Sony Mocopi Can Be Your Very Own Motion Capture Kit

In today’s online world of YouTubers and live streamers, VTubers and VStreamers are starting to rise in prominence from what was once a ciche corner of the market. But having a virtual avatar instead of just revealing your real self has challenges of its own, primarily on the motion capture department. Sony has something that can be an affordable-ish solution, in the form of the Mocopi.

The Sony Mocopi is a motion capture kit that consists of six sensors, each about the size of, say, an Apple AirTag. Each measures 32mm across in diameter, and weights about 8g, and are labelled for which part of your body they are supposed to be strapped to – one for your head, one for your hip, one for each wrist and one for each ankle. They are also dust-proof and water resistant, with the usual IP65 / IP68 rating that you find on most of the brand’s smartphones. While we’re on the subject, the sensors also connect to phones via Bluetooth.

 

On the software side of things, the Sony Mocopi uses the company’s proprietary algorithm to translate physical motion into data. This can then be streamed to applicable software like VRChat. Or, should you prefer, you can also export your motion with an avatar as an MP4 video file. Being completely wireless, the Sony Mocopi set comes with a carrying case which also serves to charge the sensors. The company claims that each sensor has a battery life of up to 10 hours, and the case can charge each one up to full in 1.5 hours, or 90 minutes, via USB-C.

This is all pretty impressive-sounding, but there are a couple of issues that one can foresee some very specific use case issues with the Sony Mocopi. For one, there’s no indication on if it does finger tracking. The how-to video posted on YouTube indicated that there’s lip-syncing at least, but its accuracy remains to be judged.

Sony announced that it will be releasing the software development kit (SDK) for the Mocopi on 15 December, so that devs can get it to work on things like Unity and Autodesk MotionBuilder. A little later, consumers (in Japan at least) will be able to purchase it for JPY49500 (`~RM1600) in late January. No word on when or if it will be available elsewhere just yet.

Sony And TSMC Reportedly Joining Forces To Tackle Chip Shortage With Japan’s Help

Japanese tech company Sony and Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC may be joining forces to help tackle the ongoing global chip shortage, according to reports published independently by Reuters and Nikkei. It is said that both companies are considering a partnership to co-establish a new semiconductor factory in Japan, which is expected to be up and running by 2024.

People familiar with the matter told the publications that the new plant will be based at a Sony-owned location in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, close to the company’s own image sensor factory (shown above). The project is said to cost US$7 billion in investment from both Sony and TSMC, with half of it reportedly covered by the Japanese government. The new factory will be managed by the Taiwanese semiconductor giant, the sources added.

Reuters and Nikkei reports that the plant would manufacture chips for cameras, cars and other purposes – all of which have recently seen a drop in production capacity due to the ongoing shortage. Both Sony and TSMC declined to comment regarding this potential partnership when approached by the publications. Meanwhile, Nikkei believes that Japanese automotive parts manufacturer Denso is also interested in the project.

If accurate, the new factory by Sony and TSMC would definitely contribute to other efforts that are also aiming to ramp up the manufacturing of semiconductors. However, it will still take some time until it is able to help with the production, seeing that the plant will only be operational in 2024. Moreover, Sony and TSMC themselves – as well as other major companies such as IBM and Foxconn – have noted that the chip shortage will likely continue for another few years until the strong demand for semiconductors could be met.

Sony SRS-NS7 Wireless Neckband Speaker Arriving In Malaysia This January

Sony has launched the SRS-NS7, the latest addition to its wireless neckband speaker series. According to its specs, the new device fits into the high-end category when compared to its sibling, the Sony SRS-NB10, which was unveiled earlier in July this year.

Like the aforementioned product, the new SRS-NS7 is also an IP4X-rated full range speaker that you can wear around your neck. What sets this particular model apart from its sibling is its larger X-Balanced speaker units, which emphasises on surround sound and clearer bass – giving you a more immersive experience when watching movies or listening to music. 

If you happen to own Sony’s Bravia XR TVs, you can take the wireless neckband speaker’s audio output capabilities a notch higher. Introduced alongside the SRS-NS7 is the WLA-NS7 Bluetooth transmitter, which is capable of transmitting low latency Dolby Atmos 360 spatial audio from the TV to the wearable speaker. The transmitter is sold separately and is only compatible with Bravia XR TVs.

Other than that, the Sony SRS-NS7 also comes with built-in microphones which enables you to use it for voice or video conference calls. Since it relies on Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, the wearable speaker can also be connected to other compatible devices such as smartphones, PCs, and so on. There’s also a multi-pair capability which allows you to connect the SRS-NS7 to two different devices at once.

In terms of battery life, Sony says the wearable speaker can last up to 12 hours of playback on a single charge. It also comes with 7.5W fast-charging capability via USB-C, which is claimed to top-up an hour’s worth of use in just 10 minutes.

The new Sony SRS-NS7 wireless neckband speaker and the WLA-NS7 Bluetooth transmitter are priced at RM1,249 and RM269 respectively. In terms of local availability, both devices are expected to arrive in Malaysia by January of next year. Meanwhile, the smaller SRS-NB7 will retail at RM599 and is also slated to be available locally at the same time as its high-end sibling.

Sony Announces New WF-C500 Earbuds And WH-XB910N Headphones

Sony has introduced two new devices to its list of audio products, with the WF-C500 true wireless headphones and the WH-XV910N overhead wireless headphones. While the company refers to the former as such, the device is actually a pair of TWS earbuds. In order to avoid any confusion (especially between the two), we will be referring to the WF-C500 as earbuds from now on.

Let’s start with the Sony WF-C500. The new product is intended to be one of the brand’s more affordable offerings from its earbuds category. While it lacks advanced features such as active noise cancelling (ANC) and touch-based controls, the WF-C500 does come with AAC support, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, Android Fast Pair and Windows Swift Pair support, as well as IPX4 water resistance. As for colour options, Sony is offering the new device in orange, green, white, and black.

Under its hood are 5.8mm audio drivers with a frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz, and DSEE audio enhancements. Typical of any current day earbuds, the WF-C500 also comes with microphones for your voice calling needs. Battery-wise, Sony claims that the device is able to last 10 hours of audio playback and five hours of communication time on a single charge. The included charging case provides it an additional 10 hours of usage, and will take two and a half hours of charging via USB-C to max out its capacity.

Next up is the WH-XB910N wireless overhead headphones. Part of Sony’s Extra Bass line-up, it is equipped with 40mm drivers with sound and digital noise cancelling technology, as well as DSEE enhancements. The new headphones can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.2 or through a wired connection, thanks to its onboard 3.5mm jack and included cable. The WH-XB910N arrives in blue and black colour options.

Like Sony’s high-end WH-1000XM4 headphones, it also comes with touch-based controls on its right earcup for playback, volume adjustment, answering calls, and activating/deactivating the onboard noise cancelling. Also featured on the device is Ambient Mode that lets you hear your surroundings while listening to music or making calls, and then there’s Quick Attention Mode that picks up nearby voices or announcements.

The WH-XB910N is claimed to last up to 30 hours with noise cancelling on and 50 hours with the feature switched off. Charging-wise, Sony says it would take 3.5 hours for the headphones to get a full top-up via USB-C.

The new WF-C500 and WH-XB910N are priced at RM449 and RM799, respectively. As for their local availability, Sony says Malaysia will receive the earbuds on 18 October onwards, while the headphones are expected to arrive later in November.

Sony Now Allows Horizon Forbidden West PS4 To PS5 Version Upgrade

Previously, Sony Interactive Entertainment made the baffling announcement of not allowing the upgrade from PS4 to PS5 versions of Horizon Forbidden West. It’s a strange announcement as many other titles allowed for free upgrades, or for a small fee. The company has since reversed its decision, allowing for the upgrade from PS4 to PS5 versions of the game.

SIE President and CEO Jim Ryan announced the change in an update to the initial announcement post of Horizon Forbidden West. In essence, the company now says that players who choose to get the PS4 version of the game will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version for free. Which should have been the case to begin with, since Ryan himself announced back in 2020 that this would be among the games that will get the free upgrade treatment.

But on the flip side, Ryan also said that “moving forward, PlayStation first-party exclusive cross-gen titles will offer a US$10 digital upgrade option from PS4 to PS5”. Which simply means that you will have to pay for the upgrade for all future PS exclusives. This includes the upcoming sequel to God of War, and Gran Turismo 7.

In the larger scheme of things, having to pay for an upgrade is better than having to buy a game twice. On one hand, it makes sense that only games that launch close to the new console’s own launch like Horizon Forbidden West gets the free upgrade. But on the other, with the PS5 still being so difficult to obtain, it feels very hasty of SIE to already announce that future games’ upgrades will come at a cost.

Sony Completes Crunchyroll Acquisition

Late last year, Sony announced that it would be acquiring the anime streaming service Crunchyroll from American telco conglomerate AT&T. It’s been a surprisingly long process, but the company has finally closed the US$1.175 billion (~RM4.97 billion) deal.

With the deal, Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra said that the company aims to “create a unified anime subscription experience as soon as possible”. But no details were shared on what that experience will be exactly, nor when it will actually happen.

As mentioned before, the acquisition gives Sony even more control over anime streaming, at least in markets that can make use of it. Crunchyroll as a service remains mostly unusable locally, due to licensing limitations as the site puts it. There have been extremely few exceptions to this, with one example being Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn – Prologue.

And because of this, Netflix remains one of the few, if not the only, legal avenue for on-demand anime streaming. Which is both a blessing and a curse at the same time. If you’re not fussed about catching each new episodes of new shows on the day they are released, that is fine. The service has also been increasing its catalogue. But it remains a less-than-ideal option for those who want to catch new episodes of new shows every week.

Sony Unveils A New Variation Of Its Lamp-Like Portable Speaker Series

Some brands have the tendency to take some creative liberties with their portable speaker designs, with the more recent one featuring a form factor that resembles a book. Another product that falls into the “weird but cool” category is Sony’s LSPX series, which combines the functionality of a candle lamp and a 360-degree bluetooth speaker together. No, really.

As bizarre as it sounds, the product itself seems to be popular enough to warrant a new entry. Revealed just recently is the new Sony LSPX-S3, the third variation of its lamp-inspired speaker that was originally launched globally back in 2019. According to the brand, this new model sports a variety of hardware and features, as well as a more attractive price tag.

Unique to the LSPX-S3 (and the rest of the LSPX series) is an organic glass tweeter with three actuators that emits sound in all directions. Sony claims that the tweeter is capable of producing “well balanced midrange”, “clear high tones” and “clear bass” that can “fill every corner of the room” via its onboard 46mm speaker unit. It also comes with a built-in microphone for voice calls, but does not feature any onboard voice assistant.

In addition, the speaker comes with the brand’s LDAC technology that enables for high resolution audio transmission over a Bluetooth connection – ensuring an unhindered, lossless listening experience when connected to a compatible output device. You also have the option to enable stereo playback by linking two LSPX-S3 units together, or even connect it to your home’s existing (and compatible) multi-speaker setup.

It’s no denying that the main draw of this particular Sony product is its lamp-based function. Despite flickering like an actual candlelight, the LSPX-S3 relies on an LED light to create a cozy ambiance. This can be personalised by choosing between different lighting modes and brightness levels, including one where the light pulses along to music beats. Speaking of which, both lighting and audio customisation are handled by the Sony Music Center app for mobile devices.

Other than that, Sony says the LSPX-S3 is capable of lasting up to eight hours and charging is done via the onboard USB-C port. For battery conservation, the speaker also comes with a sleep timer that you can customise anywhere between 15 to 120 minutes.

The new Sony LSPX-S3 portable speaker is set to retail at US$350 (~RM1,466), with orders only opening sometime in August 2021. The brand has yet to confirm its global availability but seeing that its predecessor is already available in Malaysia, chances of it arriving to our shores is very likely. That being said, as reference, the older LSPX-S2 model is currently retailing at RM2,599 on Sony Malaysia’s website.

Sony WF-1000XM4 To Arrive In Malaysia Mid-July; Retails For RM1099

Sony has officially lifted the veil from the WF-1000XM4. As previously reported, the Japanese company officially launched the successor to the WF-1000XM3 that launched in 2019.

As per the official press statement, the WF-1000XM4 earbuds sport a new rounded, compact, and ergonomic design than before. Additionally, the earbuds feature Sony’s new V1 Integrated Processor that features a more advanced form of active noise cancellation. On top of that, the earbuds have a total of four noise sensor microphones; two on each earbud, tasked with hearing and analysing ambient noises.

As for the audio delivery, the WF-1000XM4 features what Sony a “newly designed” 6mm driver unit, along with a high compliance diaphragm to drive performance in low frequencies and enhance noise cancelling.

Like all Sony products, the WF-1000XM4 also supports Sony’s Hi-Res Audio Wireless and LDAC audio coding technology. On top of that, Sony has managed to cram in its DSEE Extreme audio upscaling technology into the earbuds. Oh, and it also supports the Speak-To-Chat feature, which pauses the music whenever they begin to speak or if an outside voice is detected.

On that note, it should come as no surprise that the WF-1000XM4 also supports Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control technology, enabling the earbuds to actively adjust the ambient noise levels, based on its surroundings.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 will be available from mid-July onwards and will retail at a recommended SRP of RM1099. Pre-orders for the earbuds are open starting today until 15 July. For those who choose to pre-order, do note that Sony will be bundling its earbuds with a Qi compatible wireless charging pad worth RM339, for as long as stocks last.

Sony Reveals Airpeak S1 Professional Drone With US$9000 Pricetag

Sony officially pulled the curtains back from the Airpeak S1, the Japanese electronics firm’s first professional drone. Initially announced during CES 2021 earlier this year, the Japanese brand divulged little detail about its drone, up until today.

According to its official product page, the Airpeak S1 is designed to work with Sony’s own lineup of mirrorless cameras, such as the A7S Mark III and Alpha 1. Specs-wise, the drone has a maximum speed of 90km/h, a maximum angular velocity of 180° per second, and an attitude angle of up to 55°. Additionally, Sony says that the Airpeak S1 can remain stable in winds of up to 72km/h.

As for flight time, Sony says the Airpeak S1 can fly for 12 minutes straight with a camera attached, which is a little on the low side, especially when you consider the air time of most drones on the market. However, without a camera attached to it, Sony says that its drone will fly for 22 minutes on a single charge. On top of that, the Airpeak S1 can go from zero to 90km/h in 3.5 seconds.

There are some caveats to using the Airpeak S1, unsurprisingly. Firstly, the drone does support a special Gremsy T3 gimbal that helps to connect the external camera to it, but sadly, it is a separate purchase. Further, you will need to ensure that you have a sufficient number of batteries for the camera, as the drone does not provide additional power to it.

Lastly, the Airpeak S1 is also bundled with a controller, as well as a dedicated app called Airpeak Flight. Funnily enough, the app is only available on Apple’s iOS and iPadOS, meaning that you’ll only be able to fly the drone using an iPad or iPhone. Sony says that this limited availability is only temporary and that the app will be available for Android – hopefully, its Xperia lineup of devices will be first in line – but did not specify when.

As for availability and pricing, Sony says that the Airpeak S1 will be available sometime during Q3 this year and will cost an eye watering US$9000 (~RM37093). For that price, you also get two pairs of propellers, controller, two batteries for the drone, along with their charger.

Sony Product Registration Documents References New PS5 Model

Earlier in the month we saw reports of the PS5 getting a small hardware redesign. Now, official documents referring to something of that nature have appeared. But these documents note a different change to what we heard before.

Business analyst Roberto Serrano shared on Twitter documents registered by Sony to the Peruvian Audits and Sanctions in Communications site. In the documents, the company mentions a new model name for the PS5, the CFI-1115A. And it will be sporting a new wireless module, the AW-XM501. Overall, this means slightly better WiFi coverage by the console on the 5GHz band, but slightly lower for the 2.4GHz band.

New #PS5 model CFI-1115A spotted in the latest Wireless communication module M20DAL1 registered by Sony Group Corp. at https://t.co/pLg44umht0 on Apr 26, 2021

This suggests a revision of PS5 is coming sooner or later, already registered on May 23, 2021 https://t.co/KVORHFGAb9 pic.twitter.com/KuyshUAba1

— Roberto Serrano' (@geronimo_73) May 27, 2021

Of course, this is an even smaller change than what we first heard. The report from earlier in the month noted a change in CPU in the PS5 instead. This is not it, and the change in WiFi reception is miniscule, so much so that it may not even be noticeable.

So if you’re waiting for the release of a new PS5 model before buying, this isn’t what you’re waiting for. You’ll probably be better off continuing the hunt for one. It’s either that or waiting for more news on the CPU updated model. But if so, you’ll be waiting for a very long time, as previous reports pegged that model to only enter production next year.

Sony Introduces Fully Unstaffed Production Line At Malaysian TV-Making Factory

Sony has deployed its first fully unmanned production line at a TV-making factory outside Kuala Lumpur and plans to expand automation to other lines there too.

According to Nikkei Asia, the electronics giant is embracing this kind of technology to better compete with its South Korean and Chinese competitors. Indeed, the automation move is projected to cut production costs at the factory by 70% from fiscal 2018 levels by fiscal 2023.

The company is employing off-the-shelf robots, but is internally developing key elements such as control programming. It described full automation as challenging due to processes that involve parts that are difficult for robots to handle.

Unsurprisingly, with the shift to automation, Sony will gradually reduce the factory’s workforce of thousands, opting not to renew their limited-term contracts. The company also plans to automate audio equipment production at the KL factory after shutting its main audio equipment factory in Penang by September.

Once the automation technology is firmly rooted at the KL plant, the electronics giant will consider employing it at other factories as well. It’s extraordinarily timely considering the havoc COVID-19 has unleashed on global manufacturing. For example, Foxconn factories in India and Vietnam have recently seen work disruptions because of the pandemic.

On the flip side, automation does generally mean fewer jobs in the medium- to long-term, bringing with it economic, political, and social problems. Indeed, the loss of manufacturing jobs in the US (mainly due to technology) has caused considerable anger and resentment.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Price Leaks Online; Pegged At EUR280

The Sony WF-1000XM4 leaks seem to keep coming. Having seen a promo video for the upcoming TWS buds earlier, we thought that it would have the same asking price as its predecessor. It looks like that may not be the case, as it may actually come with a bigger price tag.

The Walkman Blog reports that the Sony WF-1000XM4 has appeared on Slovakian online store Datart.sk. And it comes with a EUR279.99 (~RM1414) price tag. The listing has since been removed, but it stated that the buds will also come with three foam tip sizes while it was up.

It’s important to note that prices in Euros are usually higher than what they eventually end up being in ringgit. At least when converted directly, and then compared to what they actually are when they arrive. But this is still a higher price than what the WF-1000XM3 launched with. For context, it was revealed alongside a EUR250 price tag. From this, it’s probably safe to assume that, when Sony brings the WF-1000XM4 to our shores, it would be with a bigger price tag than RM949.

Of course, this is a fair amount of speculation on our part considering what we know. It’s probably a good idea to save up anyway if you’re waiting to buy the Sony WF-1000XM4. But of course, there’s hope that the company pulls a fast one to the consumers’ benefit and launch it with a lower price.

Sony Bravia XR TVs Now In Malaysia: Price Starts From RM 5,399

First introduced to the world back in January, Sony has recently announced the arrival of Bravia XR TVs in Malaysia. What’s interesting about the Bravia XR is that it is not a specific series of TV per se but instead, it is a group of TVs across several different panel and backlight methods that feature the company’s new technology called Cognitive Processor XR.

Sony claimed that the technology mimics how humans perceive the world which is by processing information from our eyes and ears at the same time. Cognitive Processor XR apparently divided the screen into hundreds of zones and then cross-analysed elements within the pictures including focal points to provide the best outcome to viewers.

Each Bravia XR TVs have also been pre-installed with Google TV user interface on top of their Android TV operating system. They also come with several platform-specific display presets including Netflix Calibrated Mode and IMAX Enhanced alongside support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos contents.

All Bravia XR TVs are also Carman Ready which means content creators can easily calibrate them with Calman colour calibration software. These TVs also come with HDMI 2.1 as standard which allows gamers to enjoy 4K gaming with frame rates of up to 120fps alongside access to features such as Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and eARC.

In our market, the Bravia XR TVs are available in five models for the time being. Leading the list is the 65-inch variant of the Master Series A90J 4K OLED TV (shown above) which costs RM 17,999 while there is also the 65 and 55-inch version of the A80J 4K OLED TV that cost RM 14,999 and RM 9,199, respectively.

Aside from that, there is also the X90J 4K Full Array LED TV that can be obtained with a 65-inch screen for RM 7,599 or the smaller 55-inch variant that goes for RM 5,399. Sony has also noted that three are more Bravia XR models that are coming to Malaysia at a later date including the 85-inch Master Series Z9J 8K Full Array LED TV, a 77-inch option for A80J, and the 75-inch variant of X90J.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds And Charging Case Leaks; May Launch In June

Photos showcasing the various angles of Sony’s supposedly upcoming WF-1000XM4 earbuds as well as its charging case have recently surfaced online. This new insight seemingly corroborates with another leak back in February, where snippets of the device’s packaging was uploaded to Reddit.

Much like the earlier leak, the WF-1000XM4 is shown to feature a more compact and round design – breaking away from the oval form factor of its predecessor. For this set of images shared by The Walkman Blog, this particular model sports what appears to be a dark purple colour scheme, along with bronze or gold accents for the Sony logo and detailing. It’s also worth noting that the earbuds sometimes appear in black in some shots, therefore it could be possible that two or more colour selections may be available upon release. That, or its just the lighting condition when photos of the device were taken.

As mentioned earlier, the website also included photos showcasing the earbuds’ accompanying charging case. This time around, it exhibits a more compact design than its predecessor, which is likely attributed to the WF-1000XM4’s smaller form factor. It also appears that Sony has ditched the two-tone colour scheme ala the XM3’s case, and went with a single unified colour instead. Another noteworthy change is the location of the USB-C port, which is shown to be situated on the back of the charging case – unlike its predecessor, where it’s located at the bottom.

On a related note, Pocket-Lint discovered that the Xperia 1 III’s reverse wireless charging menu features a graphic that showcases the feature working with a charging case that suspiciously looks similar to the one belonging to the WF-1000XM4. This implies that the latter’s case will be equipped with wireless charging, a feature that wasn’t included with Sony’s 2019 model.

Another interesting tidbit worth pointing out are the manufacturing labels on both the earbuds and its charging case. Much like other portable audio products from Sony, it is revealed that the WF-1000XM4 are also manufactured in Malaysia. While that doesn’t necessarily guarantee an early local release, it’s a nice bit of trivia regardless.

Again, not much is known about the specifications of the earbuds, save for some details that were revealed on its leaked packaging back in February. As a quick recap, the leak alleged that the WF-1000XM4 features active noise cancelling (ANC) capabilities and up to six hours of battery life (24 hours via charging case). Interestingly, the bottom of the device’s charging case shows a 5V/140mA charging output rating which suggests a slightly faster charging rate.

Sony has yet to officialise the WF-1000XM4 earbuds and announce its release date. However, according to The Walkman Blog’s findings, the device’s supposed listing on FCC suggests that the brand might launch its new earbuds sometime in June.