A look at gadget happenings, as Sony reveals new Cybershot cameras, Megaupload data could be deleted by Thursday and the EU approves of Sony’s buyout of Sony Ericsson.
Sony reveals new Cybershot cameras
Sony has unveiled two new compact cameras, the Cybershot WX50 and the Cybershot WX70, which both feature 16.2-megapixel Exmore R CMOS sensors with Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens.
Both cameras offer similar specs, though the WX50 has a 2.7-inch, 460k-dot resolution LCD screen and weighs 117g, while the WX70 has a 3-inch, 921k-dot resolution LCD screen and weighs 114g.
The cameras include Extra High Sensitivity technology, which boosts the cameras’ sensitivity to ISO 128000. Sony has said noise levels have been reduced to a sixth of previous Cybershot cameras, aiming to offer sharper, low-light shots.
They both include image stabilisation technology to stop camera shake when shooting Full HD movies and when taking shots at high-zoom levels.
Both the Sony Cybershot WX50 and the Sony Cybershot WX70 will be released in Europe from mid-March.
User data on Megaupload could be deleted by Thursday – report
Reports suggest that user data stored on file-sharing site Megaupload could be deleted by Thursday.
According to the Associated Press, a letter filed by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said storage firms Carpathia Hosting and Cogent Communications Group may delete data from the service on Thursday.
Megaupload hires external companies to store the data for a fee, but the US government has frozen its money, preventing it from paying these companies.
The US government has reportedly copied some data from the servers but did not physically take them. Now that it has executed its search warrants it has no right to access this user data.
Seven people involved with Megaupload were charged last week with running an “international organised criminal enterprise” through the site. The US Justice Department claims these individuals are responsible for “massive worldwide online piracy of numerous types of copyrighted works,” generating more than US$175m.
Megaupload’s attorney Ira Rothken said the company is working with prosecutors to try and prevent this data from being erased.
EU approves of Sony’s buyout of Sony Ericsson
The EU has approved of Sony’s plans to acquire its stake in the Sony Ericsson joint venture to take full control of the company, Reuters reports.
The deal was announced in October 2011, as Sony said it would acquire Ericsson’s 50pc share in the mobile phone venture.
It will allow Sony to integrate smartphones into its own consumer technology range. It also gives Sony a broad intellectual property cross-licensing agreement of five patent families relating to wireless handset technology.
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