So far, the extent of Sony’s 2012 smartphone portfolio for the US extends only to the AT&T-bound Xperia Ion, with no word just yet whether the see-through banded Xperia S will arrive on American shores. What happens if it was called the Xperia Sola? That very name’s showed up at the US Patent and Trademark Office, although that’s largely it. So it could be a phone we’ve already seen, or perhaps one of those many road-mapped pseudonyms. Well, with a certain big mobile event just around the corner, we’re sure to get a few more answers on Sony’s other plans for the New World later this month.

Sony Xperia Sola appears at US Patent Office, forgets to mention its codename originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Listen up, those of you with PlayStation Network IDs. Sony Computer Entertainment International has announced that, as of February 7th, the PSN will fold into its existing Sony Entertainment Network. The company has aimed the move at clearly unifying the services of PSN and SEN, such as Music Unlimited. Fret not, however, as Joystiq notes that the change is basically a looks-only affair, meaning your current account information and related services will remain the same. Notably, the moniker refresh won’t apply to the PSP, which will curiously remain under the PSN moniker for network services. The news comes as a part of SCEI’s updated Terms of Service and privacy policy, both of which take effect on the same day. Those changes, by the way, appear to mainly be regarding location-based services for PS Vita, and parental controls for sub-master accounts. After all of the bad times PSN has been through, its upcoming SEN identity might just be the new outlook on (online) life it needed all along — and hopefully with less downtime. Hit up the source link below for the full details.

PlayStation Network moniker sacked, falls under Sony Entertainment Network umbrella on Feb. 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s new PlayStation Vita hand-held gaming machine has console-worthy graphics, a nice touch screen and dual analog sticks for old-fashioned tactile gameplay. But it’s saddled by a few annoyances typical of Sony hardware.

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Ahead of any possible Ultrabook announcements, Sony’s looking to give its existing VAIO catalogue a (relatively underwhelming) shot in the arm with a bundle of hardware retweaks. The Z series looks to gain the most out of the Spring refresh, with a new off-white Carbon Fiber Silver color option set to be offered up alongside an optional LTE modem. The series also gets a processor step-up, with new Intel Core i5 and i7 options up to 3.5GHz, rounded off with the choice of SSD storage. Including the connectable drive, prices for the series refresh will start from ,950. Meanwhile, both the S (13-inch, 0, 15-inch, 0)and E series will get a similar bump to Core i7 processors, with both the S and aforementioned Z series able to lock into an extended sheet battery accessory. If minor processor improvements, more battery options and LTE connectivity enough to fork over your cash, you can expect the revitalized units to arrive early next month.

Sony VAIO series get minor processor refresh, Z series grabs LTE option on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We can’t say we were overly concerned about busting through the Vita’s 2GB monthly data threshold when the handheld’s 3G variant hits AT&T next month, but the network, it seems, isn’t taking any chances. According to the Vita’s AT&T page, Ma Bell’s making sure you’ll never be blocked from nabbing those download-capped PlayStation Minis by upping the previously announced 2GB for plan to 3GB for . Surprised? Don’t be — this change just brings Sony’s next generation handheld in-line with the network’s updated data plans. The Vita’s budget-friendly for 250MB option is still ripe for the picking, but that won’t get you far if you plan to watch Netflix on the go, will it?

PlayStation Vita gets updated 3G data plan, offers an extra gigabyte for a Lincoln originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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