Sony Announces PlayStation Now Cloud Gaming and Internet TV Services

Sony made several announcements at its CES keynote, but the most important product news from the decades-old gadget maker was not a product users can hold in their hands: Sony announced two important cloud/streaming services that have the potential to unify the Japanese electronics company's fractured offerings.

Full-Fledged Internet TV in 2014?

First, the most (possibly) revolutionary announcement: Sony Computer Entertainment of America president Andrew House confirmed to the crowd at CES what has been rumored about for months: Sony plans to start testing a streaming service that will offer both a streaming media library, like Netflix and others, along with live TV over the internet.

Such a TV service - so called "over the top" streaming because it streams on top of Internet broadband connections - has been rumored about much last year as coming from Google, Apple, and/or Sony.

House did not provide much information about the TV service, other than the fact that it will combine on-demand films, TV shows, and live television, and that Sony would begin testing the service in the U.S. this year. However vague, this marks the first internet TV streaming service to be publically announced, ahead of either Google and Apple. Additionally, according to Businessweek, Sony has reached a preliminary agreement to stream cable TV content from Viacom - one of cable and satellite TV's largest content providers. And, of course, Sony would probably have easy access to films and other media produced Sony Pictures.

Cloud Gaming

One disappointment for die-hard gamers with the release of the PlayStation 4 was the fact that it wasn't fully backwards compatible with PS2 or PS3 games. Sony has alleviated that problem (a little bit, at least) by announcing PS Now, a cloud gaming service that will allow you to play PS3 games on the PS4 console.

But that's not all. PS Now, which comes either on a subscription model or with individual titles to rent, will work with PS3 consoles, the PS Vita, and soon a slew of other internet-connected products. Expected mid-year in its full form, the PS Now cloud service will also work on Sony Bravia TV sets. Other devices, like tablets and smartphones are also going to be undergoing testing by Sony for PS Now inclusion.

"We are thrilled to deliver entertainment experiences only possible from PlayStation through our new streaming game service," said Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. in the company's release.  "PS Now will allow users to engage in the world of PlayStation, whether they're existing fans or have never owned a PlayStation platform."

Okay, One Cool Gadget

Alright, one announcement by Sony was purely gadget-related, and it's pretty cool. Sony introduced a 4K Ultra HD projector that can turn an unused wall into a 4K video screen up to 147 inches across. Called the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector, this gadget can display UHD video from a short distance - inches instead of feet - away from the surface.

It's a great gadget for people who want a huge screen but have little space for it, but just like many other CES products, the 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector is affordably priced for multimillionaires: Sony is selling it in the U.S. starting at $30,000 to $40,000.