"Due to the manufacturer ending production, the following products will not be restocked."
Sony has reportedly told a Japanese retailer that it is discontinuing a number of older PlayStation 4 models, including the PS4 Pro 1TB Glacier White and the PS4 2TB Jet Black.
As reported by Cheesemeister on Twitter (thanks, VGC), retailers in Japan have notified consumers that it is unable to restock the PS4 500GB Glacier White, PS4 1TB Jet Black, PS4 1TB Glacier White, PS4 2TB Jet Black, and PS4 Pro 1TB Glacier White "due to the manufacturer ending production".
As yet there's been no formal confirmation by Sony, but it coincides with a recent message on PlayStation.com that said it had "no plans to restock [PS4 Pros] in future". That statement, however, was subsequently removed.
?Dear customers: due to the manufacturer ending production, the following products will not be restocked.?
?PS4 500GB Glacier White
?PS4 1TB Jet Black
?PS4 1TB Glacier White
?PS4 2TB Jet Black
?PS4 Pro 1TB Glacier White pic.twitter.com/nub3lxcJGX
In the days leading up to Christmas, Argos updated their PS5 store page with a straightforward message that reads: "Sorry, PlayStation 5 is currently unavailable. We will not have any further stock for the rest of 2020". It was a similar story over at Smyths Toys and Asda, too.
The hunt for PS5 stock - from pre-orders to launch day - has been an almighty nightmare for most. Retailer websites have crumbled under the demand or seen their allocations vanish in a matter of seconds by bots or scalpers. Some have even had consoles stolen, deliveries go missing, or had their console replaced with bricks. It doesn't look like demand is slowing either, so expect these difficulties to stick around for some time yet.
To give yourself a better chance at nabbing a new console, though, give Jelly Deals a follow on Twitter.
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
These Sony headphones are lightweight for your comfort.
Turns out there's an alternative to getting into fights with your neighbors or roommates: simply tune them out.
If you were hoping to unwrap a pair of quality headphones to do the job this holiday season and came up empty, all is not lost. This two-pack of Sony headphones will leave you feeling blissful, and they're on sale at an incredible price. We're talking under $15 a pair.
These Sony MDR-ZX110AP model headphones may be refurbished, but don't let that stop you. They've been certified by the professionals to be just-like-new so that you can enjoy all their top-notch features at a discount. To start, the cushioned ear pads cover and cushion the entire ear, while the self-adjusting headband moves to make sure you get the most comfortable fit possible. You can spend hours listening without feeling them dig into your head or ears. And since they're wired, you don't have to worry about charging them or running out of power when you need to be distracted by sound the most.
Even though these headphones are super lightweight, they deliver a punched-up bass response to even complicated house music sounds or your favorite rap tracks. You may even feel like you're seeing your favorite artist live for a second, which is a feeling we could all use after 2020. They work by reflecting acoustics back towards your ears, so you can pick up on even the subtlest sounds. That comfort ear cushion we were talking about earlier? It also doubles as a complete ear sound seal that keeps out external noise and distractions.
Normally, this refurbished two-pack goes for $61. But for a limited time, you can score 51% off, dropping the price to just $29.92 for two. Pick one up for yourself and gift a pair to a friend with an extra-loud neighbor.
TOKYO -- Bandai Namco is leveraging Mobile Suit Gundam and other intellectual property to boost company value.
Since Bandai's 2005 merger with Namco, the company's market capitalization has topped that of America's toymakers, Hasbro and Mattel. It is now reviewing its vertical organization and moving away from reliance on external intellectual property, with the goal of becoming more like Sony, which uses its intangible assets to earn through subscription-based services.
"Gundam sales are not far from 100 billion yen ($966.8 million)," said Yusuke Fukuda, president of Bandai Spirits, a subsidiary of Bandai Namco that makes plastic Gundam models.
Gundam plastic models were first released in 1980 as Gunpla, but it now offers a wide range of games and videos. In fiscal 2019 ended March 2020, Gundam-related sales hit 78.1 billion yen, or 10% of consolidated revenue.
Foreign audiences are the next target. Bandai Namco's overseas sales ratio is 30%. Though comparisons are tricky, it is lower than either Hasbro or Mattel and their 40% ratios. Bandai Namco needs to grow Gundam sales to reach its target of 50%.
To consolidate all rights related to the Gundam franchise, Sotsu -- which holds the rights to commercialize Gundam -- was made a wholly owned subsidiary in spring 2020 for 35 billion yen. From 2021, a live-action movie is planned for a Hollywood release while a life-size Gundam will be unveiled in Shanghai. In addition, production capacity at Bandai's Gunpla factory in Shizuoka Prefecture has been boosted by 40%.
The company is also working to make better use of data. In spring 2021, the toy and game divisions will merge. Furthermore, video, music and intellectual property operations will all come together. The company will then consist of two main divisions: one to manage intellectual property and video copyrights, and the other to make toys and other products. Staff still maintain the spirit of traditional toymakers, but issues arose in the game division when workers could not obtain customer data, resulting in missed sales for Gundam.
Digital content is also becoming more important during the coronavirus pandemic. "The current organization, which is a collection of small and midsize companies, is not adequate," said a company executive.
"We're aiming to be like Sony," said Bandai Namco President Mitsuaki Taguchi. Sony's intangible assets total 1.6 trillion yen -- 20% of consolidated assets, excluding financials. By improving content distribution for its PlayStation game console and other measures, Sony is now leaning on subscription-based services as a major revenue stream.
Bandai Namco has shipped 700 million Gundam models and introduced electronic payments in December to start analyzing customer data collected from its e-commerce site and other sources. The goal is to go beyond selling toys to create a system that uses data to boost sales of games, videos and other products. It will then expand the system to other intellectual property, such as media franchise "Dragon Ball," which has a mobile game that is performing well.
Bandai Namco is going global with its Tamashii Nations brand of figures aimed mainly at adults. (Photo courtesy of Bandai Spirits)
The key remains the company's intangible assets. Bandai Namco makes and sells character goods, but its own intellectual property -- such as Gundam -- is limited. The company mostly relies on the intellectual property of other companies. As of the end of March 2019, the company's consolidated intangible assets totaled 11.8 billion yen, or only about 2% of total assets. That number doubled at the end of March 2020 with the acquisition of Sotsu. Now, Bandai needs to use its own intellectual property to increase its subscriber-based business.
The company's operating profit for the April-September period was 45.9 billion yen, down 4% year on year. This comprises 90% of the company's 50 billion yen forecast for the full fiscal year, which is down 37% from fiscal 2019. According to the Nikkei QUICK consensus, the average forecast of analysts for full-year operating profit is expected to reach 79 billion yen as more people buy products to stay amused at home.
Bandai had nearly 200 billion yen in cash at the end of September. It will have to use some of that to acquire more content to strengthen its subscription model. "Bandai Namco needs to increase its intellectual property over the medium- to long-term," said Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Securities.
Taguchi announced that Bandai Namco would launch about 40 new intellectual properties from 2021. This fall, the company acquired a Canadian game development business to accelerate that process.
After a few months’ delay, Sony’s next-gen gaming console, PlayStation 5 will go on sale in India on February 2, 2021. There are two editions of the PlayStation 5 coming this time around. The digital-only version will cost Rs 39,990 whereas the regular edition will go on sale for Rs 49,990.
When and where to pre-order?
The pre-orders of the PS5 will begin on January 12 in India at 12 PM. Sony confirmed that interested buyers can pre-order on Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital, Games The Shop, Shop at Sony Center, Vijay Sales along with other authorised retailers. It is not yet certain how many PS5 units will be shipped in India. Chances are that most of the stores will run out of stock in the first few days.
Specifications
The PS5 is powered by AMD’s Zen 2 CPU and a custom GPU from AMD based on Sony’s RDNA 2 architecture, which provides 10.28 teraflops of power with 36 compute units running at 2.23GHz each. The system memory is 16GB. The new console will support real-time ray tracing for advanced visual effects and will have a solid-state drive (SSD). The storage size is 825GB. In addition, the PS5 will also support 3D audio as well.
PS5 games available
At the time of the launch in India, there will be a number of games available. ‘Demon’s Souls’, ‘Destruction Allstars’ and ‘Marvel Spiderman: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition’ will cost Rs 4,999 each whereas games like ‘Sackboy: A Big Adventure’ and ‘Marvel Spiderman: Miles Morales’ will cost Rs 3,999. The controversial Cyberpunk 2077 is available for Rs 3,499. There are other games available as well. Also, you can play your old PS4 games on the next-gen console as well.
Accessories
If you want to get an extra wireless DualSense controller with the PS5, it will cost you Rs 5,990 and Rs 2,590 extra for the charging station. If you like to stream games, an HD camera with dual 1080p lenses costs Rs 5190. The dedicated PULSE 3D wireless headset will be available for Rs 8590 whereas the media remote for movies and streaming services for Rs 2590. You can also use PS4 controllers but they will only be compatible with games built for the previous generation console.
A 55-inch television is currently considered medium or even small, which may be surprising if it's been a few years since you bought one. Companies have been offering ever-lower prices for ever larger screens -- we're talking $300 for a perfectly decent budget 55-inch TV -- and as low as half that on sale. And at the high end of this market, just about every nice TV series has a 55-inch size, and it's often the smallest in the line.
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TL; DR: The 55-inch size offers more choice than any other. As such there are a lot of quality options. Let me help you decide by listing my favorites.
The list below represents the best TVs I've reviewed in CNET's test lab (for 2020, that's my basement), where I compare the pros and cons side-by-side to see which are most worth buying. Here are my latest recommendations for the best 55-inch TVs, periodically updated. Keep these points in mind as you look over my choices:
No TV I've ever tested offers this much picture quality for this little cash. The 2020 TCL 6-Series has even better image quality than its predecessor, thanks to mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming that helps it run circles around just about any other TV at this price. It's also a solid choice for gamers with a new THX mode that combines low input lag and high contrast. As if that's not enough, the Roku TV operating system is our hands-down favorite. Read our TCL 6-Series (2020 Roku TV) review.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
What's that you say? You just want the best TV, money no object? Here you go. In my side-by-side tests, the 2020 LG CX is the best TV I've ever reviewed, with world-beating contrast, perfect off-angle viewing and excellent uniformity. If you can afford it, this is the 55-inch TV to get. Read our LG OLEDCX series review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Aside from the TCL 6-Series above, this is the runner-up for best TV for the money. The TCL has a better picture and better smart HDTV system so it's a superior TV overall, but it's also a couple hundred dollars more expensive. If you can't afford the 6-Series, this Vizio is a very good runner-up. Read our Vizio M7-Series Quantum (2020) review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
With overall image quality on par with the TCL 6-Series above and a price that's not that much more expensive, the X900H's suite of connections is actually better than the TCL. It's the most affordable TV with full 4K/120Hz HDMI input capability. Read our Sony XBR-X900H series review.
David Katzmaier/CNET
Samsung is the TV brand that sells more TVs than anyone, and our favorite Samsung for the year is the Q80T series. Its sleek design stands out compared to the other TVs on this list -- although the ultrathin LG CX OLED is even sleeker -- and it also offers excellent image quality, next-gen gaming connectivity and a great smart TV system. The TVs above are superior values but if you want a Samsung anyway, this is a great choice for gaming or watching TV shows, movies, YouTube TV and more. Read our Samsung Q80T series (2020) review.
Other stuff to know
I'm sure you'd be happy with any one of the TVs above, but a new 55-inch TV set can be a big investment, so maybe you're looking for a bit more information. Here's a quick and dirty list.
In my opinion, bigger is better. Big TVs are cheaper than ever, and your money is best spent on large screen sizes rather than a slight upgrade in image quality or resolution.
If you don't like the way the built-in smart TV system interacts with your streaming apps, you can always add a media streamer. After all, there are more streaming services with more amazing content than ever before (have you watched The Mandalorian yet?!) Streamers are cheap and easy to use, and they receive updates more frequently than most smart TVs. See our picks of the best media streamers.
Most built-in speakers sound terrible, so it's worthwhile to pair your new set with a soundbar or other speaker system. Good ones start at around $100. See the best soundbars.
Got all that? Great! Now grab your remote control and settle in for some high-end TV viewing.
I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.
Want to really listen to your record collection or just have better-quality sound from your music streaming account? True audiophiles will find that full-size around-ear or over-ear headphones are superior to the ubiquitous earbud. They're better at filtering out background noise, have superior audio quality (and better bass) and surround your ear canal with soft and squishy cups. In the past, a list of best over-ear headphones would have included many wired models, but consumers these days tend to prefer active noise-canceling technology to drown out ambient sound.
So, with apologies to audio purists (but not really, because these all offer great sound quality and a top-notch listening experience without tethering you by an audio cable), here's a look at our current top picks for best over ear headphones. We considered factors like battery life, noise isolation, and the comfort of the ear cup (as well as audio quality, of course). We included some affordable headphones and more expensive options, so you'll find a good earphone regardless of your budget. We'll update this list regularly as we review new products.
David Carnoy/CNET
Sony's earlier WH-1000XM3 model was great. But if it had a weakness, that was voice calling, particularly in noisier environments. The WH-1000XM4 model has improved in that area and also adds multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can connect to two devices -- such as your phone and PC -- at the same time. That means that if a call comes in while you're using the headphones with your computer, the audio will switch to your phone when you answer the call.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 probably still have a slight edge for voice calls, but the 1000XM4 headphones are arguably a tad more comfortable and also have some other slight improvements to noise cancellation and sound that make this model a great all-around choice. Even better: This model has been selling for $278 during holiday sales, down from its list price of $350. Read our Sony WH-1000XM4 review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Bose's Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, the long-awaited successor to its QuietComfort 35 II models, may not be a quantum leap forward, but they offer slightly better sound, call and noise cancellation quality for an optimal listening experience. Alas, these Bose headphones cost $400, but they're a strong all-around audio performer with up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge. That's a lot of battery life! Read our Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
V-Moda's M-200 is a wired-only headphone and one of the few wired over-ear headphones on this list. Released in late 2019, these clean and detailed sounding over-ear headphones have great sound and excellent bass response, and the cushy ear cups mean they're also comfortable to wear. Featuring 50mm drivers with neodymium magnets, CCAW voice coils and fine-tuning by Roland engineers -- V-Moda is now owned by Roland -- the M‑200 is Hi‑Res Audio-certified by the Japan Audio Society. Other V-Moda earphones tend to push the bass a little, but this has the more neutral sound profile that you'd expect from a studio monitor headphone. These studio-quality headphones come with two cords, one of which has a built-in microphone for making calls. It would be helpful if V-Moda offered Lightning or USB-C headphone cables for smartphone users.
Sarah Tew/CNET
When it comes to premium noise-canceling headphones, Bose and Sony have been the dominant sound players over the last few years. But now Sennheiser has turned up with its new Momentum 3 Wireless and it deserves some attention, particularly from folks who are fans of the Momentum line. It's available to buy now for $299 -- even less than Bose's Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
Not only does it feature enhanced audio quality with improved noise-canceling features (goodbye, external noise) and excellent sound and audio for listening to music, but it also performs well as a headset for making calls on your iPhone or Android. While its noise cancellation and comfort level doesn't quite measure up to the noise cancellation and comfort of Sony WH-1000XM3's, it has well padded ear cups covered with sheep leather and I had no trouble rocking it for a two-hour music listening session, to say nothing of the battery life. Read our Sennheiser Momentum 3 first take.
Sarah Tew/CNET
While its noise canceling and comfort aren't quite on par with competing models from Bose and Sony, JBL's Live 650BTNC measures up well in terms of sound -- the best over ear headphones if you don't want to spend more than a few hundred dollars. The listening experience is still very good, the ear pads are comfortable and very little ambient noise leaks through. These over-ear headphones are worth considering if you don't want to spend $300 or more on noise-canceling headphones. We like the sound of that. Read our JBL Live 650BTNC review.
David Carnoy/CNET
I liked Bowers & Wilkins' original PX noise-canceling over-ear headphones, but they were slightly lacking in the comfort and noise-canceling departments. The company's new PX7, released in the fall of 2019, improves on both fronts, with excellent sound, four noise-canceling settings (Automatic, Low, High and Off) and a well padded ear cushion in a sturdy, eye-catching design. There's also an adjustable ambient "transparency" mode that allows you to hear the outside world.
The headphones are a tad heavy at 10.7 ounces (304 grams), but the build quality is top-notch -- and it better be, considering these are a little pricey at $400. Bowers & Wilkins also makes a more compact on-ear model, the PX5, which costs $100 less and is also quite good. But this model does sound a little better.
The sound is rich and detailed with deep bass that remains well defined even at high volumes. This is a pretty dynamic headphone, with a touch of extra energy in the mid-highs. It's not laid-back like the earlier PX5 Wireless and its most direct competitor is probably the Sennheiser Momentum 3 above. That Sennheiser is arguably superior for making calls, but this B&W probably wins on design.
These Bluetooth headphones support AAC and aptX, use Bluetooth 5.0, charge via USB-C and have up to 30 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels. Its noise canceling isn't quite at the level of the Bose or Sony, but it's not far off -- as I said, it's improved from the original PX's noise canceling.
Sarah Tew/CNET
When Jabra first announced its new Elite 85h ($300, £280) over-ear headphones, it touted how it would be equipped with always-on (hands-free) voice assistant control using Amazon'sAlexa or Google Assistant. Alas, that feature didn't make it into the final product -- apparently it affected battery life too much, and battery life is critical -- but the Elite 85h is nevertheless an excellent noise-canceling headphone that makes music and other audio sound good. It's comfortable to wear and also works well as a headset for making calls -- important for over-ear headphones. Read our Jabra Elite 85h review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Introduced way back in 1991, the Sony MDR-7506 has long been a favorite headphone of recording engineers and other sound professionals (yes, this is a wired headphone). The origins of its design date even further back, since the MDR-7506 is, in fact, a refresh of the Sony MDR-V6 that rolled out in 1985. Both models were designed for the pro sound market, but remain hugely popular with consumers.
While the two headphones have the same design and are very comfortable, they don't sound identical. Both offer very well-balanced sound and excellent clarity for their modest prices -- and both are great overall values. But the V6 makes a little more bass and sounds more laid-back and mellow, while the 7506 is leaner with a more accentuated treble range, which makes it a little crisper and livelier. Read our Sony MDR 7506 review.
Sarah Tew
Another audiophile favorite, Grado's Prestige Series SR325e has been around for a while -- we reviewed these over-ear headphones back in 2014. It's an open-back wired model, which means it leaks sound (don't use it in an open-office environment), but it delivers some of the most open, detailed sound you'll find at this price.
Grado, which is based in Brooklyn, New York, and builds most of its products there, has not changed the iconic exterior design of the headphones and like its SR325 predecessors (the previous model was the SR325i), his model has the same firm, bowl-shaped foam pads that apply a little more pressure to the outer edges of your ears than the more simple foam pads of the step-down SR80e, which are arguably more comfortable. The SR80e headphones are significantly lighter, but not of the same build quality as the SR325e model. Some people like Grado's earpads (they're user-replaceable), but overall we'd say this model's comfort level isn't up to the level of its sound quality: Comfort is good but not great. Read our Grado Prestige Series SR325e review.
Amazon
Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay H9 doesn't get mentioned much in the discussion of top noise-canceling headphones because at $500, it's a really pricey pair of headphones. The latest third-generation version has been upgraded in a few significant ways that make it better than the earlier H9i. Battery life for this version has improved over the previous version to 25 hours, there's now a dedicated button for your voice assistant, the padding on the ear cushions and headband is cushier and the touch controls have been tweaked. The sound is still good.
Some people, particularly weightlifters, like to work out in full-size headphones, and the BackBeat Fit 6100 over-the-ear wireless headphones are a very solid choice for both the gym and everyday use. The adjustable sport-fit headband has an IPX5-rated water-resistant and sweat-proof design, 40mm angled drivers and noise-isolating ear cups with an "Awareness" mode. Battery life is rated at 24 hours. They sound quite good and really stay on your head securely -- you can adjust the tension in the headband, which is innovative and ideal for exercise headphones.
They're a little expensive at their list price of $180, but sometimes the price dips closer to $100. They're available in black, camo and gray.
