They actually aren't billing it as an "iPod case," but specifications don't lie.

Sony will be releasing a soft case with integrated earphones that accomodates players up to 105 x 63 x 20mm (H x W x T). The 60GB iPod measures 103.5 x 61.8 x 19.1mm (H x W x T). Coincidence? I hope you're kidding.

An interesting and potentially useful new product from Sony - a USB drive that allows you to use MD media as storage media. The "PIT-IN" drive is similar in size to an MD player and will be available from May in four colours for approximately 15,000 yen. If only it supported USB2.0...

Sony continues their battle with Apple's phenomenally successful iPod with the release of a new portable HDD audio player, the NW-HD5. Got to admire them for not giving up, I suppose. The new player sports a 20GB HDD, up to 40 hours of continuous playback thanks to a removable Li-Ion battery, an LCD screen with a display that can be rotated 90 degrees and an improved user interface. Available for approximately 35,000 yen from 21 April at a store near you.

Sony is gearing up to establish a new company for the production of small-form TFT LCDs, called "ST Mobile Display Corporation." A somewhat interesting move o­n their part, as I believe the production of small, color LCDs in most Sony products was outsourced to Sharp (?).

Finally, I have been able to personally verify that American PSP game software works on a Japanese PSP. I purchased Wipeout Pure today at EB, and it works without any issues whatsoever on my Japanese PSP. We were sort of caught up in this mess a couple months back. From this, we gather American PSPs will also be able to play Japanese software.

My apologies if I scared anyone.

Sony Marketing has announced 2 new PSX models. While the basic specifications of the 250GB DESR-7700 and 160GB DESR-5700 remain unchanged, new functionality allows recorded programs and "x-appli" video content to be converted to MPEG-4 format and copied to Memory Stick for viewing on portable devices such as the PSP. Unfortunately, the encoding process can take up to 5 hours for 1 hour of video. Good one, Sony! Sales begin 15 April.

After centuries on self-imposed isolation, even today almost 150 years after Matthew Perry and the US Navy opened Japan to the West, many Japanese think that they’re unique. Thus, they’re a little surprised to see things like a cell phone from a half Japanese company, Sony Ericsson, at a mobile phone fair.

Are the Premini and the J300i the same thing? Is that possible?

Sony Computer Entertainment has announced the group of 27 companies it has approved to produce UMD Video software for the Playstation Portable (PSP). I can't see how these companies expect to make any money off this myself. Why would anyone pay up to $40 for something they can get on DVD for the half the price?

Here's something we (well, me anyway) didn't see coming - a new Hi-MD Walkman from Sony with a built-in digital camera and support for a new "Hi-MD PHOTO" standard. The "MZ-DH10P" comes with a 1.3 megapixel CMOS digital camera, 1.5" LCD screen and, of course, support for MP3 playback. Shame about the price though.

Turns out that rumor of an MP3 playing Hi-MD Walkman was true! We reported o­n this about two weeks ago, but it's official now.

The "MZ-RH10" supports playback of MP3 files from Hi-MD (a new MiniDisc format with a 1GB capacity), and appears to be liquid awesome.