to voice commands. Information related to the commands is brought up on the touchscreen.

Lenovo&#39;s version of the smart display will come with an 8-inch screen for $200 or a 10.1-inch screen for $250. The device will go on sale &quot;early this summer&quot; and includes a camera that shoots in 720p high definition, Lenovo said.

JBL, part of Samsung Electronics&#39;&nbsp;Harman Kardon subsidiary, LG and Sony did not announce pricing and release dates.

The partnerships are important for Google as it tries to catch up with Amazon in the new category of smart speakers that both play music and function as voice-controlled electronic assistants.

About 45 million people in the United States will use smart speakers in 2018, research firm EMarketer estimates, and Amazon has about two-thirds of the U.S. market.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Steep discounts during the holidays on the most affordable models of Google&#39;s Home smart speakers and the Amazon Echo likely meant both companies were taking losses to get them into millions of homes, analysts told Reuters.

In a sign of the stakes involved, Google last year cut off the Echo Show&#39;s access to YouTube and took the rare step of explicitly saying it was acting in retaliation for Amazon refusing to sell Google products.

Displaying YouTube videos and showing recipes are top selling points for smart displays, said Gummi Hafsteinsson, the Google product director overseeing Assistant.

The devices can show details about restaurants, launch a video chat over Google Duo and pull up images hosted on Google Photos. 
Google did not announce its own hardware plans on Monday.&nbsp;

The company has experimented with developing a version of Google Home with a screen, Rishi Chandra, vice president of the division, told Reuters in August.&nbsp;

Neither Apple Inc's assistant Siri nor Microsoft Corp's Cortana is currently available on a speaker with a tablet-like display

Alphabet Inc's Google said on Monday its voice-controlled virtual assistant will show up this year in new tablet-like devices designed by LG Electronics Inc and Sony Corp as the technology company seeks to challenge Amazon.com Inc's dominance in a fledgeling market. Dubbed smart displays by Google, the new devices introduce tablet-like screens to speakers that can obey oral commands to perform tasks like playing music, dimming lights, locking doors and setting alarms. JBL and Lenovo Group Ltd also are developing smart displays, Google said. Amazon kick-started the market for smart speakers in 2014 with its Echo device, which included the Alexa virtual assistant. The company added a screen for the first time in June, calling the device the Echo Show. Neither Apple Inc's assistant Siri nor Microsoft Corp's Cortana is currently available on a speaker with a tablet-like display. The new Google Assistant gadgets unveiled Monday at the CES trade show in Las Vegas marked the first challenge to Amazon's Echo Show and the smaller Echo Spot, which also has a display. The Show went on sale in June for $230 and the Spot in December for $130. Users of the smart displays being unveiled by Google cannot browse the Web or install apps as they would on a tablet, but the new gadgets are optimized for sound quality and listening to voice commands. Information related to the commands is brought up on the touchscreen. Lenovo's version of the smart display will come with an 8-inch screen for $200 or a 10.1-inch screen for $250. The device will go on sale "early this summer" and includes a camera that shoots in 720p high definition, Lenovo said. JBL, part of Samsung Electronics' Harman Kardon subsidiary, LG and Sony did not announce pricing and release dates. The partnerships are important for Google as it tries to catch up with Amazon in the new category of smart speakers that both play music and function as voice-controlled electronic assistants. About 45 million people in the United States will use smart speakers in 2018, research firm EMarketer estimates, and Amazon has about two-thirds of the U.S. market. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Steep discounts during the holidays on the most affordable models of Google's Home smart speakers and the Amazon Echo likely meant both companies were taking losses to get them into millions of homes, analysts told Reuters. In a sign of the stakes involved, Google last year cut off the Echo Show's access to YouTube and took the rare step of explicitly saying it was acting in retaliation for Amazon refusing to sell Google products. Displaying YouTube videos and showing recipes are top selling points for smart displays, said Gummi Hafsteinsson, the Google product director overseeing Assistant. The devices can show details about restaurants, launch a video chat over Google Duo and pull up images hosted on Google Photos. Google did not announce its own hardware plans on Monday. The company has experimented with developing a version of Google Home with a screen, Rishi Chandra, vice president of the division, told Reuters in August.

Google teams with Sony, Lenovo for smart speakers with touchscreens

Japan&#39;s Sony Corp said on Wednesday it has brought back AIBO more than a decade since it last made the robotic dog, as the electronics and entertainment firm seeks to rebuild its reputation for innovation after years of restructuring.

The announcement comes a day after Sony confirmed its renaissance by forecasting its highest-ever profit this financial year, sending its shares surging to a nine-year high.

AIBO is billed as a pet that behaves like a real dog using artificial intelligence (AI) to learn and interact with its owner and surroundings. The upgrade sees AIBO equipped with new sensing and movement technologies as well as far more advanced AI backed by cloud computing to develop the dog&#39;s personality.

Sales begin in Japan in January for 198,000 yen ($1,739).

Sony pioneered entertainment robots with AIBO in 1999. It sold about 150,000 dogs in Japan before ceasing production seven years later when its core consumer electronics business struggled in price wars with emerging Asian rivals.

&#39;It was a difficult decision to stop the project in 2006, but we continued development in AI and robotics.&#39; Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai said at a news briefing.

&#39;I asked our engineers a year and a half ago to develop (new) AIBO because I strongly believe robots capable of building loving relationships with people help realise Sony&#39;s mission (to inspire).&#39;

The reborn AIBO features new actuator technology allowing it move more smoothly and naturally like a real dog. With sensing and AI technologies, AIBO can run toward its owner and detect smiles and words of praise, and can remember what actions please the owner. Its eyes are made of organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays making it capable of diverse expressions.

Sony said it aims to sell at least as many new AIBO as the original, without giving a time frame. It also said it is considering overseas sales.

The firm sees AI as a future pillar of growth, hoping to catch up with major technology companies such as Facebook Inc, Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc&#39;s Google.

It invested an undisclosed sum last year in Cogitai, a U.S. AI start-up focusing on technology that allows machines to learn continually and autonomously from interaction in the real world. It also established a venture capital fund to build partnerships with researchers and start-up companies in AI and robotics.

Earlier this year, Sony Education launched its first product, Koov, which aims to teach children coding through building and programming robots using plastic blocks.

The reborn AIBO features new actuator technology allowing it move more smoothly and naturally like a real dog.

Japan's Sony Corp said on Wednesday it has brought back AIBO more than a decade since it last made the robotic dog, as the electronics and entertainment firm seeks to rebuild its reputation for innovation after years of restructuring. The announcement comes a day after Sony confirmed its renaissance by forecasting its highest-ever profit this financial year, sending its shares surging to a nine-year high. AIBO is billed as a pet that behaves like a real dog using artificial intelligence (AI) to learn and interact with its owner and surroundings. The upgrade sees AIBO equipped with new sensing and movement technologies as well as far more advanced AI backed by cloud computing to develop the dog's personality. Sales begin in Japan in January for 198,000 yen ($1,739). Sony pioneered entertainment robots with AIBO in 1999. It sold about 150,000 dogs in Japan before ceasing production seven years later when its core consumer electronics business struggled in price wars with emerging Asian rivals. 'It was a difficult decision to stop the project in 2006, but we continued development in AI and robotics.' Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai said at a news briefing. 'I asked our engineers a year and a half ago to develop (new) AIBO because I strongly believe robots capable of building loving relationships with people help realise Sony's mission (to inspire).' The reborn AIBO features new actuator technology allowing it move more smoothly and naturally like a real dog. With sensing and AI technologies, AIBO can run toward its owner and detect smiles and words of praise, and can remember what actions please the owner. Its eyes are made of organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays making it capable of diverse expressions. Sony said it aims to sell at least as many new AIBO as the original, without giving a time frame. It also said it is considering overseas sales. The firm sees AI as a future pillar of growth, hoping to catch up with major technology companies such as Facebook Inc, Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google. It invested an undisclosed sum last year in Cogitai, a U.S. AI start-up focusing on technology that allows machines to learn continually and autonomously from interaction in the real world. It also established a venture capital fund to build partnerships with researchers and start-up companies in AI and robotics. Earlier this year, Sony Education launched its first product, Koov, which aims to teach children coding through building and programming robots using plastic blocks.

Sony revives pet AI project with updated AIBO robot dog

Apple has hired two long-time Sony Pictures Television executives to expand the iPhone maker&#39;s push into original television programming, plunging deeper into a field crowded by Hollywood studios and online streaming services.

Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, responsible for hit shows such as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Crown, will join Apple in newly created positions to oversee all aspects of video programming, the technology company said in a statement.

&quot;Jamie and Zack are two of the most talented TV executives in the world and have been instrumental in making this the golden age of television,&quot; said Eddy Cue, Apple&#39;s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.

&quot;There is much more to come,&quot; Cue said of Apple&#39;s video effort.

The new hires demonstrate a serious commitment by another deep-pocketed technology company to produce quality television shows. Erlicht and Van Amburg have served as senior Sony television executives since 2005.

But Apple did not elaborate on its strategy, leaving investors guessing how many shows it plans to distribute, how much it will spend and where the programming will be available.

The company is playing in an increasingly competitive field. Amazon.com and Netflix have invested billions of dollars in award-winning comedies and dramas featuring A-list Hollywood stars. And social media company Facebook has signed deals with millennial-focused news and entertainment creators, including Vox and BuzzFeed, to make shows for its upcoming video service.

Apple began its move last week with reality programme Planet of the Apps, an unscripted show about developers competing for venture capital funding. The series is available only to subscribers to Apple Music, a $10-a-month streaming service.

Viewer data

Apple has one huge advantage compared with other companies - 1 billion iPhones, iPads and other devices that run Apple&#39;s mobile operating system and offer a broad distribution platform. The company has widely promoted Planet of the Apps across iTunes, the App Store, Apple&#39;s website and elsewhere.

As tech companies push further into the content business, pressure mounts on traditional media outlets that do not have the same amount of data on viewers or the ability for content to be a loss leader, said Rich Greenfield, an analyst with BTIG.

&quot;These companies do not need to make money off video because they can make money other ways,&quot; Greenfield said. &quot;And they are going to have tons of data on their viewers.&quot;

It is more cost-effective for Apple to pay for original content and secure licensing deals on its own than to buy a content company, said Moody&rsquo;s analyst Gerald Granovsky.

&quot;From a credit perspective, we&rsquo;d much rather see Apple overpay to deliver original content than pay $50 billion to buy Netflix and basically compete for the same content,&quot; he said. &quot;They&rsquo;ll definitely get a better bang for their buck by focusing on their Apple TV product.&quot;

Greenfield said news of Apple&rsquo;s hires should put to rest rumours that Apple might acquire another content company, Walt Disney. &quot;It&rsquo;s pretty clear now that Apple isn&rsquo;t buying Disney,&quot; he said.

For Sony, the departures come as the Japanese conglomerate revamps its movie and television studio under new Chief Executive Tony Vinciquerra. In a memo to staff, Vinciquerra suggested Apple could be a buyer of Sony programming. 
&quot;While we are sad to see them go, we are excited by the opportunity to work with them as partners in the future,&quot; he said.

(Reuters)

Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, responsible for hit shows such as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Crown, will join Apple

Apple has hired two long-time Sony Pictures Television executives to expand the iPhone maker's push into original television programming, plunging deeper into a field crowded by Hollywood studios and online streaming services. Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, responsible for hit shows such as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Crown, will join Apple in newly created positions to oversee all aspects of video programming, the technology company said in a statement. "Jamie and Zack are two of the most talented TV executives in the world and have been instrumental in making this the golden age of television," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. "There is much more to come," Cue said of Apple's video effort. The new hires demonstrate a serious commitment by another deep-pocketed technology company to produce quality television shows. Erlicht and Van Amburg have served as senior Sony television executives since 2005. But Apple did not elaborate on its strategy, leaving investors guessing how many shows it plans to distribute, how much it will spend and where the programming will be available. The company is playing in an increasingly competitive field. Amazon.com and Netflix have invested billions of dollars in award-winning comedies and dramas featuring A-list Hollywood stars. And social media company Facebook has signed deals with millennial-focused news and entertainment creators, including Vox and BuzzFeed, to make shows for its upcoming video service. Apple began its move last week with reality programme Planet of the Apps, an unscripted show about developers competing for venture capital funding. The series is available only to subscribers to Apple Music, a $10-a-month streaming service. Viewer data Apple has one huge advantage compared with other companies - 1 billion iPhones, iPads and other devices that run Apple's mobile operating system and offer a broad distribution platform. The company has widely promoted Planet of the Apps across iTunes, the App Store, Apple's website and elsewhere. As tech companies push further into the content business, pressure mounts on traditional media outlets that do not have the same amount of data on viewers or the ability for content to be a loss leader, said Rich Greenfield, an analyst with BTIG. "These companies do not need to make money off video because they can make money other ways," Greenfield said. "And they are going to have tons of data on their viewers." It is more cost-effective for Apple to pay for original content and secure licensing deals on its own than to buy a content company, said Moody’s analyst Gerald Granovsky. "From a credit perspective, we’d much rather see Apple overpay to deliver original content than pay $50 billion to buy Netflix and basically compete for the same content," he said. "They’ll definitely get a better bang for their buck by focusing on their Apple TV product." Greenfield said news of Apple’s hires should put to rest rumours that Apple might acquire another content company, Walt Disney. "It’s pretty clear now that Apple isn’t buying Disney," he said. For Sony, the departures come as the Japanese conglomerate revamps its movie and television studio under new Chief Executive Tony Vinciquerra. In a memo to staff, Vinciquerra suggested Apple could be a buyer of Sony programming. "While we are sad to see them go, we are excited by the opportunity to work with them as partners in the future," he said. (Reuters)

Apple poaches two long-time Sony TV executives

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd said on Wednesday it has agreed to sell its sports broadcasting business to Sony Pictures Networks for $385 million, as it rejigs its media content delivery businesses. 
 
TEN Sports holds broadcast rights to major cricket boards in South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies. It also holds rights for football&#39;s UEFA Champions League, Europa League, French League and English Football Cup among other sports. 
 
&quot;The acquisition of TEN Sports Network will strengthen (Sony Picture Networks&#39;) offering for viewers of cricket, football and fight sports, complementing our existing portfolio of international and domestic sporting properties,&quot; N.P. Singh, chief executive of Sony Pictures Networks India, said in a statement. 
 
Sony, which holds broadcast rights for the cash-rich Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament, has also won the rights for the FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia in 2018. 
 
Analysts have said that Zee Entertainment, which lacked a sizable presence in the sports category, will see a jump in earnings in the next two fiscal years as it sells off the money-losing venture. 
 
Zee&#39;s sports broadcasting business had revenues of 6.31 billion rupees ($94.21 million) and a loss of 372 million rupees for fiscal year 2016, according to a company statement. 
 
($1 = 66.9750 Indian rupees) 
 
(Reuters)

Zee's TEN Sports holds broadcast rights to major cricket boards in South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd said on Wednesday it has agreed to sell its sports broadcasting business to Sony Pictures Networks for $385 million, as it rejigs its media content delivery businesses. TEN Sports holds broadcast rights to major cricket boards in South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies. It also holds rights for football's UEFA Champions League, Europa League, French League and English Football Cup among other sports. "The acquisition of TEN Sports Network will strengthen (Sony Picture Networks') offering for viewers of cricket, football and fight sports, complementing our existing portfolio of international and domestic sporting properties," N.P. Singh, chief executive of Sony Pictures Networks India, said in a statement. Sony, which holds broadcast rights for the cash-rich Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament, has also won the rights for the FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia in 2018. Analysts have said that Zee Entertainment, which lacked a sizable presence in the sports category, will see a jump in earnings in the next two fiscal years as it sells off the money-losing venture. Zee's sports broadcasting business had revenues of 6.31 billion rupees ($94.21 million) and a loss of 372 million rupees for fiscal year 2016, according to a company statement. ($1 = 66.9750 Indian rupees) (Reuters)

Sony Pictures to buy sports channels from India's Zee

The German company Goal Control has questioned UEFA&#39;s decision to award the goal-line technology contract for the Euro 2016 soccer championships to Hawk-Eye, a Sony subsidiary, citing it as a breach of antitrust regulations. 
 
&quot;The awarding (of the contract) to Sony Hawk-Eye for Euro 2016 and other European club tournaments, i.e. Champions League and Europa League mean that in most stadiums of the major leagues in Europe the system Sony Hawk-Eye can be found. That means that they monopolise the market,&quot; the lawyer for the German company Goal Control, Wolfgang Kau, told Reuters on Tuesday. 
 
Ligue 1 chose the Goal Control system back in 2015, so with it already installed in all the stadiums being used for Euro 2016, Kau said that it would have been better and cheaper to use Goal Control rather than Hawk-Eye. 
 
&quot;And we know from the world championship and the use in the French league that the Goal Control System works at least as well as the Sony Hawk-Eye System. And both are licensed by FIFA. So that cannot be the problem.&quot; 
 
Kau hinted that there might be some other influences in the decision by the UEFA, like the &quot;sponsorship contract between Sony and UEFA&quot; and that the other two competitors had no equal chance. 
 
In April, UEFA decided to use Hawk-Eye technology for its Euro 2016 goal-line technology to determine whether the ball has crossed the goal-line. The British company&#39;s camera-based system, used in tennis and cricket and at the 2014 World Cup final, is installed in all 10 stadiums hosting the tournament in France and also used in the Premier League and Bundesliga. 
 
The system uses seven cameras to track the flight of the ball, indicating to the referee&#39;s radio-controlled watch within one second with a vibration and visual signal whether a goal has been scored. Referees are still be helped by additional assistant referees. 
 
UEFA&#39;s cooperation with Hawk-Eye will continue, as goal-line technology is to be used in the UEFA Super Cup match in Trondheim and the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League, from the play-offs onwards. A decision concerning its implementation in the UEFA Europa League, from the group stage onwards in 2017/18, will be made at a later stage. 
 
(Reuters)

UEFA's cooperation with Hawk-Eye will continue and the technology is to be used in the UEFA Super Cup and the 2016//17 UEFA Champions League

The German company Goal Control has questioned UEFA's decision to award the goal-line technology contract for the Euro 2016 soccer championships to Hawk-Eye, a Sony subsidiary, citing it as a breach of antitrust regulations. "The awarding (of the contract) to Sony Hawk-Eye for Euro 2016 and other European club tournaments, i.e. Champions League and Europa League mean that in most stadiums of the major leagues in Europe the system Sony Hawk-Eye can be found. That means that they monopolise the market," the lawyer for the German company Goal Control, Wolfgang Kau, told Reuters on Tuesday. Ligue 1 chose the Goal Control system back in 2015, so with it already installed in all the stadiums being used for Euro 2016, Kau said that it would have been better and cheaper to use Goal Control rather than Hawk-Eye. "And we know from the world championship and the use in the French league that the Goal Control System works at least as well as the Sony Hawk-Eye System. And both are licensed by FIFA. So that cannot be the problem." Kau hinted that there might be some other influences in the decision by the UEFA, like the "sponsorship contract between Sony and UEFA" and that the other two competitors had no equal chance. In April, UEFA decided to use Hawk-Eye technology for its Euro 2016 goal-line technology to determine whether the ball has crossed the goal-line. The British company's camera-based system, used in tennis and cricket and at the 2014 World Cup final, is installed in all 10 stadiums hosting the tournament in France and also used in the Premier League and Bundesliga. The system uses seven cameras to track the flight of the ball, indicating to the referee's radio-controlled watch within one second with a vibration and visual signal whether a goal has been scored. Referees are still be helped by additional assistant referees. UEFA's cooperation with Hawk-Eye will continue, as goal-line technology is to be used in the UEFA Super Cup match in Trondheim and the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League, from the play-offs onwards. A decision concerning its implementation in the UEFA Europa League, from the group stage onwards in 2017/18, will be made at a later stage. (Reuters)

Goal Control complain to UEFA for using Hawk-Eye for goal-line technology at Euro 2016

Japan&#39;s, Sony Corp, on Wednesday, lifted the sales target for its games division next year on hopes for its new virtual reality headset, and said it would re-enter robots a decade after it last abandoned the business. 
 
But the electronics giant cut its outlook for image sensor sales amid slowing demand for smartphones, and maintained its operating profit target of 500 billion Yen ($4.9 billion) for the year beginning April. 
 
The announcement comes as company watchers rely on sensors to continue driving Sony&#39;s revival after years of struggle. 
 
While the sensor slowdown is likely to disappoint, investors can take comfort in the unchanged profit target, which highlights that Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai is keeping to a recovery track and has not given up on new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. 
 
Hirai at a news conference said the games business was set to be Sony&#39;s biggest growth driver, helped by strong console sales, a rise in subscribers to its PlayStation network and the launch of its virtual reality headset. 
 
The headset will be sold from October for $399, in competition with, the $599 of a rival product from Facebook Inc&#39;s Oculus Rift. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s an area where Sony can leverage its expertise in cameras, filming, content production as well as entertainment assets,&quot; Hirai said, lifting the division&#39;s sales target range to 1.8 trillion to 1.9 trillion yen ($17.6 billion to $18.6 billion) from 1.4 trillion to 1.6 trillion yen. 
 
He also confirmed Sony aimed to introduce a robot &quot;capable of forming an emotional bond&quot;. 
 
Sony was a pioneer in robotics, launching dog AIBO in 1999 and humanoid QRIO in 2003. But efforts stalled during a decade-long struggle to cut costs in its consumer electronics business amid price competition from Asian rivals. It produced its last AIBO and QRIO in 2006. 
 
Sensor slowdown &#39;inevitable&#39; 
 
Sony cut its sales outlook for its devices division, which includes image sensors used in smartphones, to a range of one trillion to 1.05 trillion Yen from 1.3 trillion to 1.5 trillion Yen. 
 
Strong demand from smartphone makers such as Apple Inc had helped Sony recover from a slump in sales of consumer electronics such as television sets. 
 
But Apple and other smartphone makers have seen slowing sales of high-end handsets since late last year, prompting Sony to recently cancel the development of advanced camera modules designed for high-end smartphones. 
 
&quot;The ongoing slowdown in profit growth appears inevitable through fiscal 2017,&quot; Hirai said. 
 
Asked about the impact of Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union, Hirai said Sony aims to achieve its targets regardless of consequent currency swings. 
 
(Reuters)

Sony Corporation to slow down image sensor manufacturing due to decrease in demand for smart phones

Japan's, Sony Corp, on Wednesday, lifted the sales target for its games division next year on hopes for its new virtual reality headset, and said it would re-enter robots a decade after it last abandoned the business. But the electronics giant cut its outlook for image sensor sales amid slowing demand for smartphones, and maintained its operating profit target of 500 billion Yen ($4.9 billion) for the year beginning April. The announcement comes as company watchers rely on sensors to continue driving Sony's revival after years of struggle. While the sensor slowdown is likely to disappoint, investors can take comfort in the unchanged profit target, which highlights that Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai is keeping to a recovery track and has not given up on new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Hirai at a news conference said the games business was set to be Sony's biggest growth driver, helped by strong console sales, a rise in subscribers to its PlayStation network and the launch of its virtual reality headset. The headset will be sold from October for $399, in competition with, the $599 of a rival product from Facebook Inc's Oculus Rift. "It's an area where Sony can leverage its expertise in cameras, filming, content production as well as entertainment assets," Hirai said, lifting the division's sales target range to 1.8 trillion to 1.9 trillion yen ($17.6 billion to $18.6 billion) from 1.4 trillion to 1.6 trillion yen. He also confirmed Sony aimed to introduce a robot "capable of forming an emotional bond". Sony was a pioneer in robotics, launching dog AIBO in 1999 and humanoid QRIO in 2003. But efforts stalled during a decade-long struggle to cut costs in its consumer electronics business amid price competition from Asian rivals. It produced its last AIBO and QRIO in 2006. Sensor slowdown 'inevitable' Sony cut its sales outlook for its devices division, which includes image sensors used in smartphones, to a range of one trillion to 1.05 trillion Yen from 1.3 trillion to 1.5 trillion Yen. Strong demand from smartphone makers such as Apple Inc had helped Sony recover from a slump in sales of consumer electronics such as television sets. But Apple and other smartphone makers have seen slowing sales of high-end handsets since late last year, prompting Sony to recently cancel the development of advanced camera modules designed for high-end smartphones. "The ongoing slowdown in profit growth appears inevitable through fiscal 2017," Hirai said. Asked about the impact of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, Hirai said Sony aims to achieve its targets regardless of consequent currency swings. (Reuters)

Sony: virtual reality up and image sensor down

Virtual reality has yet to take off with the bulk of video gamers, but the industry is doubling down on its bet that one day it will. 
 
At the annual E3 video game showcase in Los Angeles this week, attendees strapped on Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to peer into fantasy worlds, battle robotic creatures and command starships. Meanwhile, game publishers announced investments that showed they believe VR is ready to go mainstream. 
 
&quot;This is clearly the coming-out party for VR,&quot; said P.J. McNealy, chief executive officer and founder of Digital World Research. &quot;The interest is there, the hardware is coming to market, and the content developers are figuring out how to take advantage of it.&quot; 
 
E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is an annual spectacle devoted to serious gaming. Sales of games played on consoles or PCs still lead the $99.6 billion global gaming industry, according to data from research firm Newzoo. But an explosion in mobile games, plus a shift toward virtual reality hardware and software, could change that. 
 
Sony Corp unveiled a $399 PlayStation VR headset at E3 that will hit stores in October. Fifty games will be available by year&#39;s end, including VR versions of blockbuster franchises &quot;Resident Evil&quot; and &quot;Batman.&quot; 
 
Some games will be exclusive to PlayStation VR, including &quot;Star Wars: Battlefront X-Wing VR Mission.&quot; Star Trek fans can command a Starfleet vessel &quot;Star Trek: Bridge Crew,&quot; which will be playable on PlayStation VR, Facebook&#39;s Oculus Rift headset, and the HTC Vive VR device. 
 
Microsoft will have a new version of its Xbox, dubbed Project Scorpio, that will support VR in time for the 2017 holiday season. The company is also is developing its HoloLens augmented reality glasses, which overlay images as holograms onto a user&#39;s real-life field of vision. 
 
Many in the industry are still skeptical about VR&#39;s potential. They question how many gamers will shell out hundreds of dollars for a headset after investing in a gaming console. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re going to find out what&#39;s good and bad about virtual reality in the months and years to come,&quot; said Steve Boxer, a gaming journalist from Britain who tried out games at E3. 
 
&quot;Personally I don&#39;t want to have to sit there wearing a virtual reality helmet for more than 20 minutes.&quot; Sony is working with developers to adapt console games to a VR environment, said John Koller, vice president, Sony Interactive Entertainment America. 
 
&quot;VR is going to be shorter, very intense bursts,&quot; Koller said. &quot;We see it chopped up into these experiences that are very exciting and emotionally driven.&quot; 
 
The industry isn&#39;t abandoning traditional games. 
 
While companies are trying to build a new market in VR, &quot;even more time and more money is being spent to maintain the cash cow of the business with new titles,&quot; said Mark Goodman, an analyst with Strategy Analytics. 
 
Among the games generating buzz at E3 was Horizon Zero Dawn, a role-playing game featuring a female hunter, and a new installment in the God of War franchise, analysts said. 
 
Companies staged over-the-top booths with pulsating music, flashing lights, and giant video screens. Organisers limited decibel levels to keep the noise in check. 
 
Developer 2K Czech set up a two-story, New Orleans-style bar and sent a live jazz band marching through the convention halls to promote its game, &quot;Mafia.&quot; 
 
Nintendo erected a makeshift cave to mimic the world of the new Legend of Zelda game, attracting a line of hundreds of people and earning positive reviews. 
 
Zelda could be a big enough hit to entice people to buy Nintendo&#39;s next-generation console called NX when it comes out next year, McNealy said. 
 
&quot;Anybody who&#39;s going to buy a console may buy one for that,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#39;s a new version of a huge franchise for them.&quot; 
(Reuters)

Major gaming players like Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are set to launch virtual reality-based games involving Resident Evil, Batman, others

Virtual reality has yet to take off with the bulk of video gamers, but the industry is doubling down on its bet that one day it will. At the annual E3 video game showcase in Los Angeles this week, attendees strapped on Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to peer into fantasy worlds, battle robotic creatures and command starships. Meanwhile, game publishers announced investments that showed they believe VR is ready to go mainstream. "This is clearly the coming-out party for VR," said P.J. McNealy, chief executive officer and founder of Digital World Research. "The interest is there, the hardware is coming to market, and the content developers are figuring out how to take advantage of it." E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is an annual spectacle devoted to serious gaming. Sales of games played on consoles or PCs still lead the $99.6 billion global gaming industry, according to data from research firm Newzoo. But an explosion in mobile games, plus a shift toward virtual reality hardware and software, could change that. Sony Corp unveiled a $399 PlayStation VR headset at E3 that will hit stores in October. Fifty games will be available by year's end, including VR versions of blockbuster franchises "Resident Evil" and "Batman." Some games will be exclusive to PlayStation VR, including "Star Wars: Battlefront X-Wing VR Mission." Star Trek fans can command a Starfleet vessel "Star Trek: Bridge Crew," which will be playable on PlayStation VR, Facebook's Oculus Rift headset, and the HTC Vive VR device. Microsoft will have a new version of its Xbox, dubbed Project Scorpio, that will support VR in time for the 2017 holiday season. The company is also is developing its HoloLens augmented reality glasses, which overlay images as holograms onto a user's real-life field of vision. Many in the industry are still skeptical about VR's potential. They question how many gamers will shell out hundreds of dollars for a headset after investing in a gaming console. "We're going to find out what's good and bad about virtual reality in the months and years to come," said Steve Boxer, a gaming journalist from Britain who tried out games at E3. "Personally I don't want to have to sit there wearing a virtual reality helmet for more than 20 minutes." Sony is working with developers to adapt console games to a VR environment, said John Koller, vice president, Sony Interactive Entertainment America. "VR is going to be shorter, very intense bursts," Koller said. "We see it chopped up into these experiences that are very exciting and emotionally driven." The industry isn't abandoning traditional games. While companies are trying to build a new market in VR, "even more time and more money is being spent to maintain the cash cow of the business with new titles," said Mark Goodman, an analyst with Strategy Analytics. Among the games generating buzz at E3 was Horizon Zero Dawn, a role-playing game featuring a female hunter, and a new installment in the God of War franchise, analysts said. Companies staged over-the-top booths with pulsating music, flashing lights, and giant video screens. Organisers limited decibel levels to keep the noise in check. Developer 2K Czech set up a two-story, New Orleans-style bar and sent a live jazz band marching through the convention halls to promote its game, "Mafia." Nintendo erected a makeshift cave to mimic the world of the new Legend of Zelda game, attracting a line of hundreds of people and earning positive reviews. Zelda could be a big enough hit to entice people to buy Nintendo's next-generation console called NX when it comes out next year, McNealy said. "Anybody who's going to buy a console may buy one for that," he said. "It's a new version of a huge franchise for them." (Reuters)

Video game makers plunge deeper into virtual reality

<div style="text-align: justify;">DO NOT PUBLISH 
 
Microsoft Corp unveiled &#39;Project Scorpio&#39;, a new Xbox console that will support ultra-high resolution gaming and virtual reality, while also launching a slimmer version of its Xbox One console- Xbox One S console. 
 
Project Scorpio, which will have the ability to power virtual reality experiences and 4K gaming, is expected to be available during the holiday season in 2017. 
 
The console will be compatible with Xbox One games and accessories. Details on its pricing were not disclosed. 
 
The new Xbox One S console, an updated version of the Xbox One launched in 2013, will bring new features such as streaming support for 4K videos, which provides four-times the resolution of high-definition content. 
 
The Xbox One S will be available in August and its base model will be priced at $299. 
 
Microsoft also announced a number of new games at the conference, including Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3. 
 
The company also introduced Xbox Play Anywhere, that allows gamers to buy a game once and play it on both their Windows 10 PC and Xbox One console. 
 
Microsoft launched a partnership with Oculus Rift last year, which made some Xbox One games playable on Oculus&#39; virtual reality platform. 
 
Sony Corporation&nbsp;also said at the conference it would launch its virtual reality headset for PlayStation in the United States by mid-October. 
 
Sony said it would add new titles to its PlayStation console, including Marvel&#39;s Spider-Man, God of War and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.</div>

Microsoft's latest "Project Scorpio" will have the ability to use virtual reality and Xbox One S is the slimmer version of Xbox One

DO NOT PUBLISH Microsoft Corp unveiled 'Project Scorpio', a new Xbox console that will support ultra-high resolution gaming and virtual reality, while also launching a slimmer version of its Xbox One console- Xbox One S console. Project Scorpio, which will have the ability to power virtual reality experiences and 4K gaming, is expected to be available during the holiday season in 2017. The console will be compatible with Xbox One games and accessories. Details on its pricing were not disclosed. The new Xbox One S console, an updated version of the Xbox One launched in 2013, will bring new features such as streaming support for 4K videos, which provides four-times the resolution of high-definition content. The Xbox One S will be available in August and its base model will be priced at $299. Microsoft also announced a number of new games at the conference, including Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3. The company also introduced Xbox Play Anywhere, that allows gamers to buy a game once and play it on both their Windows 10 PC and Xbox One console. Microsoft launched a partnership with Oculus Rift last year, which made some Xbox One games playable on Oculus' virtual reality platform. Sony Corporation also said at the conference it would launch its virtual reality headset for PlayStation in the United States by mid-October. Sony said it would add new titles to its PlayStation console, including Marvel's Spider-Man, God of War and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.

Microsoft launches slimmer Xbox and reveals latest Xbox console; Sony's VR headset to hit US in October

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