Japanese electronics giant Sony is reported to be working on a slew of new portable devices including a smartphone and a tablet device that will take on competition from Apple.
The move, it is speculated, follows perceptions that Apple's handheld devices could threaten the sale of Sony's line of portable gaming and ereader devices.
According to reports on the Wall Street Journal, Sony's tablet is expected to replicate the multifunction capabilities of the iPad, which includes applications to read ebooks, play games, watch movies and surf the internet. The report also claims that Sony's new smartphone could be capable of downloading and playing video games.
The new line of handheld devices are expected to be connected to Sony's new online media platform, tentatively named the Sony Online Service. This platform is similar to Apple's iTunes software that will enable users to purchase and download movies, music and TV shows to their handheld devices. Additionally, the platform will also open up the company's catalog of console games to be accessed by a broad range of other devices.
Sony's strategy is possibly an indication of the future of the tech industry where differences between gadgets like the netbook, e-reader and gaming console are blurred by tablet devices such as the iPad that serve multiple purposes. With demand for such multifunction devices like the iPad heating up, it comes as no surprise that Gartner predicts close to 10.5 million tablet devices to be sold through 2010. You might also recall a New York Times article published late last year that had predicted 2010 to be the "Year of the Tablet".
How do you see this new business environment? With iPad blending the functions offered by gaming consoles and e-readers, do you see many more players from the industry jumping into the tablet market? It is good to see a big player like Sony joining the fray as it would force Apple to keep innovating (not that need external pressure). Let us know what you think.
[via Apple Insider, Wall Street Journal]
I don't really see Sony or anyone else cuttig into apples sales much as people will by apple products over all other based on the look and in factor. But that's good fornapple haters
YES… Bring on the competition. Maybe now Apple will open up there eyes… Sony is a big name, and has some amazing products so i cant wait to see what happens and what apple will do to counter attack. Now if only my PS3 would play nicer with my Airport Extreme!
Sony has vast experience in gaming, music, computing and mobile markets so if they set the iPad as a starting point, then their device should kick ass ( but be very pricey as a side result)
How many stabs in the dark are these companies going to take to make an iphone killer? I think it's so hilarious that no one is able to top the iphone yet.
I will look forward to Sony intergerating into play tv and psp style gameing fro
the ps3 which has a 10 year plan…..