FTC asks six ‘major’ mobile, gaming and auto companies to revise their warranty policies

It's against the law to void an automobile, gaming system or mobile phone's warranty for use of third-party components or "unauthorized" repairs, which Nintendo, Sony, Hyundai and three other "major" companies seem to be ignoring.

The post FTC asks six ‘major’ mobile, gaming and auto companies to revise their warranty policies appeared first on Pocketnow.

Entry-level PlayStation VR bundle gets discounted to $300 stateside, €300 on the old continent

Until Sony decides to release a second-generation PlayStation VR, virtual reality enthusiasts may be happy to see the original headset further discounted in several bundles worldwide.

The post Entry-level PlayStation VR bundle gets discounted to $300 stateside, €300 on the old continent appeared first on Pocketnow.

iPads, AirPods and Samsung tabs contributed to the biggest online sales day in history

This year's Cyber Monday online sales represented a 16.8 percent surge from 2016, and mobile devices set new records for both visits and revenue.

The post iPads, AirPods and Samsung tabs contributed to the biggest online sales day in history appeared first on Pocketnow.

Sony bundles PlayStation Camera with PlayStation VR for $399, $449 also buys you two controllers

The PlayStation Camera previously sold by Sony separate from the PlayStation VR is essentially free of charge now as a response to Rift and Vive discounts.

The post Sony bundles PlayStation Camera with PlayStation VR for $399, $449 also buys you two controllers appeared first on Pocketnow.

Sony Mobile had another weak quarter, selling just 5 million Xperias over the holidays

Not only are Sony smartphones unprofitable or barely profitable these days, also selling in negligible numbers worldwide quarter after quarter.

The post Sony Mobile had another weak quarter, selling just 5 million Xperias over the holidays appeared first on Pocketnow.

Samsung, Google, HTC, Oculus, Sony and Acer join hands to form Global Virtual Reality Association

They may routinely sue and countersue one another on often frivolous copyright infringement matters, they’ll occasionally exchange humorous jabs in advertising campaigns too, but at the end of the day, many of the tech industry’s veterans, pioneers and leaders can find some common ground to sometimes build alliances on.

When it serves a greater purposes, that is, like the promotion of “responsible development and adoption of VR globally.” The market’s strong fledgling aspect and its virtually limitless potential certainly helped Samsung, Google, HTC Vive, Facebook’s Oculus, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Acer Starbreeze tame their egos and agree to follow a set of shared guidelines.

In the years to come, as virtual reality hardware and software hopefully moves forward and forward, the Global Virtual Reality Association (GVRA) aims to “bring the international VR community together.” Created as a “resource for consumers, policymakers, and industries interested in VR”, this will see its illustrious members “develop and share best practices, conduct research, and foster dialogue between public and private stakeholders around the world.”

Of course, everyone will still do its own thing, separately marketing existing and future Gear VR, Daydream View, Vive, Rift, PlayStation VR and StarVR products. But at least on paper, all of the aforementioned together hope to “change the landscape of education, training, healthcare and design” for years, nay, decades ahead.

The post Samsung, Google, HTC, Oculus, Sony and Acer join hands to form Global Virtual Reality Association appeared first on Pocketnow.

No mobile VR plans for Sony as it expands from gaming to video content

With the PlayStation VR arriving in time to meet up with a couple of new PlayStation 4 variants, Sony would have done well and good to start planning 360° TV and movie content a long time ago. Alas, we’re hearing today that the Japanese company will likely be licensing content from other multimedia outfits at first.The PlayStation VR will be released on October 13, which gives the company less than a month to ...

Continue reading »

The post No mobile VR plans for Sony as it expands from gaming to video content appeared first on Pocketnow.

What looks to be Sony Xperia XR, PlayStation 4 Neo pass by FCC

We have little idea what exactly Sony will throw at consumers this IFA around, but among the rumored wares is the so-called Xperia XR (nee F8331), benched and tracked to sport some high-end hardcore hardware.The XR make take the shape of one of the two new devices that ...

Continue reading »

The post What looks to be Sony Xperia XR, PlayStation 4 Neo pass by FCC appeared first on Pocketnow.

Sony’s IFA 2016 invitation is cryptic, weird and eclectic, previewing lots of new gadgets

While we’ve known for almost a month now that Sony intends to unveil… something the day before the official start of the IFA 2016 industrial exhibition in Berlin, Germany, and the company’s trade show appearance was a no-brainer ever since last September, the Japanese device manufacturer only comes out and dismisses all doubt today.You can officially save the September 1 date therefore, or at least reserve the 1 to 2pm CEST timeslot for whatever Xperia, PlayStation, Walkman, Bravia-branded goodies ...

Continue reading »

The post Sony’s IFA 2016 invitation is cryptic, weird and eclectic, previewing lots of new gadgets appeared first on Pocketnow.

PlayStation VR space guidelines call for about 10 feet in one direction

One of the restraints that come with PC-powered virtual reality headsets is that you don’t have much of a range in movement, thanks to some bulky cables tethering you to a zone about the size of queen mattress.Then again, with all the other junk in your room, you’re probably better off with the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift than

Continue reading »

The post PlayStation VR space guidelines call for about 10 feet in one direction appeared first on Pocketnow.

Sony joins growing ranks of IFA 2016 exhibitors with September 1 Berlin event

Samsung, Huawei, Acer, and now Sony. This fall’s consumer electronics-centric IFA trade show is shaping up to be as jam-packed and memorable for us mobile hardware junkies as CES back in January and February’s MWC.In keeping with tradition, all major product announcements will likely take place ahead of the ...

Continue reading »

The post Sony joins growing ranks of IFA 2016 exhibitors with September 1 Berlin event appeared first on Pocketnow.

Today’s your ‘final chance’ to pre-order the Sony PlayStation VR from GameStop

Will the Oculus Rift overcome its production issues and component shortages to snatch the high-end VR headset crown away from the unanimously praised and slightly easier to come by HTC Vive? Could a third contender rise to the throne, racking up

Continue reading »

The post Today’s your ‘final chance’ to pre-order the Sony PlayStation VR from GameStop appeared first on Pocketnow.

PlayStation VR expected to gather 6 million shipments this year

Sony is hoping for a pleasant holiday quarter this year once it launches its PlayStation VR headset. And, after pre-orders have started piling in, it seems that Taiwanese analysts are, too.Topology Research Institute is forecasting 6 million PlayStation VR unit shipments by the end of the year, compared to 2.3 million

Continue reading »

The post PlayStation VR expected to gather 6 million shipments this year appeared first on Pocketnow.

Sony finally slaps PlayStation VR with a precise release date: October 13

Virtual reality enthusiasts and especially those excited about super-immersive gaming probably know the best is yet to come, despite the road-opening Oculus Rift and universally acclaimed HTC Vive already seeing daylight.This battle isn’t over until Sony throws its hat in the ring as well, which we’ve known for a while was only supposed to ...

Continue reading »

The post Sony finally slaps PlayStation VR with a precise release date: October 13 appeared first on Pocketnow.

‘Premium’ VR devices expected to prevail in 2016 value, with low-cost solutions dominating volume

Much like the other fledgling industry segment bidding for the title of “next big thing” in tech, the virtual reality market seems to be split in two very distinct categories. But the price gap between smartphone-enabled VR headsets and their PC and console-based counterparts is way larger than the main differentiator of activity trackers and smartwatches.As such, devices like the Samsung Gear VR will easily get the ...

Continue reading »

The post ‘Premium’ VR devices expected to prevail in 2016 value, with low-cost solutions dominating volume appeared first on Pocketnow.