The NEX-5R has been announced and the NEX-6 is coming next week. Booth have Application support and if you want to see how it works check out that well made site made by Sony: www.playmemoriescameraapps.com. Meantime NEX-5R preorders seem to be very low according to Amazon ranking (Click here). As yous ee there is no 5R within the top 100 while the $100 discount on the NEX-5N is selling well at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto too (Click here).
And here comes the NEX-5R preorder link roundup including a reminder to my new still in very beta phase AlphaCameraDeals.com website:
USA:
Black NEX-5R body links to Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Black NEX-5R with kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Silver NEX-5R with kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
White NEX-5R with kit lens at Adorama, BHphoto.
Europe:
Black NEX-5R with kit lens Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH
Silver NEX-5R with kit lens at Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH
White NEX-5R with kit lens at Sonystore DE–UK–FR–IT–ES–NL–SE–FI–CH
Important personal note: The next months I will create a lot of new features around my parallell AlphaCameraDeals.com website. The idea is to separate Deals news from SonyAlphaRumors. For now I will list all preorder options ont his website (like for the NEX-5R) If you are interested in getting detailed and localized Sony deals info subscribe the RSS feed and join the Facebook page. Thanks!
109 Responses
So… no API, just the apps that Sony sales?
Bleah, nothing interesting then.
Establish the concept and the standard and the infrastructure. If it succeeds, there is every chance they will make the changes to open it up. A devkit would be part of that.
No.
I saw something interesting at the end of the page. It said all you need is wifi OR a USB connection to a computer to enjoy the playmemories app suite. So…this means this functionality could (and should) be implemented via FW update to other NEX’s like the 7/5n? Or maybe I’m just shooting into the dark and Sony is never, ever going to update the NEX-7’s FW…
http://matthewdurrphotography.com
Perhaps I am missing something, Sky_Walker. Where does anything say that there will be no API?
Sky, I agree if that’s the case. But the larger problem I see is that Sony may want to lock you into their walled garden and require you to buy Sony phones, tablets, and online services to keep you tethered to a revenue-sucking umbilical cord. While neither is more than embryonic at this stage, there’s a marked difference between Sony’s and Samsung’s approach, with the latter’s Android-based strategy promising to be easier to integrate into non-Samsung products and services. Sony could defuse this fear by publicly announcing that while they would prefer their customers to buy more Sony stuff on the merits, they’ll demonstrate that they’re open to any other providers by how they have architected their app solution.
TIME LAPSE APP!!!!!! So happy! Just made me like 50x more excited!!
+1
I respectfully disagree. Being able to install only the features I need is great. i don’t require crazy Instagram camera filters. With this system I can leave them out. In a way it’s like custom firmware…features a la carte.
if they come out with an API for custom apps that’s great but so far it seems they’ll have everything I’m asking for.
Agreeing with you Dave. Not only it makes it customizeable, but upgradeable in the future too. Which means that many software-based future feature could possibly be available via an app.
It will also put a chip on the iPhone unique customizability (and provide them on better photo/video capture devices).
Imagine things that could be added in the future:
– Astrophography (multi-stack)
– Video -> Panoramic/360 (aka video painting)
– Advanced multi-shot NR and HDR (supporting customization, including more than 3-6 pictures).
– Multi-shot resolution enhancer
– Picture clean-up with face detection, where you could select a face from another picture similar to what Photo Gallery on Windows supports (great for removing blinks and kids looking elsewhere).
The app model opens up a world of customization…
Finally, I hope to see the app functionality added to Sony’s high-end P&S, camcorders and consumer-based SLR/SLTs in the future, so the whole line has a uniformed UX for added features. The RX100 and HX200 future replacements could highly benefit from this for example. As a SLT user, I would personally love getting this kind of upgrade path for my next DSLR/SLT body, but I know I’m going to make some readers cringe with that idea. 🙂
I would love to be able to download some of these apps on the A99. Time lapse/intervalometer is a big ‘miss’ in my opinion and the astrophotography idea is great.
So what if the traditionalists think it’s a gimmick. Guess what? They just have the choice to ignore it!!!
Yet more cavemen opposed to progress.
Personally, I think this is fabulous and a lot of customers would love it I’m sure.
Yes, fuck the “pro” concerns, these apps will be mega useful for the reasons you guys have mentioned. I’d totally put them in an A99 if given the chance.
As numerous readers have pointed out, the 5R is listed as a DSLR!!!!!!!!!!!! You keep on saying that there aren’t many preorders but that is simply not true. Look it up under the DSLR list.
True, it is sitting at 48th in the DSLR category on Amazon at the moment.
A little low, but it has only been sold for 5 days, while people are waiting for the NEX6 announcement.
Finally people are starting to respond to this fact that I have been trying for a number of days to point out. It was as high as #20 at one point. Admin, please read all posts!
Duhh only very few countries will get apps :-((((((
This is very very disappointing. Add the lack of SDK and it turns into disaster.
I was so excited about app support and just look at the horror page bottom part.
Hehe, an this choice of countries seems to be semi-random. In my country NEXes got over 50% of mirrorless market, yet… there’s no support for Play Memeories Apps. o_O
And without the API these apps are just a little bit stretched (and paid) firmware updates, nothing more.
Just give it time will ya? Have you seen something like this offered by other camera brands? Off the top of my head, Samsung might, but I don’t think it’s as good. API and 3rd party app is inevitable in this day and age, though I think Sony might need a bit of competition to nudge them toward that direction.
I don’t really think they would need much competition, Rolleiflex. There is the profit motive. Apple makes big easy money off of third-party apps, taking 30% of every sale.
Why don’t you ask Sony about APIs. Or wait a little to see what happens. Making pronouncements before a product is in the market is not always a good thing.
That’s what this site about? Roumors, users and Sony cameras!
I am talking about the comments about the upcoming Sony apps store. We don’t quite know if and how Sony will make app development possible for their cameras. We don’t know if the API will come with a development system, or how much it will cost to develop apps, royalty system, etc. It’s still unannounced so any guesses at this point are just that. Might as well wait for actual info from Sony in this regard. You can speculate, I suppose, but as there is very little information on how this whole thing is supposed to work, this may be one of those instances in which patience may be a virtue.
erm… it actually is on a market already. You can buy it any time using one of the links provided*. We’ll see how it goes, though I prefer to complain now and let someone from Sony see that customers ain’t really happy, then later on end up with only camera on a market where people need to pay for every single firmware update.
* delivery time may vary
It’s not ready for delivery until mid October (in the U.S.). Other countries may get it before then, but at this time, according to reviewers, the firmware is still not finalized and thus there are no reviews of the camera (just previews and image samples). I don’t see a problem with an apps based system that is somewhat proprietary, as long as Sony has a way for developers to write apps readily. The details are not yet available. It does not really matter if this was an Android device – you still have to have an API that works specifically with the hardware device. So in that regard, there is really no difference between Samsung’s approach or Sony’s (or Nikon’s). What the API is able to provide access to, how easily the programming interface is, the availability of such API will determine if third party apps become availabe for the new Sony cameras (and for the other new cameras that run Android).
Other countries will be added for app support as time does on.
And I have to believe there will be API support.
I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to get the installers in other ways, even if your country isn’t supported. It’s a globalized world after all!
A wonderful thing could be, with the need of a new nex 7 firmware, to give the possibility to download Playmemories application via USB, for nex-7 users
Just a dream !!!!
PLEASE SONY !!!
that’s what i thought exactly. As we had invested our money for the most expensive NEX system..we should get this kinda feature as well..I HOPE SONY WILL HEAR US..
They’ve already thought of that and have it. Scroll to the very bottom of the page, and you’ll see that there are two ways to get the apps, via wifi or via USB. That was the most important part of the webpage for me (I’m also a Nex-7 owner).
So, yes, the Nex-7 will get the apps There’s really no reason to add USB connectivity if it wasn’t for the previous models, so it seems that we will get a firmware update with the new cameras.
I think you assume too much right there. However, it would be great if you are right.
I think SONY will allow the older NEX cameras to make use of this playmemories apps. However, it might take a while since they would want this new cameras to sell first before they make an update on the firmware for older NEXs. If this apps will be a paid app, then they might release a firmware update sooner. But who knows, maybe Sony will hear our cravings.
I’ve just checked it and it’s true. Thanks for that, John. I think it is possible for NEX 7 to use this apps then. Good for us. This would be great!
There are many good reasons for that – wifi eats energy, not everyone has a wifi at home, not every wifi is secured, there may be various issues with the wireless connection – firewalls etc etc.
(There is a different HW in previous models, I wouldn’t be that sure about expecting such a big change in the firmware. These updates usually only covers the most painful issues… )
Well apps are only good if there are some realy interesting and
usefull apps to install. So time will tell what apps are made
available.
I wonder if these apps also can add features to the interface when
shooting regularly. Like DOF, focus distance etc.
Are those apps free? I see several reasons why Sony would offer some features as a separate app instead of adding it out-of-the-box:
– earn some money if the apps aren’t free
– keep the camera simple for those that don’t need the features
– release the camera quickly without having to wait for all the features to get developed
I am not sure what is the real reason.
The real reason is that it makes your camera a still more powerful personal tool, and so has proven to be immensely popular on the iPhone, for example–leading to greatly increased sales.
The woman on the pic has huuuuge thumbs (up) 🙂
“Shop for apps right on your camera”
give me free apps or give me android os. if i ever buy nex camera i won’t pay sony for any apps to make the camera functional and fun to use. all apps should be ‘free’/included in camera price.
or sure, like all of the apps on an iPhone!
Ummmm… According to the web site, you can now PURCHASE apps for things like sports mode and selective color? What the??? This stuff used to be included. Is the base price going down?
Just gimmicks! nothing really useful there.
More Sony gadgetry for the consumer crowd.
Why are you so negative? About everything?
Why don’t you just not comment if you don’t like something?
Tool.
Hi Dave,
Sorry if I commented when I wasn’t allowed. If all we write is pro comments then this would be a boring closed forum. Also, I generally have praise for Sony and I love my Alpha gear. So much so that it became annoying to some in the past. Heck, my home includes a Sony Blu-Rey and the Sony higher end LED TV. Still, I’m not a lock-step die-hard so perhaps I need a time out.
Can you just try and be more constructive? I just don’t see the point of comments like that one. It just annoys people.
I’m no fanboy by any means and there are things about Sony I hate but suggesting alternatives to things you don’t like would be much better don’t you think?
For the record, I hate the record button on the A77 and I wish they would make it customisable.
Apologies if you took my comments to heart.
This is not a gimmick; it is a major breakthrough. It enables:
1. Downloading apps for your camera, from the Sony app store, probably some free, some for a fee, probably some made by Sony itself, some by third-party vendors. For all of the nay-saying I am hearing on this, I believe this will not only prove to be extremely popular, but also extremely powerful, as the number of apps grows exponentially. It will allow us to make our cameras OURS. No gimmick here.
2. Uploading photos. Tapping into the mainstream of popular photographic activity. But this feature will also be extremely important for pro photojournalists or sports shooters, who shoot in jpeg and send their images off to their employers asap. And it will be very important for travel photogrpahy, allowing a photographer constantly to upload the contents of his flash card to the cloud or client or to a dedicated hard drive in his home. No gimmick here.
3. Extremely flexible remote operation of the camera, bypassing physical tethering. How many people have I heard crying out for tethering? Here it is! No gimmick here!
Exactly man, I’d love for the more PRO cameras (like the new A99) to have this feature as well!
@Dulaney,
I agree. Moreover, there are a number of apps I use on my iPhone to assist in planning a shoot. I’d love to have those on my camera so I don’t have to bounce back and forth between the two. For example, I use Helios to anticipate the location of the sun (and shadows) before I shoot as well as use it throughout the day if I’m shooting in unfamiliar locations. I’d love to have that integrated into the camera so it’s right in front of me. Magic hour goes quick, and if I’m not on top of my game, I’ll miss the shot I was planning.
Also, I’d love to be able to use one camera as a remote control for another camera or two with minimal equipment. I could imagine a small third-party wireless add-on to control each additional camera.
With the sort of flexibility apps could bring to the table, the list goes on and on. So, like you, I think this is a very big deal, too.
Can’t play the video on my iPad!
So you have a 5R that you tested this with on the ipad?
I think he was referring to the video in the play memories site.
That’s correct keyboard, thanks,
Haha. Keyboard=kebo
Stupid iPad lol
If NEX5R is to be £669 pre-order, where does that leave the NEX6??
Perhaps they’ll raise the price of the Nex7 to create a niche for the Nex6…
So if I live in another country than the ones listed, I cannot install/use the apps? That would certainly suck big time. Not that I would change my NEX-5n with a 5r now (because of the price difference). I hope they will extend the list of countries supported until my future NEX will have apps support 🙂
So Austria is not included?! Interesting.
No problem. Drive to Germany, download the app, and drive back. 😉
Reiterating what Mark pointed out. The reason you’re not seeing the Amazon pre-sales is because you are looking in Compact System Cameras where Amazon lists the 5N. But Amazon lists the 5R in Digital SLR Cameras.
I’m hoping there will be a webcam app.
The ability to have a live webshow and skype video chats with quality glass would be awesome!
apps are rumored to be around 5$..
do not expect any thing free from sony
this would be a hot seller if it had a live stream app. It would make the market go crazy.
So these apps are only features that Sony leaves out of the standard firmware – to sell them for an extra charge. Sucks.
Balderdash! Sony introduces a breakthrough feature, and you react like that!
Exactly. I heard/read a lot of the same when the iPhone was introduced and look what we have now!
Would it be safe to expect WiFi support on the new NEX VG30?
Wait..quick question…the color filters (toy camera, high key, etc) that were made available on NEX-3/5 via firmware update and NEX-C3/5N/F3 now need to be bought from the Sony? What was free, now is being charged?
More to come. Soon available at the app store:
– Autofocus app – $25
– SD card formatting app – $10
– Image playback app – $15
– Zoom addon for image playback app – 1x zoom for $10 or 2x zoom for $20
I see, its Sony’s new business model…
So if I want tethering on an a99 it will cost me and extra $119.95 and get it as a download.
There’s actually a nice analogy with phone tethering.
Tethering (in this case, tethering means making available the phone’s data connection via USB, WiFi, or bluetooth to other devices) was a standard feature of phones for years. Then came the iPhone, and suddenly you had to pay for that feature.
Not sure I’d call that analogy nice…a bad trend, really…
LOL…and following the Android model, Samsung’s app prices will be 10% of Sony’s for the same functionality. 🙂
Next camera from Sony will have all the hardware and no software. You can turn the camera off and on, but that’s it. Want more? Buy it at our app store!
Sony seems to be going the DLC route now common with computergames. Leaving features out that should have been included on the initial release for us to to buy.
So where’s the rootkit app ?
Low blow!
I love that Cinematic Photo feature! For years I’ve dreamed of doing just that – now Sony has made it easy!!
But GIF’s are supposed to be HARD TO MAKE! Damn you Sony for making our life easier! (/S)
How can it be selling well, that’s what the market needs
Rooru makes a good point. From what we see thus far, what was once functions and features of the camera in earlier versions are apparently going to be stripped out and be an additional expense. I’m not familiar with what other brands are doing, but I always got the impression that newer models increased in function and features. If your wondering, I’m an original Nex 5 user, and yes Sony did give me a firmware update that added a lot of cool stuff, so I know I owe them one, but I’d like to not pay for the same features on a Nex 6, but the website certainly gives the impression I’ll have to pay. Oh well.
Daniel
Wait… are these APPS free or pay to play?
Can I git an a99 without video? Then just pay for it when I want?
If Sony doesn’t offer an open SDK there is really no point in offering Apps at all. They could simply offer firmware updates.
People, don’t jump to conclusions and get upset about it. It’s extremely unlikely current features will be stripped out and charged for as additional apps.
Exactly! Nor will every app that Sony offers be sold for a fee. (I believe.)
It’s amazing how many people are already pinging Sony for putting an app store before they even know what apps will be available, how much it will cost, how third party development will work, etc. I guess it would be better had Sony not provided this type of expandability at all?
And from a manufacturer standpoint, why would you even come up with a camera that is feature deprived and only have those features available via a paid app? It seems improbable that that is the model Sony will be following, but you never know. Already, however, there are assumptions made in this board that people seem to think will be the reality.
Oh, looking at the basic 5R features (without the additional apps), it is at least as capable as the 5N if not more so.
Of course, Almazar, when Sony began putting lts many electronic features on its Alpha cameras, many cried out: “I don’t want such features! Offer them to us for a small fee, and I’ll buy them if I want them!”
game changer
I don’t want to watch it: ridiculous!
To add wifi via hot shoe or maybe via the usb port, does anyone know if this is possible?
Is there any reason you need either one?
Might be nice to have this option for older NEXs like for using smart remote, or when geo tagging will be possible. Just a thought but not really a necessity. =)
Instead of “thinking” maybe you should use Google.
i would if you can prove that i can use google to enable me to use the smart remote app for my nex7.
I think that adding apps will be a great feature and should not be underestimated. I am sure that Apple never expected the number of apps that the iPhone and the iPad now have. And these apps aren’t something that the “professional” photographer should turn his nose up at. For instance a current iPad app, like Tides, and Sunrise & Fall could be beneficial to landscape photographers.
And I wouldn’t mind paying a reasonable amount for the app. If that is another way for Sony to make more profit, I think that is a positive thing that could support more R&D and make them more competitive with the big two.
This could also be a way to keep the cost of a camera down. Instead of having all of these features that everyone claims that they hate, Sony could have no extra features and Sony could then offer 10 free apps of the photographer’s choice. If you are a purist, and didn’t want to add any apps, you could get your camera at cheaper price.
I Hope that there will be a Firmware Upgrade for the 7 and the 5n which Allows us to use the Apps. Otherwise i could simple sell my 7 and leave the e-Mount….
Out of anger that a new feature comes around in newer cameras? When you buy a prodcut in a fast-moving field such as photography, you cannot ex[ect your product to be forever fresh and young.
Who wants a NEX-7? lol Better throw it into the trash bin.
throw in the trash bin? i bet you’ll be the first to get it from trash. lol
A big question… will it available for download on the NEX7… sounds too good to be true.
Is there any hint that apps could extend or modify the existing user interface. Eg, alllow remapping of buttons/dials. Or for instance, add bracketing options to the ‘normal’ drive mode menu? (it seems a shame to have to load a special app from a special part of the menu system just because I fancy shooting a quick bracketed set)
In general, I would say not. That would require a firmware release, unless Sony will let you replace the ROM/kernel in the phone. If you had a touchscreen interface, it would be feasible to do this because you’re mostly affecting just the presentation layer.
I’m still scratching my head over why Sony didn’t go the Android route for this, since it would have been good for consumers, developers, and ultimately themselves (they’d have a million ready-made experienced developers out there and a ready-made venue for distribution of their apps, and ultimately draw in more consumers and sell more product). And they’d have had ready-made partnerships with DropBox, Picasa/Google, Flickr, Evernote, Box, and the list goes on and on and on.
As I mentioned elsewhere, the only logical explanation I can think of is that they *don’t* want the kind of platform that would preclude them from requiring that consumers buy only other Sony products. I hope I’m wrong about that…
I need only one app in my camera: “Execute my shooting script (e.g. for bracketing, HDR etc).” I can do the rest on the computer much better. I don’t object to a full-fledged app zoo, but this single app would be of great interest to me.
Every app-based camera with an idiosyncratic app system will fail eventually. Either Android, or failure. No camera manufacturer has Apple’s superiority to keep customers in their walled garden.
I agree to some extent. Not total failure, but not success either!
“PlayMemories Camera Apps will be available in the following countries and regions.
Be sure to check back as more locations may be added periodically”
………….hmmmm………if the country check is done like on the PS3 based on information provided by the user or based on IP location, i can live with that because there are always proxies and I can always lie that I live in one of the covered countries, but if cameras have specific FW codes for each country/region …. then Sony just shot themselves in the leg in not covered countries.
somehow i get the feeling that you can only shoot in JPEG if you’re gonna use any of those app effects (hdr, shutter speed stuff etc.).
Of course. Raw is supposed to be like that, you know, RAW. So the Pro’s can tinker it to their will.
I see nikon j1 with nikkor 10-30 on 10th place in amazon rating with cost 497$ then in logical cost it can be soldable 🙂
From some early reviews it seems that some NEX features has been moved to the “apps”. This is little disturbing for two reasons for me:
1. danger of worse ergonomics (not fully incorporated in the system, no straight-forward access…)
2. danger of Sony being tempted to cripple the camera’s features in order to squeeze additional money for “apps”
Actually It could be really interesting for customer as for Sony to give the possibility, with new firmwares, to use app for the “old” nex !
And more over for the Nex-7, which is the most expensive Nex camera and which is available just very recently (because of thailand flood).
I think if they will be no possiblity to download apps, and with the arriving of the futur Nex 6, this will be the end of the Nex-7 sales .. and finally a very short life for such a high-end camera !!