Sony Promotes Kazuo Hirai As President And CEO
Sony replaces Sir Howard Stringer with Kazuo Hirai as president and chief executive of the struggling consumer electronics and entertainment giant. Howard will step down on April 1 and remain as chairman to the company.
Mr Hirai said:
As challenging as times are for Sony now, were it not for the strong leadership of Sir Howard Stringer these past seven years, we would have been in a much more difficult position.
Samsung Smart TV 2.0 Has Motion and Voice Control
During CES 2012 keynote, Samsung unveiled a connected TV with voice and gesture recognition. The Smart TV 2.0 has WiFi-enabled cameras and integrated microphone. You can change channels using your voice or hand gestures.
Samsung, LG, Sony Showing Off Google TV
Three giant TV makers, Samsung, LG and Sony are working on Google TV. Google powered TV will be shown at the consumer electronics show (CES) next week at Las Vegas.
LG will come with passive Cinema 3D capability and 2D to 3D conversion on the fly.
Google TV allows users to access the Internet on TVs, using its popular Chrome browser. In addition, it allows users to search a pay-TV provider’s listings and offers about 150 apps to shuttle people to digital media.
Apple Releasing iTV In 2012
Digitimes has reported Apple will start releasing their own TVs in the first business quarter of 2012.
Apple will brand it iTV and it will be available in 32-inch and 37-inch initially. It also rumoured that Apple will use a custom-built chip for iTV. A number of manufacturers are currently bidding for this chip, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE), and Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL).
Sony Selling 50% Of LCD Venture To Samsung For $940 Million
Sony, the maker of PS3 and Bravia TV, has agreed to sell 50% stake in an LCD joint venture to Samsung Electronics for $940 million. Sony was negotiating an exit, aiming to switch to cheaper outsourcing for flat screens for its TVs while Samsung pushes ahead with next-gen TV displays.
Will Apple Buy Hulu?
Apple is in talks to potentially bid for video-streaming service Hulu. Microsoft is dropping out of the bidding for the online video service. Hulu carries TV programming and movies from ABC, NBC, and Fox, and others.
Sony Pictures Hacked By LulzSec
Sony Pictures Entertainment website based in Culver City has been hacked by ‘LulzSec’. Sony said they have confirmed that a breach has occurred and have taken action to protect against further intrusion. The group posted the data to the website Pastebin and it includes user names, passwords, addresses and phone numbers. LulzSec is also responsible for hacking PBS website.
Sony PlayStation Network was previously hacked and only this week it is back online.
Former Sony Chairman Norio Ohga Dies At 81
Former president and chairman of Sony, Norio Ohga, who is also the man behind the compact disc’s development, has died at the age of 81. He insisted that the Compact Disc store 74 minutes of sound so that he could listen to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony without interruption. He died in Tokyo at the weekend of multiple organ failure.
Google to Revamp YouTube With Channels
Google’s YouTube is set to overhaul its service in an effort to prepare itself for the rise of connected devices. The company will create 20 premium vertical channels to support news, entertainments, arts, sport and more. It will feature five to 10 hours of professionally-produced original programming a week.
Logitech Unveils Revue Google TV Set Top Box
Logitech unveils its $300 set-top box that will bring Google’s new TV service to people who don’t want to buy a new television set. We are not sure that is a good price from Logitech. Why buy another box to plug in?
At launch Google TV users will be able to access Amazon On Demand, Netflix, Twitter, Turner Broadcasting, HBO, USA Today, The New York Times. But there are no news about partnering with major TV networks like ABC, Fox and CBS.
