Sony

Sony just released a firmware update for early models of the Alpha DSLR-A700--to version 2.x from firmware version 1.x--well as updates for the Image Data Converter and Image Data Lightbox bundled software applications. If your current firmware version is 2.x, you're already covered. To find the magic info, press Menu & Display together to check.

According to Sony, "The camera firmware update improves image sharpness and reduces noise under certain circumstances. It also improves flash control at very short distances with non-ADI control lenses. The updates for the bundled software applications correct the functioning of … Read more

I know that no one's going to be terribly shocked by this, but I thought I'd point it out, just in case you missed it. Engadget HD, after another stroll through AVS Forum's message boards, is reporting on how Circuit City, Wal-Mart Stores, and Amazon.com have reduced the price of Toshiba's HD-A2 HD DVD player to $198 (Amazon's deal includes free shipping).

This kind of price drop on standalone HD DVD players has been widely expected, and we think you may see $180 by Black Friday. Of course, if you're an Xbox 360 … Read more

We rarely see circular designs in desktops. After all, when 99 percent of components are made for the conventional box shape, getting parts to fit a round chassis takes more investigative work than a season of CSI.

Sony's VAIO TP1 is unique in many ways. Besides being round, it is also based on a notebook platform like the iMac. Sony's product manager Katsuki Fuchu was responsible for the VAIO TP1's unique shape and met with CNET Asia to explain the inner workings of this desktop entertainment system. We took the opportunity to ask for one to be … Read more

The wait has finally ended. Sony Ericsson has announced that the highly anticipated K850i Cyber-shot phone is available in all Asia-Pacific markets at a recommended retail price of about $617 (without plan).

We've just received our commercial review unit and a full review of the 5-megapixel camera phone will be coming up early next week. For now, you can check out our initial hands-on examination of the K850i here. And While you're at it, check out our first-look video too.

(Source: Crave Asia)

Nokia remains the king of the cell phone world and it shows no signs of being pushed from its throne anytime soon. According to figures that IDC released yesterday, the Finnish mobile giant held a 38.6 percent worldwide market in the third quarter this year, an increase from 34.8 percent during the same period a year earlier. As for phone shipments, Nokia shipped 111.7 million devices in the third quarter. That's a big jump from 88.5 million devices in the third quarter of 2006, mostly because of increases in the entry-level market.

Samsung came in … Read more

An excellent item last month comparing the desktop designs of Apple and Sony by our colleague Matthew Elliott drew some of the most reader comments seen on Crave in months. We won't wade into that territory again but wanted to pass along this item from Engadget Japanese to show that we're hardly the only ones to draw parallels between the two companies.

Engadget says the photos are "official, un-doctored press shots from both Apple and Sony" of an older iPod Nano and the new Sony Cyber-shot released yesterday, respectively. Even the colors and position of the … Read more

Sony's newest member of the stylish Cyber-shot T-series line beckons you to leave the memory cards at home. The company just announced the Cyber-shot DSC-T2, an 8-megapixel camera with a whopping 4 gigabytes of internal memory. That's about 1,300 full-resolution photos without any external memory. Of course, if you need more space, the camera accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo cards as well.

To organize, view, and share all these pictures, the T2 features Sony's PMB Portable software to help automate the process uploading videos and pictures to commonly used media sharing sites. If you want to … Read more