All posts tagged: Sonys

Sony’s PlayStation Puts a Nail in Physical Media’s Coffin

Sony’s PlayStation Puts a Nail in Physical Media’s Coffin

Published by skeptic

Bad news for fans of physical media: Sony has announced that it is abandoning game discs. In a blog post published Wednesday, Sid Shuman, senior director of global content communications at PlayStation, wrote that from January 2028, “physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued.” Shuman added that the decision is down to “consumer preferences” and the broader entertainment industry shifting away from physical discs to digital, and that he feels “this is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs.” The blog is a mere three paragraphs but raises several questions about Sony’s decision and its impact across the console gaming industry going forward. The main one that many gamers are likely leaping to, though, is “What is Sony thinking?” Sizing Errors Sony’s decision does have some merit. The vast majority of video game sales—across the entire industry, not just PlayStation—are digital downloads. There’s a convenience to being able to buy, install, …

Sony’s most premium ANC headphones yet made luxury audio click for me

Sony’s most premium ANC headphones yet made luxury audio click for me

Published by skeptic

pros and cons Pros Comfortable Detailed sound Stylish and practical Cons Expensive Weak battery life Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. To commemorate a decade of acclaimed flagship over-ear headphones, Sony released a special-edition version, aptly named 1000X The Collexion. Sony looks back from 2016 to now, and its 1000X-series headphones went from proving they could outdo competitors to becoming industry frontrunners. Also: I’ve tested dozens of Sony headphones – these 4 tweaks get me the best sound quality Typically, Apple’s $549 price tag for its AirPods Max 2 is where I consider the ceiling for consumer headphones. Anything beyond, such as Bowers & Wilkins’ $800 Px8 S2, I put in the luxury category. Sony just entered said category, pricing its 1000X The Collexion at $650, in exchange for its design and audio upgrades, which build on the WH-1000XM6, released one year ago. Thus, 1000X The Collexion shares a similar silhouette to its more affordable sibling, but debuts with a sleeker appearance, more premium materials, and higher-quality internal audio components. Best headphone deals …

I demoed Sony’s new modular theater system, and the audio quality was next level

I demoed Sony’s new modular theater system, and the audio quality was next level

Published by skeptic

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Sony debuts the Bravia Theater Trio as its latest flagship home theater speaker system. It features dedicated left, right, and center channels. At $2,199, it’s geared toward enthusiasts. Shortly after adding several new additions to its Bravia home theater lineup, Sony reappeared with an all-new flagship product to lead the pack. The Bravia Theater Trio serves as an audio companion for ultra-large at-home screens, catering to those who want a faithful theater experience at home. Also: Sony’s new theater system lets you upgrade your TV setup gradually – how it works Just last month, I visited Sony in New York City and demoed the Trio, along with some of the brand’s other Bravia TV companions. Here’s the lowdown. The three-speaker experience The Bravia Theater Trio system is a three-speaker system with dedicated left, right, and center channels. This system forgoes the typical soundbar physique, instead opting for three separate bodies for allocated sound.  During my demo, we watched the scene from Dune: …

What to Know About Sony’s .85 Million PlayStation Settlement

What to Know About Sony’s $7.85 Million PlayStation Settlement

Published by skeptic

Sony, owner of the PlayStation brand, has been accused of antitrust practices. The lawsuit was originally settled in 2024 but was rejected twice during the approval process. Last week, a judge approved a preliminary reopening of the settlement. The suit, brought before the San Francisco division of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses the company of allegedly limiting third-party retailers from selling PlayStation titles via “game-specific vouchers.” That means preventing customers from buying games elsewhere and forcing them to make digital purchases solely on Sony’s PlayStation Network, where it controls prices without worrying about competitors. The settlement means the company wasn’t accused of any wrongdoing, but it will have to pay nearly $8 million to affected players. Unfortunately, that might take quite a while. Here’s what to know about the settlement and whether you’ll be able to get any money out of it. (The full details are at the PlayStation Digital Games Settlement website.) Am I Eligible for a Payout? If you bought a digital game on PlayStation Network …

Sony’s AI Robot Can Probably Beat You at Table Tennis

Sony’s AI Robot Can Probably Beat You at Table Tennis

Published by skeptic

Sony last month announced project Ace, an autonomous robot capable of competing with professional table tennis players. Sony says this breakthrough demonstrates that AI systems have achieved human-like, expert-level performance in a competitive sport in the physical world.  While the world is currently focused on the agentic AI craze — allowing AI agents to perform tasks on your behalf — physical AI is right on its heels. Having a humanoid robot fold your laundry is just the beginning, and Sony is showing that physical AI could outperform humans in some instances.  “Table tennis is a game of enormous complexity that requires split-second decisions as well as speed and power,” said Peter Dürr, director of Sony AI and project lead for Ace, in a press release.  Ace uses advanced sensory technology, reinforcement learning and precision hardware to play table tennis. The robot has nine active pixel-sensor cameras, so it can determine the ball’s position in 3D space. There are also additional cameras and systems to help it measure the ball’s velocity and spin.  Outside of the optics portion, Ace also …

I love Sony’s new Bluetooth turntable, so why do I feel so conflicted using it

I love Sony’s new Bluetooth turntable, so why do I feel so conflicted using it

Published by skeptic

pros and cons Pros Impressive sound Versatile setup Sturdy design and build Cons Expensive for what it is No adjustable anti-skate or tracking force more buying choices Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. In a world of Spotify and Apple Music, vinyl records are still going strong as an audio medium. Last year, vinyl record sales reached over $1 billion for the first time this century, proving that music lovers are still drawn to the art of listening to and collecting records.  Also: I listened to Sony, Bose, and Apple’s flagship headphones – and this pair’s ahead of the pack With all these record sales, you have to have a way to play them, and turntables have now entered the 21st century with features like Bluetooth and USB outputs to record vinyl to digital. I’ve tested quite a few turntables over the years, so I was excited to try the new Sony PS-LX5BT to see how it held up to my sound standards — and if it would be a good buy for anyone …

Sony’s PS5 Price Hikes Prove This Console Generation Is Far From Over. Good.

Sony’s PS5 Price Hikes Prove This Console Generation Is Far From Over. Good.

Published by skeptic

If you’ve been holding off on picking up a PlayStation 5 in hopes of a price cut, bad news: the cost of every model of Sony’s all-conquering console has instead just gone up considerably. It’s a move that breaks with decades of tradition (or at least consumer expectations) and is undoubtedly a blow for anyone hoping for a discount, five years into the current console generation. However, it’s also a sign that the current generation is likely to stick around for a while yet—and that may be a good thing, for the industry and players alike. Historically, at this point in a console generation, incumbent hardware sees steep discounts. For example, the PS4, which launched for $400 in 2013, was retailing for $300 by 2018, a 25 percent decrease. Even if hardware is loss-leading, it’s a pricing trajectory that’s usually win-win for manufacturers and customers alike. Production and component costs will typically have dropped over that half-decade, allowing companies to drop the retail price, often alongside slimmed-down hardware revisions. At the same time, players who …

I love Sony’s latest headphones. But its older ones are nearly as good (and cheaper)

I love Sony’s latest headphones. But its older ones are nearly as good (and cheaper)

Published by skeptic

Sony WH-1000XM6 on the left; Sony WH-1000XM5 on the right.  Nina Raemont/ZDNET When Sony released its WH-1000XM6 headphones last year, I was instantly floored by the new headset’s stellar noise cancellation and classic Sony sound. They fit and sounded simply amazing. The headphones had such strong noise cancellation that, while listening to them on a recent flight, I didn’t realize the plane had embarked on an emergency landing.  Also: Sony WH-1000XM6 review: Still the king of ANC headphones? My verdict after months of testing The XM6 headphones are great, and that’s for sure. They’re also $400 — not terribly affordable. If $400 is just a little out of your price range, you might be better off opting for the $300 XM5 headphones that Sony unveiled a few years ago. It’s a good time to buy them, too, since Amazon’s Spring Sale is well underway. The headphones are 25% off right now, but the discount will likely only apply during the duration of the sale, which ends on March 31.  Also: Amazon Spring Sale live blog 2026: Tracking …

Sony’s WH-CH720N headphones offer excellent value at full price, but right now they’re a steal.

Sony’s WH-CH720N headphones offer excellent value at full price, but right now they’re a steal.

Published by skeptic

We’ve tested oodles of noise-canceling headphones and the Sony WH-CH720N might have an unfortunate name, but they’re the best budget-friendly pair we’ve tried. They usually offer good value when selling for the full $178 MSRP, but right now they’ve fallen to $95 shipped on Amazon and $100 on Best Buy. These headphones are well-built and well-designed, with great active noise cancellation and robust sound. They don’t fold up and they don’t come with a case, but you can get a case as a separate purchase if that’s a deal-breaker for you. These are lightweight, with adaptive sound that can adjust itself to suit your environment. Moreover, if you want a pair of over-hear wireless headphones with active noise cancellation, it’s very difficult to get that in a package this affordable. Tack on the long-lasting 35-hour battery, and paying under $100 becomes a no-brainer if you’re in the market and on a tight budget. We haven’t seen them drop this low in price before. We’re nowhere near a shopping event like Amazon Prime Day or Black …

Sony’s new earbuds deliver a slimmer build and enhanced features

Sony’s new earbuds deliver a slimmer build and enhanced features

Published by Jenni Sidey

Sign Up For Goods 🛍️ Product news, reviews, and must-have deals. Good audio products make you want to listen. Good consumer electronics companies make you feel you’re listened to. When designing the latest version of its flagship true wireless earbuds, Sony obviously heard user feedback and, much as the Japanese icon did with the 2025 redesign of the WH-1000XM6 headphones, it addressed pain points. A less awkward shape. Check. A less glossy, fingerprint-friendly finish. Check. More powerful processors for even more effective adaptive noise cancellation and audio customization. Check. Bose and Apple stole all the attention last year, but the WF-1000XM6 earbuds bring Sony back to the top of the ANC earbuds conversation. See It The design The blob is out. The bean is in. To me, the WF-1000XM5 (shown below, bottom left) was more polished river stone, whereas the WF-1000XM6 is matte pebble. The WF-1000XM5 was slippery, whereas the WF-1000XM6 has a soft, grippier texture. Tucking comfortably into the concha, it’s an ergonomic improvement in Black (above) or Platinum Silver (the rest of the …