The XrossMediaBar is something most of you PS3 or PSP owners probably see every day. And chances are, you've grown pretty attached to it. Hey, the XMB didn't win an Emmy for nothing, y'know. Well, don't look now (aww, you looked!) but Sony's just announced that they'll be incorporating the XMB interface into their latest series of Vaio mobile notebooks.

If you put pit laptops running on the Mac OS, Windows Vista, and Linux against hackers, which OS do you think would last the longest? Apparently, it's Linux. In this year's PWN 2 OWN contest, no one was able to hack the laptop running on the Linux OS. Which of the other two went down first? Better read the full article to find out.

It certainly is a bummer to discover that your new laptop is pre-installed with hard disk space-hogging software that you don't need, but having to pay to have unwanted software removed is an even worse news. That's exactly the case with Sony's Fresh Start option for its new Vaio laptops, but it looks like Sony's going to patch things up with disgruntled customers. More on this news in the full article.

Sony has revealed a few significant changes to the VAIO AR60, SZ70, CR30, and TP2 models. Each of the aforementioned units will now be running Intel Core 2 Duo Processors and will also be getting various features including Blu-Ray drives, more RAM, and other upgrades.

For more information on this, head on over to the full article.

In a move reminiscent of Apple's campaign to help fight AIDS, Sony has shown support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by releasing limited-edition pink versions of some of its products.

Proceeds from sales of eligible Sony products will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Here's a list of eligible products as well as how much of their cost will be donated:

• US$ 75 from the sale of each VGN-CR290EAP VAIO CR Series notebook
• US$ 10 from the sale of each NWZ-A816PNK Walkman Video MP3 Player
• US$ 10 from the sale of each DVP-FX810/P Portable DVD Player

Breast Cancer Awareness Month lasts all October. If you're looking to purchase a notebook, a Walkman or a portable DVD player, check out the items listed above. You could end up saving lives.

 

We saw a cool concept of a Sony Vaio in Yankodesign, and we thought we'd share it with you guys out there who'd want a peek at what's in the pipeline as far as holographic technology and laptops are concerned. What you're seeing is a Vaio Zoom which has a screen that goes completely transparent when turned off.

In addition, the touch-screen keys go opaque when not in use, making this one a yummy morsel of eye candy from the inside out. Sure, it's not a design that came from Sony itself but it's pretty cool. If it ever becomes a reality and has a multi-core processor, a gargantuan hard drive, some slick memory and a hefty video card along with a reasonable price, we just might pick it up.

 

Sony and NEC Corporation released, simultaneously but separately, the other day a new line of computers that carry Hybrid HDD. For the uninitiated, these are new kinds of hard disk drives employing large buffer of non-volatile flash memory.

Sony's VAIO Type F was released yesterday while NEC's LaVie C came out the day before that in Japan. Like we said, both carry hybrid HDD that give users the following advantages: speed increase, decrease of power consumption, improved reliability and lifespan, faster boot process, and less noises.

The following features are available for the high-end units of both lines:

• Sony VAIO Type F (FZ71)
• 15.4 inches monitor
• GeForce 8400M GT
• Wi-Fi A/B/G/N
• 200GB of Hybrid HDD (256MB of Flash)
• 1 to 4GB RAM
• Core 2 Duo T7250 at 2GHz (BTO up to 2.8GHz)
• Webcam
• HDMI, Blu-ray drive
  

• NEC LaVie C (LC950/KC)
• Face Pass: face recognition system that lets users log on into the computer once they show up  their face to the computer web camera
• Blu-ray disc drive (read only)
• HDMI output for HD Video
• Hybrid HDD of 160GB with Flash Memory (256MB)

Looks like the game console war isn't the only rough spot in the relationship between Microsoft and Sony. The two giants have recently found themselves in a crossfire regarding the alleged inability of the initial Windows Vista release to support Intel's Turbo Memory technology.

If you're blurry on what Turbo Memory or Robson is, it's often referred to as a "third-stage" memory that boosts computer performance in the areas of start-up and disk-intensive activities. In a manner of saying, it's flash memory designed to add more oomph to your PC.

As a direct effect of their stance, Sony refused to include the optional Turbo Memory feature in their summer range of Sony Vaio laptops, triggering a response of Vista maker Microsoft.

In a statement, the software giant said "Windows Vista supports Intel's Turbo Memory, and Microsoft and Intel have worked together to ensure that Turbo Memory works with Windows Vista technologies that support intelligent NVRAM cache management: SuperFetch, ReadyBoost, and ReadyDrive."

However, the Japanese consumer electronics titan remains firm on its position. David Spaeth, a product specialist from the Vaio wing said that Microsoft's push to get the Vista OS in the market in time caused this problem. "Microsoft sat down and said 'OK, to get Vista into the market, what are the really important parts of the software we need for launch?' They had to cross out or skip some parts of the OS, and one of these things was the support of this third-stage memory," narrates Spaeth.

Ultimately, Sony says that the Japanese mindset in the company's core will prevail. Spaeth said that straightaway consumer satisfaction was the target and in this case, they're willing to bench turbo memory until Service Pack 1 comes along and smoothens things out.

Our previous report on legal actions against Sony involved Target Technology and their claim that Sony's Blu-ray infringes on their patent. While that one was more about the more on the materials in the Blu-ray disc, this new lawsuit, this time from Certicom Corp, claims that Sony Corp's Blu-ray infringed on two US patents on digital content protection.

The suit claims that Sony is using Certicom licensed digital encryption technology (AACS) in Sony Blu-ray HD products. Certicom also claims that a digital transmission patent (Digital Transmission Content Protection or DTCP) was also infringed by Sony as it is being used without a license in wireless and audio devices.

Sony products affected by this suit include: the Playstation 3, various Sony DVD players, VAIO personal computers, and some Sony HDTV models and audio equipment.

The suit was filed in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. Certicom Corp is represented by the Fish & Neave Intellectual Property Group of U.S.-based law firm Ropes & Gray.

With two lawsuits regarding a format that could arguable be Sony's biggest ace, it seems that other people's sentiments that folks are just trying to "cash-in" are starting to gain credence, but that's just one way of looking at it. What do you folks think?

Sony will launch a host of pretty interesting notebooks heading into the summer. The most significant of which is the VAIO FZ19 which carries Intel's new Santa Rosa chipset. Users who are planning to jump to Windows Vista will find this one suitable as it has an X3100 graphics adapter built into its board. It's 15.4 inches across, so you'll have a nice, big screen to work and view on.

Smaller units such as the TX and the TZ series will also be at hand coming into June. They both have 11.1 inch screens for users who prefer a lighter, less powerful and space-saving model. CZ series units are reportedly shipping in July, though the specs are still unrevealed.

Specs for the FZ series are still a mystery, but we did catch a leak of those of the TZ. They are as follows:

• integrated DVD-DL
• 2GB of RAM
• 100GB HD
• WLAN A/B/G
• Fingerprint scanner
• Integrated WebCam

We'll keep you posted as soon as new word comes our way.