SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D. C. 20549
FORM
6-K
REPORT OF
FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the
month of August 2009
Commission
File Number: 001-06439
SONY
CORPORATION
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
1-7-1
KONAN, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, 108-0075, JAPAN
(Address
of principal executive offices)
The
registrant files annual reports under cover of Form 20-F.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under
cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F,
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Form
20-F X
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Form
40-F __
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Indicate
by check mark whether
the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in
this Form
is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Yes No
X
If "Yes"
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection
with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-______
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
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SONY
CORPORATION
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(Registrant)
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By: /s/ Nobuyuki
Oneda
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(Signature)
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Nobuyuki
Oneda
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Executive Deputy
President and
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Chief
Financial Officer
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Date:
August 18, 2009
List of
materials
Documents
attached hereto:
i) Press release
entitled New
Slimmer and Lighter PLAYSTATION®3 to
hit Worldwide Market this September
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc.
Corporate Communications
Tel: 03-6438-8686
NEW
SLIMMER AND LIGHTER PLAYSTATION®3
TO
HIT WORLDWIDE MARKET THIS SEPTEMBER
Lower
Price to Further Accelerate Expansion of the PlayStation®3 Platform
Along
with Extensive Software Title Line-up for Upcoming Holiday
Season
Tokyo, August 18, 2009 – Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today unveiled the new PlayStation®3
(CECH-2000A) (body color: charcoal black) computer entertainment system,
featuring an extremely streamlined form factor with a 120GB Hard Disk Drive
(HDD). The new PlayStation®3 (PS3®) system will become available in
stores from September 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and
Asian countries and regions at a very attractive recommended retail price (RRP)
of US$299 and €299, respectively. The system will become available in
Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 29,980 yen (including
tax). With the introduction of the new PS3 system, SCE will also
reduce the price of the current PS3 with 80GB HDD to a RRP of US$299 from August
18 and €299 from August 19. Also in North America, the price of PS3
with 160GB HDD will be reduced to a RRP of US$399 from August 18. By
launching a vast library of exciting and attractive software titles for PS3 this
holiday season and offering customers a line-up of hardware models and pricing
to match their preference, SCE will build on the momentum and further accelerate
the expansion of the PS3 platform.
The
internal design architecture of the new PS3 system, from the main semiconductors
and power supply unit to the cooling mechanism, has been completely redesigned,
achieving a much slimmer and lighter body. Compared to the very first
PS3 model with 60GB HDD, the internal volume as well as its thickness and weight
are trimmed down to approximately two-thirds. Furthermore, power
consumption is also cut to two-thirds, helping to reduce fan
noise. While inheriting the sleek curved body design of the original
model, the form factor of the new PS3 system features a new meticulous design
with textured surface finish, giving an all new impression and a casual
look. With the compact body and casual appearance, the newly
introduced model will appeal to a wider audience who are looking to buy the best
entertainment system for their home.
-more-
2-2-2-2
New Slimmer and Lighter PS3 to Hit Worldwide Market this September
Concurrently
with the release of the new PS3 system, SCE will modify the PS3 brand name from
“PLAYSTATION 3” to “PlayStation 3”, and introduce a new “
” logo, which is engraved on the surface of the new PS3
system. By unifying under the familiar “PlayStation®” name, which
represents the entire PlayStation family, PS3 together with PlayStation®2 and
PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) will further expand the PlayStation business, and
will continue to enhance the entertainment experience along with the
ever-growing PlayStation®Network.
” logo, which is engraved on the surface of the new PS3
system. By unifying under the familiar “PlayStation®” name, which
represents the entire PlayStation family, PS3 together with PlayStation®2 and
PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) will further expand the PlayStation business, and
will continue to enhance the entertainment experience along with the
ever-growing PlayStation®Network.The new
PS3 continues to offer the cutting-edge features and functions of the current
models, such as the ability to enjoy high-definition Blu-ray disc (BD) movies
and games, as well as various content and services downloadable through the
network. The new PS3’s storage size has increased from 80GB to 120GB,
and with the extra capacity users will be able to store more games, music,
photos, videos as well as various content and services available through
PlayStation Network. Having more than 27 million registered accounts
around the world, PlayStation Network offers more than 15,000 pieces of digital
content, ranging from game titles, trailers, and demos to more than 15,000
movies and TV shows via PlayStation Store*1. PlayStation
Network members can also download free applications, such as PlayStation Home, a
ground-breaking 3D social gaming community available on PS3 that allows users to
interact, communicate and share gaming experiences, as well as Life with
PlayStation, which offers users various news and information on a TV monitor in
the living room by connecting the PS3 to the network.
Since the
launch of PS3 in November 2006, the number of BD-based titles has reached more
than 1,000 titles and downloadable PS3 games to 1,400*2 titles
worldwide, with the support from a broad range of third party game developers
and publishers. In addition to this extensive software title line-up,
exciting and attractive new titles are to be released from SCE Worldwide
Studios, including Uncharted
2: Among Thieves, EyePet, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack
in Time, Heavy
Rain, God of War
3, MAG, ModNation Racer, Gran Turismo 5 and
more.
Other
features of the new PS3 include:
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Ø
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PS3
system software update version
3.00
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-more-
3-3-3-3 New Slimmer and Lighter PS3 to Hit Worldwide Market this
September
Concurrently
with the release of new PS3, system software will be upgraded to version 3.00 on
September 1. The update adds various user-friendly features such as
the “What’s New” screen, where users can quickly browse the new items available
in PlayStation Store as well as their recently played games directly on the XMB™
(XrossMediaBar), with short cuts to each piece of content. PS3 will
evolve continuously with the system software updates, further improving the
operability and enhancing the user experience available through the
network. PS3 owners will be able to enjoy new features by simply
updating the PS3 system software to version 3.00 via the “System Update”
function on the XMB*3.
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Ø
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BRAVIA®
Sync™ Feature
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The
new PS3 system is also equipped with the BRAVIA® Sync™ feature. By
connecting the new PS3 system and a BRAVIA TV with the HDMI cable, users are
able to directly operate the XMB on PS3 using the TV remote
control. Other functions include “System Standby” that will
automatically turn off the PS3 system when the BRAVIA TV is turned off*4.
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Ø
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“Vertical
Stand” for new PS3 (CECH-2000
series)
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By
utilizing the separately sold “Vertical Stand”, users will be able to set the
new PS3 in vertical position*5, making
it easier to place the PS3 system anywhere at home. The vertical
stand will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 2,000 yen
(including tax) and in North America at US$24*6.
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Ø
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Removal
of “Install Other OS” feature
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The
new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content,
and users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3
system.
Along with a
vast line-up of attractive and exciting entertainment content with the new PS3
system, SCE will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new
world of computer entertainment.
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*1
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Number
as of end July 2009. Content within PlayStation Store will
differ by region, please refer to the official PlayStation.com site for
further details.
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*2
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Includes
PS one® classics and free of charge content (downloadable
demos).
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*3
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Users
will need to connect their PS3 to the network to use the
function.
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*4
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Users
will need to use BRAVIA TV that supports the BRAVIA Sync
feature. For further information about BRAVIA Sync, please
refer to the official Sony site in each
region.
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*5
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Users
will need to use the separately sold “Vertical Stand” to set the new PS3
in vertical position.
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-more-
4-4-4-4
New Slimmer and Lighter PS3 to Hit Worldwide Market this
September
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*6
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Release
date of the vertical stand for North America will be announced when
available. Release date and price of the vertical stand for
Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions will be announced
when available.
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Product
Outline
PlayStation®3
(CECH-2000A)
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Product
name
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PlayStation®3
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Product
code
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CECH-2000A
(Charcoal Black)
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CPU
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Cell
Broadband Engine™
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GPU
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RSX®
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Audio
output
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LPCM
7.1ch, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD,
AAC.
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Memory
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256MB
XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
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Hard
disk
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2.5”
Serial ATA
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120GB
*1
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Inputs/
Outputs*2
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Hi-Speed
USB
(USB
2.0)
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2
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Networking
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Ethernet
(10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) × 1
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IEEE
802.11 b/g
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Bluetooth® 2.0
(EDR)
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Controller
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Wireless
Controller （Bluetooth®）
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AV
output
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Resolution
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1080p,
1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i (for PAL
576p, 576i)
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HDMI
OUT connector*3
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1
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AV
MULTI OUT connector
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1
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Digital
out (optical) connector
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1
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BD／DVD／CD
drive
(read only)
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Maximum
read rate
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BD ×
2 (BD-ROM)
DVD
× 8 (DVD-ROM)
CD ×
24 (CD-ROM)
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Power
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AC
220 – 240, 50/60Hz*4
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Power
consumption
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Approx.
250W
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External
dimensions
(excluding
maximum projecting part )
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Approx.
290 × 65 × 290 mm (width × height × length)
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Mass
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Approx.
3.2kg
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Included
*5
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PlayStation®3
system × 1
Wireless
Controller (DUALSHOCK®3) × 1
AC
power cord × 1
AV
cable × 1
USB
cable ×
1
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*1
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Hard
disk capacity calculated using base 10 mathematics (1 GB = 1,000,000,000
bytes). System software versions 1.10 and later calculate capacity using
binary mathematics (1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes), which will display lower
capacity and free space. A portion of hard disk capacity is reserved for
system administration, which varies depending upon system software
version, and is not available for
use.
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*2
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Usability
of all connected devices is not
guaranteed.
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*3
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"Deep
Colour" and "x.v.Colour (xvYCC)" defined by HDMI ver.1.3a are
supported.
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*4
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Power
changes depending on countries or
regions.
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*5
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For
certain regions, Euro-AV cable will be
included.
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Note:
This product is not compatible with PlayStation®2
games.
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-more-
5-5-5-5
New Slimmer and Lighter PS3 to Hit Worldwide Market this
September
New
Logo
Vertical
Stand (CECH-ZS1)
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Vertical
Stand
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Product
code
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CECH-ZS1
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Included
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Vertical
Stand （CECH-ZS1） ×
1
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External
dimension
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Approx.
88 mm x 18 mm x 260 mm (width × height × length)
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Mass
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Approx.
115g
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Supports
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CECH-2000
series
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*
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The
“Vertical Stand” is for the new PS3 system (CECH-2000 series) and cannot
be used on the current model.
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About
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized
as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of
consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI)
manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the
PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable)
handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 (PS3®)
system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by
introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances
the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked
entertainment. PSP is an innovative handheld entertainment system
that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and
high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system,
incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like
power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony
Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes
software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in
the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit of the Sony
Group.
# #
#
Dolby is a
trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
DTS is a
trademark of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
HDMI, HDMI
logo and High Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks of HDMI Licensing
LLC.
Blu-ray
Disc is a trademark.
The
Bluetooth word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and
any use of such marks by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is under
license.
PlayStation,
PLAYSTATION, PS3, RSX, DUALSHOCK and GRAN TURISMO are registered trademarks of
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Cell Broadband Engine is a trademark
of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their
respective owners.