PlayStation 4 may have given Sony a welcome nudge upwards in its latest financial results, but the company is warning that sales are likely to slow in the year ahead. Sales in Sony's Game & Network Services division rose 6.3-percent year-on-year, to $14.73bn, an increase which the company says was primarily down to greater sales of PS4 and games for the console. Now, though, the PS4 enters a new stage of its life, Sony warns.
When you're working out, whether in a gym, running outside, or even swimming, some music helps you keep out the monotony and, ironically, keep you focused. Those activities, however, require you to have equipment that can withstand the forces of nature just as well as you. That's the promise that Sony is making by launching its new Walkman WS620 series of Bluetooth headphones. Their light and lithe appearance belies the fact that these audio accessories are made to weather snow, sun, sea, water, and, of course, sweat.
The Sony Xperia XA1 will be available in the United States starting on May 1, but ahead of that launch date comes preorders through a couple online retailers. The Xperia XA1 will be offered in a few colors -- white, black, pink and gold -- and will be sold unlocked for use at any supported carrier. This handset features an edge-to-edge 5-inch display, a fairly substantial 23-megapixel rear camera, and (much) more.
Most phone manufacturers would wait until a phone is released to begin offering different color variants, but not Sony. Instead, Sony has announced a third color for its Xperia XZ Premium before we even have a solid launch date. So, if the standard choices of Deepsea Black and Luminous Chrome aren't doing it for you, you won't necessarily have to wait until after launch to get something different.
Some things are never meant to be and this probably one of them. We've seen our fair share of gaming devices and peripherals magnified a hundred times their size, but almost all of those have been fan-made. This one, however, is as official as it gets. Sony has made a gigantic PS4 controller to celebrate the remaster of Parappa the Rapper, which is celebrating its 20th year. And what better way to make a big party than by having a big controller?
Sony has officially introduced its anticipated A9 camera, and with it comes a bunch of features packed into a compact, relatively speaking, body. This model is the latest addition to Sony's massively successful interchangeable camera lineup, and it brings with it a huge array of features -- ones that far eclipse the smartphones that are otherwise dominating the camera industry. We've already given a rundown of the camera, including some sample photos; here are the top five features that really stand out.
![New Sony A9 camera revealed [with sample photos]](https://c.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/sonya9.jpg)
This morning Sony showed off a new flagship 24-megapixel camera in the Sony A9, able to shoot photos very, very fast. This camera is able to shoot up to 20 frames per second with no blackout - that's intense. It's also able to capture at 1/32,000 of a second with vibration-free shooting using "Silent Shooting." This is also the first full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with integral Memory "for 20x faster data readout speed" according to Sony.
Earlier this week, Xbox One owners participating in the Xbox Preview program were greeted with a rather nice surprise: Microsoft has implemented a beta test for a refund system. Not only is this refund system apparently planned for both Xbox One and Windows 10, but it's also self-service, meaning you don't need to go through customer support to get your money back. This is very exciting news because it's a move that's ultimately great for consumers.
Sony's smartphone business has always been seen as on the verge of folding. After a brief period of fame, Sony's flagships have mostly failed to secure a foothold in the market, thanks to a combination of high prices and less impressive features. When Sony sold its VAIO PC business to a Japanese company, it was expected it would do the same with its smartphones soon as well. The good news: Sony President Kazuo Hirai thinks that smartphones are still a viable business. The bad news: it really doesn't care that much anymore.
Even though the main Uncharted series came to a close with the release of Uncharted 4, the folks at Naughty Dog are working on a standalone expansion for Uncharted 4 that could serve as a game all its own. Titled Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, this game follows a new pair of treasure hunters named Chloe and Nadine. Though it was only revealed back in December, Naughty Dog is ready to talk details, announcing the game's release date and showing off a new trailer today.
This week the folks at Sony have announced a joint venture with the brand E-Ink, resulting in a team-up the likes of which could be huge. This is not a rumor, it's a real-deal announcement from both Sony and E-Ink, and it's part of a timeline that's unfolding in Sony's device collection as we speak. This is not the first time Sony has dabbled in E-Ink devices - not by a long shot - but it could be a sign of odd and awesome gadgets to come.
Sony has introduced a pair of new G Series solid state drives designed specifically for videographers or photographers who need expansive storage for Ultra HD 4K footage. Both drives are part of Sony's G Series Professional lineup, and they come in two capacities: 480GB and 960GB. The drives can be used with DSLRs or camcorders; they offer, among many other things, longer than usual lifespans alongside a high level of reliability.
