When Sony's Not Pushing 3D, They're Bigging Up A Networked Product Catalogue.

Nor did they announce the PSP2. They did however take time to acknowledge the merging of their strongest properties.

Taking the stage towards the end of Sony's conference, SCE's Kaz Hirai teased that Sony's "strategy encompasses driving the development of a variety of new strategic products and services including tablets currently in development as well as smartphones, all the while of course integrating the know-how and the assets that we've accumulated from our PlayStation business."

Tablets? Smartphones? PlayStation? Very interesting. But there's more, "In 2011, you will start to see an implementation of a strategy we've developed and continually refined over the past 18 months. And you will see this strategy executed in the form of great new products and services coming to market that leverage Sony's strongest assets. In addition to launching a line of Sony tablets, we'll be building upon the video, music, game and book offerings on our Qriocity and our PlayStation Network services to deliver a compelling, unique experience for Sony across a wide range of consumer electronic devices."

It seems like Howard Stringer's overall vision of turning Sony products into a super-connected network of devices is on the cusp of fruition. With Kaz Hirai a player in such movements, it's sounding more and more like the PlayStation Network will become the hub to all of Sony's endeavours. We're just worried about Sony weakening the brand. PlayStation launches are special because they come around every 5-6 years. It's going to be interesting to see what extent of the PlayStation brand ends up in other Sony products.

[source joystiq.com]