God of War III is a single-player action-adventure that has an ESRB rating of "M" for Mature. The storyline picks up where the franchise left off allowing players to take on the climatic role of Kratos as he scales through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hades to seek revenge on the gods. Armed with double-chained blades, and an array of new weapons and magic for this iteration of the trilogy, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.

The E Series notebook features an optional Blu-ray Disc ROM drive, making it ideal for viewing pristine HD content on-the-go. It also has the added convenience of DVD and CD read/write functionalities. The model features a stunning 15.5-inch (measured diagonally) widescreen display with optional HD capability so movies, video and photos can be enjoyed in brilliant clarity and razor-sharp detail. For those who prefer to watch content on a big screen television, the PC has an HDMI™ output so it can be connected to a compatible HDTV set for a larger viewing experience (HDMI cable required, sold separately).

The E Series notebook also comes with three unique hardware buttons — WEB, VAIO and ASSIST to get you to where you want to go with a touch of a button. Quickly access the Internet, without full boot up into Windows, by simply pressing the WEB button. Launch directly into Sony’s own Media Gallery software by pushing the designated VAIO button on the keyboard and create high-quality home movies. Finally troubleshoot any issues or facilitate simple do-it-yourself PC maintenance procedures by pressing the ASSIST button and launching the included VAIO Care software program.

Easily and quickly transfer and store data to peripheral devices utilizing the notebook’s eSATA/ USB port and three convenient USB ports. Select models incorporate Bluetooth® technology, enabling peripherals such as a wireless mouse to be utilized without tying up the unit’s ports. A built-in webcam with face-tracking technology and microphone let you video chat with family, friends and colleagues. A third-party Internet service provider is required.

Select E Series models pack an Intel Core i5 processor with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technologies, delivering the performance needed for multitasking. Up to 500GB hard drives are available, providing ample storage for all your photos, files and videos. All E Series PCs come pre-installed with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

The VAIO E Series notebook will retail for about $700. It is available for pre-orders today online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/e. It will also be sold at Sony Style stores and at other major retailers around the country starting next month.

Source: Sony Electronics

With environmental conservation now a key issue on a global scale, significant business potential can be seen in the practical application of biobased polymers, especially in contactless IC credit cards which are valued for their convenience, reliability and safety. The newly developed card uses plastic derived from biobased polymer, a substance for which there are mounting expectations as a viable new resource. Creating a biobased polymer capable of withstanding manufacturing processes such as the embedding of magnetic stripes and embossing, while also providing durability over repeated use had represented a long-term challenge, but through their joint technological development the three companies have enabled these difficulties to be overcome, and the card has successfully achieved levels of durability and reliability required by international credit card standards (ISO and JIS2 ).

Point to note that, 46.5 percent of the card mass is comprised of biobased polymer, and with superior features such as a reduction in the use of exhaustible resources and prevention of increased greenhouse gas emissions, the card is capable of contributing to environmental conservation.

Furthermore, the card has been successfully mounted with both a contact IC chip and FeliCa3 , a contactless IC card technology developed by Sony. As a result, the card can be used as a multi-functional IC credit card mounted with applications including electronic money, point reward, and gateway controls such as company and student IDs.

Going forward, DNP together with Sony and MPI will promote a variety of businesses including FeliCa mounted multi-function IC cards. DNP will also actively promote sales to financial institutions, targeting sales of approximately 1.5 billion yen by the year ending March 31, 2012.

God of War III Ultimate Edition

Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Santa Monica Studio, God of War III is set in the realm of Greek mythology and is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he treads through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of hell to seek revenge on those who betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.

In addition to a copy of the highly anticipated God of War III and the limited-edition art book, fans will receive exclusive digital content headlined by the director’s cut of God of War: Unearthing the Legend, a full-length movie documentary depicting the history of the God of War franchise. The Ultimate Edition will also include God of War- inspired downloadable music in the form of the God of War Trilogy soundtrack and the God of War Heavy Metal EP (Extended Play). Lastly, fans will have access to the God of War Combat Arena, containing an exclusive environment and up to seven unique challenges, as well as the exclusive Kratos skin, Dominus, all available for download via the PlayStation Network.

Scheduled to release along with God of War III in March 2010, consumers can pre-order their copy of the God of War III Ultimate Edition beginning today from select retailers and receive a free PlayStationNetwork voucher code to download the God of War III E3 2009 demo. The God of War III Ultimate Edition will retail for $99.99 (MSRP).

Sony VAIO X Series

Sony VAIO X Series features a 16:9 aspect ratio which means you get a wider workspace—all packed into a compact 11.1-inch (diagonal) footprint. The scratch-resistant LCD display utilizes LED backlight technology and is not only durable, but also provides brilliant picture quality with 100 percent color saturation and improved brightness.

The X Series incorporates a solid state drive (SSD), which provides a rapid boot-up and quicker access to applications, while reducing the risk of hard drive damage. It is an ideal feature for those on-the-go who are in situations where sudden movements are common. It’s uniquely configured keyboard is designed with spacing between the keys for a comfortable typing experience. The touchpad features a multi-touch functionality commonly associated with touch-enabled smartphones.

The X Series integrates wireless 3G Mobile Broadband technology provided by Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In, Wi-Fi (802.11n), and Bluetooth wireless technologies. For 3G Mobile Broadband technology, a separate Verizon service subscription is required. The model also incorporates real-time GPS functionality, making it easy to find restaurants, hotels or special sites of interest. It even includes estimated drive times to let you know how far you are from a destination (United States or Canada only). To use that feature, no Internet connection is required in the United States or Canada.

The VAIO X Series notebook will come in two colors, black and gold, and start at about $1,300. It is available for pre-orders today online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/x. It will also be sold at Sony Style stores and select retailers around the country starting next month.

Sony VAIO L Series

Select models of VAIO L series feature a Blu-ray Disc optical drive so you can enjoy high-definition movies. A rewritable BD drive for recording, storing and playing back personal content on high-capacity BD media is also available. Select models feature a built-in tuner so you can connect to your digital cable TV service and Over-The-Air (ATSC) HD TV signals (antenna required) and watch television on your PC.

An optional HDMI input is also available, so in addition to the unit’s built-in HD features you can connect a compatible HD cable box, satellite receiver or PLAYSTATION 3 (all sold separately) via a single cable and enjoy HD entertainment without powering on the PC. And with built-in DVR capabilities and up to a terabyte of storage, you can create a personal entertainment library with up to 100 hours of HD television.

VAIO L series comes with Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional 64-bit operating system. Leveraging these new operating systems, the L Series is able to offer new functionality such as a touch screen display enabling you to do anything you could do with a mouse with the touch of a finger.

Launch directly into Sony’s own Media Gallery software by pushing the designated VAIO button on the keyboard and create high-quality home movies and slideshows in three simple steps. Import your photos and video, choose a theme and soundtrack, click finish and the software does the rest, generating a professional-looking movie complete with special effects, all by touching the screen. The unit packs a powerful Intel Core 2 Quad processor (select models), loads of RAM, and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce series graphics for graphic-intense gaming and movies.

The model is ideal for anywhere space is at a premium. It has a mounting capability that allows users to attach a VESA-compatible mount (sold separately) to it and hang it on the wall of your bedroom, kitchen, office or attach to your desk. When not mounted to the wall, the L Series features an adjustable stand to help you adjust the unit to meet your desired viewing or touch angle or simply to decrease the slant for space-saving. A wireless keyboard, mouse and remote control (select models) are included.

The VAIO L Touch HD PC/TV will start at about $1,300. It is available for pre-orders today online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/l. It will also be sold at Sony Style stores and select retailers around the country starting next month.

The 32GB Sony MicroVault Click benefits from a simple, elegant design (no cap) and trouble-free plug & play operation. With its huge 32GB capacity on tap, it’s now an easy matter to transfer heavy contents between devices. The colourful line-up offers Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data transfer and storage capacity of 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB.

MicroVault Click can be used to transfer HD video to BRAVIA TVs, or to/from Blu-ray Disc players. It will also help owners of sophisticated DSLR cameras in managing huge amounts of high resolution still images.

The MicroVault Click can even go beyond the 32GB mark thanks to unique Virtual Expander data compression software pre-loaded onto each unit. This gives people the option of tripling capacity with a simple drag and drop function.

The MicroVault Click range has a bright design, with one colour per capacity via an LED indicator light.  It is available in September and is covered by a 5 year warranty.

The BRAVIA S57 series weighs just 5.4 kg and comes with a detachable carrying handle and discreet stand. You can easily take it from room to room, hang it on the wall and save extra space around the home. Or even escape to another room to watch your favorite TV programs without interruptions when there’s something else on the main set.

A slender size is not the only feature to help you reduce clutter in your home. The BRAVIA S57 series has an integrated, illuminated digital clock display which means there’s no need for an extra clock in your kitchen or bedroom. The series also comes with handy in-built digital tuners so you can receive digital channels without the need for a set-top box.

There is a whole range of other things you can do with the BRAVIA S57 series thanks to its USB 2.0 port and 2 HDMI™ connections. You can plug in a Cyber-shot digital camera or USB key to the USB port and can view photos in HD detail. Just connect a VAIO laptop or WALKMAN and play your music files too, even browse album art on the screen. The BRAVIA S57 series delivers stunning picture quality compared to other small screen TVs and portables. It’s packed with high quality technology features found in larger sized BRAVIA TVs.

The BRAVIA S57 series can be used to watch HD channels in high definition detail or get an immersive movie or gaming experience when you connect a Blu-ray Disc player or PLAYSTATION 3 via HDMI. The BRAVIA S57 series also comes with a range of eco-features such as Power Saving and ‘Idle TV’ which switches your TV to standby mode if there’s been no user activity for a preset time.

The BRAVIA S57 series is available in a choice of subtle tones of Satin Silver, Silky Pink, Metallic Mocha or Pale Emerald to complement the stylish white exterior.

Google on Tuesday announced that Sony will supply the Google Chrome browser with it’s new Sony Vaio laptops. This is the first OEM deal that Google has signed with a PC maker and it is hoped that it will help in improving Chrome’s market share. Right now the Sony VAIOs will carry Chrome browser only in the U.S.

“Users’ response to Google Chrome has been outstanding, and we’re continuing to explore ways to make Chrome accessible to even more people,” Google said in a statement.

Right now the Internet Explorer is the leader in the browser market. Almost two third of Internet users depend on the Internet Explorer to browse the web. On the other hand Google Chrome is the fourth most popular web browsers in the world and it is used by nearly 3% of the global web users. Yes, Chrome badly needs attention from the web users.

First of all the cameras are more compact and lighter than previous models. The 10.2 megapixel a230 camera is the lightest, most compact alpha DSLR camera body ever at 15.9 ounces. The 10.2 megapixel a330 and the 14.2 megapixel a380 cameras are also smaller and lighter than their predecessor models. The new cameras feature a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD screen, slots for high-capacity Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC media, APS-C size CCD sensor and an HDMI terminal for playing back your photos in a compatible HDTV. Moreover the A330 and the A380 have pull-out LCDs.

According to Sony, pre-orders for these new cameras will begin on May 18, 2009. What about price? The a380L, a330L and a230L will cost about $850, $650 and $550, respectively. The L series one-lens kit comes with the SAL-1855 standard zoom lens. On the other hand, the a380Y, a330Y and a230Y will cost about $1050, $850 and $750, respectively. The Y series two-lens kit comes with both the SAL-1855 standard zoom and SAL-55200 telephoto zoom lenses.